I am done with Bark River!!

CUTS LIKE A KRIS

CUTS LIKE A KRIS

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Sep 28, 2005
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:mad:

So I just got in a Bark River Northstar from DLT that I ordered over 2 years ago, which was supposed to be completed March 08. Fine, I am not happy about constant backlog of my order but that is the way manufacturing goes. I have 4 other bark rivers- 2 red (canadian special and lil' bird and trout), and 2 day-glo blue ones (mini and micro canadians). The Blue ones (including this Northstar) were ordered for a memorial knife plaque for my deceased mother (ordered just after her death). Because they were in memory of her, I ordered them with mosaic pins as well- I wanted good users that looked good as well.

When I got the Canadians (May '08) I was very disappointed. The sheath for the Mini Canadian is way too small and does not keep the knife set in place. Both knives came with bad grind marks along the blade, and micro chipping in the edge. The micro chipping I also had on the Bird and trout when I got it new. I sent in the Canadians as per recommendations about the great customer service (like the "great" edges). First I called Bark river directly to see if I needed a RGA number or such. They told me to send them back to DLT? first. An hour later I got a call saying to disregard DLT and send it back to them.

2 Months or so later I got the knives back. Both blades were in horrible shape edge wise, and there were actually MORE markings on the blades!:thumbdn: to top it all off I was given a bill (cannot remember the amount) for the "repairs". This really pissed me off! I called Bark River and spoke with a lady there, who said that she would cancel the charges and that I should return the knives yet again. As they were not willing to pay shipping to them after 2 failed knives, and the fact that the knives came back in worse condition than when I got them. I told the woman that I had a Northstar on order in the same configuration and I would give them the benefit of the doubt one more time, based on who the knife is for.

So 2 years later I finally get notice that the knife is ready. Today I get a package in, and lo and behold it is from DLT! Yay! Only not so much. This knife is crap! There are seven!!! holes in the mosaic pins alone! The right side of the grind is more curved on the left hand side (not that much of a problem but when combined with other issues...) The pommel end is unevenly finished (as is the blade end), to the point that the right hand scale is a different shade of blue due to the lower grit finish, and is sanded unevenly (another thing that I would have passed by), as well I just noticed that the G10 scale extends past the tang on the lower portion of the pommel. The top curve of the lanyard has an unfinished blemish 1mm x 5mm large. The first 7 mm of edge from the handle is finished rougher than the rest of the blade, and it is apparent that it was not finish ground as it is lower than the finished edge, showing that there was still steel to be taken off. 10mm of the tip cannot catch a thumbnail or really cut paper at all without sawing and a lot of pressure (for paper!?!?).

The sheath looks very amateur as compared to my other Bark sheaths. There is black stuff in the backstitching at the top back of the sheath. The edges were burnished poorly as well. In spots it is very dark brown, and in other portions there is no color change, and above the firesteel loop is loose, unburnished leather . The burnishing also pushed the edges of the sheath up in spots so that there is a raised ridge along the edge. The leather is filled with small white blotches, and darker streaks (?dye?). The belt loop is not glued down evenly as it is on my Canadians, with some corners being free floating and others glued down. I just found out that my Lil' Bird and trout has had the glue come loose from one belt loop and the stitching has come loose.

I had never heard of Bark River before this forum, and I loved the designs and choices available, but actually dealing with them has been garbage, especially with a price of over $180!

Some Pictures to show I'm not trying to bash them needlessly:


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IMG_5575.jpg

IMG_5577.jpg
 
Actually I will give them a chance to respond- does anybody have an email address for somebody that can help me?- I cannot find an address on their site, have seen what happens to negatives on their forum and spent way too much time writing this seeing as I have 6 final exams(9 really) next week so do not wish to be on the phone for a while to work this out.

P.S. Does anybody know what the B on the back of the sheath represents?
 
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I just thought that those abnormalities were normal, IMO. Also, cant expect much more out of a $15.00 dollar sheath.

CUTS LIKE A KRIS said:
Yes- is there something wrong with my post or am I reading yours wrong? For $200 of my money I expect quality, and do not feel that i got it today, especially after being told by their representative that the issues would not happen again.
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There are not a lot of excuses for a knife in that price range looking like that, especially the holes in the mosaic pins.
 
I sent Mike Stewart a PM over at JD. I am certain he will respond to you, either here in this thread or maybe with a PM.
 
The only thing there that would bother me might be the holes in the pins. The rest is just really nitpicking for a production knife IMO, $200 or not. Mind you, I'm not a huge fan of BR, but I still don't see too much wrong in those pics. Now, I wouldn't care for bad grinds in the least, but we haven't seen any pics of poor grinds yet.

There's nothing wrong with that sheath that a good coat of NikWax wouldn't cure. I waterproof all mine anyway.
 
I think some people might be missing something here: It's all very well to talk about faults being OK for an x price knife but it's not OK. The OP has been kept waiting an intolerable time, those faults on the pins are well below acceptable and WHY should people have to spend time cleaning up and fixing knives that should not go out in that condition in the first place? I can understand why he feels aggrieved.
 
