Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades Bark River Knives--Sharp ???

For those familiar with Dozier, Ingram or May knives, do Bark River Knives arrive as sharp "out of the box" as these fine custom makers?

Thanks, RS

I have purchased several of Mike Stewart's knives. Everyone I have came pretty damn sharp. All his knives are convex, and they WILL slice chit.

The 2 of the 3 BRKs that I've bought NIB were sharp out of the box, but the third, a very small trout and bird knife, needed a couple of pulls through the ceramic rods to get a fine edge on it.

Mixed results, all were OK, some pretty good, but none were what I'd expect from a custom, other than one that I sent in for sharpening, which came back extremely sharp. I really don't know how to sharpen a convex edge by hand, I've tried with poor results. I like a normal edge where I can just use a lansky or something along those lines and get a razor sharp edge.

I have only purchased one, a Fox River model. It came fairly sharp but not in the same league as the last three custom knives I acquired.

a good convex edge might not feel as sharp as other grinds, but when it comes to cutting, they get the job done. I have a bunch of convex knives, and getting them sharp, and keeping them sharp, is very, very easy. Edge seems to last much longer than say a saber grind or full flat grind.

Agreed....convex edges cut better than they feel and last forever.

Sharpening takes some learning but it's actually easier than holding a consistent angle on a flat grind without using a fixture once you learn how.

As far as BRK knives go.....I only own one but I'll never part with it.
I do think they're a little over priced though but I bought mine used.

Yep. Razor sharp.

Bark River knives do best with the strop method, due to being convex type edges.

Yep. Last long because they are supported by so much steel.

ive got a couple. The thicker steel isnt my favorite.

Even have one of the early Bark River souped up Fallkniven F1's stuck somewhere. Convexed edge with micarta scales.

Here are a couple of mine. I have a couple more in the safe. Super sharp, and because convex edged, easy as heck to keep sharp with a strop and compound.