Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Gene Ingram knives

Does anyone here like Marbles or Bark River knives. The ones I've been looking at use A2 steel. How does it compare to D2?----2MG

I don't think that a person's actual amount of bush experience really matters in this type of situation, I intiated this thread due to being very impressed by Gene's treatment of me and the knives I have received, as I said. However, your experience is just as valid as mine, no matter who has cut the greatest number of whazzits and my feeling is that you may well have a legitimate complaint concerning the kife you received.

I have had problems with very expensive, currently "in" outdoor gear and the replacement/re-fitting of said defective items. To post details here and/or the name of the company involved would, IMO, simply start a bittchen session that would damage the camaraderie we have here and do no good, for me, or anyone else.

One really cannot find out what gear really IS everything it is claimed to be by it's makers and fans unless you buy and try it. While first-hand reports of problems/failures are very useful, we still need to realize that sometimes a maker is having a bad day and/or a single defective product gets out into the marketplace, it happens.

One of the more annoying aspects of the "net forums is that one can never really tell who is and who is not what they claim to be. I like to post exact details as to place, time and activities concerning my personal experiences in order to demonstrate that I am an honest man who has a certain level of "hands-on" experience and I tend to believe those who also do this.

So, my feeling is that perhaps you and Gene may have rubbed each other the wrong way when the problem happened and, since you are, by your own admission, pretty tough on gear, you might want to approach him again and see if you can get satisfaction. I dislike to see anyone slagged on the 'Fire as it lowers the quality of discussion and makes us all look like a bunch of mindless bozos, just what the "antis" want to see happen.

This is just a suggestion, but, maybe you and Gene could work out your differences, he certainly impressed me favourably. I might add that I am not easily taken in by the "cult" status of some products/makers and actually find the whole situation of "guru" outdoor experts who promote their wares by questionable behaviour to be rather amusing.

Anyway, I hope that you find satisfaction as spending hard-earned $$$$$$ on unsatisfactory gear is REALLY a PITA, I been there, etc. and most of us have, I suspect.

Dennis,
I am surprised on both accounts. While I only have one or two of Gene's knives in D2, I have used them quite a bit and have been thoroughly happy with them. I have also just started using a couple of D2 knives from David Winston (who tells me that he and Gene use the same D2 and treat it the same way) and they seem outstanding as well.

By comparison, I have 2 D2 knives from Bob Dozier, and both of them have chipped without near the abuse I have subjected the Ingrams to. All I ever read is that Dozier's heat treat is second to none, and his D2 is superb. Well, form my experience, I can tell you that I won't get another one.

Not a slam on anyone, but just posted to point out that it can happen to anyone.

As an aside, when I ordered my Winston knives, I had asked for S30V (my favorite material from Gene), but David talked me into trying D2. He told me that he and Gene had worked extensively with the steel's producer (I think he said it was Cricible, but I can't recall) to perfect their heat treat methods. They have put a lot of time and effort into getting it just right.

David told me that if I was not happy with the steel, he would make me new knives. My initial impression is that it won;t be necessary.

Back to Gene's wares. I guess that I have more than a dozen of his knives now. I have used most of them a bunch. I can't come up with a single complaint with any of them.

Even the best manufacturers of a given product have a failure rate. Let's say Company "Z" sells 10,000 knives and one is defective. The fact that the company made 9,999 great knives is no comfort to the guy who buys the one lemon. The problem is that with gear like knives, very few people buy enough to make a statistcally significant determination. Using our example, the guy who bought the bad knife has experienced a 100 percent failure rate. The guys who bought good knives have a 100 percent success rate. The good thing about the campfire is that users can compare results. And as discussed on this thread, I think the best manufacturers and sellers are those who understand the concept of a failure rate and who are willing to repair, replace or refund.

I agree, the best policy is to try to get satisfaction through polite discussion with a maker of a product that you have had trouble with. PMs between 'Fire members are also a good method to share info./warnings and this can be a real help in avoiding difficulties.

Just to illustrate WHY I am so impressed with Gene, I specifically ordered a slightly different handle detail than his usual one. We discussed this and, when I next psoke with him concerning payment because my knives were ready, he VOLUNTARILY said, "this is the first set like this I've made, if you don't like them, send them back and we''l go at 'er agin".

