I am a fan of those bird and trout knives. That sheath is great. The knife looks great as well. Those handles are not as advertised. Sounds like a BBB complaint to me. If it were cheaper I could see putting other handle slabs on there to pretty it up a little. Thanks Tobias for the warning on this little gem with horrid handles.
That leather sheath is quality. Great burnishing!! That knife looks like it would be great for fishing applications. The handle definitely looked better in the pictures.
I have the Bear and Son Bird and Trout knife with the faux stag handle. It looks better than your example, which is awful, but it is still a bit tacky. However, why I got it is it is American made with a decent blade for cleaning trout, which is how I plan to use it since I love fresh caught trout between 8-10”. It is a better option than my Rapala because it has a real blade. So I’m happy with the build quality overall. Just wish they’re rounded off the handle a bit, but oh well. I’ll still be using it. It is well made. Oh and I got it on sale for $20. For that price, it is a steal. Made in the USA. We all need to start supporting that. US jobs.
@@KnifeChatswithTobias Agreed. For $20 I can ignore the cosmetic and feel good. Even at $40, a quality US made knife is still good, but at that price point there’s competition. Pretty it up. I’d prefer wood. Even G-10. Also make it a bit more ergonomic.
I’ve thought about their stuff, but never knew what kind of quality to expect. It’s hard to tell if you’re going to get “Frosted” or not with certain brands.
Kitty did a good production job. Enjoyed the review also. It is a little sad that the Rough Rider handle looked to be the better of the two. The blade was certainly shiny on the Bear and Son. Don't know if I will be picking one up but if I do it will be in Rosewood.
I have considered the Barlow with rosewood from Bear n Son more than a few times. I haven’t tried them yet but they seem hit and miss. Shame on the handle otherwise awesome knife. Thanks as always. I have my very first Case! It’s a bonestag Barlow,I love it!
Hey tobias I know case makes a small hunting knife they call it basically the same blade with stag and stacked leather for around 55 bucks. The more exotic handles are more like buffalo horn etc.
Just bought the Red Stag Bone Barlow a couple weeks ago and it is very nice Everyone who has seen it has admired it However like you some of their lighter Stag Bone patterns need to be seen in the store and hand selected That’s my preferred method anyway Thanks for your informative videos
Bear & Son has definitely improved over the years. But they really need to work on the stag bone line. But the knife itself does what it needs to do. I guess it is the Bird and Trout knives when the "Ugly Stik" is to fishing rods. Ugly but functional.
Nice knife actually. The stag handle looks like it came out of some of the Frost cutlery series of stag knives, some you can see where the drill jig slipped and some so long and straight I start looking to see if the bit holder left marks on the ends. Honestly, I do have a few from them are quite good and look and feel like genuine stag and are on my carry list like the small copperlock. Very nice review of a cool bird & trout knife Tobias, thanks. I hope Bear & Son continues to improve their techniques.
I’ve only ever owned one Bird & Trout knife. I was probably about 8 or 9 years old. It had a plastic ‘stag’ handle and a short tag tang. The handle snapped after just a few weeks... maybe I shouldn’t have thrown it so much? I replaced it with an 8” bladed Sheffield Bowie that I still have. It never broke, no matter how much I threw it.
Western was a long lived American Brand made in Colorado. At first it was Western Knife company owned by Charles W. Platts. He sold the brand to Coleman who subsequently sold it Camillus. The brand died with Camillus in 2007.
I guess "genuine India stag bone" is still a part of the India stag; wish they were more up front about it being 2nd cut stag (which is fine, but kind of disappointing for a US brand).
I agree, the handle does not look natural at all. Good job it is illegal here in the UK and i can't have one ! Another informative video, Best Wishes (KB UK Wales)
That pattern is reminiscent of the kabar little finn, or maybe buck 102. I think they kinda fit the same role as this bear and sons. Do you use the bird&trout pattern a lot, or is this more a collector?
Tobias, three things 1) your guard does not seem to match the picture you showed from the advertising. It seem shorter and does not bend forward 2) Seems like too much handle stick-out of the shift 3) the but cap does it feel squarer in hand compared to the RR ? and yes 4) looking at the handle it looks like bone (but as bone I like it).
