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Bark River Knives, Escanaba Michigan
- Thread starter GRT3031
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mattallamerican
Member
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2011
- Messages
- 394
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he makes the usa blackjack knives also. bark river and blackjack are some of the best production knives made
Ivan the Butcher
Member
The only thought I have is about Escanaba, Mich. I was driving through on vacation several years ago. There are Ten Million trees for every person! I about went crazy, just passing through! Those dog-gone Ooppers live with that crazy everyday!
Ivan
Ivan
THE PILGRIM
Member
BearBio
Member
I own(ed) several==not up to my Randalls but a good quality knife. Many models available but choose wisely. Suit the knife to your task!
kwill1911
SWCA Member
I own a couple of them. Great knives.
At the price point, they're awesome knives! I own a bunch of them.
Excellent knives, go for it!
My primary hunting knife for over 10 years has been an early Bark River Woodland Special, made when they were in Bark River Michigan. It has dressed a dozen antelope and half a dozen whitetail in that time and has only required leather stropping to maintain a great edge. I have a lot of hunting knives to choose from (Randall, Mable's, Case, Buck, Gerber, Puma, etc...), but this Bark River is my "go to" blade.
Mike Stewart owns Bark River Knives. He previously was in charge of knife production at Marble's and was responsible for their excellent "Bobcat box" line produced in Gladstone MI from about 1997 to 2001. When Marble's moved production to China, Mike parted company and incorporated Bark River Knife and Tool. They moved to Escanaba in 2003 and just recently expanded their facility again.
Before I got my Woodland Special, I used a Marble's knife built when Mike was in charge. I thought enough of them to buy a handful for myself and one for each of my brothers and brothers-in-law. The blades were made from 3/16" 52-100 ball bearing steel, had their classic convex grind and came razor sharp. As good as these were, I think the Bark River blades are better.
They're more corrosion resistant and hold an edge just as well. The Marble's knives would rust quickly if you didn't immediately clean and oil them after dressing an animal. A brother and a BIL learned this the hard way. They neglected theirs for a day and when they got around to them the blades had already etched.
My primary hunting knife for over 10 years has been an early Bark River Woodland Special, made when they were in Bark River Michigan. It has dressed a dozen antelope and half a dozen whitetail in that time and has only required leather stropping to maintain a great edge. I have a lot of hunting knives to choose from (Randall, Mable's, Case, Buck, Gerber, Puma, etc...), but this Bark River is my "go to" blade.
Mike Stewart owns Bark River Knives. He previously was in charge of knife production at Marble's and was responsible for their excellent "Bobcat box" line produced in Gladstone MI from about 1997 to 2001. When Marble's moved production to China, Mike parted company and incorporated Bark River Knife and Tool. They moved to Escanaba in 2003 and just recently expanded their facility again.
Before I got my Woodland Special, I used a Marble's knife built when Mike was in charge. I thought enough of them to buy a handful for myself and one for each of my brothers and brothers-in-law. The blades were made from 3/16" 52-100 ball bearing steel, had their classic convex grind and came razor sharp. As good as these were, I think the Bark River blades are better.
They're more corrosion resistant and hold an edge just as well. The Marble's knives would rust quickly if you didn't immediately clean and oil them after dressing an animal. A brother and a BIL learned this the hard way. They neglected theirs for a day and when they got around to them the blades had already etched.
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THE PILGRIM
Member
Richard Simmons
Member
I've got several and have no complaints at all.
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series guy
Member
I would look at L T Wright Knives for a true handmade knife for a very reasonable price. I have quite a few and have never been disappointed.
The trees are not a problem, for the most part they stay in one place. Watch out for the Deer, which seem to find new and exciting ways to attack your truck. Oct/Nov/Dec are tough, but to see incredible numbers of deer, drive west on US 2 towards Escanaba in late march, early April, when the deer come out to get the salt and the browse that has been under the snow for the last 5+ months. Oh it Yoopers, Just like the movie "Escanaba in the Moonlight". Be Safe,
MCorps0311
US Veteran
Very nice collection.Excellent knives, go for it!
My primary hunting knife for over 10 years has been an early Bark River Woodland Special, made when they were in Bark River Michigan. It has dressed a dozen antelope and half a dozen whitetail in that time and has only required leather stropping to maintain a great edge. I have a lot of hunting knives to choose from (Randall, Mable's, Case, Buck, Gerber, Puma, etc...), but this Bark River is my "go to" blade.
Mike Stewart owns Bark River Knives. He previously was in charge of knife production at Marble's and was responsible for their excellent "Bobcat box" line produced in Gladstone MI from about 1997 to 2001. When Marble's moved production to China, Mike parted company and incorporated Bark River Knife and Tool. They moved to Escanaba in 2003 and just recently expanded their facility again.