This was AFTER I requested the difference and he STILL was ready to replace the knives merely upon my decision that I didn't "like" the handle shape that I had wanted....how can you ask for more than that?

Some gear makers act as though they are "the Holy Grail" and anyone who dares recommend or use ANY different products is somehow not a real hunter, backpacker or whatever; my experience with Gene, like Mystery Ranch and Integral Designs is the exact opposite of this type of arrogance and that is why my $$$$$$ is and will be spent with those makers.

I am not a knifemaker, metalurgist or an "expert" (thank gawd), but, I feel it's only fair to post how Gene treated me, far better than almost anyone else I have dealt with.

Amen, Kute. In our free market, there are enough gear makers for a guy to not only find something he likes... but someone with whom he likes doing business. When treated fairly, I'm a loyal customer. I'm not shy about paying for quality. If I get treated poorly, I don't pitch a fit. I just don't go back.

You are exactly right, Kute. Some gear makers (and more than a few gear users) fall victim to the "echo chamber" syndrome. They time with people who tell them they are God's gift... and they start believing it. When a manufacturer begins to think they have found perfection, they can stop listening to customers... and when you stop listening, you stop learning. The best guys are always open to ideas. They are always looking to improve... and they accept constructive criticism.

Before locking horns, I always try to create a way out. Even tbe best guys can have a bad day, or make a bad knife. Before anyone's kettle starts boiling, I think it's a good idea to just say, "How can we make things right for both of us." A good man usually finds a way, and knowing a good man from a bad one is worth the cost of a knife to me.

How much do just the knives weigh?

More than you want to pack on any backpack hunt I have 3 and I never use them. A replacement blade knife gets it done waaaay better and lighter. I keep a havalon in the pack too for a backup and for wolf work should one present itself.

I kind of like Outdoor Edge now. Much easier to change blades.

That’s my main knife. I take one extra blade. You can sure break an animal down fast with a new blade.

I pack my fears and one of them being losing a knife with an animal down. Havalon is lite insurance.

I've had five different Ingrams. While beautifully made, I just don't like them. I prefer a fuller handle. I'm on his list for another, so will probably have him make something with a modified handle.

Thank you. I have both a Havalon (preferred) and the larger Gerber big game folder replaceable blade for Elk. Heck, I have 0.7oz Victorynox pairing knives that are good enough and I have a backup SAK in my hipbelt...for longer pack in backcountry hunts.

I just always liked the idea of a Gene Ingram knife or LITECOMBO; he can apparently drill a few holes in the shank to lighten weight and
I thought that it might replace the larger Gerber replacement blade (about 5oz) for elk.

Sounds like I might need to get one in my hand to determine fit/feel before I place an order and get a better sense of how much they weight too.

Thank you

I have a Ingram bird-trout coming soon; didn't purchase it for birds or trout but for big game, almost looks like a smaller fillet knife, but with a little sturdier stock 3/32"- I'll let you know what it weighs when I get it

I just shoot deer that are 5 ounces lighter so I don't blow out my knees.

Blessings are great. Great fathers are a blessing.

Indeed they are! He'll be 91 yo in a couple months and is fit as a fiddle.

While I've tried to replace my Grohmann - DH Russell Canadian Belt Knife, I've still not found anything its equal.

Happy Thanksgiving all...

Great story Brad.

A happy Thanksgiving to you also.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families!

I like that B&T Warden. Looking forward to your update.

I mainly carry two Vickies in the pack and don’t worry about losing them (sub $20). Hard to argue the economics and hold an edge well.

After much study I purchased a Knives of Alaska Lite Hunter (D2) in 2003. I purposefully tested the knife to determine how many animals I could process before dressing the blade at all. That number ramped up to 21. That was mostly Axis & a few Whitetail’s. I then sent it back to KoA for their sharpening service. At the time the total for service & shipping was about $20.

I love that knife & it is my go-to skinning tool. The gut hook sounds like a zipper when opening them up. I do own several Ingram’s. Dyed in the wool fan of KoA Lite Hunter. Looking equally forward to proof test the Ingram’s.