New Arrival --- BRKT Northstar!

[StretchNM]

It arrived yersday but I couldn't take pics or get online to post them (It was UFC Fight Night Live....First things First!!!) This knife (from KnivesShipFree) is the sharpest out-of-the-box Bark River I've yet to receive. Literally hair-popping sharp with the factory oil still on it! I like the bamboo scales...the knife seems very light, almost weightless.

I have one concern about the bamboo however: the finish seems light, almost non-existent, and I'm a little concerned about dirt from my hands settling in to the bamboo's pores. Maybe that would just add character, but it's crossed my mind that I might try to add some Danish oil or something. Time and usage will tell. What do you guys think? Let it wear in? or, Put some finish on it? Or, should I not worry about it?

Thank you Derrick for the ultra-fast shipping. Let's see, I ordered it Friday, it arrived on Wednesday... that's fast, free service!

I hope you like these pics (Northstar cuttin' grass):

I can't find number 2 !!

 

[T.K.C.]

That is a beautiful knife!! Congrats!!

 

[okbohn]

Glad it arrived safely! Let me know about how the bamboo does with dirt--I haven't heard anyone say. I know I like them and they are tough as nails!

Enjoy.

 

[riddleofsteel]

Nice knife. I have one of the first Northstars in black linen Micarta. It is a sound design and I particularly like the groves on the back for striking a fire steel. My only complaint is that the laynard loop on the but digs into my hand drilling and I have considered grinding it off. They are light weight, nice size, bushcraft knives and I often offer mine to first time bushcrafters to use on our outings. I bet I have sold a couple of dozen for Mike over the years. Not to mention the folks I have infected with Bark River fever with that little knife.

LOL

 

[IUKE12]

That's a beauty for sure. Been eying one of them myself for some time now. Posting pictures isn't helping I wouldn't worry about the Bamboo. One thing that I do not understand regarding the spine notches. I know that they were intended to be used with the ferro rod, however, we go out of our way to remove teeth from the hacksaw blade ferro scraper, but add them to a knife I can see chewing up a ferro rod in record time with notches.

 

[StretchNM]

IUKE12,
I won't be able to put this knife through its paces until late October (the wife will keep it safe 'til then). I'll let you know what the grooves do to a ferro rod. I have never used notches to spark a fire, I normally just use the edge of the spine, but I'll try it to see.

 

[Scott Dog]

Stretch

How do you like the sheath that comes with the nightstar?. You got a good deal on that Bamboo one (I think it was $150). I'm looking at the one with the bighorn sheep handles. It's' really calling my name.

 

[StretchNM]

Scott Dog,
I haven't opened the sheath yet because the knife went back into the box until my birthday, however, my Highland Special came with an identical sheath. It's well-made and nice but I don;t like having the knife so deep in the sheath pocket. This is a personal preference of course. The handle sticks out only about 5/8" of an inch...maybe 3/4".... not enough to really get a good grasp on. Also, it's a pouch-style sheath, where the knife is not form-fitted to the leather. I make new ones for each knife where the leather is tightly form-fitted and the majority of the handle is exposed for a good first grasp when un-sheathing.

With that said, they're MUCH nicer than the old-style BRKT pouch sheaths!!!

If I could afford the Big Horn Sheep knives, nearly every one of my Barkies would have been ordered with them. The Big Horn SHeep scales are, by far, my favorites, followed by the burls (ironwood, myrtle, maple, buckeye, etc) and linens.

 

[StretchNM]

Stretch

How do you like the sheath that comes with the nightstar?.........

These pictures are of a Highland Special sheath. The Northstar's sheath is exactly the same, only the leather is dyed slightly darker....

I kindly like the firesteel loop, though I don;t have one to fit it.

Has anyone ordered the BRKT firesteel and, if so, how do you like it?

 

[StretchNM]

Here is the BRKT Sheath with a Highland Special in it. The knife goes nearly all the way down into the pouch. It's a fairly secure fit, but you can't get a good purchase on the handle when drawing it.

 

[IUKE12]

I have a Fox River with the identical sheath. That is how they are all coming out of Escanaba nowadays for this style knife. It has kind of grown on me, so I have not made a replacement for it....yet. In addition to what Stretch said, the extra loop is kind of nice and I wear it neck knife style when wearing pants or shorts that do not require a belt. The leather is mega thick and the whole sheath is super rigid as a result. I think the custom BRKT fire steels are LMF army models. That is what the loop was sized for. I have a non-custom LMF army in mine, and it works great. Happy birthday to Stretch and a full field report is due here as soon as you blow the candles out

 

[StretchNM]

Another good thing about the Northstar: as long as you have it with you, you always know which way is NORTH! It has a compass built right into the blade! No more checking the side of the tree to see where the bark is growing!



((( )))