Bear and Sons American made knives your thoughts

Thomas Carey

Thomas Carey

Dealer / Materials Provider
Joined
Nov 26, 2010
Messages
722
Just wondering what all of you think about the quality of the products Bear and Sons produces in the US.
 
I bought their wharncliffe lockback a couple years ago, despite their hit or miss record, because visually, it had some of the nicest stag I have seen.

The fit was good, it locked up tight, no blade play. The stag was beautiful, all of Bear and Sons stag looks great, I will give them that.

Finish, sucked, there's no other way to put it.
The grind was uneven and did not even come to a point in some sections of the blade, the edges of all the metal were sharp and uncomfortable, I would scrape my hand on the back of the blade and the bolsters, while reaching into my pocket.
Some time with a fine diamond pad and the Lansky fixed the finish problems, but after carrying it for a while, I was unimpressed with the softness of the mystery 440 blade. I had to touch up the blade weekly, my RAT 1 or SAK Soldier could go several weeks doing the same tasks before needing touched up.

Eventually I gave the knife to my 10 year old niece, who always loved it. I would not buy another again, I would spend a little more and buy a Case or a German made Boker, it's sad, if they would get their QC in line and a better heat treat on their blades, they could have some great knives.
 
I have been consistently disappointed with bear. To me they are americas M-Tech. And i dont say that as an insult just an observation. Their designs also seem to be limited by the manufacturing equipment they have.
 
I looked at one of their fixed blades at a knife store about a month ago. It looked nice from outside the display case, but when I got it in my hands it seemed to be rather poorly finished.
 
I have consistently read posts reporting poor fit and finish on Bear and Son knives from those who have purchased them. I've also consistently read reports of their poor customer service. So much so that I have never purchased one myself. That is, after all, part of why we hang out here, to learn which knives are worth purchasing.
 
I have 2 folders. The small stockman is poorly put together, & I have had to repair it twice( tighten pivot & peen pin).
The large folding hunter is better constructed, I have had no problems. It is fully functional & made from decent materials, but put together without attention to details: one side doesn't match the other, gap between spring & frame, one pin so close to the edge the cover is damaged.

The steel is not great. It is not as good as Canal Street's 440c, as a fair comparison.
 
All the threads about Bear & Sons are pretty old, and really match the stuff said here. Thought it might be worth checking again to see if they may have got their act together in the past 6 years or so. Anyone picked one up recently, and what was your experience?
 
I recently emailed them to ask for spare parts for my Bradley Kimura. The president (Ken I think?) Emailed me back and gave me all the details needed after confirming I'm the owner. Called in a few days and gave them the 7$. Now waiting for the parts, all on all not bad.

Their knives on the other hand...to me they are about Boker Magnum/Plus quality. Maybe a tad below. Buy them when they're severely discounted.
 
I have a flipper from them.
I really like it !
The detent is weak but I haven't tried to fix it.
I think it's worth the money I paid for it.
 
I bought two Bear and Son knives new about two and five years ago. respectively. They were both, shall we say, primitive. Imagine, if you will, the Trabant of pocket knives. I returned one to the dealer and gave the other away. I want to hear other people's experience in the hopes that they have upped their game since then. I really want to like Bear and Son.

And while I'm on a rant, it's Bear and Son, not Sons.
 
I have a sodbuster and something else from them. I liked the style and it looked great online, and it was inexpensive. I think the price is important to keep in context.

I've never been anything less than absolutely wowed by GEC knives, but you could buy three or four bear and sons knives for the cost of one of the base GECs. The extra cost is worth it to me, but for someone where $80 vs. $25 is an issue, then that's their choice.

The sodbuster that I had (may still have) had a little wave in the blade in the middle where the stock was ground and sniped (the blade was slightly thicker behind the step, uniformly.

AT that point, a large sodbuster in 1095 from B&S was $22. It's hard to criticize a little issue like that. Temper was a bit soft, but again, nothing unfair about the knife for $22. More like "how can they make this for $22 in the US?" I'm sure they made the temper mid 50s or so on purpose, too - some people like that - I'm less abusive and like a fine edge to stay a fine edge.
 
It seems like every Bear and Son knife I have purchased has problems. One of the slip joints I bought looked like the edge was put on the blades with a bench grinder. I am not impressed with their poor quality. Needless to say they are now on my do not buy list.
 
Last edited:
buckfynn said:
It seems like every Bear and Son knife I have purchased has problems. One of the slip joints I bought looked like the edge was put on the blades with a bench grinder. I am not impressed with their poor quality. Needless to say they are now on my do not buy list.
Click to expand...
Ultimately the way I went, too, but I don't hold a grudge. I'm shocked they can sell knives for what they cost when found at lowest price. And then not surprised that they don't come through with great quality.

But it's interesting how they can still make something that I think is a fair trade for the price and figure out how to get me (with no ill will) to buy elsewhere.

My first thought was "if they spent $5 of manufacturing time, they could probably have case quality", but then maybe after retail markup, they'd be the same price as case quality and the average person would just buy the case. Probably a tough business to be in. I don't see how any of the retail knife makers make any money.
 
Have a very nice Bear and Sons large folder, made especially for a store in Yellowstone National park….got it when we Visited Yellowstone….its quite pretty..and nice quality….but also

had a few Bear and sons slip joint pocket knives and they felt crude and30AB4A74-CDB5-4E24-852D-27C04F082F9F.jpeg with very stiff actions. I got rid of them…

Honestly, A Rough Ryder Reserve knife will blow them away in quality, fit and finish on traditional pocket knives.

But I do like my Yellowstone Park Knife…ha
 
I bought a pair of Bear and Sons knives for my nephew and brother in law (they share a birthday). I didn't know much about them before I purchased other than they were made in the USA. Finish was fine, fit gave me some pause as the blades were quite stiff. I sent them off anyway and apologized for the overly stiff blades saying I was trying an unknown manufacturer. They were well received despite their flaws. I don't know if either is carried today.
 
There can be some debate on knife quality on the forum.
Although the responses are consistent about quality issues with Bear&Son.
Never bought one because this.....
 
HP2114B said:
The Bear Ops Rancor II (advertised as S30V and made in USA) has been tested repeatedly with a XRF analyzer and is actually 8Cr13MoV, presumably not made in USA.
Click to expand...


My shocked face….


shocked-surprised.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top