Help me pick a Bark River

ilbruche

ilbruche

Joined
Jun 19, 2007
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So I have been looking at the Bark Rivers a lot recently. If I still lived in Michigan I'd drive up to the factory and browse around. But since there is nowhere close to handle these I need a little input. I'm looking for a smaller 3 to 4 inch blade. The blades I'm considering are PSK, North Star and Mini North Star. I'd mainly use this as a supplement to a larger fixed blade. I just acquired 2 Becker BK7's and am ltrying to figure out what to trade for one of them. I'm leaning towards the PSK. Thanks guys. :D
 
No experience with the PSK or mini, but I really like my Northstar. It's seen some hard use and the blade hasn't missed a beat. For an all around outdoors blade, it's a danged good one. However, some have voiced that they don't like the handle on the knife. I wear a large glove and the handle fits my hand OK and I'm not bothered by it at all. Just like any other knife, it requires the user to get to know it.
Northstar001c.jpg
 
Go for broke, get an Aurora...its my favorite user right now, and a fine woods knife...the only American bushcraftknife that isn't a custom..IMHO. Or you can wait for the Spyderco...like I am doing, (drooling right now)! I owned a Northstar, and enjoyed it, but my Mora2K did everything it could do, except maybe light batoning. Ah heck...I just really like the Aurora, and want someone else here to get one, so we can talk about it...lol. Gene
 
Maybe take a look at the Highland Special too. It fits your specs along with those you mentioned (except the PSK.....it's nice but it doesn't fit what you say you're looking for). The mini-Skinner also fits right in there with a 3" blade.

The only thing about the North Stars is the steel thickness.......118. Under an eight of an inch. I doubt you'd break it, but take it into consideration anyway. The Aurora, Highland, et al are all over .15....in fact, they're .170, or just under 3/16". Even the mini-Skinner used to be .15, but it seems that BRKT recently decided to slim it down to one-eighth.

Ooops. ALmost forgot the Fox River. 8-1/4" long, 4-1/4" blade, .170 thick.
 
i have the bravo 1 and loveit got the matching fire steel as well just had a custom sheath made by warren knives he makes the best sheaths ive ever seen
 
Good one. I was going to mention the Bravo-1 too, but decided against it. I love mine and made my own sheath, though I see BRKT has decided to make a nice leather sheath for it..... suggested retail is $69, but it's $52 I think at DLT Trading
 
StretchNM said:
Maybe take a look at the Highland Special too. It fits your specs along with those you mentioned (except the PSK.....it's nice but it doesn't fit what you say you're looking for). The mini-Skinner also fits right in there with a 3" blade.

The only thing about the North Stars is the steel thickness.......118. Under an eight of an inch. I doubt you'd break it, but take it into consideration anyway. The Aurora, Highland, et al are all over .15....in fact, they're .170, or just under 3/16". Even the mini-Skinner used to be .15, but it seems that BRKT recently decided to slim it down to one-eighth.

Ooops. ALmost forgot the Fox River. 8-1/4" long, 4-1/4" blade, .170 thick.
Click to expand...

Here are the stats for the North Star.

Blade Steel: A-2 Tool Steel
Hardness: 59-60RC Blade
Thickness: .170 inches
Blade Length: 4.25 inches
Overall Length: 8.5 inches
Weight: 4.7 ounces
 
Well now, I stand corrected. Thank you Longbow.

DLT specs the North Stars out at .118 yet the spec list at BRKCA shows them both to be .170. Sorry for the misinformation.
 
all 3 are great knives....:thumbup: buy them all....:D

i have the PSK and northstar... both great field knives.. not much you can't do with those 2.....:D

if i had to pick out of the 3... i would go with the northstar.... i have one with osage handle scales.... one of my favorte bark rivers...:)
 
I'm going to throw another model in here to further confuse things. The Fox River. Based on many positive reviews this knife looks like a winner. I have one coming from DLT due to arrive any day now...hope I made a good choice.
 
In that range, I have a Woodland Special and Highland Special. The Highland Specials handle could have been straighter, but thats only for my big paws. Other than that, both are great knives.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
No, I am not going to help you pick a Bark River.
Every time I look at them I think of a few more that I could use.

No, I am not going to buy a Bravo-1, not even in White Bone Micarta.
I need something in Ghost Green Jade G-10.
The Aurora is really nice, too, isn't it. :(
Click to expand...


Thanks alot Esav. I'm now the proud owner of a Bark River Bravo-1, in White Bone Micarta! I need this like a hole in my head....
 
I think you will find the North Star or Mini North Star the most useful.

The only problems with them IMO is the handles can get slick and the shape of the handle pushes your hand toward the blade, but in 99% of the times you use it you'll never have it wet enough for this to be an issue. Also Mike Stewart of BRKT says you can order them with the handles sandblasted for extra grippyness so that might be an option if you are going to use it in a wet environment.
 
The PSK was designed to be a back-up knife carried in a small (otter box) survival kit. It has the shortest blade of the three you mention, and has very flat handles.

The Northstar was designed as a bushcraft knife, though not quite in teh British Ray Mears style. As a basic knife, it's great! (The Fox River is the same size, same handle, but was designed as a hunting knife. The Highland is a slightly smaller edition of the Fox River.)

The Mini-Northstar was designed as a stand-alone EDC. It is, in effect, similar to a sturdy paring knife, or a fixed blade pocket knife.

They are all excellent knives, just made for different tasks. I've never had my hand slip on a BRKT micarata handle, no matter how wet - the micarta gets grippier when wet. But I understand the fear, cuz I used to have it before I used one.

If you buy from DLT Trading Company, KnivesShipFree or McKnight Cutlery, they will work with you to make sure you get the knife you want, even if it means swapping out a few.
 
Grampa said:
They are all excellent knives, just made for different tasks. I've never had my hand slip on a BRKT micarata handle, no matter how wet - the micarta gets grippier when wet.
Click to expand...

Mine slipped on the orange G10 but I didn't get cut:thumbup:
 
Whenever there's a "which Bark River" thread, I have to throw in the Mini Canadian - especially as a small comapnion to a larger knife.

StretchNM sent me a sheath for mine that he made - it's really nice and much better than the feeble scrap of leather that my Mini CDN came with. Thanks again, Stretch!
 
I have backpacked with my Woodland a number of times -- the Professional series is extremely ergonomic, IMHO, absolutely nothing superfluous. The choil blends into the handle and gives you more grip than it appears. Love the A2 steel -- holds a beautiful edge. It's also compact enough to slip into a pants or jacket pocket. I just with the sheath was a little more secure.
 
I have the Bravo 1 and a mini skinner love them both. Can't go wrong with what ever you choose.
 
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