That one bad experience that totally ruined the brand for you.

Terry M. said:
Funny I read this thread now. I just a few minutes ago sent a follow up email to Spartan Blades regarding the dull out of box Harsey folder I recently received. I was quite disappointed and while I can obviously sharpen it myself it kind of takes away from the fun of a new knife. I sent the original email 2.5 weeks ago and not one peep. Kinda sours me on Spartan going forward.
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Call them!!
I had to send a new SHF in a month ago to take care of a couple issues. They were very apologetic that the knife left the shop the way it did, and promised to make it right. I shipped the knife out on a Friday, and it was back in my hands the following Friday…7 day turn around. Issues were corrected, Plus they included some Spartan swag. I am very satisfied with their customer service!
 
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Docscoot said:
In an attempt to balance out the negative (sorry if I'm going against the grain of the thread!), I did want to give a counter to one of the posts I see above. I'm far from a Case fanboy, but I do love the older models from back when QC was quite a bit better. I also collect the newer Case-Bose models. A few of those came from the factory in less-than-perfect shape in terms of fit and finish. I've had three that I sent back to the factory, and all three of those were returned to me fixed right up and perfect. So while I think their QC is certainly hit or miss (which I find pretty problematic for anything as pricey as those Case-Bose models), I personally found their CS after the fact to be top notch. I guess individual experiences may vary!
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Maybe I'll have to give their warranty team another chance after the holidays. They should have a few more years experience with the kickstart design and modern folders since they've expanded into that now.
 
DaveReb said:
Call them!!
I had to send a new SHF in a month ago to take care of a couple issues. They were very apologetic that the knife left the shop the way it did, and promised to make it right. I shipped the knife out on a Friday, and it was back in my hands the following Friday…7 day turn around. Issues were corrected, Plus they included some Spartan swag. I am very satisfied with their customer service!
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Just to keep current on my situation, my second email garnered a profusely apologetic email. They sent me a shipping label and have promised to get the knife back to me ASAP. I’m very satisfied with Spartan Blade now and will plan to buy more.
 
Terry M. said:
Just to keep current on my situation, my second email garnered a profusely apologetic email. They sent me a shipping label and have promised to get the knife back to me ASAP. I’m very satisfied with Spartan Blade now and will plan to buy more.
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Love to hear when a company catches a screw-up and takes that extra step to not only make it right, but mend the relationship. Sometimes that can go even farther than not having to deal with them at all post-purchase. Nobody is perfect - sometimes a bad apple slips through QC. Going the extra mile to fix it means a lot in my book. Looking forward to hearing how things turn out when you get your blade back.
 
rizza32 said:
A drop test? What for its not a pistol
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You're very right about that - these are not "on purpose" drop tests, but if a folder slides off the couch while I'm playing the guitar, that sucker should not open up. I've had 30-40 different knives over the years (Rookie numbers!), and the Hinderers open up every time like clockwork. My dog lives at my feet, and can't take any chances that an overpriced blade opens up and pokes him. Plus they're too thick behind the edge.
 
scoobtay said:
You're very right about that - these are not "on purpose" drop tests, but if a folder slides off the couch while I'm playing the guitar, that sucker should not open up. I've had 30-40 different knives over the years (Rookie numbers!), and the Hinderers open up every time like clockwork. My dog lives at my feet, and can't take any chances that an overpriced blade opens up and pokes him. Plus they're too thick behind the edge.
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I don’t like that they only finish one side. My OCD requires that they at least make an effort to make it look symmetrical. Otherwise it looks like they couldn’t figure out what to do with it, and said fk it, just leave it like that. Part of the reason I prefer liner locks or button locks - no half-assing it, they have to finish the whole thing. I won’t have a knife that’s only finished on one side. It’s just wrong.
 
Danny Linguini said:
I don’t like that they only finish one side. My OCD requires that they at least make an effort to make it look symmetrical. Otherwise it looks like they couldn’t figure out what to do with it, and said fk it, just leave it like that. Part of the reason I prefer liner locks or button locks - no half-assing it, they have to finish the whole thing. I won’t have a knife that’s only finished on one side. It’s just wrong.
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Haha love it, it cracks me up that as OCD as I am, your OCD takes on such different forms than mine :) I’m almost the opposite, I love perfect asymmetry and two tone knives.
 
Docscoot said:
Haha love it, it cracks me up that as OCD as I am, your OCD takes on such different forms than mine :) I’m almost the opposite, I love perfect asymmetry and two tone knives.
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That's hilarious. The only time I buy a Hinderer (well, almost the only time) is when I already know where to buy (or already have) a Ti show scale of the same finish as the lock side. Until I find a matching Ti show side, it's not a real knife.

Edit: This is just my personal craziness. The knife works exactly the same either way.
 
Danny Linguini said:
I don’t like that they only finish one side. My OCD requires that they at least make an effort to make it look symmetrical. Otherwise it looks like they couldn’t figure out what to do with it, and said fk it, just leave it like that. Part of the reason I prefer liner locks or button locks - no half-assing it, they have to finish the whole thing. I won’t have a knife that’s only finished on one side. It’s just wrong.
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You need a Fulltrack.

scoobtay said:
You're very right about that - these are not "on purpose" drop tests, but if a folder slides off the couch while I'm playing the guitar, that sucker should not open up. I've had 30-40 different knives over the years (Rookie numbers!), and the Hinderers open up every time like clockwork. My dog lives at my feet, and can't take any chances that an overpriced blade opens up and pokes him. Plus they're too thick behind the edge.
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Yep. Have had a cut in the foot from a 24 skinny slicer once. One learns ....
 
jacobconroy75 said:
That's hilarious. The only time I buy a Hinderer (well, almost the only time) is when I already know where to buy (or already have) a Ti show scale of the same finish as the lock side. Until I find a matching Ti show side, it's not a real knife.

