After this video we got a mail from Bark River with some promising news. The mail was very kind and with good things towards the future. We've been told Bark River will be upping their QC game. We are genuinely happy to get this positive feedback and promising words. We hope Bark river will deliver on this so we can go back to loving the brand the way we used to.
Bought a Bark River Bravo that had grinds off by over 1/4" how is this possible? DLT offered to take it back. But then I would never have gotten that same handle again so opted to keep it. Every time I look at it and vision the worker who did the grinds having vision issues and forgot his glasses this morning
Hey! I could really use your guys' help! Have you heard of tekna survival knife?! It's a hollow handle survival knife supposedly made in the US and given to Japanese and Australian pilots. Would you review this? They cost$249.00! For a hollow handle knife?! Please expose this!
Thanks a lot guys! We appreciate it! Like I (maarten) said in the video. I think you guys have mastered 1095. it suits the brand, product and its just very well heat treated. I'd never say no to a Cru-Wear el chete though... just saying. but, you don't need to change. Keep your passion going!
Tops knives in magna-cut would be instant Grails. I own a custom in the steel, and it just doesn’t care what you throw at it. Salt water, god knows how much wood, even rocks and dirt, it just takes it all. It also takes an insanely sharp edge easily that it won’t let go.
I just want to say that I really appreciate your guy's openness and honesty regarding brands that you love, even that means disclosing information that might cast them under a negative light. I agree that in order for a brand to retain its integrity, the people running that brand need to be able to hear and respond appropriately to criticism and Negative feedback from their customers. You can't just block people and ignore negative feedback, and still expect people to have respect for your brand.
I'm all for the negative feedback 😊I bought the bear grills knife and after watching the horrible outcome of the dbk tests I instant gifted it lol. I love my buck but I know it ain't no super steel. My everyday carry is the AD-10 svn
@@nandayane oh they do! I love my AD10 and I got my xl elspada last year! First time I flipped it open using the pocket clip, It stuck me in the bottom of my ars* cheek 🤣 I love my Buck frontiersman, but I'm a huge fan of the cold steel knives too!
I’ve been using knives for work and hobbies for over 50 years , I think you guys do a great job reviewing knives for hard use. I like Bark River knives but I like Terava knives too,they are almost impossible to break and stay sharp and are cost effective.Please keep doing what you do,lots of people really appreciate it.
I have a half-dozen Buck knives. I can touch up the edge on all of them in the field with a small aluminum oxide stone. This is very handy in a National Park 400 or 500 miles from home. Admittedly Buck does not use the latest super-steel for their knives, but in the real world, how hard does a knife blade need to be to gut a fish, cut a cactus tuna or clear an ocotillo plant from a campsite?
I totally agree. I´m from Germany. I have eight Buck knives, in 420HC, and ,, in the real world" , like you said correctly, they perform awesome, cutting meat, fish and veggies. When I like to carv more wood, I use a Mora. My EDC, is a Cold Steel Pocket Bushman, with BD-1 steel. For smaller tasks, I have a Victorinox. All theese steels, are not super steels, but they do the work, perfectly.
i have two buck knives. on both of them, i don't know what the hell they did but the edge was super hard, like 60 hrc. My buck 119 could field dress like 2-3 deer without needing to be sharpened unless i slammed it into bone. My most abused knife was a cold steel throwing knife. I used it for bushcraft, hunting, survival and defense in the mountains. Those 1055 knives are insane.
yeah but for the same exact size stone you could simply get a small diamond stone, and then carry a knife that outperforms 420hc in practically every way humanly possible and also be able to maintain it.
You guys are right. I bought my Aurora II because of you guys. They should stay in contact with you and not look you out of the loop. So many people like me trust in your opinions and may or may not buy a knife based on your reviews. Keep up the great work. You guys crack me up! SON! THAT AINT NO JOKE!
I bought Aurora, Aurora ll, and Gunny because of your recommendations. I have had good luck lately from BRK with all my orders being great. Thank you for all you do.
Lynn C Thompson had a passion for quality to keep from losing business and to stop knives failing on people that were depending on them or in life threatening situation. I think he was first a business man, but he saw no reasonto compromise. That was key and passion.
GSM saw Lin Tomsen selling excellent products at a FAIR PRICE and GSM saw a easy way to make money. Basically they purchased all of Cold Steel knives and other products and selling them at second dairy market prices.
I hated the way GSM did a purge of knife designers and staff when they took over Cold Steel. I made sure to get some of the older models, to try to get ahead of any issues with quality control that are likely to occur.
Nothing wrong with Taiwan made knives. My Mercer Chef Knife set sees more use than any of my expensive Japanese and German Knives. Many good quality tools are made there. I would buy American, but not for similar quality at 2-3 times the price.
I've got Mercer knives as well. I buy them for gifts all the time. They're as good as my Wusthof, not as good as my Japanese knives -- but they are a third of the price of my Jap. knives.
This is a good to hear. Too much online discussion is, China = poor quality, with people forgetting most often the poor quality stuff is what they were asked to make.
I would not have any Bark River Knives without this channel. Your videos are what made me grab my first BRK. They’ve definitely had some QC issues, and not the best responses to them. That being said, the last 3 knives I’ve purchased from them (all in 2023) have been perfect. I’ve purchased a Mini-Gunny in MagnaCut, a Bravo 1.25LT in 3V and a Bravo 1 in A2. I was extremely happy with the fit, finish and sharpness of all three.
I love that you guys are honest and try so hard to remain unbiased. This is the kind of content that should exist in every hobby and interest market on TH-cam.
Got a bunch of Tops and they perform amazingly. They've really mastered 1095 and made it as good as it can be. I would love a few of Tops designs in a better steel though. 1095 is tough but requires constant oil to keep the rust off of them.
@@DL-ij7tf says knife users and compared to really well done 1095. I’ve seen some very impressive high hardness 1095 tests. I’m certain I could build a knife in 1095 that would blow tops out of the water. They’re only running about 55 HRC which makes them garbage to sharpen. I can’t reference any examples since I’m not a fan of steel. There are much better steels out there to use. It does of course come down to HT and geometry at the end of the day.
@@TheScrawnyLumberjack TOPS run 1095 at 57-58 HRC not 55 but the lower the HRC the easier it is to sharpen so your comment makes no sense. I have a fairly serious knife collection and have 1095 from Mora, Ka-Bar, Ontario, Condor, TOPS, Schrade, and I'm sure other brands I'm not thinking of at the moment. TOPS do not seem have softer less edge retention, in fact the edges seem harder and more wear resistant than the others, which would be in line with their differential heat treatment processing.
@@TheScrawnyLumberjack compared to "really well done" 1095 aka a mythical version that exists only in non-specific TH-cam comments references. I'm a knife user and I think 1095 is all around the best steel on the market.
Everyone says "But Buck has the best 420hc heat treat in the business!" Ok perhaps it is true but isn't that like bragging about being the tallest midget?
This subject gets quite myopic in the knife groups…. My opinion… Just because a knife can slice rope 1400 times doesn’t make it “better” than VG-10.. Does the average user want rust resistance, tough steel, or edge holding? Ahh… the average person could care less. Does it get sharp enough? Will it skin a deer? Can it be left under the truck seat for a year without rusting solid?? It is what it is… I love 15v and Magnacut as much as the average knife nut, but my friends could care less.
Love that there are so many knife steel experts nowadays, most have never even sharpened a knife but that doesn't stop them from telling you everything wrong with your knife.
Great video! You said it all spot on! Constructive criticism is meant to be helpful, instead of it seen as negative feedback because of pride. I bought Bark River knives because of you and Virtuovice, so if you're getting heat for your honesty about wanting companies to be consistent with good QC, in fairness they should also show gratitude for the positive exposure you brought to them.
You hit the nail on the head on just about every front - it's about how well the knife is made and supported by its maker...not about geographic location and brand name. Keep it honest and progressing as you always do! As for BRK, I've had a few misses among wins myself, so you are correct there.
Keep up the good work! I like these occasional knife talk videos you guys are doing and appreciate the questions and ideas you bring to the table. I look forward to Thursday each week just so I can watch your videos.
Guys, I love your channel. To be fair to Buck..... their brand was built on the American hunting legacy and there knives were intended for hunters and for slicing. That said, they also make (which I have as well) excellent knives in 5160, S30V and S45VN. All have extremely well heat treated (BOS treated) knives. Some of the best heat treatment in the world, which is why their 420HC performs better than others 420. Try the other steels. For many American hunters, 420hc at an affordable price and easy to sharpen..... fills their needs and allows them to fully participate in the Great Outdoors. Keep up the great work!
You are the reason I've bought 3 different bark river knives. They are great knives, but I just got my second lt wright and have noticed an improvement of fit and finish on them.
I’m from the US and my favorite knives are from Fallkniven hands down. I have bought so many damn knives because of you guys and I regret nothing because they are all as good as you have shown us. Keep it up boys.
Swedish quality. Made in Japan. 😊 As the video suggest I think it’s great to support your locals. Being a Swede I’m proud of our brands, but I buy knives from anywhere in the world as long as it’s good quality and interesting products.
