Mike Stewart & the BRK&T gang

Just for the record, I wanna say that Mike Stewart has always been straight up with me and I have Bark River knives and the ones I have are much better than their retail price. They come close to custom quality or better.
:thumbup: :thumbup:

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Can you post a pic of the flaws, at least an example? Without a visualization it's difficult to place your topic in context.

I'm no mindless fanboy, but I do own three BRKT products and have given several others as gifts. The quality of each one was excellent. I'm wondering if a few sloppy knives squeeked through QC, if the quality is slipping, or if the flaws are below my level of detection.

Sincerely,
-Bob
 
I am a Bark River Dealer. I have gotten one or two knives from Mike that I had some quality issues with. Let me think for a minute: ring, ring, ring "Bark River" hey Mike, the ivory micarta mini-canadian had a chip by the front pin and Diane won't scrim it for the customer...ok I will send it to you - if you can't fix it send me a new one...ok thanks.

Two sides to all stories - including "all" those dealers that won't sell his knives and DD who won't own one. Hey DD how about telling, as Paul Harvey would say, "The rest of the story" about why a certain dealer doesn't carry Bark River Knives? Doesn't have a thing to do with the quality of BRK&T knives...

What makes me mad about this, and another thread in this forum about how the NKCA is "scamming" people is how people handle problems....

I spent 30 years in the military, 2 in the civilian sector, and now back with the government in a Federal Law Enforcement Position and is never ceases to amaze me about how people are so quick to yell (on an internationally accessible website) about pisspoor this, terrible that, I've been screwed, and not even try to contact the other party. I know there were issues with the knives received in this particular case. I know that the original poster sort of regretted his post and requested a retraction - shame on the forum moderator for not honoring that request...

I learned a long time ago, from a grand old gentleman, in order for it to be a problem, the person you have a problem with needs to know that you have a problem...and be given a chance to correct the problem... I was the Supply Officer on 2 Coast Guard Cutters and 2 shore units. I always told the other department heads if they had a problem with the Supply Department, let me know...let me have the opportunity to take corrective action, give me a chance. I empowered my staff to resolve problems at their level if they could - if not kick it up a notch until I got involved. Did I have problems? Sure. And almost everytime I had a problem I was able to resolve it. Several times I was blindsided at a Department Head meeting in front of the Commanding Officer by someone with an axe to grind...damned embarrassing when you have to tell the CO - sorry Captain, first I heard of it...sometimes it backfires on them though...especially when you let the CO know about the problem - with the solution already taken care of....before the other person complains.

I guess my rambling here is that if I had a problem with Bark River Knives (and I have had in the past) I would contact them, tell them what the problem is, and give them the opportunity to fix it. If I got totally blown off, ignored, told to pound salt, or just told tough crapola, then maybe I have a beef. What I saw on this thread was a couple of people still with an axe to grind about another forum and Mike Stewart, jump in and spout off when they shouldn't have. I am glad that the knife dealer and Bark River came to an agreement about return of knives and refund of money - sounds like a supplier working with a dealer to resolve a problem - a darn shame that it ended up here on this forum.

Sorry for the rant.
 
Tim Hecht said:
I am a Bark River Dealer. I have gotten one or two knives from Mike that I had some quality issues with. Let me think for a minute: ring, ring, ring "Bark River" hey Mike, the ivory micarta mini-canadian had a chip by the front pin and Diane won't scrim it for the customer...ok I will send it to you - if you can't fix it send me a new one...ok thanks.

Two sides to all stories - including "all" those dealers that won't sell his knives and DD who won't own one. Hey DD how about telling, as Paul Harvey would say, "The rest of the story" about why a certain dealer doesn't carry Bark River Knives? Doesn't have a thing to do with the quality of BRK&T knives...

What makes me mad about this, and another thread in this forum about how the NKCA is "scamming" people is how people handle problems....

I spent 30 years in the military, 2 in the civilian sector, and now back with the government in a Federal Law Enforcement Position and is never ceases to amaze me about how people are so quick to yell (on an internationally accessible website) about pisspoor this, terrible that, I've been screwed, and not even try to contact the other party. I know there were issues with the knives received in this particular case. I know that the original poster sort of regretted his post and requested a retraction - shame on the forum moderator for not honoring that request...

I learned a long time ago, from a grand old gentleman, in order for it to be a problem, the person you have a problem with needs to know that you have a problem...and be given a chance to correct the problem... I was the Supply Officer on 2 Coast Guard Cutters and 2 shore units. I always told the other department heads if they had a problem with the Supply Department, let me know...let me have the opportunity to take corrective action, give me a chance. I empowered my staff to resolve problems at their level if they could - if not kick it up a notch until I got involved. Did I have problems? Sure. And almost everytime I had a problem I was able to resolve it. Several times I was blindsided at a Department Head meeting in front of the Commanding Officer by someone with an axe to grind...damned embarrassing when you have to tell the CO - sorry Captain, first I heard of it...sometimes it backfires on them though...especially when you let the CO know about the problem - with the solution already taken care of....before the other person complains.

I guess my rambling here is that if I had a problem with Bark River Knives (and I have had in the past) I would contact them, tell them what the problem is, and give them the opportunity to fix it. If I got totally blown off, ignored, told to pound salt, or just told tough crapola, then maybe I have a beef. What I saw on this thread was a couple of people still with an axe to grind about another forum and Mike Stewart, jump in and spout off when they shouldn't have. I am glad that the knife dealer and Bark River came to an agreement about return of knives and refund of money - sounds like a supplier working with a dealer to resolve a problem - a darn shame that it ended up here on this forum.

