I only have one Bark River - a Macassar-ebony-handled 'First Production Run', unused but with no box. I think I paid too much, but I love Macassar Ebony and wanted a BR drop point hunter as my first one.
I was not impressed with the finishing details as compared to my L.T. Wright hunter - you can barely feel where the scales meet the spine on that one - but I can always finish it myself, and probably will at some point.
Looks like a Bobcat Hunter, or maybe a CDPH to me. They print first production run on the first run of each new model.
It’s interesting that you mentioned the comparison to LT Wright. I have a few smaller LTs, and while the workmanship is very good, the first thing I noticed compared to my BRKs is that the finishes are rougher. I agree though, my LTs have been impeccable.
I'm happiest with Micarta and Tool Steel.
Top four in rotation: K390 + GCM PM2, ZCarta Shaman, Crucarta PM2, K390 + GCM Straight Spine Stretch.
I only have one Bark River - a Macassar-ebony-handled 'First Production Run', unused but with no box. I think I paid too much, but I love Macassar Ebony and wanted a BR drop point hunter as my first one.
I was not impressed with the finishing details as compared to my L.T. Wright hunter - you can barely feel where the scales meet the spine on that one - but I can always finish it myself, and probably will at some point.
Looks like a Bobcat Hunter, or maybe a CDPH to me. They print first production run on the first run of each new model.
It’s interesting that you mentioned the comparison to LT Wright. I have a few smaller LTs, and while the workmanship is very good, the first thing I noticed compared to my BRKs is that the finishes are rougher. I agree though, my LTs have been impeccable.
It's 8.2" long - I thought it was a CDPH. Also, it's the only BRK I've ever handled, so I have no others to compare the finishing to, but I have three L.T. Wrights and they are all perfect.
I will probably end up with another BRK at some point, but I've been tied up chasing Spydercos recently.
It’s a rainy Sunday here. I cleaned the house, walked the dog, and wasn’t ready to crack a beer yet, so I took all the Barkies out and did some edge maintenance. Reloaded the DLT CL paddle strop and went to down.
God darn, these are my favorite knives. Strop back to paper carving in no time. I wish I could strop my V-grind knives like this!
The Bushcraft Scout in Magnacut is probably the sharpest. Great steel.
Dude - Stellar collection!!! I’ve gotta get on the “Premium” fixed blade bandwagon and I’m sure it’s a …but I hike/camp or kayak/canoe trip and hunt/fish too much not to at least get a couple…would love an edc and bushcraft model or maybe just something in the middle…thinking about a couple Bradford Guardians but these Bark Rivers look awesome, especially the PSK
Dude - Stellar collection!!! I’ve gotta get on the “Premium” fixed blade bandwagon and I’m sure it’s a …but I hike/camp or kayak/canoe trip and hunt/fish too much not to at least get a couple…would love an edc and bushcraft model or maybe just something in the middle…thinking about a couple Bradford Guardians but these Bark Rivers look awesome, especially the PSK
My favorite EDC fixie is my LT Wright Frontier Valley, which is fairly comparable to the Bradford Guardian. I'd like a Barkie that size at some point - maybe the PSK EDC, maybe the Essential 2.
I definitely feel like the BRKs shine in larger knives, where you can really put them to work. The Bravo 1.25 LT is my favorite camp knife, but you can't go wrong with anything from the Bravo, Bushcrafter, or Aurora family. That convex grind is next level.
I'm happiest with Micarta and Tool Steel.
Top four in rotation: K390 + GCM PM2, ZCarta Shaman, Crucarta PM2, K390 + GCM Straight Spine Stretch.
I definitely feel like the BRKs shine in larger knives, where you can really put them to work. The Bravo 1.25 LT is my favorite camp knife, but you can't go wrong with anything from the Bravo, Bushcrafter, or Aurora family. That convex grind is next level.
Agreed. Friend of mine let me use a bushcraft ultra lite for a couple of trips. Decent knife, but didn’t care for the handle.
Fast forward a couple of months, found a deal on an ext 1 in magnacut. Great palm swell and size on the handles. The convex grind just lasers through materials. Beating on it a bit including batoning wood never felt less than confident in its performance.
I’ve gotta get on the “Premium” fixed blade bandwagon and I’m sure it’s a …but I hike/camp or kayak/canoe trip and hunt/fish too much not to at least get a couple…would love an edc and bushcraft model or maybe just something in the middle…thinking about a couple Bradford Guardians but these Bark Rivers look awesome, especially the PSK
I own two PSKs and about a dozen Guardian 3's (it's one of my go-to platforms for trying out a new steel). I prefer the ergonomics of the Guardian (it fits my hand better) as well as the slightly greater blade length (seems much more noticeable than the measurement in my EDC uses).
The Guardians get _a lot_ more EDC carry time than the PSKs. Some of that is the sheath (the PSK sheath totally _sucks_), so I've been meaning to put together a good kydex sheath (want to work on my sheath making skills anyway--I've been carrying one of Chad Kelly's knives and his sheath is a masterpiece) and give the PSK some more belt time to see if it can grow on me a bit more.
I definitely feel like the BRKs shine in larger knives, where you can really put them to work. The Bravo 1.25 LT is my favorite camp knife, but you can't go wrong with anything from the Bravo, Bushcrafter, or Aurora family. That convex grind is next level.
Agreed. Friend of mine let me use a bushcraft ultra lite for a couple of trips. Decent knife, but didn’t care for the handle.
Fast forward a couple of months, found a deal on an ext 1 in magnacut. Great palm swell and size on the handles. The convex grind just lasers through materials. Beating on it a bit including batoning wood never felt less than confident in its performance.
Those EXTs look really cool. I’m on a spending freeze right now, but I’d really love to compare an EXT 1 to my Gunny Hunter LT. DLT either just dropped, or is about to drop some LT EXT-1s and EXT-2s, which really light my fire.
I'm happiest with Micarta and Tool Steel.
Top four in rotation: K390 + GCM PM2, ZCarta Shaman, Crucarta PM2, K390 + GCM Straight Spine Stretch.
I’ve gotta get on the “Premium” fixed blade bandwagon and I’m sure it’s a …but I hike/camp or kayak/canoe trip and hunt/fish too much not to at least get a couple…would love an edc and bushcraft model or maybe just something in the middle…thinking about a couple Bradford Guardians but these Bark Rivers look awesome, especially the PSK
I own two PSKs and about a dozen Guardian 3's (it's one of my go-to platforms for trying out a new steel). I prefer the ergonomics of the Guardian (it fits my hand better) as well as the slightly greater blade length (seems much more noticeable than the measurement in my EDC uses).
The Guardians get _a lot_ more EDC carry time than the PSKs. Some of that is the sheath (the PSK sheath totally _sucks_), so I've been meaning to put together a good kydex sheath (want to work on my sheath making skills anyway--I've been carrying one of Chad Kelly's knives and his sheath is a masterpiece) and give the PSK some more belt time to see if it can grow on me a bit more.
Thanks for your input…a dozen? Man I just want a couple!!! I like the PSK and Guardians but a Chad Kelly would be incredible!!!
Yeah it’s a sweet little knife and the mosaic pins are cool looking…I hardly notice it in my pocket…just looked up the burl and they are beautiful, had no idea there were so many variations
…but I hike/camp or kayak/canoe trip and hunt/fish too much not to at least get a couple…would love an edc and bushcraft model or maybe just something in the middle…thinking about a couple Bradford Guardians but these Bark Rivers look awesome, especially the PSK
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