@@jez76 I agree. I live in New Zealand and own a couple of high end knives, including one Fallkniven. We do have some great local knife makers who make excellent knives in high carbon steel - of which I am also a big fan. But probably not too many outdoorsmen who purchased a Fallkniven and regretted it. I am saving up for a new bushcraft knife and will either get a local high carbon steel or maybe a Fallkniven A1
@@davidneal6920 I got the F1x in Elmax which is a hell of a knife. I was aiming for the S1 as that size seems more of a one that does it all, but I also really wanted it in Elmax which was (is?) not available on the S1 series. For my personal use I think the A series is to big, but no doubt a great (!) knife.
@@jez76 that is good info thanks. I have a sometimes bad habit of thinking bigger is better. But I already have a couple of big knives and want a smaller compact bushcraft one. The F1X in Elmax looks awesome. There is a guy selling one F1 Pro in Elmax here for $550 New Zealand dollars which seems a bit high. I actually have a Norwegian Sami knife which was gifted to me and is very cool. More of a utility knife perfect for cutting up food, and small fish, ducks thought I think. Great choice on your F1!!!!
BRK knives are one of my favorites in 3V. When I’m thinking Bushcraft I’m going to abuse the knife and most of the stainless super steels won’t stand up to that abuse. But agree customer service should be above & beyond. Waiting for over a year for a warranty repair is just not ok. You guys are spot on.
Came across your channel, getting into more and more outdoor things, and good, dependable knifes. Love your candid comments, and real life use. Cheers!
Mikkie B, yes, Bark River has huge potential and has reputation built. I still like the idea of them! I've had more stolen than I have now, but I miss the gone ones and enjoy your the ones that I now have.
You guys are correct. You have reviewed quite a few US brands. That some have not stepped up their game is not your fault. There are still plenty of fixed blade US made knives which are top notch and you've reviewed them. Reasons for US manufacturing not getting much love by government is decades in the making. Hopefully we can get back to "making things" and making them well.
Spyderco is by far my favorite knife maker. They predominantly operate in the folder market but man they are so cool. Would love to see you guys test their k390
I love my Spyderco knives. Some people don't like them because they're not pretty enough or they think FRN is cheap plastic (Micarta is also plastic), but all they do is work and come in a wide variety of steels. They're designer collaborations can be a bit insane on pricing and their Sprint Runs aren't for me, but their regular lines are outstanding (especially anything designed by Sal or Eric Glesser). They tend to be slicier knives than what typically get tested on this channel though, since they're meant more for cutting and tactical use, than wood carving.
@@gordonmacdowell8117 frn, feels incredibly cheap and flimsy, i love it on my salt 2, extremely light but still, micarta feels different, also carbon fiber is plastic, g10 is plastic, but plastic does not equal plastic
I felt the same way about the guys who sold Elysian brewing (Seattle makers of beer) when they sold out to InBev. The emphasis went from making great beer to maximizing profit for the shareholders.
You can and should try and maximize profits. However, if you do so by making a much inferior product, you will be reducing profits and lose market share to competition
I’m a fan of convexed ground knives, I love and own so many Bark Rivers but I want to know what other companies besides BR, Falkniven, & some LT Wrights, come with a hand ground convex edge?? what are some other good convexed fixed blades??
It makes sense that bark river's warranty department is taking longer now since QC has gone downhill. Measure twice, cut once. They're just making more work for themselves. I just bought an Aurora II that needed service right out of the box, but I'm hesitant to send it in with the long turnaround times
I trained with the guys from ESEE and they actually showed up with little sleep from doing a rescue just hours before. Tons of respect to those guys. Very down to earth. They love their knives but they will also be the first to tell you that they never sell or push their knives during their training classes. They enjoy looking at the different brands students bring.
Have spoken to them at a blade show and back this up 100%. As mentioned by DBK - ESEE have designed their knives with a specific purpose and mission in mind. This may not suit everyone - no knife does. They do not hide their specifications or methods so when you buy an ESEE you know what you're getting. It comes down to personal choice. For me I love my ESEE 6 and it has served me so well for over 7 years now - no regrets. Have a great day.
You sound like a marketing bot. Most of these knife brands are WAY overpriced luxury items, I'll stick to my € 10-20 Mora knives (and even those are a bit overpriced IMO lol).
You guys always give an honest opinion about the knives and the industry and as entertaining as you guys are that's why people really tune in is because we know we're getting a real review appreciate the videos guys👍
Buck is amazing imo. They are trying to improve using more modern steels such as s35vn. I think many people still love them and consider them as a good knife manufacturer because they are one of the few that still manufacture their classic iconic models.
Wish I'd seen this vid before I ordered a Bark River! I hope mine shows without any QC issues. If anyone from BR reading this, this channel was why I ordered one.
I own 2 bark river knives and I'm not going to lie, I was underwhelmed with 2 things. They weren't hair popping sharp and I expected that and they messed up on my handle material and I feared sending in and waiting a year plus to get it back
I own 2 Michigan made Bark River knives, which are razor sharp and i'm overall pleased with but then i came across another Michigan based knife maker, White River knives, and found their knives more appealing, razor sharp and pleasantly ergonomic. Bark River has an almost cult like following while White River is lesser known. In my humble opinion, the Bark River reputation may be over rated at times while the White River knives is unjustifiably under rated.
@@Simon-talks no their not. Proven factual. Look at all the people that have issues with them. Burnt edges and poor quality control. Magnacut that rusts. Using wrong steels etc. They also dont care about the customers and have said so. Lots of drama with them. They just want to sell you junk and want fanboys to not tell anyone else their faults.
@@tacticalcenter8658 Volume of sales naturally increases issues. Unless you have a documented fall out stat, it's still just your opinion on the actual frequency. DBK says they received an email following this vid...proving, contrary to your point, they actually do care. Try to remember that we all have our own weights & measures when it comes to preferences, including yourself. G'luck.
The PROBLEM with buck is that they still use 420hc and when they use good steels, they charge insane amounts of money. Buck needs to change their standard knife steel all to crucible steels and bring their prices down on gold steels.
Thank YOU GUYS for Your honesty. I hope Bark River gets better with DBK. I've had my BR Recon since I was in the Marine Corp. It's a Life Saver. Planning on getting a Recon Tope. Hopefully I'll be happy
The biggest problem with Bark River is that you cannot buy their knives, I would like a nice CPM 3V one but they are never in stock. BTW, I miss Busse Combat with INFI steel, those knives were awesome a long time ago.
@@TheScrawnyLumberjack I hear they're still pretty hit and miss quality wise. Too bad, as they have some nice designs. I own a couple from years ago and no complaints. But yeah, they seem to have some real QC issues and questionable customer service.
If you're buying a knife as a collector and you purchase a Bark River that you're unhappy with... send the damn thing back. If you're buying a knife to use...Bark River will stand up to the challenge.
You guys have earned the right to be publicly critical of the quality control issues. At the end of the day Bark River will end up improving their quality control because of the pressure their customers put on them. That is a good thing! I have close to 100 Bark River knives and I have had good luck with all but two. I have a Bobcat Hunter with terrible plunge lines and a Aurora Scandi in Magnacut that has a bit of a rounded spine from an overzealous buffer. My two most recent knives are excellent. Maybe the best grinds yet.
I'd love to see you guys test a Hinderer. There ranch Bowie is in 3v and an absolute beast. Id bet you'd like the folders as well extremely overbuilt and made right.
I’d rather go for Barks than Hinderer, and I despise Barks lol USA made is something that should get off stuff from the price at this point for how bad the quality is there
Tops has taken the HT for 1095 to a science. The industry needs to keep chasing/inventing new super steels to sell knives, 1% of knife owners will ever see any differences.
I Live in America and I have also noticed a lot of these new knife "designers" using Chinese and Taiwan companies as their OEM and claiming they are USA knives. It is sad to see. On the other hand I am also seeing American designers making their own knives that are 100% made in the USA with good steels. You just have to get in the right communities that care about quality and authenticity then you will find quality knives that are truly made in America. Like TKELL knives, Tim Kell is a USMC Vet making everything in the USA and his knives are high quality and affordable.
@@Larryrandom2549 Not at all. Tim Kell believes in keeping his knives affordable so the average Joe can buy his tools. As of now June 2023 a lot of his knives are around $200. For a 100% USA hand made knife in quality steel that IMO is a reasonable price. A few of his bigger models go a little higher, but not ridiculous.
Just saying, I have a buck 119 in CPM3V with drop point, a Buck 103 and Vanguard in S35VN, a Buck 110 in S30V with DLC coating, a 110 in 5160 with drop point, another 119 in D2, a 112 in S45VN. I'd say they're trying to break the barrier in a way. Regardless though, Bucks designs have always been made for regular slicing and game processing tasks and they kept them that way.
I can't remember the last time I was this early but I do agree that Made in USA is being used as a "we can overcharge" phrase even factoring in labor costs like compare the Hogue Deka to a Benchmade s30v Bugout I remember Pete drom Cedric and Ada had an s45vn Buck folder he had to reprofile because the grind was so uneven lol so even when the steel wasn't bad the QC was eehhh
Buck's 420 HC is very easy to sharpen and very tough. It's not a top of the line steel, but with their heat treat it's a decent steel. It does dull quickly though. I do like it, though their S35VN and 5160 is better.
@@Proteus3000 I see your point, but I personally always liked the ability to at least rough sharpen after hitting a rock, bone or metal. Then again I always have a diamond hone/rod within arms length. Almost all my outdoors knives have a diamond rod attached to the sheath. And I always keep a ferro rod kit (I am a Redneck) in my pants pocket. 🤪😁
@@Proteus3000 I dont think so. I saw Bear Grylls in the Everglades, batoning down a small tree, killing a 2 meter Alligator and a big snapper turtle, with a Buck Vanguard. When you have a knife with very hard steel in the field, and it chipped, you are in real trouble to reprofile this thing. Better to have a 57-58 HRC knife.
