Bark River Knives

Bark River Knives

Bark River Knives

Bark River Knives (also known as Bark River Knife & Tool) blends traditional knife designs with modern methods and materials. The result is a line of blades with fine tolerances, but which also retain the subtle features that have exemplified world-class edged tools for centuries. Mike Stewart makes these beautiful semi-custom knives sing!

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Bark River Knives: Bravo Necker - Cru-Wear - Zericote #1

MSRP: $319.95

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Our Price: $239.95
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Bark River Knives: Bravo Necker - Cru-Wear - Zebrawood - Black Liners & Pins #2

MSRP: $359.95

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Our Price: $269.95
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Bark River Knives: Bravo Necker - Cru-Wear - Zebrawood - Black Liners & Pins #1

MSRP: $359.95

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Our Price: $269.95
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Bark River Knives: Bravo Necker - Cru-Wear - White Linen Micarta - Pink Liner

MSRP: $329.95

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Our Price: $247.45
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Bark River Knives: Bravo Necker - Cru-Wear - White Linen Micarta - Black Liners

MSRP: $329.95

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Our Price: $247.45
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Bark River Knives: Bravo Necker - Cru-Wear - White G-10 - Sea Blue Liners

MSRP: $329.95

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Our Price: $247.45
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Bark River Knives: Bravo Necker - Cru-Wear - Wenge #2

MSRP: $319.95

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Our Price: $239.95
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Bark River Knives: Bravo Necker - Cru-Wear - Wenge #1

MSRP: $319.95

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Our Price: $239.95
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Bark River Knives: Bravo Necker - Cru-Wear - Walnut Burl - Black Liners & Pins #1

MSRP: $389.95

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Our Price: $292.45
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Bark River Knives: Bravo Necker - Cru-Wear - Walnut Burl - Black Liners - Mosaic Pins

MSRP: $409.95

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Our Price: $307.45
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Bark River Knives: Bravo Necker - Cru-Wear - Zericote #2

MSRP: $319.95

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Our Price: $239.95
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Bark River Knives: Bravo Necker - Cru-Wear - Vintage Linen

MSRP: $309.95

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Our Price: $232.45
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Bark River Knives: Bravo Necker - Cru-Wear - Tigerstripe G-10

MSRP: $319.95

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Our Price: $239.95
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Bark River Knives: Bravo Necker - Cru-Wear - Teal Maple Burl

MSRP: $359.95

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Our Price: $269.95
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Bark River Knives: Bravo Necker - Cru-Wear - Teal & Green Maple Burl

MSRP: $359.95

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Our Price: $269.95
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Bark River Knives: Bravo Necker - Cru-Wear - Teal & Blue Maple Burl - Mosaic Pins

MSRP: $399.95

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Our Price: $299.95
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Bark River Knives: Bravo Necker - Cru-Wear - Tan Maple Burl - Mosaic Pins

MSRP: $399.95

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Our Price: $299.95
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Bark River Knives: Bravo Necker - Cru-Wear - Tan Burlap - White Liner

MSRP: $349.95

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Our Price: $262.45
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Bark River Knives: Bravo Necker - Cru-Wear - Tan Burlap

MSRP: $329.95

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Our Price: $247.45
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Bark River Knives: Bravo Necker - Cru-Wear - Snakeskin Burgundy Canvas Micarta - Yellow Liners - Brass Pins

MSRP: $349.95

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Our Price: $262.45

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LEARN MORE ABOUT BARK RIVER KNIVES

About BRK

At Bark River Knives, the emphasis is on maximum performance -- real-world performance, in the field. Bark River effectively uses a variety of new "super steels," and many of their knives still employ A-2 carbon tool steel as well. These knives have gained favor among outdoorsmen worldwide for their superior edge-holding, perfect geometry and top-performing heat treatments.

We've found Bark River to be one of the very best values in the knife world. In our experience, most people have never owned a knife that performs as well as these knives do.

Bark River's catalogue is huge, but the Bravo 1 and its little brother, the Gunny, are the perfect place to start.

Warning: Be very careful when purchasing a Bark River Knife, because they're quite addictive. Once you have one in your hand, soon you'll be searching for another. Your camping, hiking, hunting, bushcrafting and even everyday tasks will never be the same!

All Bark River Knives are backed by a strict no-questions-asked lifetime warranty.

KnivesShipFree is a leading dealer and distributor of Bark River Knives -- in fact, we're the largest Bark River Knives dealer in the world. We maintain an excellent and varied selection of knives, and we're constantly adding to our inventory.

How does the Bark River Knives Warranty work?

As you probably know, all Bark River knives and axes are guaranteed against manufacturing defects for life -- and that warranty covers anything and everything. If you ever have a problem with a Bark River product, just return it directly to them and they'll repair or replace it.

We're proud to carry knives from a company that stands behind their products and takes such good care of our customers.

All Bark River Knives and axes are guaranteed against manufacturing defects for life. If you have problems with our product, just return it to us and we will repair or replace it. If you would like us to refurbish or re-sharpen the product, please enclose shipping and handling fees:

$25 Lower 48 US States
$35 Alaska & Hawaii
$45 All other countries
$5.00 Extra for each additional knife

Our warranty covers anything and everything. Contact us if you have a problem and we can fix it.

