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bark river

R

razorsdescent

Joined
Jan 16, 2005
Messages
2,938
Im looking at getting the bravo necker. it looks like a great knife. i have never owned a bark river. any feed back on this model would be greatly appreciated, ive heard both good and bad things about brkt id like to know what the consensus is.
 
Some will not agree with this but BR makes some of the best knives out there. HOWEVER for the most part, their sheaths really suck. If you get a sheath that the knife fits in, your ok but well over half of my BR's have sheaths that don't even come close to fitting. That really Tee's me off, they get good money for their products and the sheaths should fit. If I am thinking about ordering a Bark River, I just figure that I will have to make a sheath.
 
udtjim said:
Some will not agree with this but BR makes some of the best knives out there. HOWEVER for the most part, their sheaths really suck. If you get a sheath that the knife fits in, your ok but well over half of my BR's have sheaths that don't even come close to fitting. That really Tee's me off, they get good money for their products and the sheaths should fit. If I am thinking about ordering a Bark River, I just figure that I will have to make a sheath.
Click to expand...



Granted, Bark River has had some sheath problems in the past,

…too many models to try to fit in a few simple patterns,

…and some of that old stock is still out there,

…but since Sharpshooter Sheath Systems has taken over the quality is much improved.




Big Mike
 
I have found that my sheaths always fit - but that Sharpshooter sheaths are just not to my liking. They are a little thin, and even if wet formed, they don't hold their shape very well. I wish that Sharpshooter didn't have his leather skived so thin.

I liked the JRE sheaths better - but I never had a sheath that didn't fit.

I think for basic use they are fine - they are just not to my liking.

I wish you could order BRKT's without sheaths.

TF
 
Talfuchre said:
I have found that my sheaths always fit - but that Sharpshooter sheaths are just not to my liking. They are a little thin, and even if wet formed, they don't hold their shape very well. I wish that Sharpshooter didn't have his leather skived so thin.

I liked the JRE sheaths better - but I never had a sheath that didn't fit.

I think for basic use they are fine - they are just not to my liking.

I wish you could order BRKT's without sheaths.

TF
Click to expand...

BRK knives are usually close or even better than some customs but, I'm not really down with BRK sheaths. Most good knives I have came with crap sheaths. It would be nice if nice knives came with nice sheaths. The extra time of sourcing one that works costs more than a maker would charge to provide it with the knife.

I still want a FB Woodsman sheath, so let me know when you aren't backed up Tal!
 
udtjim said:
Some will not agree with this but BR makes some of the best knives out there. HOWEVER for the most part, their sheaths really suck. If you get a sheath that the knife fits in, your ok but well over half of my BR's have sheaths that don't even come close to fitting. That really Tee's me off, they get good money for their products and the sheaths should fit. If I am thinking about ordering a Bark River, I just figure that I will have to make a sheath.
Click to expand...

I don't think I've ever heard something bad about the knives them self.
Closet thing to it was the first few Kepharts to hit the streets, that had a tang that only went in about 2 inch's.
As I recall that were pretty quickly corrected with a proper tang and that was the end of it.
 
Big Mike said:
Granted, Bark River has had some sheath problems in the past,

…too many models to try to fit in a few simple patterns,

…and some of that old stock is still out there,

…but since Sharpshooter Sheath Systems has taken over the quality is much improved.




Big Mike
Click to expand...

Interesting. I feel the opposite. I've replaced almost all my Sharpshooter Sheaths on my Barkies that have them. I have several older ones with JRE sheaths or the ones made in Serbia and and like them way better.
 
I just got a Highland Special, and the sheath doesn't fit well.
The knife will have to wear it's way into the sheath. After that I think it will be fine.
 
Way to many of mine just don't fit. Why would a good company do stuff like that? Do it right or just don't do it.:confused: I don't need or want a super heavy duty sheath, I just want it to be made for the knife that they sell it with.
 
The Problem I have encountered with Bark River Sheaths is that they have traditionally tried to fit too many different knives into a few different size “Bushcraft Style” sheaths.

I too like some of the Serbian made sheaths as well as the JRE sheaths, and several of those older sheaths still see a lot of use.

The point I was making is that Sharpshooter has started to make many more designs then just the simple pouch style designs that have always been the Bark River mainstay.

Personally I love the leather sheaths for the Bravo series knives, and have really come to love the ease of field use of the big two piece style sheaths used on the big Bowies and camp knives.

As new models come out, and old models are re-released, proper sheath fitment has become more of a priority to the sheathmaker, and, being the warrantee includes the sheath, a bad fitting sheath will be made right.



I think Bark River has come a long way since the days of no sheaths provided, and waiting on sheaths from unreliable suppliers.




Big Mike
 
I hope things continue to improve. I was taught from childhood on that you do the job right or wait until you can, I expect a quality well made sheath when I lay out my money for a quality well made knife. That money is not easy to come by I just want what I figure that I paid for.

When I by a Mora, I expect a low price but good cutting knife with a cheap plastic sheath, They deliver what I am buying every time. BR should do the same.

ONCE AGAIN, I love their knives these days
 
Hawkings said:
I don't think I've ever heard something bad about the knives them self.
Click to expand...

I'm the exception to the rule. :) I've owned two and handled a couple of others and I came away unimpressed. My complaint wasn't as much with the blades as it was with the handles; in my limited experience they are all too small for me. I am tempted at times to try another BRKT but I'm really hesitant to do so as I can't help but wonder if the handles will be too small.

I also agree that the Sharpshooter sheaths pale in comparison to JRE sheaths.
 
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