Just saw this.....Bark River is no more?

Status
Not open for further replies.
A couple days ago Arizona Custom Knives had two of the Bark River Mini-Manitou's that were made from the Chinese steel kits. I messaged ACK about the knives and I haven't gotten a response back. The knives are now being showed as sold.
 
The employees were used to seeing blanks come into the shop. No one there was ever cutting blanks from sheets of steel from what I understand. So mixing in the China made blanks probably was easy for Mike, Jim and whoever else removed the stickers.
 
alex said:
I think it would be fairly easy for most Bark river owners on this forum to call several of the pawnshops in their area and ask if they have an xrf tester in house to check metals. If they do I would bet if you took your knives there and maybe paid them a buck or two per knife they would test each knife and you could take a picture of the composition shown for each knife as they tested. From what I have seen it only takes maybe 10 to 15 seconds to test each knife so figure a minute or so per knife to include the picture taking of the composition. Pawn shop guys like easy and quick money. Someone should then start a dedicated thread and each person should post what each knife model they tested was and year of purchase if remembered. That info could be updated daily on a spreadsheet and at least provide some sort of database to document the type of steel likely used and how widespread the problem might be.

I would bet most for the earlier Bark River models made years ago from A2 are probably A2 or even if the fraud was ongoing from the beginning probably 1095 or 5160 which are very cheap, easy to heat treat, perform well, and cheaper than bringing in steel from China. Most folks would never be able to tell the steels apart in use as long as the knives had a proper heat treat. If you have used your knives and sharpened them a few times you already know if they held up to whatever cutting/chopping duties you put them to and if they performed well or not. I only have a very early Gameskeeper in A2 and one of the early Goloks marked Prototype which I think were 0170-6c (Camillus designation for 50100B or cold steel"s Carbon V) and they both hold a very good edge and are easy to resharpen with the convex grind. Whatever steel they might be if they are not A2 or 0170-6c doesn't really concern me since I am not a collector but a user. If I was a collector and owned more than 1 or 2 I would be royally pissed and I would not blame you if you wanted to form a lynch mob.

If DLT and KSF and other dealers were smart they would rent an xrf tester and test each blade in stock for those that might still be interested in buying one if the price was lowered substantially.
Click to expand...
I don’t know if any pawn shops in my area have anything like this but I do know a knife maker or two in the area who probably can. I have three such early BRK’s (BlackJack actually) marked A2. If I can get it done I’ll post the results.
 
BP Green said:
I don’t know if any pawn shops in my area have anything like this but I do know a knife maker or two in the area who probably can. I have three such early BRK’s (BlackJack actually) marked A2. If I can get it done I’ll post the results.
Click to expand...

If the pawnshops don't have one, try calling a few jewelry stores. If they buy jewelry, they probably have an XRF machine, to keep from getting ripped off.
 
SharpBits said:
The employees were used to seeing blanks come into the shop. No one there was ever cutting blanks from sheets of steel from what I understand. So mixing in the China made blanks probably was easy for Mike, Jim and whoever else removed the stickers.
Click to expand...
On FB, a lot of former employees are coming out and saying they knew about the China blanks and all the issues. But their paycheck meant more to them. Funny how that works. They had no issue ripping people off when they were getting paid for it. I have little to no sympathy for them. Much like I have little to no sympathy for the dealers.

If most of us on here were familiar with Stewart’s past transgressions and screw jobs, I highly doubt the dealers didn’t know. I guess they have to maintain that plausible deniability though.
 
Pàdruig said:
I don't understand this take. As a close friend, or even a family member, your responsibility is even greater to hold them to account. I do not care who you are, whether you are a brother, a close friend, a professional partner; if you are engaged in immoral and unethical behavior, I am 100% going to be calling you out on it and will not be supporting you, quietly or otherwise.

To cite an example (not knife related so my apologies): One of my best friends had a tumultuous relationship with his then wife. The pressure got to him and he stepped out on her. I called him out on it and dressed him down pretty good. We didn't speak for a long, long time. I acknowledged that the relationship with his partner was unhealthy but there is a right way and wrong way to go about addressing such things. He chose the wrong way and I didn't mince words.

The point being, just because you are friends or family with someone who is out of line, it doesn't warrant tossing your integrity aside when it's inconvenient and uncomfortable. Hold them accountable until they change their ways for the better.
Click to expand...
If I have a close friend who has passed the tests of time, I will not suddenly abandon them. I would not condone any wrongdoing, but I would stand by them and support them any way I could (short of posting public videos about them). I only have two people in my life who aren’t family that I can honestly call close friends. I know at least one of them would stand by me if the chips were down, and I wouldn’t think twice about standing by him.

Back on topic.
 
Jdottinger said:
On FB, a lot of former employees are coming out and saying they knew about the China blanks and all the issues. But their paycheck meant more to them. Funny how that works. They had no issue ripping people off when they were getting paid for it. I have little to no sympathy for them. Much like I have little to no sympathy for the dealers.