Before I got my Woodland Special, I used a Marble's knife built when Mike was in charge. I thought enough of them to buy a handful for myself and one for each of my brothers and brothers-in-law. The blades were made from 3/16" 52-100 ball bearing steel, had their classic convex grind and came razor sharp. As good as these were, I think the Bark River blades are better.
They're more corrosion resistant and hold an edge just as well. The Marble's knives would rust quickly if you didn't immediately clean and oil them after dressing an animal. A brother and a BIL learned this the hard way. They neglected theirs for a day and when they got around to them the blades had already etched.
MCorps0311
US Veteran
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
I've owned several Bark River knives, and still have three. All of mine are cryo-treated A2 tool steel at Rc 58-60, convex ground. Nearly all the ones I've owned have had green canvas Micarta handles, my choice. The material is fairly smooth to the touch but grippy enough to give a good hold when wet or bloody.
Two of my remaining three are models no longer made, and one is a prototype made especially for me because I suggested using a contrasting Micarta guard instead of metal. Mike Stewart liked the idea and marketed several models using my last name to describe the guards.
The one I treasure most is an early Highland Special with a four-inch drop point blade .150" thick. I had a later model with a blade .177" thick, but slightly preferred the agility of the thinner blade. I gave the later one to my son. For my tastes, the Highland Special is as perfect a field knife as I've ever handled.
Every Bark River knife I've owned has been fiendishly sharp out of the box and held an edge extremely well. They could be stropped back to sharp on a piece of corrugated cardboard, but rarely needed it. The A2 steel was surprisingly stain resistant. Conventional sharpening techniques can ruin a convex edge, but doing it properly isn't at all difficult with a few simple materials.
You won't wreck one. Mike designed one knife in consultation with Force Recon Marines, for their use in the field. One survived a 100 foot fall onto pavement with no damage beyond a couple of minor scratches.
In case you haven't guessed, I like Bark River knives.
Two of my remaining three are models no longer made, and one is a prototype made especially for me because I suggested using a contrasting Micarta guard instead of metal. Mike Stewart liked the idea and marketed several models using my last name to describe the guards.
The one I treasure most is an early Highland Special with a four-inch drop point blade .150" thick. I had a later model with a blade .177" thick, but slightly preferred the agility of the thinner blade. I gave the later one to my son. For my tastes, the Highland Special is as perfect a field knife as I've ever handled.
Every Bark River knife I've owned has been fiendishly sharp out of the box and held an edge extremely well. They could be stropped back to sharp on a piece of corrugated cardboard, but rarely needed it. The A2 steel was surprisingly stain resistant. Conventional sharpening techniques can ruin a convex edge, but doing it properly isn't at all difficult with a few simple materials.
You won't wreck one. Mike designed one knife in consultation with Force Recon Marines, for their use in the field. One survived a 100 foot fall onto pavement with no damage beyond a couple of minor scratches.
In case you haven't guessed, I like Bark River knives.
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2ndshift
Member
It's Yoopers not oopers!
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Marshwheeling
Member
Never owned a Bark River knife, but I did attend a BMW motorcycle rally there around 1987. The knives are generally well-regarded, although Mike Stewart seems to be a figure of controversy. The prices are a bit above what I usually like to spend, but I could see myself buying one.
Did not know about this knife company.....but I went to Bay De Noc Community College in the mid 1980s in Escanaba.
THE PILGRIM
Member
Once I went deer hunting outside of Escanaba.
Also didn’t know about Bark River.
The Bark River knives sort of fill a niche between the production blades and the true Custom Knives.
They make lots of different models, from too small to too large. IMO.
They use every steel available and a number of handle materials.
They make so many models and variations that some folks just collect Barkies.
Some models out of production get very desirable and of course the price rises.
For example, I would like to have a Chute Knife.
For you non-knife guys, blame Loveless again.
An original Loveless Chute Knives goes for almost $10,000.
One of the most desirable knives on this planet, for sure.
The Bark River Chute Knife don’t go for anywhere close, but still very desirable.
I have the also desirable Bark River Smoke Jumper, but not the Chute Knife.
Smoke Jumper in the middle.
Randall on top, Omega Loveless Pattern Fighting Knife on bottom
Also didn’t know about Bark River.
The Bark River knives sort of fill a niche between the production blades and the true Custom Knives.
They make lots of different models, from too small to too large. IMO.
They use every steel available and a number of handle materials.
They make so many models and variations that some folks just collect Barkies.
Some models out of production get very desirable and of course the price rises.
For example, I would like to have a Chute Knife.
For you non-knife guys, blame Loveless again.
An original Loveless Chute Knives goes for almost $10,000.
One of the most desirable knives on this planet, for sure.
The Bark River Chute Knife don’t go for anywhere close, but still very desirable.
I have the also desirable Bark River Smoke Jumper, but not the Chute Knife.
Smoke Jumper in the middle.
Randall on top, Omega Loveless Pattern Fighting Knife on bottom
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