IMHO BRK overstreched their production, even faster during the pandemic. I saw pics with a bend in the blade and Mike wrote, that in his eyes this is not a flaw, cause it is cutting?! Yes, but a sharpend piece of a tincan cuts too... They should cut their production and produce less, but quality Knives!
Lynn Thompson, I believe, was the owner/founder of Cold Steel. Gotta say I was let down when he sold it to GSM (I understand he probably wants to slow down and retire, but...still disappointed).
I’m so glad you guys had the balls to honestly call out Bark River. Every single thing you said was honest and spit on; the lack of quality control, unwillingness to accept constructive criticism, deleting comments/banning people, etc. it really is a shame because I love their designs, steel choices, and convex grinds, but I just can not justify buying them anymore when there are other companies who sell knives that are similar in price, but leagues ahead in quality. LT Wright knives , for instance. The thing that bothers me the most is the attitude and behavior of the owner toward his customers for giving even respectful, constructive criticism.
There actually are alot of American companies coming out with great knives like Survive Knives using high end steels with great heat treat , you just have to look harder or be willing to spend the money! Love the content & keep it up
Yeah, good luck getting one. I got a refund from them after I thought I had bought one, it was actually a pre-order which was to arrive in 5 then 9 then 16 months. The 3rd time they put my order in the back of the line I gave the money to DLT for a Bark River.
@@andrewfournier8817 They don't "put your order in the back of the line", the suppliers often delay their deliveries. Often due to material shortage, or due to borders.
@Leftyotism Thanks for telling me about something I experienced and you did not. Your wisdom is astounding. They rotated other orders ahead in manufacturing repeatedly, if their production updates were honest (and I think they were)
I’m glad I found your videos. I probably own over 30 knives, mostly for hunting and personal carry use. After watching, I purchased 2 Fallkniven F1 knives along with a folding Fallkniven PC knife. The current brand I am using has trouble holding a edge. I think the Fallkniven brand is going to work well. I’ll put a comment once I get to use the new knives. Anyway, thanks.
I love Bark River. I live fairly close to it and swing by to say hello now and then. They make amazing knives and are amazing people. But... Yeah. Even bringing up their QC on any of their Facebook pages (especially the plunge line issue) gets your thread locked. Along with downright hostile comments from fans, or even Mike himself. I sent three knives in this year for warranty work, specifically stating I wanted the plunge lines evened up. Because if I'm paying $200-$300 USD for a knife, it better have even plunge lines. They returned them a couple months later with one having been slightly improved (but not fixed) and two they didn't even touch. I was so frustrated I didn't even reach out to their customer service about it.
Other than the ones who have been getting their knives made in Taiwan (like Demko, Cold Steel), a lot of American knife companies have difficulties with quality control when they get them done overseas (Buck, Gerber). Spyderco seem to do a much better job at quality control, no matter where the knife is made. Some high end knife companies have coasted and/or faltered (Bark River). I dislike the trend of big knife companies being gobbled up by large umbrella corporations like GSM (Cold Steel, SOG). There are still some outstanding knife companies in the US though (LT Wright, White River, Battle Horse, Benchmade, Bradford, etc).
To be fair, after SOG was purchased it seemed like they shifted manufacturing of some of their models from China to Taiwan and the releases after that point were aimed more towards the enthusiasts. I haven’t seen a drop off in the quality of Cold Steel folders since they got bought out. The problem with companies like Buck and Gerber using overseas OEMs is they don’t really have a major incentive to up the quality of those models and do proper QC. They are usually priced below the great Chinese budget brands and they’re competing against other poorly made knives. But the name means people are more likely to pick them up and the quality is passable enough that many people don’t see a problem. They don’t want those models to rival their domestically produced models as that will cut into the sales of said domestic models. Thankfully it seems those heritage American brands are trying again after decades of shit.
Some years ago I bought a fixed blade Gerber for my son, it immediately broke a large section off the edge with no hard use, they then sent a replacement, a knife with a gut hook, the gut hook broke at the first use. Bought a folder too, its scales came off without any appreciable use, and the blade broke. So..Gerber...fuck'em.
Calling Benchmade outstanding with all their problems in the last four years is a bit clownish. They had even worse problems than Barks and Hinderer, and I despise both them company even more than BM
@@Timeren2010 A long time ago, Gerber used to make good knives. They're owned by Fiskars now (cheap tool company buying cheap knife maker) and it's been a long time since they've been good.
@@just9911 It was a shame that SOG got bought by GSM, because they were trending in the right direction, with some new leadership and releases. Buck seem to want it both ways, coasting on the made in USA and making a bunch of their models in China. I do like the recent 110 & 112 Select Slim releases though. Those knives punch way above their price.
Please test a Demko Freereigh fixed blade. Make sure it's the USA made in Magnacut. Love the fun you bring to the knife world and most of all the honesty.
Buck is my favorite brand. Period. But let me first say that I own or have owned very many knife brands… like at least one from most major brands from around the world. I understand Buck’s flaws but I also only buy their higher end knives. I’m very very satisfied with their newer stuff. The twist they’re throwing on classic models is awesome. They may be late to the game on this stuff but regardless its a company that I support whole heartedly.
I don't think any large production manufacturer out there does a better heat treat of 420C. They were into a bit of a rut until recent years, when they came out of their Pro models and other goodies. I have a traditional 110, with the brass bolsters, but I love the new Select Slim versions they came up with for their older folders.
I 100% agree. I've owned knives from many many manufacturers, from bowies to bushcraft knives to kukris, TO SWORDS to axes, everything. And I 100% love Buck knives. My EDC is a Buck 119. Love em to bits.
@@bobjohnson1633 yeah, their pricing on their Pro models isn't something I'm a fan of. If they didn't put them at a price point where they're up against much better knives, I'd have bought a couple by now.
Hahaha yet again you two are on top form with a topic that definitely needed attention. Way too many people get swept along by the company’s old reputation not knowing that the truth is ohh so different. Much love lads and hope you have a excellent week 😘🫵🏻👍🏼
Yep. It’s a shame. They brag so much in their older videos about the many different quality checks, but the product they deliver is almost always flawed. Then they deny it or attempt to justify it, or just plain shut you down. Sometimes they even blame you. Like you’re an idiot. It’s an embarrassment to the American brand.
@@evansimmons6894 @Jonathan Murphy , this is very true it seems that they have gotten completely overwhelmed by demand and as a consequence have totally forgotten about quality control! With out having strict standards then you can use the finest quality materials in the world but only end up sending people crap. They should really get their acts together before they destroy their business. Have a beautiful day gentlemen 🫵🏻👍🏼
Love the honesty on display here! Have you guys had an opportunity to take a look at Reiff knives yet? I have 2 of the 3 models they make in the only steel they use and they make them all very well. It's similar to how the best little restaurants have very small menus (reiff) where everything is executed perfectly and the restaurants with the huge menus (brk) don't do anything particularly well and everything is either middling or just plain bad.
The most interesting thing about your stress testing is it's consistent over a broad range of application as apposed to a lab where they tear it apart with out variables taken into consideration 😊
A coworker of mine used his bonus to get a bark river bravo and it chipped out while he was scraping bark. He contacted their customer service and he got the business. He called a few more times and got them to resharpen the blade and now the profile looks awful. He’s not going to get another one. Myself and a few others love and use the hell out of our tops knives and I think that company is awesome. I appreciate your videos and never miss one. You opinions and thoughts on these companies I feel is honest. Great video
I have 15 Bark River Knives, but have stopped buying them because of quality control getting worse. I got tired of overlooking imperfections. I kept buying them for so long because they have great designs and a choice of materials. In the end, I just couldn't overlook bad work. The owners and Bark River fans also act like anyone pointing out an issue don't know what they are talking about. Thanks for this video.
I agree completely with the USA knife companies need to use more modern steels.Spyderco uses great steel as well as Bark River and Benchmade.I buy knives from all corners of the world.
I love this channel. I really would like to see you guys review some Makers like, Dark Timber, Wasteland Forge, Wilburn Forge, LT Wright, PKS knife shop, Michael Brown Forge, FreeHill blades and Tops. These are some awesome USA makers that I feel deserve more recognition.
My buck 110 and 119 in 420hc are great knives that hold an edge... not as fancy ( or as well ) as my more expensive blades ( elmax, vg-10). Well enough to do hunting and fishing tasks excellent. I guess it's the same as with folders. I own a lot, but my sak's with mediocre steels get used the most. Ps: Maarten je tepels zijn gigantisch in die video😂
I appreciate your openness, one comment though, you are a little bit wrong about Buck on one aspect, that they are not using new super steels, they recently released the 110 in Magnacut ... so if that is not a new super steel then I do not know :D but they have not added Magnacut as a standard selection yet due to its difficult constant availability ... just saying ... Personally I am more of a collector by now and I am happy with standard steels for my EDC knives and even for some bushcrafting I am fine already with a D2 (even though I have a Lionsteel M4 in Magnacut which I love when i am out in the woods... ) but serviceability in the field or when I am travelling is more important to me. I think my favorite stseels are M390 or N690 but even the old 440C has its good place for daily use ... I think the type of grind and angles on a blade are a LOT more important than the type of steel really, steel is significantly overhyped as a Marketing aspect to sell new knives. Even the heat treating is, I had already Magnacut with so shit heat treating I guess and shit phase that I returned it, not mentioning the name of the US brand though ... but here you go it was US ... keep the videos coming ... cheers from Germany PS, no, it was not Buck ;)
Then you haven't been paying attention very well. Depending on which steels you put into that category, will depend on which is better than another. Heat treat is a huge problem with most super steels that don't perform, you can't use a super steel and only HT to 57-59hrc.
