Bark River TUSK OR Mini-Tusk

[AR fan]

Does anyone have any experience with these knives? I'm looking for a good Utility EDC knife.

 

[Andrew Colglazier]

I have a TUSK, I use as a utility/EDC just about every day.

One thing I didn't like about it; the handle shape, and slickness.

I took the handle to my belt grinder and thinned down the butt end so it was less wide, and roughed up the micarta so it wasn't so slick. It's a great knife.

This is what it looked like before I reshaped the handle. I haven't taken a pic since I did that, though.

Andy

 

[smitty0331]

I would probably be happy either way.

 

[Sharp Eye]

My son has a TUSK and I have held the mini-TUSK.
The TUSK is an amazing woodcarving/utility knife.
I found the handle on the mini-TUSK too small for my hand. YMMV.

 

[sir woodley]

I do not have either, however I do have four other Barkies. My EDC work knife is a Mini-North Star. Blade length 3.4 inches. If I was gonna buy a TUSK, I'd get the TUSK not the mini. But thats just me. On the other hand I do have a Mikro-Canadian and a Mini-Canadian. But as said, I like the blade size of my Mini-Northstar for EDC. The TUSK blade lenght sounds to be OK also for EDC at 2.88 inches cutting edge. Reguardless, you can't go wrong with a Barkie! Good luck, M

 

[Andrew Colglazier]

Took a couple of pics to show the mods I did to my TUSK.

I do not like slick handles, and the handle on the TUSK just felt like it was forcing my hand onto the blade. Fixed it, though!

I've put this knife through the ringer. Today it has been cutting fiberglass insulation.

Andy

 

[DRider]

That looks like a super handy knife. Love the blade profile. Thanks for the pictures!

 

[AR fan]

I decided to order the full size TUSK, I think from your opinions and pics, that it will be a good choice.
Andrew, thanks for taking the time to take all those pics. I sure appreciate it.

 

[Andrew Colglazier]

My pleasure AR fan. Glad I could help.

Andy

 

[Stainz]

I like the full TUSK - I find it to be a great whittler/carver. The mini may be better for fine details - but I have other knives for that. Here it is. for size comparison, on the extreme right, with the '07 LE NorthStar, Gameskeeper, Fox River, and Huntsman, all Bark Rivers, from R-L. The extreme left is a Benchmade BM 201 Activator+, delivered barely as a butter knife - D2 is hard to re-edge! All of my Bark Rivers shown are A2 steel. My Boone is 52-100. The TUSK has some use behind it now - great for utility uses, too!

Stainz

 

[RKH]

You have a verrrrryyyy nice collection of Bark River knives!