Gotta love a good fixed blade knife. It’s not my cup of tea for the style I’m more of a rifleman’s knife or a long hunter knife. But I do like the looks of it other than the handle material.
You can't really be surprised by the handle scales on this knife. 90% of every Bear and Son, Bear MGC "stag" handle is like this, jigged and burnt material.
The problem was Bear & Son called it stag originally, even on their website. Several retailers also called it stag. And the “stag bone” that showed up looked nothing like the stock photos online.
@@KnifeChatswithTobias I agree you should look at Case’s mini Finn in buffalo horn they also have a leather handle version too. I have the buffalo horn version and love it but they are more than double the price of the Bear & Son at $111.99.
I understand when a company uses natural materials there is some variation but that looks nothing like add photos. Still really like shape of it, looks like a handy little blade. I would much rather have plain white smooth bone.
I'll take a peek at the rosewood. Too bad about the look of the handle, though I feel like we may be in a golden era of budget knives. Maybe I just dont know better.
I agree, that is poor looking stag. I have shied away from purchasing any stag knives due to what I have seen offered. I wish Bear & Son specifically would offer more bone handle options on their knives.
Absolutely. Not always the best looker and sometimes a little rough around the edges but they get the job done. And when you think about it, what more do you really need from a knife?
It looks like they lowered the aesthetics of that knife with those amateur looking covers. That's the risk we take buying online. I know Ebay has an option to return based upon: "item recieved not as advertised ".
Great looking sheath, but what a disappointing stag handle! Definitely could have done a better job on it! So tired of makers trying to fool us with this stag bone nonsense!
I'm done with bear and son. I bought a hunter from bucees. Opened it 2 or 3 times and the main blade wiggles now. I'm so sick of that. It seems anything I buy gets loose now. And the so called stag looks like plastic. I shouldn't have bought it.
I wouldn't be surprised if the stag is plastic. They have some very deceptive names for the plastic stag handles. This same knife in this video was marketed as "Stag" and "Stagbone" and that was on Bear & Son own website. To be honest, I think their Stag Delrin looked better than this and it is plastic. I have had some good luck with Bear & Son but the operative word is LUCK. If you follow the channel, then you know I'm not looking for or expecting perfection from any company. But I do want consistency and a fair price for what you're buying. If you feel like you're spinning a roulette wheel every time you go to buy certain brands, You eventually give up on those brand.
Talk about false advertising. I'd send that sucker back on general principle. It's just plain cheap looking. Too bad because they did the rest of the knife right.
I am a fan of those bird and trout knives. That sheath is great. The knife looks great as well. Those handles are not as advertised. Sounds like a BBB complaint to me.
If it were cheaper I could see putting other handle slabs on there to pretty it up a little.
Thanks Tobias for the warning on this little gem with horrid handles.
That leather sheath is quality. Great burnishing!! That knife looks like it would be great for fishing applications. The handle definitely looked better in the pictures.
That’s really my only gripe about the knife. Calling it stag when it’s actually bone and then jigging it like a drunken crossed-eyed tattoo artist.
@@KnifeChatswithTobias Lol!!
Yeah...the stag looks a little....well, not stag...lol! Thanks for sharing it with us Tobias!!
Yeah it’s not stag it’s bone stag.
I have the Bear and Son Bird and Trout knife with the faux stag handle. It looks better than your example, which is awful, but it is still a bit tacky. However, why I got it is it is American made with a decent blade for cleaning trout, which is how I plan to use it since I love fresh caught trout between 8-10”. It is a better option than my Rapala because it has a real blade. So I’m happy with the build quality overall. Just wish they’re rounded off the handle a bit, but oh well. I’ll still be using it. It is well made. Oh and I got it on sale for $20. For that price, it is a steal. Made in the USA. We all need to start supporting that. US jobs.
All good points. The knife will get it done, no doubt about it. But Bear needs to get somebody in there that can make ‘em look nicer.
@@KnifeChatswithTobias Agreed. For $20 I can ignore the cosmetic and feel good. Even at $40, a quality US made knife is still good, but at that price point there’s competition. Pretty it up. I’d prefer wood. Even G-10. Also make it a bit more ergonomic.
@@cbwelch4 had I bought the rosewood handle version, this would’ve most likely been a completely positive review.
