BRKT Hudson Bay Camp Knife

Horn Dog

Horn Dog

Joined
Sep 9, 2005
Messages
4,363
Some folks are traditionalists, especially on this forum. For you retro guys and gals who want a functional and beautiful camp knife, but shun that military look, I think you'll love the new Hudson Bay from Bark River. Even the sheath is retro, with the frog and detachable sheath.
Camp017.jpg

The knife comes with a very sharp full convex edge. Steel is A2. The 8" blade is .215" thick at the spine, but it actually thinned some with the grind to about 3/16". Here it is next to the Busse Sarsquatch for comparison. Both knives weigh about 17 oz.
Camp013.jpg

While the originals used wood back in the 1700s when the knife was made for Hudson Bay Co., I chose black canvas micarta. It is available in Ebony, Walnut, and a bunch of other woods, if you are a purist.
Camp016.jpg

The knife chops as well as the modern Busse. It balances right at the bolster/blade junction. For a big knife, it is fast in the hand and the handle feels good to me. The long curved edge is also quite good at slicing. A fine point means you can do some detail work and drilling, or even stick something, should the need arise.
Camp015.jpg

So if the more modern camp knives aren't to your liking, the Hudson Bay is a great alternative.
Camp002.jpg
 
Gota ask....how does A2 hold up compared to INFI and SR101?

I love Busse, and Bark River knives, just wondering if you can tell the differance in steel in this size range.

and nice pic's...
 
motionman2 said:
Gota ask....how does A2 hold up compared to INFI and SR101?

I love Busse, and Bark River knives, just wondering if you can tell the differance in steel in this size range.

and nice pic's...
Click to expand...

The A2 that I have used in BRKT knives holds a sharp edge well and is not too hard to keep sharp. It doesn't seem to rust as easily as the 52-100 or SR101. I have never done a scientific measure of edge holding or toughness comparing A2, INFI, and SR101. All are good steels. I suppose INFI is the toughest, but I don't chop concrete blocks or steel pipes with my knives. The Sarsquatch and Hudson Bay chop about evenly. The heavier Chopweiler and Ratweiler, with a proper edge, can chop a bit better, or at least they chop better than my Sarsquatch. The HB is a better slicer. I really like the Hudson Bay, and BRKT's warranty is very good, so I'm not worried about breaking it. I have heard no complaints on BRKT's A2.
 
Last edited:
Great review HD.
I have a Hudson Bay coming. Your review just makes it that much harder to wait.
 
Very nice review. Bark River's convex edge lends itself very well to large knives. You have to love traditional looks with modern materials and performance.
 
Hey HD,

Nice review. I can tell just by looking at that knife that it has your name written all over it :D

After watching your posts for the past couple years, I can just tell it is your style.

That is one cool new toy.

B
 
Very nice mate, good review. I am still playing with my golok at the moment. Great knives indeed.
 
I saw those.

I have tons of big choppers and big knives and don't really need another but to be honest I've been having a hard time not buying one and you aren't helping Horndog!:mad: .......;)

That thing is about 10 times more beautiful than the other knives you have pictured there, more practical and ergonomic looking and I bet the sheath is 3000 times nicer than the stock sheaths on the others you have it in the pic with:D:thumbup:
 
hollowdweller said:
I saw those.

I have tons of big choppers and big knives and don't really need another but to be honest I've been having a hard time not buying one and you aren't helping Horndog!:mad: .......;)

That thing is about 10 times more beautiful than the other knives you have pictured there, more practical and ergonomic looking and I bet the sheath is 3000 times nicer than the stock sheaths on the others you have it in the pic with:D:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Lord knows I don't need any more knives of any kind! But isn't it pretty?
 
Awesome...I have been fighting very hard not to buy one!!! I would love to have any of the 4 knives you have there...all good camp knives, I do like the old timey looks of the Hudson Bay though! Thanks for a great write up. Gene
 
Andrew Colglazier said:
I should have mine tomorrow!

Here is mine, or one very like it. Black mesquite burl.
HBCK_Mesquite_Burl.jpg


Andy
Click to expand...

Oh that is nice. So is the Bocote and Osage Orange. So you see, I actually exercised restraint, by getting the less expensive black canvas micarta. Yeah, that's the ticket. I actually saved money by buying the one I did!;)
 
WOW! That's it. I'm going to get a part-time job to support my knife habit. What an awesome looking knife.
 
Looks nice but something about the angles in the handle put me off, plus the LARGE pins. Maybe in the hand would make me like it more. Feel like sending it off for a while??? (kidding, I wouldn't be able to use it even if I had it).

Glad it suits you well.
 
I have been selli9ng some stuff in order to afford one of those. I love it and plan to get a matching mikro canadian both in a dark wood.

I actually compared INFI to a different A2 knife and the INFI held an edge a bit lnger but the A2 was also very good and came back with just a few light touches with an EZ-LAP.

I love the HBK knife as it is part of the local history where I live. Here are a couple real Hudson bay Knives. Apparently Mike changed a few subtly details so they could not be artificially aged and sold as originals.
Here are the ones from Prince Albert Saskatchewan.
PAmuseumjune507127.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top