@@2873lonewolf I mean, if I'm cutting just one material all day and there are no nails or staples or bones or dust...I'll take some s30v or k390 on a folder perhaps. For my needs, I prefer something easy to sharpen because no matter what steel I bring to work, I gotta sharpen it repeatedly. Just my experience. I also bought 3 Bradford's once and couldn't tell any noticeable difference between aebl, cruwear, or m390 after common everyday tasks. The aebl had a touch more difficulty cutting rope at the end but it also stropped back in 2 seconds. I also make knives. I'll take 52100 or 1095 all day.
@@jusme8060 K390 is up there with Elmax, 204P, M390/M398 or Cruwear. Again, the HT is the missing link here. M390 at 58hrc is garbage, so I agree you probably wouldn't notice a difference.
@@jusme8060 AEBL heat treated correctly is an excellent steel. Can also dip into the Magnacut debate. Magnacut is supposed to be HT'd to 63-65. Alot of makers/companies won't HT to correct hrc, because they are worried about breaking blades and increased tooling costs. If you do your research and talk to professional sharpeners, you will find that Magnacut is only good at 64ish hrc and it sharpens easier than most super steels. The increased tooling costs are made up by people that don't know any better.
As an American knife fanatic, I completely agree with everything you're saying. I'm not sure what the hesitation is from many American manufacturers to expand their steel options. TOPS did make a line of 3V knives for Architect Knives/The Knife Connection, and I have to say, it's probably my favorite knife. Check it out, it's called the Field Buddy 5.5 - they made it in 3V and 1095.
Not everyone cares about Super Steels. They are way over-rated and overpriced. Field sharpening is the key here. I'lll take a good 1095 over any super steel on a fixed blade. They have their place for sure. I love you guys, but i think you get too caught up in the super steel stuff.
I have recieved a bark river puukko with terrible recurve. The bevel was not ground straight and at the “guard” of the knife, the recurve was 2mm deep.
Es ist traurig, aber es ist leider oft sehr offensichtlich das einige Firmen nicht mal vertuschen das sie nur Geld verdienen möchten...😒 Aber es gibt eben auch diejenigen denen die Qualität für die Kunden am Herzen liegt. Gut das wir Jungs wie euch haben die uns helfen den Unterschied zu erkennen. Vielen Dank dafür!!!! 😎👍 Ich liebe euch , echt! Viele Grüße aus dem Münsterland 👋
I still have my hunting knives (stored away now), a Buck 110FG and a Vanguard both in 420HC. For hunting they were perfect. Now I moved on to a Fällkniven PC, F1 and A1 after having other knives and sheaths both suffering badly in the tropics and not being perfect in icy German winters either.
I agree. I have severeal Buck knives in 420HC, and for processing meat and fish, it is an awsome steel. Gets really sharp, very quick. And their´re stainless, even in very wet conditions. Most classic Buck models, are made for hunting and cutting meat. If I like to carv wood, I use a Mora. My EDC is a Cold Steel Pocket Bushman, with CTS BD-1 steel.
You guys are 100% correct on the Buck knives point, as an American i agree with you. You can think of it like this as well, Maglite Flashlights where the most popular in the US. But when the standard of incorporating LEDs in flashlight started , Maglite missed the boat and failed to innovate. And as a result they are not the go to brand for flashlights.
Tops suck. Tops HT is the worst. The spine of their knives ist mild. Never pry with them they just fold over. And i bought the longhorn bowie. after 6 months the rust protective coating fell off due so much rust bult up underneath. That was the most annoying thing. I have some but I will nevervever buy Tops knives anymore!
There are a few American knife company’s that are making great knifes , but in my opinion your best option is to find a great knife maker or blacksmith , just because you know that the knife is what you want . That just my opinion. .
Correct on all points. Regarding Bark River in particular, they did have a noticable decline in quality, but I think that is due in part to getting more or less shutdown for plague reasons and then coming back with a much increased demand for output. I'm hoping that they will rebound and return to previous levels of quality and innovation, but time will tell.
I really see no point in giving them a second chance. They have clearly proven that they only care about making money as their quality control is totally lacking and their customer service is extremely terrible. Personally I am not going to buy from them again after my experience with them. Any serious company and a company you can trust, would never ship out some of the crap they have shipped out. Any serious company would take back a inferior product with no questions asked and either refund the money or send you a top product back. Any serious company would not get aggressive and accuse you of abusing their product or for lying, take ages without you hearing anything from them, need you to nag and nag and nag for them to respond and wait for ages before anything to happen if anything happens at all. There are plenty of other knife makers that make high quality products that are extremely more professional and customer friendly than what they are at Bark River, so I see no reasons for why people should gamble with their money and buy from Bark River.
With Buck you have the Best 420hc. The best S30V according to Virtuvice and the best S35VN all based on heat treat. The Paul BOS heat treat is the best. I have a 3V Buck 119 now.
I have an Esse 3 s35vn , white river backpacker 1 s35vn , Falkniven F1 , white River Hunter S35vn , mountain Knife Co .. Speed Goat in Magna Cut .. have you Any thoughts on Any of these specific Blades
Before I purchase a knife I scroll through your posts to see if you have reviewed it already. I do this because of your honesty. If you stopped posting the negative points along with the positive points I would be very discouraged from taking your advice. It’s disappointing that Bark River took that view rather than using that information to grow as an even better company. Either way, I thank you and appreciate you for your honest reviews and comedy along the way. Thanks from the UK 🇬🇧
I received a new Aurora 3v a couple weeks ago. It is excellent. I hope it was just a blip in bark river QC. They are such good looking knives with excellent ergos, cool handle materials and great steels.
its just my opinion but,,, i think you guys should do a video [n the difference between bush crafting and survival and the different types of knives you would choose for each and why.
After this video we got a mail from Bark River with some promising news. The mail was very kind and with good things towards the future. We've been told Bark River will be upping their QC game. We are genuinely happy to get this positive feedback and promising words. We hope Bark river will deliver on this so we can go back to loving the brand the way we used to.
What's up DBK !!
I really hope they deliver on that!
The need to update there customer service department. The elderly lady who answers the phone sounds like she hates her job.
Bought a Bark River Bravo that had grinds off by over 1/4" how is this possible? DLT offered to take it back. But then I would never have gotten that same handle again so opted to keep it. Every time I look at it and vision the worker who did the grinds having vision issues and forgot his glasses this morning
Hey! I could really use your guys' help! Have you heard of tekna survival knife?! It's a hollow handle survival knife supposedly made in the US and given to Japanese and Australian pilots. Would you review this? They cost$249.00! For a hollow handle knife?! Please expose this!
We love your videos and appreciate the feedback, any constructive criticism is always worth listening to.
Thanks a lot guys! We appreciate it!
Like I (maarten) said in the video. I think you guys have mastered 1095. it suits the brand, product and its just very well heat treated. I'd never say no to a Cru-Wear el chete though... just saying. but, you don't need to change. Keep your passion going!
@@DutchBushcraftKnives Thank you very much, we really appreciate it!
Tops knives in magna-cut would be instant Grails. I own a custom in the steel, and it just doesn’t care what you throw at it. Salt water, god knows how much wood, even rocks and dirt, it just takes it all. It also takes an insanely sharp edge easily that it won’t let go.
A Tops Operator 7 stainless steal knife would be an absolute dream come true
@Dutch Bushcraft Knives you guys should review the off grid knives. Ridgeback skandi knife it is a good knife
The knife community needs honesty and not just shills. Thank you for this video
Honesty... how rare it is nowadays. It's refreshing to hear you guys.
I just want to say that I really appreciate your guy's openness and honesty regarding brands that you love, even that means disclosing information that might cast them under a negative light. I agree that in order for a brand to retain its integrity, the people running that brand need to be able to hear and respond appropriately to criticism and Negative feedback from their customers. You can't just block people and ignore negative feedback, and still expect people to have respect for your brand.
Touche mon sir 👍
I'm all for the negative feedback 😊I bought the bear grills knife and after watching the horrible outcome of the dbk tests I instant gifted it lol. I love my buck but I know it ain't no super steel. My everyday carry is the AD-10 svn
@@robertsavard3508 cold steel makes the most affordable well made products on the market.
@@nandayane oh they do! I love my AD10 and I got my xl elspada last year! First time I flipped it open using the pocket clip, It stuck me in the bottom of my ars* cheek 🤣 I love my Buck frontiersman, but I'm a huge fan of the cold steel knives too!
I’ve been using knives for work and hobbies for over 50 years , I think you guys do a great job reviewing knives for hard use. I like Bark River knives but I like Terava knives too,they are almost impossible to break and stay sharp and are cost effective.Please keep doing what you do,lots of people really appreciate it.
I have a half-dozen Buck knives. I can touch up the edge on all of them in the field with a small aluminum oxide stone. This is very handy in a National Park 400 or 500 miles from home. Admittedly Buck does not use the latest super-steel for their knives, but in the real world, how hard does a knife blade need to be to gut a fish, cut a cactus tuna or clear an ocotillo plant from a campsite?
