Question regarding custom slabs on Fallkniven knives.

[JohnnyO]

Fallkniven makes a great blade at a very reasonable price. Have 3 and love them. Bark River also makes a great blade at a very reasonable price, with a great selection of handles. So, why is it that a Fallkniven becomes so expensive when you put another handle on it that is no different than what you might get from Bark River? Is it the work that goes into making new handles for them, which may not be available in normal production?

 

[knarfeng]

I would guess that part of it is that Bark River makes their own knives.
Fallkniven knives are made for them in Japan.

For Bark River to make a change, all they have to do is go out to the shop.
For Fallkniven to make a change, they have to order up the change to be done half a world away from their offices. This is much more painful (read costly) than just going out into the shop from the office.

 

[Halbie]

I have two Fallknivens - TK3 with cocobolo and NL3 with leather - and a Bark River Boone II with amboyna burl.

There are some simple economics to this. The more expensive the knife, the more expensive it is to change the handles. Fallkniven blades are, generally, more expensive, as they use more exotic metals and require more time and expense to make (especially the laminates). That's why their blades are made by Takefu in Japan. My impression, after speaking with people there, is that they are very traditional in their overall design and choice of handle materials. My TK3, for example, has a laminated "super steel" blade made by Takefu, and was put together and finished by Fallkniven.

You are paying for the wide selection of BRKT handle materials. It's like having a dozen option packages on a new car. Believe me, the cost of having all those options is figured into their prices (in addition to the variable cost of the hard woods involved).

That said, these appear to be very different companies with very different approaches - although, both make a lot of hunting and wilderness knives. I see them filling different niches, not the same one.

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

I'd pick Bark River over Fallkniven any day of the week.

 

[cutter17]

Check out the Knives Ship Free website. They have some Fallkniven knives that have had Bark River handles put on. The work was done by Bark River. :thumbup:

 

[Halbie]

I'd pick Bark River over Fallkniven any day of the week.

Why? I just don't get some of your "blanket" statements on these knives. I love my new Bark River, but I paid more for the Fallknivens for the special blades and laminates.

Every week or so, there's another "BRKT versus Fallkniven" thread. I can't imagine why. There are so many others out there. Well, at least, you guys are keeping both names on our tongues.

 

[Halbie]

Check out the Knives Ship Free website. They have some Fallkniven knives that have had Bark River handles put on. The work was done by Bark River. :thumbup:

Holy Metal, Batman!

.... Excellent. The best of both worlds.