I'm sorry - I have to chime back in. My first five Barkies, pictured in my first response, were bought from Christmas to New Year's last year - mostly on a great sale from DLT. I bought the least expensive variant of each model knife I could find - I wanted users. One - my '07 LE North Star - is the only fixed blade to 'get me' in recent memory. My CTS-riddled right hand's forefinger slipped over the blade, resulting in a minor paper cut type injury, healed within a few days. Still - my only Barkie with a negative thought - and it was my fault. I love them all.
My 'worst' BRK&T purchase was #6 - a bocote Boone. I reasoned that it was only a couple of dollars over natural Micarta... and was 'purdy'. Yep - too 'purdy' - it resides in a display stand in a display cabinet, like the other Barkies do - but they regularly go out! Gotta start using the Boone - it's a great handful.
My six have no obvious faults. Each was delivered as a hair popper, although I didn't believe it when that first one, my BCM Huntsman, first came out of the box. It didn't feel sharp, but cupt paper and shaved my forearm (My wife hates that!) like a razor. Also received that day was my Benchmade 201 Activator+ - the '+' must have been that I'd need to sharpen it before any use. I did notice a scratch mark on the underside of Huntsman's scales and tang a few days later - not having seen it when I opened the box, I assume it bumped the B-M's D2 blade. A scrap of 240/320/400/600/1500 SiC w/d paper - five minutes - and it was perfect. Some Semichrome polish, and it was 'purdy', too (Another five minutes - the polish was in my shop!).
I am sure a real totally hand made knife would be better... I guess I am more easily pleased. YMMV. Actually, I couldn't afford one that was totally custom made, my only custom knives coming from the Buck Custom Shop or in-person purchases from Greco, Vollmer, etc. The Barkies were the first convex blades that I 'enjoy', my Marbles, great cutters right out of the box, seemed to quickly grow more dull - and got even duller more quickly. That convex grind is deceptively sharp - and easily honed to maintain, too. The Barkies' tool steel keeps an edge longer, but without that protective oil, or my mineral oil, they come covered with, they'd rust quickly - especially in the humid South. The rust pattern shown here earlier was clearly from someone's sweaty fingers - probably looking it over in a store, or, maybe, it just missed the oil covering. I really feel it would have a lot more 'patina' in that case. Mr. Stewart's warranty is super, as shown there. I bought the styles I wanted, although there are a few more I would like, I am watching my pennies for now. I had to post something positive.
Stainz
PS The 'Sharpshooter' sheaths are nice - as is the Bosnian made one for the Boone. I'd say they are head and shoulders over any other 'supplied' sheath.
