So the recent allegations that came out about Bark River Knives are quite damming, which really only adds to over two decades of shady practices from old Mike. However, the stuff that happened with Blackjack Knives and the various allegations thrown around mislabeled steels on some models, though obviously damming, were just that, allegations from decades ago and the occasional curveball (not denying them, especially in light of recent events) and for people like me who were simply looking for high quality materials, full convex, lifetime warranty and a family-run business instead of a massive faceless behemoth company, were outweighed by what we found in such company. And in the end, the performance was definitely there and the quality control was (mostly, we could open a can of worms on this one) there, though steadily declining through the years, with more recent runs of knives like the Squad Leader 2 having uneven, scratched fullers (the 2016ish run was far better polished), the ditching of brass guards in favor of aluminium, the usage of crappy hardware store hex nut to hold down pommels as opposed to the old Randall style nuts, uneven plunge lines becoming a coin toss, suspiciously underpriced and un-announced knives like the Highwayman 4 allegedly being made from Chinese steel kits... etc. Just gross.
Now, what do you think are companies that actually are what Bark River feigned to be for so long, or at the very least lost along the way? Family run, made in a western country, lifetime warranty, high quality materials, client first. I can think of White River knives, though they lack the sheer variety of options brk had, and don't know much about them; same for LT Wright. Great companies, but you don't have everything from small carving knives to survival knives to large bowie knives to even obscure traditional designs, to machetes etc. like we did with brk (again, flaws and all).
Is custom really the only viable way left if you want extensive options, high quality materials, not overpay, be put first as a client and not feed some faceless leviathan?
Now, what do you think are companies that actually are what Bark River feigned to be for so long, or at the very least lost along the way? Family run, made in a western country, lifetime warranty, high quality materials, client first. I can think of White River knives, though they lack the sheer variety of options brk had, and don't know much about them; same for LT Wright. Great companies, but you don't have everything from small carving knives to survival knives to large bowie knives to even obscure traditional designs, to machetes etc. like we did with brk (again, flaws and all).
Is custom really the only viable way left if you want extensive options, high quality materials, not overpay, be put first as a client and not feed some faceless leviathan?
I truly wish the best for everyone who used to work there.
