Input needed from all on Bark River and A-2 Steel

Y

yans

Joined
Jun 20, 2001
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282
OK I have found my perfect edc In the srider SMF and the beater I had the Buck SBMF. I also carry with me at all times a Leatherman surge. I wanted a SW Bog dog as the knife for hunting and camping but have found out that I would have to pay about 200$ off ebay and just cant justify that much as an experiment (due to them discontinuing it:jerkit: ). The strider was bought after the Buck Strider so I knew that I liked the pattern and the durability of it.

So I decided that I would like to try the Bark river knives Especially this one.
http://www.barkriverknifetool.com/biggame/forager-black.html

And possibly this one for reeinacting and for just kicks.
http://www.barkriverknifetool.com/classic/roguebowie-ivory.html

But I have NEVER had A-2 tool steel as a blade so I want all input from everyone that has on it! Especially the people that have these knives.

Mostly I want to know about the ease of sharpening, If chipping is an issue using it to split bones, and the resistance to corrosion that it has.

So please shoot away. also please feel free to critisise the company or steel I really do like the product but have never delt with them. I did however handle a micro skinner at a show and did love it fit and finnish was beautiful!
 
I own three Bark Rivers. I've never used or sharpened them, so I can't comment on that aspect. I can say however, that the fit and finish is supurb and the material quality is tops.

What draws me to Bark River repeatedly, the incredible selection of natural handle materials, including exotic wood, sheep horn, and bone.

www.dlttradingcompany.com seems to have the best selection, and often the best prices.

www.agrussell.com has some too, including the Mountaineer, an exclusive pattern for his store.

www.knifeworks.com has a bunch too, and sometimes the very lowest prices on particular models.

Happy Shopping,
-Bob
 
Bark Rivers are convexed. They are sharpened by stropping and they sharpen quite easily to scary sharp. Mike Stewart does an excellent job with his A2 and you'll be quite happy with the purchase.

You won't have a large selection of rogue handles simply because they sell so fast.

Phil
 
My two BRK Highlands are the best user knives I've ever had. The convexed A-2 blade is a bit of a challenge to sharpen at first, but well worth the pay off in edge retention. It's also amazingly corrosion resistant for a tool steel.

Mine are so sharp the wife used to accidentally nick herself in the kitchen, and then not realize it until she saw the blood.

As far as downers....they aren't real consistent with grinds. I've got a Golok they forgot to finish sharpening the tip on, my bone handled Highland has a thinner edge and a flatter point than my micarta handled one, and the micarta handled one came with a bit of a rounded point. All idiosyncracies that I personally haven't had a problem dealing with, but idiosyncracies none the less. A fair trade off for the modest price paid.
 
Excellent blade geometry. Their A2 takes a very nice edge, very easy to sharpen. Not a stainless steel. It will not exactly attract rust, but it will discolor and a wet sheath will make it rust easily. About medium on the overall toughness scale, which means it is FAR tougher than any stainless out there.
 
For the price, Bark Rivers are pretty nice .... basically, you're getting a hand finished knife at a production price. The traditional patterns especially are well done.

Some may not agree, but I prefer A2 run a little harder than Bark River does. But not everyone likes sharpening harder blades, especially if they get damaged in the field.

I've heard they've improved the sheaths lately, older ones like mine are functional but not too attractive.

Overall good value.
 
I have three, and find the convex edge to be easy to maintain. Once you get the technique down (not that much of a challenge) it will be very easy to do at home or in the field. I like how easily they take a very fine edge with a strop.

As for stain resistance, as noted it is not stainless but it is surprisingly stain resistant, more so than I would have expected. Just remember that salt + water is bad for A2.

And for edge holding, I have done a head to head comparison (hickory and cardboard) with some of the best out there - Bos treated S30V and Dozier D2. While the A2 did not keep its edge as long, there was not much difference between them. Let me repeat: there was little difference between them. Taken together with the ease of edge maintenance and the great cutting characteristics of the convex edge, this makes them great knives in my experience.
 
My four (3 Gameskeepers, 1 Mini-Canadian) are the favorites of my collection. I love A-2 in that it gets wickedly sharp easily, holds the edge for a reasonable amount of work, and then sharpens up easily once again. Of course the convex grind on most of the BRKT line is also a reason these are my favorites.

Who cares about having to resharpen a little sooner than with some of the supersteels when a few strokes on a rouge charged strop brings it right back to wicked? These knives are about the only ones I take on extended camping or hunting trips anymore as they are the only ones I can sharpen with a sheet or two of wet/dry automotive sandpaper on the thigh of my pants and get "just like home" sharpening results, all without lugging stones, hones, or trying to find the perfect rock.
 
I own a Gameskeeper, and a Mini Canadian. Both are A2 and take a scary edge with my mouse pad sharpening block. Both have held up well to soem hard use and a pleasure to use. :thumbup:
 
I have a Fox River and Mini Canadian. They are top notch. The A-2 is great. You can get a lot of milage from just stropping. They also have the best warranty out there.
For the money you cannot go wrong with a Barkie.
 
Same as everyone. I bought a Northstar with gorgeous Buckeye Burl handle slabs and I won a red linen handled Southern Skinner. Outstanding knives and easy to maintain.

Guy
 
Denix said:
Same as everyone. I bought a Northstar with gorgeous Buckeye Burl handle slabs and I won a red linen handled Southern Skinner. Outstanding knives and easy to maintain.

Guy
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I have been eying a Northstar at Knifeworks for some time. Took a look tonight, and their gone. Says alot for the popularity of the brand/style. There have been many "thumbs up" on other forums for this style and BRKT. Mike (I say that like I know him :rolleyes: Knife world is so small)makes fine knives IMO.
 
:thumbup: Got a limited edition Gameskeeper from A.G. Russell with the amboyna burl handle. Although I haven't used it (could be a future collector's item) I take it out once in a while just to admire its beauty.

Just from the chatter here on the forums over the years, Bark River makes a quality product that most people have been very happy with.
 
As said your not going to get a cookiecutter knife from BRKT, they are hand finished so they will be a little different. However, the convex grinds on them are great. A2 will stain, it's not a stainless. A2 gets very very sharp and holds it very well, a great blade steel.
 
where is joe talmadge? :D :)

I own many and will say without question, use one and fear not.

very good knives and EXCELLENT quality for the price/ usability.:cool:

tell them Ron sent you!
 
I personally think they are too sharp and too strong and tough for the average knife user. Most folks don't need something that is this good and works this well.

I would never own one without a blade guard as one slip of the fingers into the blade edge and its off to the ER.
 
I have 5 Bark Rivers and another 4 on order. They are very fine quality and extremely sharp. I love eating my steak and pork chops with my Northstar. I haven't used them for any hard work yet. Strongly recommended.
 
I agree that BRKTs have a custom-quality feel to them. I'm a fan of many of the designs as well.

Of the BRKTs I have, the one I've used the most is a Fox River. Haven't done any camping since I got it, so haven't really tested it yet in a broad variety of uses. But I've been using it whenever I get the chance, including batoning it hard through a bunch of seasoned wood, to create kindling. That includes batoning through some small knots. Still shaving sharp, haven't re-sharpened yet.

Note, again, I haven't done any comparison testing to see how it holds up to some other good non-stainless steels, but my sense is that BRKT is doing a nice job on their A-2.
 
I have the Gameskeeper and it is the sharpest! Knife I have had in my 39 years and hundreds of knives. I also have a Mini-Canadian and plan on buying more in the future. For field use I would get the Gameskeeper because it is full tang!
 
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