I totally agree. I´m from Germany. I have eight Buck knives, in 420HC, and ,, in the real world" , like you said correctly, they perform awesome, cutting meat, fish and veggies. When I like to carv more wood, I use a Mora. My EDC, is a Cold Steel Pocket Bushman, with BD-1 steel. For smaller tasks, I have a Victorinox. All theese steels, are not super steels, but they do the work, perfectly.
i have two buck knives. on both of them, i don't know what the hell they did but the edge was super hard, like 60 hrc. My buck 119 could field dress like 2-3 deer without needing to be sharpened unless i slammed it into bone. My most abused knife was a cold steel throwing knife. I used it for bushcraft, hunting, survival and defense in the mountains. Those 1055 knives are insane.
yeah but for the same exact size stone you could simply get a small diamond stone, and then carry a knife that outperforms 420hc in practically every way humanly possible and also be able to maintain it.
You guys are right. I bought my Aurora II because of you guys. They should stay in contact with you and not look you out of the loop. So many people like me trust in your opinions and may or may not buy a knife based on your reviews. Keep up the great work. You guys crack me up! SON! THAT AINT NO JOKE!
I also bought an Aurora because of DBK. I don’t baby it at all, so far so good! Fingers crossed.
Same
Yup.
And a Gunny scandi.
I bought Aurora, Aurora ll, and Gunny because of your recommendations. I have had good luck lately from BRK with all my orders being great. Thank you for all you do.
Lynn C Thompson had a passion for quality to keep from losing business and to stop knives failing on people that were depending on them or in life threatening situation. I think he was first a business man, but he saw no reasonto compromise. That was key and passion.
I wish GSM Outdoors would release MEYHEM! I absolutely LUST to EDC MEYHEM!
GSM saw Lin Tomsen selling excellent products at a FAIR PRICE and GSM saw a easy way to make money. Basically they purchased all of Cold Steel knives and other products and selling them at second dairy market prices.
RIGHT! Get started and ruin the business model in a profit exploit! That's adds up in my mind!
I hated the way GSM did a purge of knife designers and staff when they took over Cold Steel. I made sure to get some of the older models, to try to get ahead of any issues with quality control that are likely to occur.
Nothing wrong with Taiwan made knives. My Mercer Chef Knife set sees more use than any of my expensive Japanese and German Knives. Many good quality tools are made there. I would buy American, but not for similar quality at 2-3 times the price.
I've got Mercer knives as well. I buy them for gifts all the time. They're as good as my Wusthof, not as good as my Japanese knives -- but they are a third of the price of my Jap. knives.
This is a good to hear. Too much online discussion is, China = poor quality, with people forgetting most often the poor quality stuff is what they were asked to make.
I would not have any Bark River Knives without this channel. Your videos are what made me grab my first BRK. They’ve definitely had some QC issues, and not the best responses to them. That being said, the last 3 knives I’ve purchased from them (all in 2023) have been perfect. I’ve purchased a Mini-Gunny in MagnaCut, a Bravo 1.25LT in 3V and a Bravo 1 in A2. I was extremely happy with the fit, finish and sharpness of all three.
I love that you guys are honest and try so hard to remain unbiased. This is the kind of content that should exist in every hobby and interest market on TH-cam.
Got a bunch of Tops and they perform amazingly. They've really mastered 1095 and made it as good as it can be. I would love a few of Tops designs in a better steel though. 1095 is tough but requires constant oil to keep the rust off of them.
Certainly not as good as 1095 can be. They run those knives super soft.
@@TheScrawnyLumberjack Says who and compared to what?
@@DL-ij7tf says knife users and compared to really well done 1095. I’ve seen some very impressive high hardness 1095 tests. I’m certain I could build a knife in 1095 that would blow tops out of the water. They’re only running about 55 HRC which makes them garbage to sharpen. I can’t reference any examples since I’m not a fan of steel. There are much better steels out there to use. It does of course come down to HT and geometry at the end of the day.
@@TheScrawnyLumberjack TOPS run 1095 at 57-58 HRC not 55 but the lower the HRC the easier it is to sharpen so your comment makes no sense. I have a fairly serious knife collection and have 1095 from Mora, Ka-Bar, Ontario, Condor, TOPS, Schrade, and I'm sure other brands I'm not thinking of at the moment. TOPS do not seem have softer less edge retention, in fact the edges seem harder and more wear resistant than the others, which would be in line with their differential heat treatment processing.
@@TheScrawnyLumberjack compared to "really well done" 1095 aka a mythical version that exists only in non-specific TH-cam comments references. I'm a knife user and I think 1095 is all around the best steel on the market.
Watched the "Knife-Talk" playlist for over half a year now😂.. love these podcast like videos!!! Finally a new video! Lots of love from switzerland😉
haha we're happy to hear that Tim!
Everyone says "But Buck has the best 420hc heat treat in the business!" Ok perhaps it is true but isn't that like bragging about being the tallest midget?
It's how you use it.🧐
Hahahaha
Exactly !
This subject gets quite myopic in the knife groups…. My opinion… Just because a knife can slice rope 1400 times doesn’t make it “better” than VG-10.. Does the average user want rust resistance, tough steel, or edge holding? Ahh… the average person could care less. Does it get sharp enough? Will it skin a deer? Can it be left under the truck seat for a year without rusting solid?? It is what it is… I love 15v and Magnacut as much as the average knife nut, but my friends could care less.
Heck no . A good heat treat on any steel is awesome . That’s the main thing is a hard steel imo . I like 440c well done
Love that there are so many knife steel experts nowadays, most have never even sharpened a knife but that doesn't stop them from telling you everything wrong with your knife.
Great video! You said it all spot on! Constructive criticism is meant to be helpful, instead of it seen as negative feedback because of pride. I bought Bark River knives because of you and Virtuovice, so if you're getting heat for your honesty about wanting companies to be consistent with good QC, in fairness they should also show gratitude for the positive exposure you brought to them.
You hit the nail on the head on just about every front - it's about how well the knife is made and supported by its maker...not about geographic location and brand name. Keep it honest and progressing as you always do! As for BRK, I've had a few misses among wins myself, so you are correct there.
Keep up the good work! I like these occasional knife talk videos you guys are doing and appreciate the questions and ideas you bring to the table. I look forward to Thursday each week just so I can watch your videos.
Guys, I love your channel. To be fair to Buck..... their brand was built on the American hunting legacy and there knives were intended for hunters and for slicing. That said, they also make (which I have as well) excellent knives in 5160, S30V and S45VN. All have extremely well heat treated (BOS treated) knives. Some of the best heat treatment in the world, which is why their 420HC performs better than others 420. Try the other steels. For many American hunters, 420hc at an affordable price and easy to sharpen..... fills their needs and allows them to fully participate in the Great Outdoors. Keep up the great work!
You are the reason I've bought 3 different bark river knives. They are great knives, but I just got my second lt wright and have noticed an improvement of fit and finish on them.
Martin... The state of Florida wants their official haircut back. You are not a Florida resident and you don't have a license to wear it😂
hahahaha
I’m from the US and my favorite knives are from Fallkniven hands down. I have bought so many damn knives because of you guys and I regret nothing because they are all as good as you have shown us. Keep it up boys.
I got a Fallkniven NL2 Bowie last year. Love it. Thinking about getting an F1 Pro in Elmax or AI
Swedish quality. Made in Japan. 😊
As the video suggest I think it’s great to support your locals. Being a Swede I’m proud of our brands, but I buy knives from anywhere in the world as long as it’s good quality and interesting products.
@@jez76 I agree. I live in New Zealand and own a couple of high end knives, including one Fallkniven. We do have some great local knife makers who make excellent knives in high carbon steel - of which I am also a big fan. But probably not too many outdoorsmen who purchased a Fallkniven and regretted it. I am saving up for a new bushcraft knife and will either get a local high carbon steel or maybe a Fallkniven A1
@@davidneal6920 I got the F1x in Elmax which is a hell of a knife. I was aiming for the S1 as that size seems more of a one that does it all, but I also really wanted it in Elmax which was (is?) not available on the S1 series.
For my personal use I think the A series is to big, but no doubt a great (!) knife.
@@jez76 that is good info thanks. I have a sometimes bad habit of thinking bigger is better. But I already have a couple of big knives and want a smaller compact bushcraft one. The F1X in Elmax looks awesome. There is a guy selling one F1 Pro in Elmax here for $550 New Zealand dollars which seems a bit high. I actually have a Norwegian Sami knife which was gifted to me and is very cool. More of a utility knife perfect for cutting up food, and small fish, ducks thought I think. Great choice on your F1!!!!
BRK knives are one of my favorites in 3V. When I’m thinking Bushcraft I’m going to abuse the knife and most of the stainless super steels won’t stand up to that abuse. But agree customer service should be above & beyond. Waiting for over a year for a warranty repair is just not ok. You guys are spot on.
Came across your channel, getting into more and more outdoor things, and good, dependable knifes. Love your candid comments, and real life use. Cheers!
Mikkie B, yes, Bark River has huge potential and has reputation built. I still like the idea of them! I've had more stolen than I have now, but I miss the gone ones and enjoy your the ones that I now have.
You guys are correct. You have reviewed quite a few US brands. That some have not stepped up their game is not your fault. There are still plenty of fixed blade US made knives which are top notch and you've reviewed them. Reasons for US manufacturing not getting much love by government is decades in the making. Hopefully we can get back to "making things" and making them well.
