Show off your (trad) Bear & Son Pride!

Side O'Beef

Side O'Beef

Gold Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2021
Messages
511
There are several threads around here discussing Bear & Sons, and historic QC issues etc. However, in the past few years, I have been more than satisfied by what I have gotten from them. Sure, they are not Cases, and they are definitely not GECs. But to sell an American-made knife for just a little bit more than half the price of a Case is impressive! And let's celebrate that with pictures!

I'll start. These are a pair of their Farm Hands - essentially a lockback Sodbuster Jr. One is the standard in black aluminum. And the second is toasted white bone - part of the recent Bonfire Series.
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No pictures yet, but I have two large barlows that are indeed excellent. Their large slip joint drop point has been great as well.
I noticed that they don’t flag these models with “made in USA”, so I have to think they are made you know where. (Edit to add that Bear & Sons & Bear Ops are always US made. See later post below.)
 
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I had one Bear & Son Barlow from about 2015 that was, well I gave it away to a fellow needing a working pocketknife. This Premium Stockman has been a good knife, the picture is 12 years old so I have had it at least that long. It stays in my waterfowl bag as it is all stainless except the bone handles (cut to look like stag) and I always felt that if I dropped it off a boat or water blind that I wouldn't be out much. It is snappy and the fit is good (appropriate for the price level). I don't get to examine very many of their knives, as only Ace Hardware keeps them around these parts and in very limited patterns. I would be glad to support Bear if I could handle more to see they are good (same as I do with Case). OH
Ps looking at the blade and their asterisks (assume to be a system like Case dots) I'd guess the knife was made in 2011.

Bear-Son-Stockman.jpg
 
SharpBits said:
noticed that they don’t flag these models with “made in USA”, so I have to think they are made you know where.
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Every distributor lists them as made in USA and I don't think there is any reason to believe they are not made in the factory.
 
I would like to believe that they have worked on some of the QC issues, I would think they have potential to fill a niche for a good priced working knife. Would like to see more recent examples to check out the fit and finish.
 
Just picked one of those up yesterday from the local chain farm supply store fieryimp! Took the clip off. The 1095 was a surprise and the selling point for me. Smooth action, good centering, and nice lockup.
 
In what I consider to be good news, the president of Bear & Sons responded personally to my inquiry, letting me know all Bear & Sons and Bear Ops are always made in the US! Apparently the new website was missing the Made in USA tags, but that should be fixed soon. Now I'm going to save up and grab a couple more.
 
SharpBits said:
In what I consider to be good news, the president of Bear & Sons responded personally to my inquiry, letting me know all Bear & Sons and Bear Ops are always made in the US! Apparently the new website was missing the Made in USA tags, but that should be fixed soon. Now I'm going to save up and grab a couple more.
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Very nice
 
This is a rather slapdash shot from last night. Mechanically, this knife isn't great, but aesthetically I like it VERY much. It was the first Bear and Son that's ever caught my eye, and so it's the one I have to show right now:

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It was inexpensive, the blades came fairly sharp, and all things considered, pretty neat little knife. I have a complete wackjob of a B&S Barlow on its way to me right now that I'll share when it arrives. I expect the laughter and headshaking to be egregious, but its oddball nature really caught my eye! Should be here in a couple days!
 
SharpBits said:
In what I consider to be good news, the president of Bear & Sons responded personally to my inquiry, letting me know all Bear & Sons and Bear Ops are always made in the US! Apparently the new website was missing the Made in USA tags, but that should be fixed soon. Now I'm going to save up and grab a couple more.
Click to expand...
That's really great to hear!
 
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