Sorry for the rant.
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Tim, did you read the post? I PM'd Mike several times, so it was he that was answering not a BRK&T staff member and it took 2.5 months. With all due respect sir, I am relating my experience and as such its first hand. Again, with all due respect, I dont think your military service matters a jot in this situation and I also think you would be hard pressed to find mil guys that find ways to use a knife harder than the average avid hiker/camper or Bushcraft practitioner (I dare say the latter would use a knife in a more punishing manner).

In situations like this there will be a lot of conviction on both sides. As I said, I dont want this to become shit slinging match. Mike and I both understand each other and this will be the end of it. I had wanted to make this thread a thumbs up post, alas this couldnt be the case.

Bob W, Sorry, no I won't post a pic, feel free to email me though if you would like to see what I consider to be unaceptable. If you do receive pictures though, please refrain from posting them on this or any other forum.
 
Why is it that every time some one says anything bad on the forums about Bark River they get smacked down? Then we always get the cheer leaders telling us what Stewarts opinion or stance is. He can come hear and speak for himself.

LaBella,, your post is not even worth replying to. :rolleyes: :jerkit:
 
Hmmm there DD do you feel smacked down? I was going to get into a long diatribe about your laments but after I thought about it, I won't. It sounds like Bark River and Temper worked it out. That's the important thing here.
 
Tim Hecht said:
. . . .never ceases to amaze me about how people are so quick to yell (on an internationally accessible website) about pisspoor this, terrible that, I've been screwed. . . . .
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Maybe this will help you understand the intent behind this forum.


The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: This is your area to tell about your experiences (Good or Bad) with dealers, sellers, and individuals you've bought, sold, and traded with.
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One of the great things about the U.S. is our "right to free speech."


One of the great things about this forum is that a thread starter is able to relay THEIR experience(s).








You can marshal in 50 people who have had exceptional experiences, but it doesn't change the fact that someone HASN'T encountered that same benefit.
 
None of our knives are perfect.--they are performers not show pieces.
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I'm not sure where LaBella got this quote, but assuming it's from someone at Bark River. That's all anyone needs to know. The choice is clear if you do not care for flaws, don't buy, don't sell this brand.
 
I would just like to add, for the record, that I have personally inspected and handled dozens of Mike's knives. I used to be the contact for Mike Stewart and the NJKCA. Every knife that he donated passed through my hands, and I have never seen a knife with so much as a blemish. I own a few myself, and lately was able to secure an early (circa 1990) folder made by Mike for A.G. Russell's personal collection.

I'm not saying that it's impossible, but of all the BRK&T knives that I've had the pleasure of handling, I have yet to see a "bad" knife. Just my $.02.

Ken
 
Tim Hecht said:
....... I know that the original poster sort of regretted his post and requested a retraction - shame on the forum moderator for not honoring that request...
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Let me be clear folks.

The staff art Bladeforums will NOT, under any circumstances, delete anything that is posted on these forums.

Under certain circumstances, we will move threads or posts to the moderators area, where we archive them for future reference should the need arise.

This forum is here to relate your experiences with dealers or individuals; good, bad, or downright ugly. It is up to each individual member how he or she accomplishes that.
 
Gigone, thank you. I started my tenure with the federal government on April 15, 1970 when I enlisted in the Navy. It is now 2006; and I am still in a uniform serving the federal government - in reality the people of the United States. The Constitution doesn't even say you have to be citizen of the US to be afforded the rights it guarantees. Thank you for reminding me what basic freedoms I have been protecting all these years.

Temper and I have talked off-forum and I certainly respect anyone's rights to post here about the good, the bad, and the ugly dealings with the process of transferring knives from one to another. I do however resent (and will post my two cents worth) people who, in my opinion, jump on the band wagon and try to get in a kick or two. The issue I have is that the we only hear a small, obviously biased point of view without any regard to the what may have actually transpired between the agreived parties.

As far as requesting a post to be deleted, I would think that the original poster (as can be done on other discussion type websites) can, before a designated period of time passes, delete a post. It is a nice feature but it isn't the only way to skin a cat.

I've said way too much on this topic and as far as I am concerned Temper and Mike Stewart worked out a solution to a problem which is what should be done.

Thanks to the moderators, it is a tough job, I know, I moderate several threads on other forums.
 
I own several BRK&T knives and have handled many many of them.

The only issue was that some of the sheaths were under par and my Evo-1 came rusty. Heck its A2 carbon steel and it had been with the seller for over a year... One would expect that to be the case.

Otherwise fit and finish are top notch in my expericence.

My 2 cents
 
I have had to return several bark river knives - one sambar stag trout & bird that had the scales on crooked and several for just down right crappy sheaths. Quality seems to be hit or miss.

Rick
 
I do however resent (and will post my two cents worth) people who, in my opinion, jump on the band wagon and try to get in a kick or two.
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Hey Tim, you take it personally that anyone dares to agree with the original post, which is that BRKT knife quality can tarnish a dealer's reputation. Tough. His comments about shoddy quality are spot on. I bought/sold over 100 BRKTs and will never buy another. I'll tell you what I resent.... manufacturer suck ups like you that try to spill blood whenever someone posts a negative experience. You are clearly one of Mike Stewart's henchmen and I'm sure he is proud of you. :thumbdn:

whitie
 
Hey whitie, from you that's a compliment. I've never sold a Bark River Knife that had a flaw or manufacturing defect. If their product or any other knife I sell doesn't get my seal of approval it goes back from where it came from. Am I a Bark River Henchman? No. You are entitled to you opinion of course - like a part of the human anatomy, the anus, unless its been surgically removed you have an opinion. I don't agree with it. What you think of me is none of my business - its all about you whitie. Live with it.
 
The General said:
Getting back on track...
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Your attempt at slamming others, due to their "join date," adheres to a philosophy of "staying on track." :jerkit:


"Practice what you preach."
 
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