Spyderco is by far my favorite knife maker. They predominantly operate in the folder market but man they are so cool. Would love to see you guys test their k390
Spyderco customer service has a lot to be desired.
Talking video ..nooooo !
I love my Spyderco knives. Some people don't like them because they're not pretty enough or they think FRN is cheap plastic (Micarta is also plastic), but all they do is work and come in a wide variety of steels. They're designer collaborations can be a bit insane on pricing and their Sprint Runs aren't for me, but their regular lines are outstanding (especially anything designed by Sal or Eric Glesser). They tend to be slicier knives than what typically get tested on this channel though, since they're meant more for cutting and tactical use, than wood carving.
I can't sharpen K390 to save my life, incredibly hard steel.
@@gordonmacdowell8117 frn, feels incredibly cheap and flimsy, i love it on my salt 2, extremely light but still, micarta feels different, also carbon fiber is plastic, g10 is plastic, but plastic does not equal plastic
I felt the same way about the guys who sold Elysian brewing (Seattle makers of beer) when they sold out to InBev. The emphasis went from making great beer to maximizing profit for the shareholders.
You can and should try and maximize profits. However, if you do so by making a much inferior product, you will be reducing profits and lose market share to competition
It was always trash beer
I’m a fan of convexed ground knives, I love and own so many Bark Rivers but I want to know what other companies besides BR, Falkniven, & some LT Wrights, come with a hand ground convex edge?? what are some other good convexed fixed blades??
Very nice give-away indeed!! Keeps getting better and better!!
Cheers guys!
It makes sense that bark river's warranty department is taking longer now since QC has gone downhill. Measure twice, cut once. They're just making more work for themselves.
I just bought an Aurora II that needed service right out of the box, but I'm hesitant to send it in with the long turnaround times
Bark river is TRASH to many models to do anything right
Your right about more small knife companies popping up, specifically by custom makers making their own brand. Some even production knives.
Buck had a release in magnacut and the often have some in s30v with a boss heat treat. I would put that s30v against any other.
They also have S30V, 20CV, and S45 options; their last buck of the month was in 3V too. I don’t think they did enough research when criticizing buck.
I wish they'd mainstream their special releases. But if you can sell every 110 you can make even though its 420hc I guess I understand. 😂
The two I have beats my Benchmades hands down.
I trained with the guys from ESEE and they actually showed up with little sleep from doing a rescue just hours before. Tons of respect to those guys. Very down to earth. They love their knives but they will also be the first to tell you that they never sell or push their knives during their training classes. They enjoy looking at the different brands students bring.
Have spoken to them at a blade show and back this up 100%. As mentioned by DBK - ESEE have designed their knives with a specific purpose and mission in mind. This may not suit everyone - no knife does. They do not hide their specifications or methods so when you buy an ESEE you know what you're getting. It comes down to personal choice. For me I love my ESEE 6 and it has served me so well for over 7 years now - no regrets. Have a great day.
You sound like a marketing bot. Most of these knife brands are WAY overpriced luxury items, I'll stick to my € 10-20 Mora knives (and even those are a bit overpriced IMO lol).
You guys always give an honest opinion about the knives and the industry and as entertaining as you guys are that's why people really tune in is because we know we're getting a real review appreciate the videos guys👍
Buck is amazing imo. They are trying to improve using more modern steels such as s35vn. I think many people still love them and consider them as a good knife manufacturer because they are one of the few that still manufacture their classic iconic models.
Wish I'd seen this vid before I ordered a Bark River! I hope mine shows without any QC issues. If anyone from BR reading this, this channel was why I ordered one.
I own 2 bark river knives and I'm not going to lie, I was underwhelmed with 2 things. They weren't hair popping sharp and I expected that and they messed up on my handle material and I feared sending in and waiting a year plus to get it back
I own 2 Michigan made Bark River knives, which are razor sharp and i'm overall pleased with but then i came across another Michigan based knife maker, White River knives, and found their knives more appealing, razor sharp and pleasantly ergonomic. Bark River has an almost cult like following while White River is lesser known. In my humble opinion, the Bark River reputation may be over rated at times while the White River knives is unjustifiably under rated.
They are garbage overall
Bark River knives are phenomenal
@@Simon-talks no their not. Proven factual. Look at all the people that have issues with them. Burnt edges and poor quality control. Magnacut that rusts. Using wrong steels etc. They also dont care about the customers and have said so. Lots of drama with them. They just want to sell you junk and want fanboys to not tell anyone else their faults.
@@tacticalcenter8658 Volume of sales naturally increases issues. Unless you have a documented fall out stat, it's still just your opinion on the actual frequency. DBK says they received an email following this vid...proving, contrary to your point, they actually do care.
Try to remember that we all have our own weights & measures when it comes to preferences, including yourself. G'luck.
I love the honesty and work you guys put into your passion! Keep up the good work guys :)
The PROBLEM with buck is that they still use 420hc and when they use good steels, they charge insane amounts of money.
Buck needs to change their standard knife steel all to crucible steels and bring their prices down on gold steels.
Thank YOU GUYS for Your honesty. I hope Bark River gets better with DBK. I've had my BR Recon since I was in the Marine Corp. It's a Life Saver. Planning on getting a Recon Tope. Hopefully I'll be happy
The biggest problem with Bark River is that you cannot buy their knives, I would like a nice CPM 3V one but they are never in stock.
BTW, I miss Busse Combat with INFI steel, those knives were awesome a long time ago.
Is Busse no longer around? I haven't kept up with production knives in recent years, but I still own a couple from back in the day.
Don’t buy Bark River you’ll be very disappointed
@@TheScrawnyLumberjack I hear they're still pretty hit and miss quality wise. Too bad, as they have some nice designs.
I own a couple from years ago and no complaints. But yeah, they seem to have some real QC issues and questionable customer service.
If you're buying a knife as a collector and you purchase a Bark River that you're unhappy with... send the damn thing back. If you're buying a knife to use...Bark River will stand up to the challenge.
@@zackmaule7785 Except for all the many times they don't.
You guys have earned the right to be publicly critical of the quality control issues. At the end of the day Bark River will end up improving their quality control because of the pressure their customers put on them. That is a good thing! I have close to 100 Bark River knives and I have had good luck with all but two. I have a Bobcat Hunter with terrible plunge lines and a Aurora Scandi in Magnacut that has a bit of a rounded spine from an overzealous buffer. My two most recent knives are excellent. Maybe the best grinds yet.
I'd love to see you guys test a Hinderer. There ranch Bowie is in 3v and an absolute beast. Id bet you'd like the folders as well extremely overbuilt and made right.
Second. DO IT YOU BLOODY DUTCHMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But the folders will not hold up to battoning.
Hinderer are junk and have the absolute worst employees in the knife business. They have about 300 people left in that cult. Don’t waste your time.
hinderer ht and customer service is as bad, if not worse than bark river
I’d rather go for Barks than Hinderer, and I despise Barks lol USA made is something that should get off stuff from the price at this point for how bad the quality is there
Tops has taken the HT for 1095 to a science. The industry needs to keep chasing/inventing new super steels to sell knives, 1% of knife owners will ever see any differences.
I Live in America and I have also noticed a lot of these new knife "designers" using Chinese and Taiwan companies as their OEM and claiming they are USA knives. It is sad to see. On the other hand I am also seeing American designers making their own knives that are 100% made in the USA with good steels. You just have to get in the right communities that care about quality and authenticity then you will find quality knives that are truly made in America. Like TKELL knives, Tim Kell is a USMC Vet making everything in the USA and his knives are high quality and affordable.
TKELL Knives are fantastic and to me they are in the top 5 best true American made knives.
@@dmiller622 100% I just got a Combatant delivered today. That man knows his steel and designs!
@@Larryrandom2549 Not at all. Tim Kell believes in keeping his knives affordable so the average Joe can buy his tools. As of now June 2023 a lot of his knives are around $200. For a 100% USA hand made knife in quality steel that IMO is a reasonable price. A few of his bigger models go a little higher, but not ridiculous.
@@Larryrandom2549 Your very welcome!
@@Revenant483lmaooo tkell sells 80crv2 knives at what, 57 hrc? for $250+. that’s a scam.
Just saying, I have a buck 119 in CPM3V with drop point, a Buck 103 and Vanguard in S35VN, a Buck 110 in S30V with DLC coating, a 110 in 5160 with drop point, another 119 in D2, a 112 in S45VN. I'd say they're trying to break the barrier in a way. Regardless though, Bucks designs have always been made for regular slicing and game processing tasks and they kept them that way.
I can't remember the last time I was this early
but I do agree that Made in USA is being used as a "we can overcharge" phrase even factoring in labor costs
like compare the Hogue Deka to a Benchmade s30v Bugout
I remember Pete drom Cedric and Ada had an s45vn Buck folder he had to reprofile because the grind was so uneven lol so even when the steel wasn't bad the QC was eehhh
Great video. A very honest and unbiased discussion, great job.
Perhaps the “older” steels are easier to sharpen out in the field. That would make a lot of sense.
Buck's 420 HC is very easy to sharpen and very tough. It's not a top of the line steel, but with their heat treat it's a decent steel. It does dull quickly though. I do like it, though their S35VN and 5160 is better.
Problem with that is your going to have to constantly sharpen them which would be problematic in a survival situation.
