Bear MGC....Good, bad, or ugly?

I've been unimpressed with the Bear knives that I've handled. Dull edges and poor quality control were common. I'd say they're around Frost Cutlery level, except they tend to be more expensive.
 
I've never been impressed either. I put them above Frost, but I do not think they are worth what is being asked for them, even on the internet sites. Sometimes the edge is sharp, but more often than not I have encountered dull to really dull edges. The workmanship is okay, but nothing special.
 
Bear is kind of a weird company. They use exotics like damascus and mammoth ivory to produce low end knives. Most of their material is either cheaply made or leftovers (ivory that isn't the high grade stuff that costs tons of $$$), so they can make faux-custom knives without the custom price.

Better than chinese made knockoff crap, but for a working tool, you can do much better.
 
Pretty much what other people have been saying. They are OK, but tend to come NIB with dull edges, and the materials are sometimes questionable. I do have one that I sharpened up and it's a pretty good knife now...it came dull as a brick. It was a gift from my brother that cost him $50. I'd rate it at about a $20 knife.
 
I've seen Chinese made stuff I would buy over any Bear knife I have ever held and examined so far.

Way over-priced for the quality.
 
Well, the bowie I was lookin at sorta did remind me of a lawnmower blade. Do they make damascus mower blades? Maybe I could fancy up my Snapper.

:D
 
I don't know much about the quality of the newer Bear MGC's but I have several older model's with damascus blades and sambar stag handle's that I feel are of excellent quality with great edge retention and fine fit and finish.
 
Lost a handle scale on a hunter model without ever using it. Sent it for repairs and 6 weeks later called them on it - "It is shipping tomorrow" kind of suspicous that it was scheduled for shipment right after I called! That and it took nearly 10 minutes for the lady to find out what I was talking about.
 
I just bought a Bear MGC Bowie throgh ebay for 77 bucks and I like it fine. The blade was sharp out of the box and the fit of the parts was good. Haven't used it yet, so I can't say how the edge holds up.
 
Bad. :thumbdn: :barf:

But, it wasn't always that way. Some of the older, stainless(even though only 440A) blades took and held a pretty good edge. Fit and finish was decent for the price. I once owned a Bear MGC slipjoint with pearl handles, and the pearl was so nice and colorful, it should have been on a Eugene Shadley knife(no kidding). :eek:

But, recent knives from Bear have been less than impressive, to say the least. Mediocre quality damascus(looks ok, but that's about it). The thing that bugs me the most about Bear, is the way they're marketing their imitation stag handles. Giving fakely dyed bone handles a clever and misleading name like Geniune Stag Bone is misleading, IMHO. Do a search on Ebay for Custom Stag Knife and see what comes up. About half of the results will be Bear imi-stag garbage(neither custom or stag). It doesn't look much like stag either. :barf:
 
I have two or three Bear MGC slipjoints that I bought several years ago. The workmanship appears similar to most Case and Camillus pocketknives, and the knives are quite attractive. I've never used mine so can't comment on edge-holding.

A relative took a Bear MCG knife hunting once. The points of the serrated edge actually folded over while cleaning a deer!

So, mixed review from here.
-Bob
 
I bought a Bear MGC Tac II, I think it was called, from SMKW for $60. It was a Gerber Tac II clone and, I suppose I should have known better, but it was cheap, cheap, cheap. I returned it to the vendor... the first time and only time I've ever taken that route.

I've seen tourist trap / souvenir stand knives that were better made. :barf:
 
Bought a Bear mountain damascus tanto balisong that I wish I had never got. Back edge holding, horribly thick blade, poor quality handles and overall cheap feel. You can get much better knives for the prices of theirs. :thumbdn:
 
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