Awesome video Tobias. For 41 bucks and made in USA? Awesome. Never known about " second cut bone" thanks for the info!
The picture on bladehq looks like real stag so who knows. Thanks for the videos Tobias, always look forward to them
I’ve thought about their stuff, but never knew what kind of quality to expect. It’s hard to tell if you’re going to get “Frosted” or not with certain brands.
Kitty did a good production job. Enjoyed the review also. It is a little sad that the Rough Rider handle looked to be the better of the two. The blade was certainly shiny on the Bear and Son. Don't know if I will be picking one up but if I do it will be in Rosewood.
I just grabbed a kabar bird and trout yesterday at one of my local stores, very happy with everything but the sheath on it.
I have considered the Barlow with rosewood from Bear n Son more than a few times. I haven’t tried them yet but they seem hit and miss. Shame on the handle otherwise awesome knife. Thanks as always. I have my very first Case! It’s a bonestag Barlow,I love it!
Hey tobias I know case makes a small hunting knife they call it basically the same blade with stag and stacked leather for around 55 bucks. The more exotic handles are more like buffalo horn etc.
Pretty sweet blade, love the sheath
Just bought the Red Stag Bone Barlow a couple weeks ago and it is very nice Everyone who has seen it has admired it However like you some of their lighter Stag Bone patterns need to be seen in the store and hand selected That’s my preferred method anyway Thanks for your informative videos
Bear & Son has definitely improved over the years. But they really need to work on the stag bone line. But the knife itself does what it needs to do. I guess it is the Bird and Trout knives when the "Ugly Stik" is to fishing rods. Ugly but functional.
Nice knife actually. The stag handle looks like it came out of some of the Frost cutlery series of stag knives, some you can see where the drill jig slipped and some so long and straight I start looking to see if the bit holder left marks on the ends. Honestly, I do have a few from them are quite good and look and feel like genuine stag and are on my carry list like the small copperlock. Very nice review of a cool bird & trout knife Tobias, thanks. I hope Bear & Son continues to improve their techniques.
I like the rough Ryder one better...... basically the same thing but I just like the way the roughie looks!!!!!! Thanks Tobias
Informative show! I am going to buy one.
I’ve only ever owned one Bird & Trout knife. I was probably about 8 or 9 years old. It had a plastic ‘stag’ handle and a short tag tang. The handle snapped after just a few weeks... maybe I shouldn’t have thrown it so much? I replaced it with an 8” bladed Sheffield Bowie that I still have. It never broke, no matter how much I threw it.
On your intro what was the knife you where polishing,,brand and cost thank you .
Throw in the Buck 102 Woodsman and do another comparison 🙂 Maybe even get a stag custom.
Is someone buy me a Buck 102, I will.
@@KnifeChatswithTobias If they do I hope they get you the nifty Cocobolo version, what a gorgeous knife.
I still own an old Western brand bird & trout knife. Excellent brand was the Western knife brand made in USA.
Western was a long lived American Brand made in Colorado. At first it was Western Knife company owned by Charles W. Platts. He sold the brand to Coleman who subsequently sold it Camillus. The brand died with Camillus in 2007.
I guess "genuine India stag bone" is still a part of the India stag; wish they were more up front about it being 2nd cut stag (which is fine, but kind of disappointing for a US brand).
What was that big folding knife you were cleaning in your intro??
Awesome video thanks
I agree, the handle does not look natural at all. Good job it is illegal here in the UK and i can't have one ! Another informative video, Best Wishes (KB UK Wales)
I like the Rough Ryder.
That pattern is reminiscent of the kabar little finn, or maybe buck 102. I think they kinda fit the same role as this bear and sons.
Do you use the bird&trout pattern a lot, or is this more a collector?
I collect them because I use them. They’re just a great little camp knife.
Tobias, three things 1) your guard does not seem to match the picture you showed from the advertising. It seem shorter and does not bend forward 2) Seems like too much handle stick-out of the shift 3) the but cap does it feel squarer in hand compared to the RR ? and yes 4) looking at the handle it looks like bone (but as bone I like it).
Tobias is there any chance that the sheath could be man made leather.
Gotta love a good fixed blade knife. It’s not my cup of tea for the style I’m more of a rifleman’s knife or a long hunter knife. But I do like the looks of it other than the handle material.