@@Proteus3000 I see your point, but I personally always liked the ability to at least rough sharpen after hitting a rock, bone or metal. Then again I always have a diamond hone/rod within arms length. Almost all my outdoors knives have a diamond rod attached to the sheath. And I always keep a ferro rod kit (I am a Redneck) in my pants pocket. 🤪😁
@@Proteus3000 I dont think so.
I saw Bear Grylls in the Everglades, batoning down a small tree, killing a 2 meter Alligator and a big snapper turtle, with a Buck Vanguard. When you have a knife with very hard steel in the field, and it chipped, you are in real trouble to reprofile this thing. Better to have a 57-58 HRC knife.
it's waaaaaaay past time for Buck to upgrade their 50 year old steel
IMHO BRK overstreched their production, even faster during the pandemic. I saw pics with a bend in the blade and Mike wrote, that in his eyes this is not a flaw, cause it is cutting?! Yes, but a sharpend piece of a tincan cuts too...
They should cut their production and produce less, but quality Knives!
All the Buck knives I have, have an excellent factory grind and edge.
Lynn Thompson, I believe, was the owner/founder of Cold Steel. Gotta say I was let down when he sold it to GSM (I understand he probably wants to slow down and retire, but...still disappointed).
Wow, Maarten-you’ve really handled your hair loss problem. Good job.
What do you mean by handled? 🤔
hahaha im actually sad it was a fact... I'm using minoxidyl
Miķkie would make a great Carl!
I’m so glad you guys had the balls to honestly call out Bark River. Every single thing you said was honest and spit on; the lack of quality control, unwillingness to accept constructive criticism, deleting comments/banning people, etc. it really is a shame because I love their designs, steel choices, and convex grinds, but I just can not justify buying them anymore when there are other companies who sell knives that are similar in price, but leagues ahead in quality. LT Wright knives , for instance. The thing that bothers me the most is the attitude and behavior of the owner toward his customers for giving even respectful, constructive criticism.
There actually are alot of American companies coming out with great knives like Survive Knives using high end steels with great heat treat , you just have to look harder or be willing to spend the money! Love the content & keep it up
Yeah, good luck getting one. I got a refund from them after I thought I had bought one, it was actually a pre-order which was to arrive in 5 then 9 then 16 months. The 3rd time they put my order in the back of the line I gave the money to DLT for a Bark River.
And then they break when they fall out of your hand and onto a rock. lol
@@andrewfournier8817 They don't "put your order in the back of the line", the suppliers often delay their deliveries. Often due to material shortage, or due to borders.
@Leftyotism Thanks for telling me about something I experienced and you did not. Your wisdom is astounding. They rotated other orders ahead in manufacturing repeatedly, if their production updates were honest (and I think they were)
I’m glad I found your videos. I probably own over 30 knives, mostly for hunting and personal carry use. After watching, I purchased 2 Fallkniven F1 knives along with a folding Fallkniven PC knife. The current brand I am using has trouble holding a edge. I think the Fallkniven brand is going to work well. I’ll put a comment once I get to use the new knives. Anyway, thanks.
As an Aussie, I think I can safely speak for everyone who isn't from the US, when I say "we don't care if a knife is made in America".
I love Bark River. I live fairly close to it and swing by to say hello now and then. They make amazing knives and are amazing people. But... Yeah. Even bringing up their QC on any of their Facebook pages (especially the plunge line issue) gets your thread locked. Along with downright hostile comments from fans, or even Mike himself.
I sent three knives in this year for warranty work, specifically stating I wanted the plunge lines evened up. Because if I'm paying $200-$300 USD for a knife, it better have even plunge lines. They returned them a couple months later with one having been slightly improved (but not fixed) and two they didn't even touch. I was so frustrated I didn't even reach out to their customer service about it.
i'm definitely more of a fan of Mikkie's haircut than american knives
It sounds like Bark River had gotten too big for it’s britches and that’s really sad. They used to be the best.
Other than the ones who have been getting their knives made in Taiwan (like Demko, Cold Steel), a lot of American knife companies have difficulties with quality control when they get them done overseas (Buck, Gerber). Spyderco seem to do a much better job at quality control, no matter where the knife is made. Some high end knife companies have coasted and/or faltered (Bark River). I dislike the trend of big knife companies being gobbled up by large umbrella corporations like GSM (Cold Steel, SOG). There are still some outstanding knife companies in the US though (LT Wright, White River, Battle Horse, Benchmade, Bradford, etc).
To be fair, after SOG was purchased it seemed like they shifted manufacturing of some of their models from China to Taiwan and the releases after that point were aimed more towards the enthusiasts. I haven’t seen a drop off in the quality of Cold Steel folders since they got bought out.
The problem with companies like Buck and Gerber using overseas OEMs is they don’t really have a major incentive to up the quality of those models and do proper QC. They are usually priced below the great Chinese budget brands and they’re competing against other poorly made knives. But the name means people are more likely to pick them up and the quality is passable enough that many people don’t see a problem. They don’t want those models to rival their domestically produced models as that will cut into the sales of said domestic models.
Thankfully it seems those heritage American brands are trying again after decades of shit.
Some years ago I bought a fixed blade Gerber for my son, it immediately broke a large section off the edge with no hard use, they then sent a replacement, a knife with a gut hook, the gut hook broke at the first use. Bought a folder too, its scales came off without any appreciable use, and the blade broke.
So..Gerber...fuck'em.
Calling Benchmade outstanding with all their problems in the last four years is a bit clownish.
They had even worse problems than Barks and Hinderer, and I despise both them company even more than BM
@@Timeren2010 A long time ago, Gerber used to make good knives. They're owned by Fiskars now (cheap tool company buying cheap knife maker) and it's been a long time since they've been good.
@@just9911 It was a shame that SOG got bought by GSM, because they were trending in the right direction, with some new leadership and releases. Buck seem to want it both ways, coasting on the made in USA and making a bunch of their models in China. I do like the recent 110 & 112 Select Slim releases though. Those knives punch way above their price.
Please test a Demko Freereigh fixed blade. Make sure it's the USA made in Magnacut. Love the fun you bring to the knife world and most of all the honesty.
THIS!
Buck is my favorite brand. Period. But let me first say that I own or have owned very many knife brands… like at least one from most major brands from around the world. I understand Buck’s flaws but I also only buy their higher end knives. I’m very very satisfied with their newer stuff. The twist they’re throwing on classic models is awesome. They may be late to the game on this stuff but regardless its a company that I support whole heartedly.
I don't think any large production manufacturer out there does a better heat treat of 420C. They were into a bit of a rut until recent years, when they came out of their Pro models and other goodies. I have a traditional 110, with the brass bolsters, but I love the new Select Slim versions they came up with for their older folders.
I 100% agree. I've owned knives from many many manufacturers, from bowies to bushcraft knives to kukris, TO SWORDS to axes, everything. And I 100% love Buck knives. My EDC is a Buck 119. Love em to bits.
Buck is adding $100-300 to a knife for different scale material or different metals. The different construction is only adding $10-20 to their cost.
@@bobjohnson1633 yeah, their pricing on their Pro models isn't something I'm a fan of. If they didn't put them at a price point where they're up against much better knives, I'd have bought a couple by now.
Brilliant just grateful to watch honesty work in a world full of appearances. Thank you guys 👏👌✌️⚔️
Hahaha yet again you two are on top form with a topic that definitely needed attention. Way too many people get swept along by the company’s old reputation not knowing that the truth is ohh so different. Much love lads and hope you have a excellent week 😘🫵🏻👍🏼
sadly id say kabar is also going down the drain
Yep. It’s a shame. They brag so much in their older videos about the many different quality checks, but the product they deliver is almost always flawed. Then they deny it or attempt to justify it, or just plain shut you down. Sometimes they even blame you. Like you’re an idiot. It’s an embarrassment to the American brand.
@@evansimmons6894 @Jonathan Murphy , this is very true it seems that they have gotten completely overwhelmed by demand and as a consequence have totally forgotten about quality control! With out having strict standards then you can use the finest quality materials in the world but only end up sending people crap. They should really get their acts together before they destroy their business. Have a beautiful day gentlemen 🫵🏻👍🏼
Love the honesty on display here! Have you guys had an opportunity to take a look at Reiff knives yet? I have 2 of the 3 models they make in the only steel they use and they make them all very well. It's similar to how the best little restaurants have very small menus (reiff) where everything is executed perfectly and the restaurants with the huge menus (brk) don't do anything particularly well and everything is either middling or just plain bad.
The most interesting thing about your stress testing is it's consistent over a broad range of application as apposed to a lab where they tear it apart with out variables taken into consideration 😊
You guys are my favorite knife channel. Appreciate ya. Thanks.
I would like to see you guys do a full review of Merc Worx knives
A coworker of mine used his bonus to get a bark river bravo and it chipped out while he was scraping bark. He contacted their customer service and he got the business. He called a few more times and got them to resharpen the blade and now the profile looks awful. He’s not going to get another one. Myself and a few others love and use the hell out of our tops knives and I think that company is awesome. I appreciate your videos and never miss one. You opinions and thoughts on these companies I feel is honest. Great video
Bark river is full of quality control issues. Some of the worst knives I’ve owned were from them.
I have 15 Bark River Knives, but have stopped buying them because of quality control getting worse. I got tired of overlooking imperfections. I kept buying them for so long because they have great designs and a choice of materials. In the end, I just couldn't overlook bad work. The owners and Bark River fans also act like anyone pointing out an issue don't know what they are talking about. Thanks for this video.
