Bark River Knives!!!

I just got one Essential in Cocobolo and mosaic pins that is perfect, and one with a bolster and regular pins where you can definitely feel the pins sticking past the scale. In my way at looking at this problem is that the wood was not properly seasoned when the knife was made, and now the scales have shrunk causing the problem. The pins going through the bolster are non discernable by feel, so workmanship was probably fine at the time of manufacture. I am not sure what I will do with this knife, but I am leaning towards sending it back. But this can be a problem with natural materials such as wood. If it is not properly seasoned, it will change in dimensions discernably in the short term. In the long term it will change as well, but it is just too beautiful not to make knife handles out of. I guess if I do not want this to happen, I need to buy G10 or Micarta.
 
I've had 8 BRKTs, and had trouble with one of them. BRKT admitted that the edge was ground too thin, and it was quickly and politely made right. Turnaround was a week.

My S35VN Bravo 1 is my "go to" knife for fishing, hiking, woods bumming, really everything. I can't think of a better "all around" design or steel.

northend816 said:
I ordered the Bark River Trail Buddy today with Macasser Ebony scales. I just loved the blade design on trail buddy and it seems to be a good all around knife for my hiking trips
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Congratulations!

Once you get a chance to use it, you'll probably like it so much that you'll buy several more BRKTs.

McVeyMac said:
I just got one Essential in Cocobolo and mosaic pins that is perfect, and one with a bolster and regular pins where you can definitely feel the pins sticking past the scale. In my way at looking at this problem is that the wood was not properly seasoned when the knife was made, and now the scales have shrunk causing the problem. The pins going through the bolster are non discernable by feel, so workmanship was probably fine at the time of manufacture. I am not sure what I will do with this knife, but I am leaning towards sending it back. But this can be a problem with natural materials such as wood. If it is not properly seasoned, it will change in dimensions discernably in the short term. In the long term it will change as well, but it is just too beautiful not to make knife handles out of. I guess if I do not want this to happen, I need to buy G10 or Micarta.
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I found the same thing.

I even had linen micarta warp and break loose of its glue. It was a rare thing, but it happened.

I have complete trust in canvas micarta and G10.
 
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I've owned, used and sold 100 - 150 Bark River knives over the last 10 years. That is an accurate number. I currently only own about 50. I live in Michigan and I like using local knife makers. There are many here that I own. I can count on one hand the minor cosmetic issues I've dealt with and I am extremely picky. I sent them back and they were corrected.

Wood handle scales shrink and move. It happens with every maker and manufacturer. I prefer micarta and G10 for my users and wood or stag for my light users and safe queens. In "extreme cases" I've sent knives back to Blind horse, ML Knives, Bark River, Ray Laconico and others. That is not a knock on any maker. They are all my favorites but it's just a characteristic of natural materials REGARDLESS of the maker.

Knives are like cars... There are a lot of opinions and you won't change the opinion of the "hard core" love or hate people either way. I prefer to buy the knife and form my own opinion. If I'm not happy I'll sell the knife and I just won't buy from that maker again.
 
MajorD said:
Knives are like cars... There are a lot of opinions and you won't change the opinion of the "hard core" love or hate people either way. I prefer to buy the knife and form my own opinion. If I'm not happy I'll sell the knife and I just won't buy from that maker again.
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Now that's good advice. I bought a very popular knife based on forum opinion and didn't care for it at all. I have bought other knives that were controversial, at best, and loved them. The only way to know if a maker is for you is to buy one. If it doesn't suite you, sell it and move onThen consider the expeience a cheap education.
 
Ill let u know how I like it.....It really took me days and days just to decide on the handle, they have so many to pick from. Im mostly a G-10 man but the wooden ones were so beautiful I had to go with one.
 
Crazy Canuck said:
Nice. I ordered a 154CM PSK with midnight tiger G10 scales yesterday. That one will live in my pocket. I was torn between a few of their smaller models (pro scalpel, little creek, little carver, etc), but the included Pocono pocket sheath sealed the deal.
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I have the same setup. A firesteel sits in the other sheath compartment. Package rides nicely on front or back pocket. Neat lille setup. If you find the knife too loose for sheath use some moleskin to line the sheath to snug it up.
 
northend816 said:
It really took me days and days just to decide on the handle, they have so many to pick from. Im mostly a G-10 man but the wooden ones were so beautiful I had to go with one.
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That's exactly what happened to me when picking my BRK Essential EDC. It was the toughness and longevity of the G-10 versus the aesthetics and feel of the wood even though they have some nice-looking G-10 handles. Eventually, picked the Desert Ironwood one with mosaic pins and red liner.
 
The Ironwood and Cocobolo were my other top choices as handle but the grains in those models werent what i was looking for and I found the Macasser ebony perfect for me. My next model the Ultra Lite Bushcrafter I already have picked out and its in the Ironwood. Now I just have to bring myself to sell one of my 0350BRNs to fund it lol
 
I have 6 bark rivers they are hard to beat.My favorite is probably the bravo1 it is one of the best all around knives i ever seen.I have a bravo tool steel black micarta one and a cocobolo cpm3v one.They are two of my favorites.
 
I have several BR's right now, and most have come in good shape, a couple have had fitment problems, only one so bad that I had to send it back. Then the dealer gave me a hard time - the lousy attitude must rub off.

Their 3V knives perform very well, it's an excellent steel and it is heat treated very well. I would check with any dealer that I ordered from and make sure they have a return policy that is acceptable to you in case there is a problem. If they charge a restocking fee, I now pass them by. I found out the hard way that this will be used against you no matter what.

YMMV.
 
Thanks for the feedback and ill keep eye on that restocking fee. Ive learned when I first started collecting only like 2 years ago that there has been some problems with knives made by every company. Its what they do about problems and how they handle customer that counts
 
i had owned the bravo 1 and the bravo 1.5 both in a2
thought the bravo 1 was to small for my needs
but i LOVED the bravo 1.5 and i just sold it to get the 3v version
very very comfy handles
 
I carry a BRK Essential everyday as my primary cutter. I have for years. BRKT has put all my folders into the "backup" role, or as something I pull out when a FB would irritate people around me. I like their A2, I love their M4 and 3V, and their designs work for me. The sheaths are well thought out and well made. And that's the critical accessory if you're going to carry a FB daily.

As far as the other stuff about BRKT is concerned... I ain't lookin' to move in with Mike, he's already spoken for. I buy the man's knives and live with them, and they've never disappointed me.
 
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