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Whoops! Fox River Magnum Stainless Steel?
- Thread starter The Real Hawkeye
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2008
- Messages
- 120
They made one model, at least, with it: The Custom Semi-Skinner.
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2008
- Messages
- 491
17 (maybe more but that is all I can think of at the moment) of the 40+ Bark Rivers I own are in 12C27. It is absolutely impressive steel. You will not go wrong with it.
As for the 154CM, I am just putting my first from Bark River in this steel through the tests. It is a Custom Semi Skinner. VERY slick little knife and great EDC. I am going to use it on my first deer this year. It is super compact and plenty beefy. So far, edge retention is on par with what I absolutely have come to expect from BRKT's stainless steels. It hasn't done a whole ton of cutting yet, but it hasn't seen a strop yet either and shaves hair smooth.
the 1855 Bowie (BAD A$$ blade) and the Custom Wharncliffe are also 154CM. Those are the 3 I know of thus far.
As for the 154CM, I am just putting my first from Bark River in this steel through the tests. It is a Custom Semi Skinner. VERY slick little knife and great EDC. I am going to use it on my first deer this year. It is super compact and plenty beefy. So far, edge retention is on par with what I absolutely have come to expect from BRKT's stainless steels. It hasn't done a whole ton of cutting yet, but it hasn't seen a strop yet either and shaves hair smooth.
the 1855 Bowie (BAD A$$ blade) and the Custom Wharncliffe are also 154CM. Those are the 3 I know of thus far.
I always thought that SS was a Godsend, as the old CS knives developed 'patina' at times when you looked at them wrong, an old Western hunting knife and my Dad's old WWII KaBar as examples. I applauded the SS used on SAKs, except they never seemed or stayed sharp for long. Plus, although able to shave with my single edged wood chisels/gouges, a double edged knife was something I never mastered, despite an eclectic mix of stones, until I 'discovered' the Spydie Sharpmaker a year or so back. I just bought another knife as I dulled one. Said drawer of SAK butter knives has now been returned to action.
During this, I discovered my favorite SS - Buck's Bos-heat treated 420HC. Until my most recent, ie, Fall, '07, enlightenment re bushcraft knives, I thought the 110 & 192 so bladed were ideal, no 'instant patina' and they stayed sharp. Several years ago, I also discovered the S30V variants - Alaskan Guide at Cabela's - for even longer lasting edges. I have had to re-edge a Spydie Native in S30V lately, so I no longer fear super metal, either. I anticipate good results with 12C27 - which I believe Kershaw has used now for a year or so, a vast improvement over their 440A, which graced the collection of dulled Onion designs also in that drawer - and now 'ready for service' again.
Somewhere along the line, I acquired a few Marbles, actually my wife thinks they are lost, but they are here - and great examples of Mike Stewart's era there - and reason enough to 'try' a Bark River. Therein was my 'enlightenment'... and, six Barkies later, I have a great appreciation for CS again - and those properly sharpened convex edges - and Mike Stewart's philosophy. Another plus concerns renewed life for mouse pads, 1500 grit SiC paper, and Semichrome polish, but that's another story. I wouldn't hesitate for a moment in opening that package... that will be one fine knife.
A funny story - from a retired college instructor - with very little money to spend these days. Still, I have bought some knives - even Bark River - that weren't 'what I expected'. A case in point - I ordered a Fox River, '07 LE North Star, and a Gameskeeper as my choices for a bushcraft knife. The Gameskeeper is my #1, followed by the Fox River. The North Star I rate as unsafe, due to the slick slight rise on the handle just before the blade's edge begins - too easy to nick or slice the forefinger with a slight slip, which happened the first time I whittled with it (CTS! No worse than a paper cut - but it could have been far nastier.)... I have to have a defined choil or finger guard to protect my 'finger', thus the appreciation for the Buck Vanguard. Still, it is a beauty of a knife - bought on 'sale' as the cheapest example of a NS, it really is a looker... and aint leaving my minor collection any time soon.
One day, my sons will look at my life's mix and think "What was he thinking?". Naw, they know me! I predict you'll love it - for a few minutes - then, you'll want another one...
Stainz
During this, I discovered my favorite SS - Buck's Bos-heat treated 420HC. Until my most recent, ie, Fall, '07, enlightenment re bushcraft knives, I thought the 110 & 192 so bladed were ideal, no 'instant patina' and they stayed sharp. Several years ago, I also discovered the S30V variants - Alaskan Guide at Cabela's - for even longer lasting edges. I have had to re-edge a Spydie Native in S30V lately, so I no longer fear super metal, either. I anticipate good results with 12C27 - which I believe Kershaw has used now for a year or so, a vast improvement over their 440A, which graced the collection of dulled Onion designs also in that drawer - and now 'ready for service' again.
Somewhere along the line, I acquired a few Marbles, actually my wife thinks they are lost, but they are here - and great examples of Mike Stewart's era there - and reason enough to 'try' a Bark River. Therein was my 'enlightenment'... and, six Barkies later, I have a great appreciation for CS again - and those properly sharpened convex edges - and Mike Stewart's philosophy. Another plus concerns renewed life for mouse pads, 1500 grit SiC paper, and Semichrome polish, but that's another story. I wouldn't hesitate for a moment in opening that package... that will be one fine knife.
A funny story - from a retired college instructor - with very little money to spend these days. Still, I have bought some knives - even Bark River - that weren't 'what I expected'. A case in point - I ordered a Fox River, '07 LE North Star, and a Gameskeeper as my choices for a bushcraft knife. The Gameskeeper is my #1, followed by the Fox River. The North Star I rate as unsafe, due to the slick slight rise on the handle just before the blade's edge begins - too easy to nick or slice the forefinger with a slight slip, which happened the first time I whittled with it (CTS! No worse than a paper cut - but it could have been far nastier.)... I have to have a defined choil or finger guard to protect my 'finger', thus the appreciation for the Buck Vanguard. Still, it is a beauty of a knife - bought on 'sale' as the cheapest example of a NS, it really is a looker... and aint leaving my minor collection any time soon.
One day, my sons will look at my life's mix and think "What was he thinking?". Naw, they know me! I predict you'll love it - for a few minutes - then, you'll want another one...
Stainz
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2008
- Messages
- 491
I believe that.