I agree completely with the USA knife companies need to use more modern steels.Spyderco uses great steel as well as Bark River and Benchmade.I buy knives from all corners of the world.
I love this channel. I really would like to see you guys review some Makers like, Dark Timber, Wasteland Forge, Wilburn Forge, LT Wright, PKS knife shop, Michael Brown Forge, FreeHill blades and Tops. These are some awesome USA makers that I feel deserve more recognition.
My buck 110 and 119 in 420hc are great knives that hold an edge... not as fancy ( or as well ) as my more expensive blades ( elmax, vg-10). Well enough to do hunting and fishing tasks excellent. I guess it's the same as with folders. I own a lot, but my sak's with mediocre steels get used the most. Ps: Maarten je tepels zijn gigantisch in die video😂
waaaaay past due for Buck to upgrade their steel....
@@Simon-talks They do some specials with half decent steel,
@@ziggarillo that’s what I need.
I appreciate your openness, one comment though, you are a little bit wrong about Buck on one aspect, that they are not using new super steels, they recently released the 110 in Magnacut ... so if that is not a new super steel then I do not know :D but they have not added Magnacut as a standard selection yet due to its difficult constant availability ... just saying ... Personally I am more of a collector by now and I am happy with standard steels for my EDC knives and even for some bushcrafting I am fine already with a D2 (even though I have a Lionsteel M4 in Magnacut which I love when i am out in the woods... ) but serviceability in the field or when I am travelling is more important to me. I think my favorite stseels are M390 or N690 but even the old 440C has its good place for daily use ... I think the type of grind and angles on a blade are a LOT more important than the type of steel really, steel is significantly overhyped as a Marketing aspect to sell new knives. Even the heat treating is, I had already Magnacut with so shit heat treating I guess and shit phase that I returned it, not mentioning the name of the US brand though ... but here you go it was US ... keep the videos coming ... cheers from Germany PS, no, it was not Buck ;)
Please don't worry, when the USA is finally sold out to China, everything will be made HECHO en CHEN.
Let’s hope!
Love your channel. I appreciate the honest tests of the knives you review unbiased. Good or bad "it is what it is." Agree with you guys 100%.
I think super steels are over hyped
Then you haven't been paying attention very well. Depending on which steels you put into that category, will depend on which is better than another. Heat treat is a huge problem with most super steels that don't perform, you can't use a super steel and only HT to 57-59hrc.
@@2873lonewolf I mean, if I'm cutting just one material all day and there are no nails or staples or bones or dust...I'll take some s30v or k390 on a folder perhaps. For my needs, I prefer something easy to sharpen because no matter what steel I bring to work, I gotta sharpen it repeatedly. Just my experience. I also bought 3 Bradford's once and couldn't tell any noticeable difference between aebl, cruwear, or m390 after common everyday tasks. The aebl had a touch more difficulty cutting rope at the end but it also stropped back in 2 seconds. I also make knives. I'll take 52100 or 1095 all day.
I can almost guarantee that I can make you a knife from aebl and tell you it's m390 and you wouldn't know ....common practice by the way.
@@jusme8060 K390 is up there with Elmax, 204P, M390/M398 or Cruwear. Again, the HT is the missing link here. M390 at 58hrc is garbage, so I agree you probably wouldn't notice a difference.
@@jusme8060 AEBL heat treated correctly is an excellent steel.
Can also dip into the Magnacut debate. Magnacut is supposed to be HT'd to 63-65. Alot of makers/companies won't HT to correct hrc, because they are worried about breaking blades and increased tooling costs. If you do your research and talk to professional sharpeners, you will find that Magnacut is only good at 64ish hrc and it sharpens easier than most super steels. The increased tooling costs are made up by people that don't know any better.
As an American knife fanatic, I completely agree with everything you're saying. I'm not sure what the hesitation is from many American manufacturers to expand their steel options. TOPS did make a line of 3V knives for Architect Knives/The Knife Connection, and I have to say, it's probably my favorite knife. Check it out, it's called the Field Buddy 5.5 - they made it in 3V and 1095.
I have architect Field Buddy 5.5, and now waiting for 6.5 in 3v, it is very good knife!
I was also really surprised with the quality of the 3v on my architect blade. Edge retention is amazing.
Not everyone cares about Super Steels. They are way over-rated and overpriced. Field sharpening is the key here. I'lll take a good 1095 over any super steel on a fixed blade. They have their place for sure. I love you guys, but i think you get too caught up in the super steel stuff.
I have recieved a bark river puukko with terrible recurve. The bevel was not ground straight and at the “guard” of the knife, the recurve was 2mm deep.
Es ist traurig, aber es ist leider oft sehr offensichtlich das einige Firmen nicht mal vertuschen das sie nur Geld verdienen möchten...😒
Aber es gibt eben auch diejenigen denen die Qualität für die Kunden am Herzen liegt. Gut das wir Jungs wie euch haben die uns helfen den Unterschied zu erkennen. Vielen Dank dafür!!!! 😎👍 Ich liebe euch , echt!
Viele Grüße aus dem Münsterland 👋
By far you guys are my absolute favorite knife channel!! Excellent job, all the way around!
I still have my hunting knives (stored away now), a Buck 110FG and a Vanguard both in 420HC. For hunting they were perfect. Now I moved on to a Fällkniven PC, F1 and A1 after having other knives and sheaths both suffering badly in the tropics and not being perfect in icy German winters either.
I agree. I have severeal Buck knives in 420HC, and for processing meat and fish, it is an awsome steel. Gets really sharp, very quick. And their´re stainless, even in very wet conditions. Most classic Buck models, are made for hunting and cutting meat. If I like to carv wood, I use a Mora. My EDC is a Cold Steel Pocket Bushman, with CTS BD-1 steel.
You guys are 100% correct on the Buck knives point, as an American i agree with you. You can think of it like this as well, Maglite Flashlights where the most popular in the US. But when the standard of incorporating LEDs in flashlight started , Maglite missed the boat and failed to innovate. And as a result they are not the go to brand for flashlights.
Tops suck.
Tops HT is the worst.
The spine of their knives ist mild. Never pry with them they just fold over.
And i bought the longhorn bowie. after 6 months the rust protective coating fell off due so much rust bult up underneath. That was the most annoying thing.
I have some but I will nevervever buy Tops knives anymore!
HaHa. anti rust coating, thats funny.🤣
There are a few American knife company’s that are making great knifes , but in my opinion your best option is to find a great knife maker or blacksmith , just because you know that the knife is what you want . That just my opinion. .
Demographics get worse. Manufacturing slumps. Whoops.
Correct on all points. Regarding Bark River in particular, they did have a noticable decline in quality, but I think that is due in part to getting more or less shutdown for plague reasons and then coming back with a much increased demand for output. I'm hoping that they will rebound and return to previous levels of quality and innovation, but time will tell.
I really see no point in giving them a second chance.
They have clearly proven that they only care about making money as their quality control is totally lacking and their customer service is extremely terrible.
Personally I am not going to buy from them again after my experience with them.
Any serious company and a company you can trust, would never ship out some of the crap they have shipped out.
Any serious company would take back a inferior product with no questions asked and either refund the money or send you a top product back.
Any serious company would not get aggressive and accuse you of abusing their product or for lying, take ages without you hearing anything from them, need you to nag and nag and nag for them to respond and wait for ages before anything to happen if anything happens at all.
There are plenty of other knife makers that make high quality products that are extremely more professional and customer friendly than what they are at Bark River, so I see no reasons for why people should gamble with their money and buy from Bark River.
With Buck you have the Best 420hc. The best S30V according to Virtuvice and the best S35VN all based on heat treat. The Paul BOS heat treat is the best. I have a 3V Buck 119 now.
Who or what is Virtuvice?
@@afoolishman12DBK mentor. Literally they one that thought em everything they know but he still is smarter
buck does use some s30v and lately has atleast started to use some s35vn and 45vn and i have seen some magnacut and 3v sprint runs
I think Buck could do five thousand mirror polished CPM Magnacut Marksman and they'd disappear the day they drop and get HUGE street cred in one blow!
I have an Esse 3 s35vn , white river backpacker 1 s35vn , Falkniven F1 , white River Hunter S35vn , mountain Knife Co .. Speed Goat in Magna Cut .. have you Any thoughts on Any of these specific Blades
Before I purchase a knife I scroll through your posts to see if you have reviewed it already. I do this because of your honesty. If you stopped posting the negative points along with the positive points I would be very discouraged from taking your advice. It’s disappointing that Bark River took that view rather than using that information to grow as an even better company. Either way, I thank you and appreciate you for your honest reviews and comedy along the way. Thanks from the UK 🇬🇧
I received a new Aurora 3v a couple weeks ago. It is excellent. I hope it was just a blip in bark river QC. They are such good looking knives with excellent ergos, cool handle materials and great steels.
its just my opinion but,,, i think you guys should do a video [n the difference between bush crafting and survival and the different types of knives you would choose for each and why.
I’d love to see a Work Tuff Gear knife review.
Hogue knives are great quality and are 100% made in America. My favorite knives are Spyderco
made in Bolder Colorado. USAEarth
Yup, they're great! I've got a Hogue EX-F02 in G-Mascus and the build quality is excellent. Very affordable (all things considered), too.
3:50 I'm pretty sure they also use D2 and S35VN.