Edit: This is just my personal craziness. The knife works exactly the same either way.
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Yeah, but you see, it’s already ruined for me, because I know if a Hinderer is the same on both sides, it’s an accident. 😂
 
Fontenille Pataud, placed 3 orders, 3 knives:
1 I told them it was my birthday gift but still not good: 1 piece of handle even "uneven" to the bolster, discernible gap between it and spine, could hurt hand
1 mushroom knife full of scratches just like 2nd hand one, and the back side of blade even not "curved"
very funny every time I asked them what is that and why, they told me it's because handmade and special. (I ordered other 2 knifes from Forge de Laguiole, somewhat better quality, so I know it's nothing because of "handmade" but just if they take care of the product or not)
At least, won't place ONLINE order from Fontenille Pataud anymore.


Claudine Dozorme:
I was about to place order, emailed them asked if they could accept international shipping to my country, they misunderstood the email and say No, then I replied and asked again, got Yes answer and asked me the models I wanted to purchase, then I replied them with listed the models, and followed up 3 times, no further reply anymore.
Another brand will never touch ONLINE
 
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In 2020, I commissioned a custom, fixed blade hunter from a well known maker. 7-1/2" long, 3-1/2" drop point blade and nicely executed jigged bone handles. When it arrived, it exceeded all my expectations and at a price point I thought quite reasonable. It accompanied me to Canada in 2022 and I used it to butcher my black bear, a task that it performed quite well. After that, I fell in love with desert ironwood and asked the maker if he would be interested in recovering the knife with same. He said he could do the job, we agreed on a price and I sent in the knife and a check.
That was in March of 2023.
Nine months later, no knife but several emails and a number of phone calls, all with either promised delivery dates or excuses as to why it hasn't been delivered. I don't think I have too demanding, only inquiring about status every 3-4 weeks.
I'm in the mood to order another knife but not from this guy. Ain't gonna happen! You live and learn.
 
More of a Multitool... Carried a leatherman Skeltool and first time using the slotted driver, it bent... Went back to SOG never looked back...
 
Danny Linguini said:
Love to hear when a company catches a screw-up and takes that extra step to not only make it right, but mend the relationship. Sometimes that can go even farther than not having to deal with them at all post-purchase. Nobody is perfect - sometimes a bad apple slips through QC. Going the extra mile to fix it means a lot in my book. Looking forward to hearing how things turn out when you get your blade back.
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Well I got the knife back from Spartan one day earlier than promised. I excitedly opened the package only to be slightly disappointed. They sharpened the knife. They included a cut up sticky note for proof. However their edge is not what I would call “sharp”. It’s passable, nothing more. Can still run my finger up and down the edge and not worry about being cut. It IS better than before but it has become apparent to me that I’m going to have to put an actual sharp edge on the knife if I want to be happy. And that’s fine I’m just dejected and probably won’t be buying from them again after all. Live and learn, not a big deal in larger scheme of things. 🙂
 
lambertiana said:
Bark River. I had a Mini-Canadian, which, at that time, was touted by Mike Stewart as an outstanding whittling knife. The first time I tried to whittle with it, the entire edge crumpled like aluminum foil. I sent it back under warranty...they reground the edge, but at the same time, buffed off a scrimshaw on the handle. I sent it back again. After over a month of no response, I asked about it. Mike answered like a petulant child, essentially blaming me for the whole affair. He told me that I would have to contact the scrimshand, to whom Mike had sent the knife. The scrimshand told me that he had received the knife with no instructions, and assumed it was sent as a partial payment for what Mike owed him but had never paid, and also warned me that Mike was not to be trusted. I went back to Mike, and again he acted like a petulant child. At about the same time I received information from a former forumite (I think his forum handle was Snarl Slayer or something like that, his first name is Steve) who had placed and paid for a custom order of over 100 Kepharts. Mike made the knives, but then decided he didn't want that person to sell his knives, preferring another vendor. Steve asked for his money back, and Mike told him that he would have to wait until he sold the knives to someone else. I saw the original order and invoice, so there is no question about the truth of this matter.

Those and other dishonorable actions by Mike Stewart over the years have completely soured my feelings toward Bark River. Never again.
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I own two Bark Rivers, a "Camp and Trail" in A2 and a Kephart in 3V. They are both just ok in terms of workmanship, nothing I haven't achieved or surpassed myself, and I don't consider myself that good of a knifemaker yet. I haven't used the A2 knife enough to judge the heat treatment, but I will say the 3V blade is prone to micro chipping. I suspect they used a high temper protocol and burned the edge with power grinding. It's gotten much better after a few sharpening sessions, but it's still a little chippy. The edge geometry is superb, though. I'll give it that. The Camp and Trail's handle sucks. For the money you can get better knives elsewhere. For a few hundred more you can get much superior knives.
 
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