Mini Northstar?

Shotgun

Shotgun

Joined
Feb 3, 2006
Messages
8,250
Any of you guys own one? I was thinking of going full on Nessmuk but I'm more interested in a fixed blade with a good point to it rather than the swept back skinner style in his engraving. So, after looking around I found the Mini-Northstar to be as close to what I invisioned as one can get in a production blade. Any comments to it or the steel used would be great. Thanks.
 
it's a great knife... most folks consider it on the smaller side for a bushcraft knife but I liked mine fine...
 
i handled one once to sharpen it, and was impressed at how large it felt in my hand, but how small it looked sitting on a table.

you might want to look for a more full-size bushcraft knife, but if you are looking for a smaller alternative i would say go for it :thumbup:
 
As mentioned above, it's on the smaller side, but fits my hand nicely and I wouldn't hesitate to carry it for light bushcraft chores. Here's a couple pictures:

DSC_0128.jpg


DSC_0130.jpg


DSC_0121.jpg
 
Here's my mini in maple. It's a fine little knife with some fairly good 12C27 steel. It makes a good EDC fixed blade.

Mini-Northstar-01.jpg

Mini-Northstar-02.jpg


A comparison shot with a few other Barkies:
BRKT-02.jpg


By the way Mike, that's a gorgeous burl on that mini! :thumbup:
 
I have had three. They are a great little knife. For the weight and size, they are very capable. I caught myself batoning kindling one evening with my "purty one." I was thinking "Northstar" but carrying "Mini-Northstar" but it was fine in spite of the beating. I tend to prefer knives of this size and the MNS is one of the premier "knives of this size." I was a bit disappointed in the bulkines of the handle on the last one I bought, but those of the first run (the KF blades) had very nicely shaped handles. The Maroon Linen one was a BRKT re-handle from Fibermascus that had wires sticking out. They did an excellent job on this one. The GCM had one of the worst handles I'd seen - lopsided every way you looked at it. I decided to fix it myself and ended up with an even slimmer MNS that was very nice handling and very compact.

DSCN5192.jpg

DSCN5187.jpg

DSCN5186.jpg

DSCN5194.jpg
 
I love my Mini-NorthStar! I own four Barkies and this is my pick for EDC. All my other Barkies are in A2 steel. I am more than impressed with the Mini-NS in 12C27! Holds a great edge and is easy to touch up. (I think some of the ease of sharpening for me is due to blade shape, size and ergonomics of overall knife.) I think I need two more just in case! :) I have used the heck out off this 'lil knife! It never lets me down. Matt
 
Jeff H, really decent photos there thank you:thumbup:

My MNS in Antique Ivory has very slim handles,much thinner than the ones you showed&maybe a bit too thin even. I notice that yours are all rounded at the top of the handle by the lanyard hole,whereas my model is angled not rounded.
It's not 1st production so maybe it's been changed?

I favour a smaller knife,they come in much handier&if i need to chop, my mini Fiskars hatchet takes care of that.
 
Just taking off to do some turkey hunting, and i`m taking my mini northstar. Great little knife, it`s small, but can handle quite a bit. I like it a lot.
 
The Mini NS is a great size and handles very well. One of my all time favorites from BRKT.

Jeff
 
I have 2 of them...pictured in antique jigged bone and maple bark bone with micarta bolster. They are my most carried EDC knives and they ride tight and very light to the body. They make an exceptional light bush knife as well.:thumbup:

EDC004-1.jpg
 
TwinBlade NICE collection! What is that knife in the top left corner with the dark (horn?) handle? Also, what is the fourth one up from bottom right?

ON EDIT: What is the one bottom right?

Naming them all would be good if you could do that. THanks
 
StretchNM said:
TwinBlade NICE collection! What is that knife in the top left corner with the dark (horn?) handle? Also, what is the fourth one up from bottom right?

ON EDIT: What is the one bottom right?

Naming them all would be good if you could do that. THanks
Click to expand...
Thanks bro. That's just my EDC's too :D

Not to hijack this too badly here but these are the names as follows...

Top is a Journeyman

Left side from the top...

EDC Saex
Escort Boot knife
Escort Boot knife
Mini Northstar
Mini Northstar
2008 Custom Semi Skinner
Huntsman

Right side from top...

Ptarmigan
Woodland Special
The 2008 Bark River Grind-in Wharncliffe that I made
IMP
Blackwater Boot knife
Blackwater Boot knife
Little Creek

:thumbup:
 
So what I'm noticing is that some of these have choils and some don't. What's up with that, different runs?
 
Choils????

I don't see any choils!!!! Perhaps you could described what it is you are seeing, and exactly where you are seeing it?

The Mini-Northstar has never been made with a choil.
 
If you're talking about the little "choil" notch on my Northstars, they didn;t come that way. I put them there with a Vigor flexshaft and a chainsaw sharpening stone.

Most people I've noticed don;t like that. The reason I do it is to allow me to get right up on that when sharpening. Without it, for me anyway, the edge just gets thicker and duller over time that last 1/8" or so before the hilt.

ON EDIT: I just scrolled up. It looks like Jeff H did that to his too.
 
willgoy said:
Jeff H, really decent photos there thank you:thumbup:

......I notice that yours are all rounded at the top of the handle by the lanyard hole,whereas my model is angled not rounded................
Click to expand...

I did that. In certain holds/grips, the corner was in the heel of my hand. That mod was a personal preference. The GCM, "thin handle" mod was just to correct every possible shaping error that could be made on a handle. I am not certain I could identify differences between the KF run and the next run. Typical variations from one knife to the next can be considerable enough that there are many "variations," so if you get one that feels right hang onto it.
Great blade, grind, dimensions, etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top