They do have some good designs, but I've read enough here over the years to know I'll never buy one.

If I waited that long(and was told this one would be made right) on that thing I would be a bit pissed as well!
I've never even heard of mosaic pins having holes in them, and that butt looks terrible. I wouldn't want it for $50.
 
CLAK,
As I stated earlier, I did PM Mike Stewart over at JD. He stated that he read your thread, but that he does not have an account here and so cannot respond here. He did ask me to tell you the following, and I provide it as it was given to me:

We don't make mosaic pins and we just buy them like anyone else.

If he has a bad pin - we will replace it.

Regardless of all of that - the knife is 100% warranted and if he has a problem with the knife and or the sheath he can send it in and we will do our best to make it right for him.
...
Feel free to let him know that he can send it in or contact us directly.

We always bend over backwards for our friends and customers.
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I would urge you to contact Mike directly over at JD. It's quick and easy, and he will be responsive if you send him a PM. Give him a chance to take care of you before you throw in the towel. And if you want something done that they cannot do, he will tell you that up front. Good luck.
 
CUTS LIKE A KRIS said:
When I got the Canadians (May '08) I was very disappointed. The sheath for the Mini Canadian is way too small and does not keep the knife set in place. Both knives came with bad grind marks along the blade, and micro chipping in the edge. The micro chipping I also had on the Bird and trout when I got it new. I sent in the Canadians as per recommendations about the great customer service (like the "great" edges). First I called Bark river directly to see if I needed a RGA number or such. They told me to send them back to DLT? first. An hour later I got a call saying to disregard DLT and send it back to them.

2 Months or so later I got the knives back. Both blades were in horrible shape edge wise, and there were actually MORE markings on the blades!:thumbdn: to top it all off I was given a bill (cannot remember the amount) for the "repairs". This really pissed me off! I called Bark River and spoke with a lady there, who said that she would cancel the charges and that I should return the knives yet again. As they were not willing to pay shipping to them after 2 failed knives, and the fact that the knives came back in worse condition than when I got them. I told the woman that I had a Northstar on order in the same configuration and I would give them the benefit of the doubt one more time, based on who the knife is for.
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Chris(OTE), that is very nice of you to contact mike for him. But I think mike could open an account here easy enough if he wanted to address issues here.

And the OP stated, the last two he sent back came back worse than when he sent them, and they also expect him to pay shipping. I can see why he would be worried the same thing will happen again...I would be.


I hope everything works out for the OP, but feel it may not.
 
I talked with Mike about this one this morning.

The only thing I saw that was out of spec would be the mosaic pins. I have had a couple do that (it is just the nature of the pins). the pins are tubes with decorative strips of metal put in and then filled with epoxy. (my understanding) Sometimes there can be gaps in the epoxy or spots that can come out. That looks like what happened to your knife.

Just send it back to bRK or to DLT and they will get you taken care of.
 
if you do a search there has been some question about BRK finish quality for a while now. The simple answer is they're not capable nor care enough to provide the quality you expect. I don't really understand their positive reputation, maybe because they give away free stuff oin other forums.

I'd send them back for a total refund and buy some other companies knives.
 
I imagine the OP doesn't want to keep going through the hassle of sending knives back in. He's apparently out shipping each time, and I suppose he has to deal with some Customs charges as well.

Bark River has made knives right for me on two occasions, and I had to handle the shipping costs both times. They roughed up some slick G10 scales (not a fault really and I was glad they made the offer to modify them), and they replaced a bone-handled knife that had very obviously imbalanced scales (one really thick, one thin). On one knife, however, they replaced the sheath without my permission, and so I lost a sheath I had waterproofed to my satisfaction. I never got the original back, despite promises I would. I was happy with the knives, unhappy about the sheath. I wound up selling both knives anyway, so it was a wash.
 
on_the_edge said:
CLAK,
As I stated earlier, I did PM Mike Stewart over at JD. He stated that he read your thread, but that he does not have an account here and so cannot respond here.
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He could open an account here just as easily as you did, if he chose.
 
I hear you, Cougar. I did not know if there was some historical issue here that made Mike a persona non grata. But if that is not the case, then I agree that it would not be that difficult to open an account. I'm just trying to help out. :)
 
on_the_edge said:
I hear you, Cougar. I did not know if there was some historical issue here that made Mike a persona non grata. But if that is not the case, then I agree that it would not be that difficult to open an account. I'm just trying to help out. :)
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One of the reasons I sold my Bark Rivers. Mike Stewart probably wants to be here at BFC about as much as he wants to show up at Blade.
 
Is this a production knife or custom knife ?

2 years wait , to receive a knife with that many flaws , I can see where the buyer would be ticked. He did give them benefit of the doubt after the first time , which I doubt most of us would do. However , from what I see , Bark River puts out a lot of knives , bad stuff is bound to slip out now and then ( sucks that the OP has had it happen a couple times now ) , what matters is how they resolve it , which it seems like the first time was less than stellar.

Why would Mr. Stewart not show up at blade ? I guess I missed something somewhere.
 
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