You can't really be surprised by the handle scales on this knife. 90% of every Bear and Son, Bear MGC "stag" handle is like this, jigged and burnt material.
The 'ol.. "wiener in the jelly jar" trickery. Classic
I agree. The quality looks great, but that stag is not appealing at all to me. I'll check out the rosewood. Thanks.
I have small hands so this is a good pickup for me imma get rosewood handles tho
Got the knife I love this little knife
It’s not supposed to be stag it’s bone stag it’s their version of Case’s 6.5 bonestag.
The problem was Bear & Son called it stag originally, even on their website. Several retailers also called it stag. And the “stag bone” that showed up looked nothing like the stock photos online.
@@KnifeChatswithTobias I agree you should look at Case’s mini Finn in buffalo horn they also have a leather handle version too. I have the buffalo horn version and love it but they are more than double the price of the Bear & Son at $111.99.
I understand when a company uses natural materials there is some variation but that looks nothing like add photos.
Still really like shape of it, looks like a handy little blade.
I would much rather have plain white smooth bone.
Yep. Perfectly functional just not stag and truly ugly bone stag.
I wish they'd make it in red stag and 1095!
I'll take a peek at the rosewood. Too bad about the look of the handle, though I feel like we may be in a golden era of budget knives. Maybe I just dont know better.
I’d say go with the rosewood. It’s going be just as functional but look better.
It's prefect to carry everyday for light work
I would agree. It’s definitely a good user. Not the prettiest looking handle but perfectly functional.
Why not send it back? I'm afraid that we're at the manufacturer's mercy to honestly advertise their products.
I’d stick with the RR
Is that what is called being suckered? ;-)
Like in that saying about smokers: "only cigarette smokes, the smoker is a sucker" :-)))
That is a cool knife. Sorry about the handle.
Oh man, that handle is UGLY. The Rough Ryder on the other hand looks marvelous. Will have to try to find one!
I agree, that is poor looking stag. I have shied away from purchasing any stag knives due to what I have seen offered. I wish Bear & Son specifically would offer more bone handle options on their knives.
This isn’t even stag. It’s bone that has been very poorly jigged to look like stag.
Bear and Son Knifes, good stuff. Affordable.
Absolutely. Not always the best looker and sometimes a little rough around the edges but they get the job done. And when you think about it, what more do you really need from a knife?
It looks like they lowered the aesthetics of that knife with those amateur looking covers. That's the risk we take buying online. I know Ebay has an option to return based upon: "item recieved not as advertised ".
Looks like a nice knife, but I couldn’t watch the whole video with how many “uh” and “um” there were. It’s distracting. No offense.
None taken.
Very disappointing. I would send it back. They should be held to a higher standard for that price.
I'm thinking seriously of re-handling the knife.
The elephant in the room said, "The Chinese model is better than the model made in the USA".
send it back
Wouldn't have bought that one if you saw it first? Me neither. Looks like novice jigging.
Agree entirely, that doesn't look like genuine stag, and if it is, it's about the ugliest stag I've seen...
What a pity. Making a really nice knife and then ruin it with scales like that.
Absolutely!
Great looking sheath, but what a disappointing stag handle! Definitely could have done a better job on it! So tired of makers trying to fool us with this stag bone nonsense!
I'm done with bear and son. I bought a hunter from bucees. Opened it 2 or 3 times and the main blade wiggles now. I'm so sick of that. It seems anything I buy gets loose now. And the so called stag looks like plastic. I shouldn't have bought it.
I wouldn't be surprised if the stag is plastic. They have some very deceptive names for the plastic stag handles. This same knife in this video was marketed as "Stag" and "Stagbone" and that was on Bear & Son own website.
To be honest, I think their Stag Delrin looked better than this and it is plastic. I have had some good luck with Bear & Son but the operative word is LUCK. If you follow the channel, then you know I'm not looking for or expecting perfection from any company. But I do want consistency and a fair price for what you're buying. If you feel like you're spinning a roulette wheel every time you go to buy certain brands, You eventually give up on those brand.
I'm new to this kind of knife, eying them for years..thanks for the heads up on the company
Talk about false advertising. I'd send that sucker back on general principle. It's just plain cheap looking. Too bad because they did the rest of the knife right.