- Joined
- Aug 1, 2008
- Messages
- 491
Finding a good utility EDC in today's world can be a very time consuming and difficult task given the varieties in pricing and the seemingly endless designs. Leave it up to an avid Bark River fan, who is a real world user and very creative individual to come up with an idea, have some input from other individuals to help tweak the design and then have Mike Stewart, owner of Bark River Knives, implement the idea and bring it to life. How could a project like this go wrong? It can't. As you read further, you will understand why.
I ordered my Bumble Bee with the brand new and style specific laminated handle slabs, the yellow and black burlap micarta. The design was conjured up and built from, as the name of the knife suggests, a real world bumble bee. The knife had to be a stout user with ample stock without being bulky and clumsy, with complimentary style and function. Introducing a new line of laminated micarta seemed to be a great idea and a fine course to take, although, as with any of the Bark River Knives, there is a full range of handle choices that leaves any of the knife enthusiasts salivating over which one they absolutely have to have.
I custom ordered my Bumble bee with the Cobra inlay Clovis pouch. The Clovis Pouch is a newer Sharpshooter sheath systems design with utility use in mind...flashlights, large folders or SAK's etc all fit the bill for carry in this sheath. Given the height of the blade on the Bumble Bee, it seemed like an exceptional fit to include the Clovis as a means of carrying this little powerhouse. The standard Clovis Pouch supplied is black and fully complimentary.
Removing the Bumble Bee from the box and holding it for the first time revealed that I was really going to enjoy owning and using this knife. The ergonomics of the handle (which, by the way, I am a HUGE fan of very comfortable ergonomics) are well contoured with a very gradual yet purposeful spine arc that fits your palm well, integral first finger contouring is perfectly placed for maximum blade control and the overall handle size provides excellent comfort and is very impressive for such a small knife...yeah, it really was quite a dandy. I couldn't wait to use it.
Putting it on my belt for several days and using it on anything I could, it really came as no surprise to me just how perfect this knife was for an every day carry. It really stands out in the way it overlaps abilities. I will qualify that by saying the geometry of the blade leaves little voids in how you can use it. The 3/4 height convex grind on a .125" spine leaves you with realistically, 2 knives in one...a slicer and a utility blade. Push cutting in one effortless cut through some 1/2" poly rope was as easy as...well, I guess as easy as push cutting through 1/2" poly rope. Seriously, it was a light to medium push straight down, and I had a severed rope. I didn't even have to make a drawing slice, I mean straight down. I recall reading a review one time on a very large tactical style blade where the criteria was happily met when the knife could cut 5 strands of paracord when held in hand. Well, let me tell ya, this little handful sliced through that same 1/2" rope in 1 quick motion with almost no difficulty. This knife slices a lot bigger than it looks.
The Bumble Bee also excels at how well it can handle the rough stuff. I have said it many times, confidence in equipment is paramount. If you are unsure if your bow is sighted in to make a kill properly, the hunt could be disastrous. If the head on your ax is loose, how can you expect that you will fall that tree? Same thing applies to even a small knife. The Bumble Bee is designed with plenty of strength and backbone. Snap cutting 1/2" branches is simple and effortless, whittling is comfortable and easy on your hands with no hot spots and the design of the first finger groove allows for precise and easy control of the edge while using it. A pretty impressive little package for sure.
One other interesting design is how you are literally able to use the entire length of the blade for just about any task. The extended depth towards the back of the blade allows for easy flush cutting on a flat surface without having to resort to using the tip or belly. How many of us have had the first quarter inch of a knife be as blunt as a butter knife, or have a flat spot in the belly?
I know I have, and the design incorporated into the Bumble Bee virtually eliminates these hassles.
Overall, this was one of the better knife purchases I have ever made. It is purposeful, classy looking, well designed and a joy to use.
I even like the brand new 2009 logo.
Remember folks, Dr. Derrick has a multitude of these in stock on his website at www.knivesshipfree.com.
I ordered my Bumble Bee with the brand new and style specific laminated handle slabs, the yellow and black burlap micarta. The design was conjured up and built from, as the name of the knife suggests, a real world bumble bee. The knife had to be a stout user with ample stock without being bulky and clumsy, with complimentary style and function. Introducing a new line of laminated micarta seemed to be a great idea and a fine course to take, although, as with any of the Bark River Knives, there is a full range of handle choices that leaves any of the knife enthusiasts salivating over which one they absolutely have to have.
I custom ordered my Bumble bee with the Cobra inlay Clovis pouch. The Clovis Pouch is a newer Sharpshooter sheath systems design with utility use in mind...flashlights, large folders or SAK's etc all fit the bill for carry in this sheath. Given the height of the blade on the Bumble Bee, it seemed like an exceptional fit to include the Clovis as a means of carrying this little powerhouse. The standard Clovis Pouch supplied is black and fully complimentary.
Removing the Bumble Bee from the box and holding it for the first time revealed that I was really going to enjoy owning and using this knife. The ergonomics of the handle (which, by the way, I am a HUGE fan of very comfortable ergonomics) are well contoured with a very gradual yet purposeful spine arc that fits your palm well, integral first finger contouring is perfectly placed for maximum blade control and the overall handle size provides excellent comfort and is very impressive for such a small knife...yeah, it really was quite a dandy. I couldn't wait to use it.
Putting it on my belt for several days and using it on anything I could, it really came as no surprise to me just how perfect this knife was for an every day carry. It really stands out in the way it overlaps abilities. I will qualify that by saying the geometry of the blade leaves little voids in how you can use it. The 3/4 height convex grind on a .125" spine leaves you with realistically, 2 knives in one...a slicer and a utility blade. Push cutting in one effortless cut through some 1/2" poly rope was as easy as...well, I guess as easy as push cutting through 1/2" poly rope. Seriously, it was a light to medium push straight down, and I had a severed rope. I didn't even have to make a drawing slice, I mean straight down. I recall reading a review one time on a very large tactical style blade where the criteria was happily met when the knife could cut 5 strands of paracord when held in hand. Well, let me tell ya, this little handful sliced through that same 1/2" rope in 1 quick motion with almost no difficulty. This knife slices a lot bigger than it looks.
The Bumble Bee also excels at how well it can handle the rough stuff. I have said it many times, confidence in equipment is paramount. If you are unsure if your bow is sighted in to make a kill properly, the hunt could be disastrous. If the head on your ax is loose, how can you expect that you will fall that tree? Same thing applies to even a small knife. The Bumble Bee is designed with plenty of strength and backbone. Snap cutting 1/2" branches is simple and effortless, whittling is comfortable and easy on your hands with no hot spots and the design of the first finger groove allows for precise and easy control of the edge while using it. A pretty impressive little package for sure.
One other interesting design is how you are literally able to use the entire length of the blade for just about any task. The extended depth towards the back of the blade allows for easy flush cutting on a flat surface without having to resort to using the tip or belly. How many of us have had the first quarter inch of a knife be as blunt as a butter knife, or have a flat spot in the belly?
I know I have, and the design incorporated into the Bumble Bee virtually eliminates these hassles.
Overall, this was one of the better knife purchases I have ever made. It is purposeful, classy looking, well designed and a joy to use.
I even like the brand new 2009 logo.
Remember folks, Dr. Derrick has a multitude of these in stock on his website at www.knivesshipfree.com.
