Bear and Son Remington reproductions

[silenthunterstudios]

Last year, I was looking all over for a cheap, user condition, R1303. Year and collectability did not matter to me, but the 1984 offerings seem to be VERY collectable. I finally found it, but I came across a few newer Remington slipjoints, that looked to be comparable to the Camillus reproductions of the 80's and 90's in quality. However, they were in clamshell packs. They did not look like the Chinese repros that come in all colors of the rainbow either. Prices upwards of 90 bucks on most (this was at a sportings good store too, remember).

The owner told me that these knives were made by Bear and Son. There were dates on the packages in the 2000's.

Does anyone know anything about these knives? 440A, 420J2 or 420HC? Are they made by Bear and Son? Lots of neat patterns, but I am not looking for anything to put on the shelf, just stuff to carry. I have read lots of bad things about Bear and Son in this subforum, any reason that these would be any different in quality?

 

[Knife Crazied]

I had a toothpick and pen knife and while I used them they were not of the best quality. Came with gaps in the liners, pin not peened in bone well , ect....

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Wow. $90 seems steep for clamshell-packed knives. Based on price, I'd assume (or at least hope) that they're domestically-produced. Being that Bear & Son did follow up with some of the patterns originally produced by Camillus for Moore Maker, I wouldn't be surprised if these are B & S also. Especially if the store owner already confirmed that.

The steel options seem sort of beneath the price tag, too. I'd hope for carbon steel (like 1095), but I'd think stainless blades should be better than these choices, for the money. 440A and 420HC can be pretty decent, but usually at about half the price (compare to Case's Tru-Sharp, which is actually 420HC, and Buck's entire standard line in 420HC). Older Camillus-made Bucks (300 series) were done in 440A, and those aren't bad. But again, at about half the $90 price tag. I wouldn't touch 420J2 at these prices.

And the Bear & Sons 'stigma' would be difficult for me to ignore. The two B & S knives I bought from Moore Maker really left a sour taste for me. Those were both produced after Camillus shut down (2007 or later).

 

[Boggs]

Yes..those would be Bear&Son..I believe they started in 1998..I know for sure 1999 with the damascus offerings....Now if you don't mind a two blade Scout pattern in 4 1/2" and 3 3/4" there's a Great Eastern Dealer that has the GEC/Schrade in 1095 built knives at $59 from 2007 on his web site. And I don't think you'd find a better user at that price.

 

[silenthunterstudios]

I talked about the GEC made Schrades with one of the GEC owners at the Chesapeake knife show last year, and meant to get a few. Except for being nail breakers, my GEC's are great knives, even better once you break them in.

 

[Phil Gibbs]

Last year, I was looking all over for a cheap, user condition, R1303. Year and collectability did not matter to me, but the 1984 offerings seem to be VERY collectable.

I forget the year (pretty sure it is in the 90s) but we did a 1306 version (same knife with Delrin stag instead of Delrin bone).
No collector value on those!

 

[silenthunterstudios]

I found an 84 Camillus repro, and it is a great knife. I had a few 1306's, and they were pretty well made too.