BarkRiver Ek Night Fighter

Garage Boy: You know, I kinda thought that was a type-o about the UWK being in Carbon V - thanks for pointing it out (!); I went to CS's website & sure enough, it says Carbon V... for $89.95. Not too bad... Knife Center has them for about $54 but although it says Carbon V in one place, it says 420 in another so I really wasn't sure.

As a dedicated fan of CS, I will likely pick up the UWK - perhaps 'Santa' will be generous this year (my wife, God love her, has gotten me most of my best knives as gifts, including the Tai Pan dagger one year :D ).

I am also very interested in the Swamp Rat Camp Tramp - a little more pricey than some of the CS blades; perhaps too pry-bar-ish though nonetheless. The BR/EK Night Fighter is at least 'tapered' & by the above accounts, a strong cutter. I would really like an old CS Bush Ranger in Carbon V too sometime... I like the 3/16 thickness for a knife of that approximate length.

Regarding the UWK, has anyone handled one? I would like some input on the handle thickness & balance point (I'm assuming its slightly handle heavy) if anyone would be so kind...
 
I don't really like UWK handla - I have old 420 model:

coldsteel-uwk-01.JPG


coldsteel-uwk-03.JPG


As you can see it have 5 grooves - for 6 figers palm I assume. I have 5 fingers on each palm. ODA hovewer quite comfortable.

ColdSteelODA-06.jpg


Do you know what is actually CarbonV now days? Is it 1095?

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Vassili: Thanks for the pic's dude - I appreciate it. And regarding Carbon V, all I've heard is speculation but I doubt its just 1095... I don't know for sure though.

Re; the UWK - can you tell me where the balance point is? Is is behind the guard on the handle or is it in front, on the blade?

Of course, just because the 420 model balances in one spot, does not mean the Carbon V model will balance in the same spot; I have noticed this about the CS Kobun; my AUS8 version is handle heavy whereas my buddy's Carbon V version is blade heavy...

So, if anyone with the Carbon V UWK will chime in too I would appreciate it :)
 
For 420 UWK balance point is somewhere between choil and handle. If I index finger right behind guard - blade ducks idown, if finger on choil - blade raises up.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
nozh2002 said:
Do you know what is actually CarbonV now days? Is it 1095?
Click to expand...

The prevailing theory is that it is currently Cammillus' 0170-6C and that it has been 1095 in the past.
 
Vassili; thank you for humoring me with my question. That's great - sounds like the UWK balances neutrally just like the SRK :) - at least in 420.

You have to hand it to Cold Steel; even if you're not crazy about the handles on some of their models, they make a good, inexpensive knife that is user friendly & shaving sharp out of the box.

...Okay, if this sounds like 20 questions I appologize but where is the balance point on the BR / EK Night Fighter? If I were to guess, I would say just in front of the guard... I won't have to guess in a couple days but if you don't mind another question, I'm all ears! :D
 
Both BR Eks have balance right on the choil. And handle design is just amaizing! One of the best I ever handle.

Rumor about Cammillus' 0170-6C sterted while ago and I doubt they ships this steel from Cammillus to Taiwan.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Nice pics. I looked at those some time ago, when they were full price, and decided to pass, since I didn't have much need for another knife this size.
Ordered one yesterday, though. For $49.95, I had no choice;)
 
Taiwan lacks extensive steel smelting facilities most raw materials including steel... especially steel, is imported from the US and Japan... almost all wood is imported from th US.
 
Who knows where it is imported from may be US, may be Japan, may be China, may be Pakistan - looks like Asia is much close to this chineese island then US (as I understand majority of steel production in US is on East cost - almost other side of the globe from Taiwan). Commy made "steel" in every vilage in China during that "Great Jump" in 50-th easyly outproducing USSR and USA combined, where all this steel now... who knows? Quality was "vilage" grade of course, but Mao did not trust cyties, did not trust all this educated people (A=B, B=C etc)... What is OK for barbeque cuttlery I will avoid in knife -personaly, I prefer old american A2 from old american knifemaker, and for this price - hard to avoid...

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Vassili,
you're about as limited an individual as I have ever come across.
Politically, Taiwan is not China and is actually involved in a cold civil war against each other. Taiwan cannot trade with many asian countries due to that fact. Mao has nothing to do with Taiwanese industries or cities due to the fact that Taiwan is currently the result of the Koumingtang reconstituting their nationalist government.