If most of us on here were familiar with Stewart’s past transgressions and screw jobs, I highly doubt the dealers didn’t know. I guess they have to maintain that plausible deniability though.
Click to expand...
I taking some of that with a grain of salt. Many are anonymous posts, so while they may be true, it's difficult to verify. What we do know for sure is that Mike & Jim knew since it was their idea and implemented by the them.

I don't think the two big BRK dealers are going to be able to wash their hands of this mess, either.
 
Fox940 said:
A couple days ago Arizona Custom Knives had two of the Bark River Mini-Manitou's that were made from the Chinese steel kits. I messaged ACK about the knives and I haven't gotten a response back. The knives are now being showed as sold.
Click to expand...
I just received an email. They are adding a disclaimer for the Bark River Knives they have for sale and they thanked me for informing them.
 
shinyedges said:
It should be over for good, but is it? Unfortunately probably not. Look at all the other terrible people still succeeding in the knife industry. As a vocal member of this community, bringing awareness to the disgusting backgrounds of various knife companies, I can honestly say not enough people care. Many people don't know, but just from engaging with those who do know on this forum, many many people don't care. They like the knife, they don't give a rats ass what the owner did.
Click to expand...

Not just the knife industry. In my experience most people won't stand up for what's right. If it doesn't affect them directly they don't care.

I remember a knifetuber going to his shop and even defending him. At the time I wasn't aware of what he was talking about. He even designed a knife (Sidekick). How have all BR knives not been pulled from all websites is beyond me. I feel bad for those that don't know better.

If I knew any of his issues I never would have purchased anything from him. Just glad it I sold all that I had years ago. I'd be pissed otherwise.
 
Last edited:
Jdottinger said:
On FB, a lot of former employees are coming out and saying they knew about the China blanks and all the issues. But their paycheck meant more to them. Funny how that works. They had no issue ripping people off when they were getting paid for it. I have little to no sympathy for them. Much like I have little to no sympathy for the dealers.

If most of us on here were familiar with Stewart’s past transgressions and screw jobs, I highly doubt the dealers didn’t know. I guess they have to maintain that plausible deniability though.
Click to expand...

Have you ever been to Escanaba? Theres not much out there for work. The place is kind of a dump, so I’m sure that the employees were absolutely relying on those pay checks.
 
SharpBits said:
The employees were used to seeing blanks come into the shop. No one there was ever cutting blanks from sheets of steel from what I understand. So mixing in the China made blanks probably was easy for Mike, Jim and whoever else removed the stickers.
Click to expand...

**ABSOLUTELY NOT DEFENDING BARK RIVER**

Just for clarity, I don't know how many knives were made from blanks (of any origin) or when that started, but it wasn't always that way.

They didn't have anyone cutting out blanks at all.....that is true. But they had bars of steel, with holes in the handles for pins, already heat treated. They had templates for certain models where they would grind away all the material that didn't look like whatever particular pattern they were building.

Then they would glue on handles, shape and then grind blades with handles attached.

Now what the steel actually was, I can't say. Nor can I say how long they continued that process before someone thought pre-made blanks were cheaper, faster and easier.

They haven't always used pre made blanks.

**ABSOLUTELY NOT DEFENDING BARK RIVER**
 
J. Doyle said:
**ABSOLUTELY NOT DEFENDING BARK RIVER**

Just for clarity, I don't know how many knives were made from blanks (of any origin) or when that started, but it wasn't always that way.

They didn't have anyone cutting out blanks at all.....that is true. But they had bars of steel, with holes in the handles for pins, already heat treated. They had templates for certain models where they would grind away all the material that didn't look like whatever particular pattern they were building.

Then they would glue on handles, shape and then grind blades with handles attached.

Now what the steel actually was, I can't say. Nor can I say how long they continued that process before someone thought pre-made blanks were cheaper, faster and easier.

They haven't always used pre made blanks.

**ABSOLUTELY NOT DEFENDING BARK RIVER**
Click to expand...
I imagine it started when Mike realized he wanted a new jet ski.
 
J. Doyle said:
**ABSOLUTELY NOT DEFENDING BARK RIVER**

Just for clarity, I don't know how many knives were made from blanks (of any origin) or when that started, but it wasn't always that way.

They didn't have anyone cutting out blanks at all.....that is true. But they had bars of steel, with holes in the handles for pins, already heat treated. They had templates for certain models where they would grind away all the material that didn't look like whatever particular pattern they were building.

Then they would glue on handles, shape and then grind blades with handles attached.

Now what the steel actually was, I can't say. Nor can I say how long they continued that process before someone thought pre-made blanks were cheaper, faster and easier.

They haven't always used pre made blanks.

**ABSOLUTELY NOT DEFENDING BARK RIVER**
Click to expand...
For the Chinese portion of their fraud, that applies. To the would mike order a2 or 1080 and sell it as 3v... well.
 
Fox940 said:
There are ways to go after personal finances if the owner of an LLC has committed fraud. I guarantee that Mike Stewart was paying himself handsomely.
Click to expand...
You are correct but if the scammers know what they are doing it can be hard to peirce the corporate veil. Or not worth it because the money is gone. Or "gone"
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top