Bark River knives?

QAJAQ said:
I think Bark River keeps doing this because they get away with it
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Maybe a lot of people don't know about this. I notice that they have high values on the used market. Any that I find that I like always seem to shoot up in price way beyond my price range. So whatever they are doing they are selling a lot of knives to somebody.
 
"Maybe Mr. Stewart has changed his business model. Maybe he found religion in jail."

Where was he incarcerated? When? How long? My Gogglefu has failed me again. I can't find anything along those lines.

I thought the contentions were about his Bark River products. No?
 
The non steel allegations are about the end of a knife company years ago. I researched as I like the knives. I have only seen civil allegations, no jail in those cases - more an ugly end to a business. I never found anything proving those business claims.

The steel claims give me pause. I have not had any problems with their knifes and I have a few. Gunny and Bravo LT are personal favorites. On Derricks site there are videos showing that they mark the steel blanks so shouldn't be any mix ups anymore.
 
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coinbuysell said:
Fraud, I believe, he was convicted and served jail time but some here still think he is reputable.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/blackjack-knives.124519/
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OK. You believe. Where? When? How long?

The accusations are at least seventeen years old, but no proof of conviction can I find. I have tried multiple times over the years and even wrote the federal court but got no answer.

Claim a guy went to jail? Man up and post some evidence beyond belief. Otherwise, I have a belief about you.

ED: It is claimed multiple times that "Mike Stewart" is not his real name. That could bollix up searches. The link you most leads to no proof - just more claims.

As for those who lost money when Blackjack (the company) went bankrupt, they are understandably upset and like to say they were "robbed" and Stewart is a "thief." Understandable. But not factual. Like it or not, when a company goes bankrupt, creditors, even national living treasurers, lose out. The law so provides. You get pennies on the dollar - at best. It happened to me - twice. Didn't hardly leave me with a warm and fuzzy feeling about the bosses and owners, but I didn't commit defamation by calling them crooks.
 
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augostos said:
What are the alternatives to BRKT of decent quality?
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LT Wright makes excellent, high quality knives. They are, imo, beautiful knives, but are built less for "aesthetics" and more to be used and used hard. I only say this as BRKT has more options as far as handle materials and "heirloom" style knives (e.g. the Essential line, etc.).

As far as my experiences with either company, I have the LT Wright Genesis in A2 that I really enjoy and am looking to pick up a Patriot for EDC at some point. The only Bark River I have thus far is the Essential in M4. I really like the Essential for what it is and have had no trouble with it whatsoever.
 
On FB the Bark River guys are saying that mis-labeling a steel CPM154 isn't a big deal. Bark River says it is actually A2, which is still a good steel.

They are right, in isolation, it wouldn't be a big deal. Given how many different types of steel they use I can easily a see how a well meaning employee could make a mistake.

The problem is how many times this has happened, and the companies response (blaming the customer). The Bark River retailer's response has been great.

All the drama aside, at the end of the day, how good are their knives, how well do they perform?
 
You can't be in business selling stainless material as stainless when it rusts regardless of the reasoning. It's just false advertising. So if the reason is contamination then don't contaminate it. If it's mis labeling, don't mix it up anymore. If it's a poor heat treatment, we'll get your heat treatment correct. Else just don't offer it.

No other manufacturers I've got cpm154 from rusts that fast. Same with 20cv etc.
 
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I think BRKT will make it right. I have had at least 20 of them and used them all quite a lot. Never had a problem at all. In response to the original question, I would personally pick a essential in 20CV or an Aurora LT in 3V, but that's just me.
 
AmosPaul said:
On FB the Bark River guys are saying that mis-labeling a steel CPM154 isn't a big deal. .....

All the drama aside, at the end of the day, how good are their knives, how well do they perform?
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What else would you expect them to say?

They can perform ok, if the steel is right, and they are not ground too thin, and not burnt on the grinder, the sheath isn't screwy, etc.

In those cases BRK will fix it. I guess that is "customer service." :D

Now, of course there is "user error" which seems to happen with them. You are outta luck in that situation.
 
Jamboi said:
Get it and use it.
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It would bug me not knowing what kind of steel it was as I enjoy learning about different steels' characteristics.

If you test the knife it to find out its steel type, you may have trouble returning it. Personally I would return it.

Not everyone is into steel types though, and if a little corrosion doesn't concern you if it turns out to be A2, then keep it. A2 is an excellent steel IMHO (I use A2 blades in my woodworking hand planes).
 
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