Also, A2 is a relatively new steel and that knife was made by some guy who might be able to make a knife, but unable to adhere to honorable business practices.

Vassili, please get your facts straight before you start posting your really dumb comments...
 
Someone talkin about honorable business practices, but what abou honorable forume practices? Well, may be I am just limited individual - some things I am not able to undrstand.

Another good knife made by Bark River from my collection:

BarkRiver-Forager-13.jpg


BarkRiver-Forager-14.jpg


BarkRiver-Forager-16.jpg


BarkRiver-Forager-15.jpg


BarkRiver-Forager-18.jpg


.217" thick.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
nozh2002 said:
Someone talkin about honorable business practices, but what abou honorable forume practices? Well, may be I am just limited individual - some things I am not able to undrstand.

.
Click to expand...

Yes, there is nothing honorable about defending a thief...
There is nothing honorable about writing things that one has no understanding of.
There is nothing honorable about buying stolen property or counterfeited trademarks...
There is nothing honorable about being dishonorable and then being flippant about it.
 
China Steel Corporation (Taiwan; 40% government-owned) is one of the largest integated steel producers in the world with a capacity of about 10,000,000 metric tons a year. Yusco, another Taiwan company, operates perhaps the largest integrated stainless steel mills in Asia. It would seem that Taiwan still imports over half it's domestic steel requirements.
 
Just wanted to say I'm glad the forum is back on line :) :)

Well I got my Bark River Night fighter yesterday; Love the sheath! It's fine quality, supple leather. The knife is sweet too (LOL)! I am happy with it for $49.95; I love the handle, the rounded point shape, the blade heavy feel, the choil and the stoutness of the overall design.

But mine has the "aleged bend" to the right like the others mentioned. Then there is the fact that the tang does not go to the end of the handle - I'd guess it ends about 1" from the lanyard hole... :confused:

However, the knife only appears bent when you look at the spine; if you look at the cutting edge, it is straight. This leads one to believe that the grind is asymetrical as oppossed to their being any actual bend in the blade. All in all, as stated above, I'm happy with the knife in A2 steel for $49.95.

Nevertheless, because I do not think this asymetrical grinding was an intentional part of the Night Fighter's design, I think the maker and / or the retailer should have declared the knife a factory second. :( JMO.

On A2 steel: Someone posted earlier that they thought A2 was new, nevertheless, according to AG Russells catalogue, A2 has been used by custom makers since at least the 1930's. I'm sure others on this forum are more knowledgeable on this subject than I, hopefully someone will chime in on the history of A2...

My initial impression is good - the knife took an agressive edge very easily. I did some side pry tests - nothing serious, but the blade felt very stout yet would flex subtley. :cool:

Cold Steel's Carbon V is still the standard by which all others are judged in my book. I'm not sure how tough A2 is in comparisson but if I had to guess, I would rate it favorably against CS's product. Still, I would love to see a side-by-side comparisson with the UWK or SRK by one of our forum's torture testers (you know who you are ;) )... Ideally against a Bark River Night Fighter without the grind issue.

So, I have to say I really like Mike Stewart's designs & his heat treatment seems to be great too. The jury's still out on QC though. I may have to get another Bark River offering just to make an informed decision :D

BTW, I hope you all enjoyed your Turkey Day!

Later,

James
 
Got my Nightfighter the other day. The knife will barely fit in the sheath, which screwed up the bead blast finish before even using it. Looking at the fit of the strap, I'd say the sheath was actually made for a different knife with a bigger guard, and narrower blade (fits my Blackjack #1-7 Classic Hunter perfectly, except the blade is about 1/4" too long for the sheath).
The knife itself had rust just ahead of the handle on one side, the entire blade is ground at an angle, the primary grind is uneven, as is the swedge, or top grind, being much deeper on one side. This is all cosmetic, and doesn't seem to interfere with use of the knife, which has a balance I like, comfortable handles, and decent blade geometry(a little better than the #1-7, which has never disappointed me).
Having never used A2, I'm ok with $50 for a chance to beat up a "new" steel, especially since I've got the Blackjack which I've been using for over 15 years and is very similar to compare it to, but am not happy with the lack of quality, and would have immediately sent it back if I'd paid full price.
 
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