Customizations/Modifications

BRK Models -$50.00 starting up to 4” and 15$ per inch beyond that. Plus shipping and handling.
Sharpened/Convexed

Made by BRK - Just want it refurbished/SPA Treatment , NO Charge just shipping and handling.
Other Makers - Convexing $30.00 starting up to 4”and $15.00 per inch beyond that. Plus shipping and handling.

Axes - Speed grind is $100.00 - return shipping to be determined at the factory.

Suggested Advice for Shipping to Us

Put a note in the box to let us know what you want done. That includes all email correspondence you have had with either one of our representatives, or with one of our dealers. Please be as specific as possible. Be sure to include:

Your Full Name
Your Return Address
Your Phone Number and E-mail

If you are sending your knife in for sharpening, a spa treatment, or a warranty issue, enclose return shipping & handling and be sure to insure the package.

We need a street address that UPS can deliver to. UPS cannot deliver to a P.O. Box and we try not to use USPS unless we absolutely have to. We have a full Production Schedule and we try to get this kind of work out of here in under two weeks.

For International Warranties:

Here are some other important tips for sending to us:

If you have a lanyard attached to your knife: Please remove it. If you do not remove it, we will have to. There are no lanyards allowed in the back of our shop for safety reasons.
Unless the problem with the knife includes the sheath, please do not send the sheath or the product box
When packaging your knife, please make sure it doesn’t rattle around in the box. Newspaper, magazines or wrapping paper make excellent padding.
Please make sure the blade, particularly the tip is covered. A nice sleeve for the blade can be made out of cereal box or any other card stock and tape.
Free boxes can be obtained from the Post Office or your local UPS store. Shoe boxes also work well.
Please include a printout of any and all emails, private messages, or other correspondence with anyone here at Bark River. We receive hundreds of PT’s and emails per week.
Please include a detailed list stating what you’d like us to do, or what is wrong with your knife.

For information on cost for work over and above the spa treatments – please contact us in advance. When in doubt of any of this, call.

Address all Warranty packages as follows:

BRK

6911 County 426 M.5 Road

Escanaba, MI 49829

Where are Bark River Knives made?

Bark River Knives are proudly made in Escanaba, Michigan USA.

What's the difference between Micarta & G-10?

Micarta Knives

Micarta and G-10 (or Garolite) both are industrial laminates -- tough and moisture-resistant, available in a variety of colors and finishes. They're produced by applying pressure and heat to layers of fibrous materials (called "substrates") impregnated with resin.

The physical difference between the two materials is the substrates used to make them. Micarta employs canvas, linen, paper or burlap, while G-10 uses fiberglass.

In general, G-10 is a bit lighter and (in laboratory testing) ever-so-slighly stronger. For all practical purposes -- in knife handles, that is -- there's no difference. Both are pretty much indestructible, so choose the material that appeals to you.

The strap on my Bravo sheath is too short to snap closed. What do I do?

So the strap on your Bark River Knives: Bravo-1 is too tight? You needn't worry! Bark River Knives have intentionally designed their sheaths to be tight. It really can almost seem as though the sheath isn't going to snap closed, but it'll get there, trust us! If you feel like you can't get the clasp to snap, one thing we recommend using is a little bit of water to wet the length of the strap. With a little more give to it the snap should close with no problems. Once you have the snap closed, let the sheath adjust overnight and you should have smooth sailings from there on out!

Bravo Sheath Strap

Will Bark River's A2 tool steel rust?

Yes, it can, but there's an easy solution: Use your knife and don't worry about it.

Seriously, if you're actually using your knife, taking it out of its sheath and putting it back, actually working your Bark River knife, rarely will it need more than a quick wipe-and-dry.

As a carbon steel, and with use, A2 can develop a natural patina. That's fine, and it also helps protect the blade from rust.

The only time you'll really need to give A2 any special attention is before storing your knife for a long period. Then just make sure it's dry and give it a light coating of mineral oil.

Why do some Bark River Knives have a thumb ramp, and how do you use it?

Truth is, it's not actually a thumb ramp. It serves two purposes -- the rear section of the ramp is grooved to engage a firesteel, and the front section aids in putting more pressure over the plunge line for notching.

For the best leverage when notching, place your thumb on the spine of the knife in front of the ramp. (See the illustration, below.)

Over time, and with the release of other Bark River models based on the Bravo 1, it became clear that some folks loved the ramp, while others preferred their Bravo-series knives "rampless." So Bark River started producing these knives both with and without a ramp.

Which is better? That's up to you. If you're not sure, we suggest buying your Bravo-series knife with the ramp. Then, if you decide to go rampless you can send it to the "Bark River Spa" and the crew will professionally remove it.

How to use the Bark River thumb ramp

Do Bark River Knives have a micro-bevel?

In a word, "No."

Some people have reported seeing a microbevel (or a secondary bevel) on Bark River Knives, but what they are likely seeing is a difference in the polish on the edge of the blade.

Mike Stewart addressed the issue of the Micro-Bevel like this:

"Every Blade is FLAT Ground to a very thick edge - usually about .035" on the edge. A HUGE-WIDE convex bevel then brings the knife to sharp. Then the face of the blade is Convex Ground to and right through that HUGE-WIDE convex bevel. The Two are then Blended together with a 120 grit polishing wheel and then a 240 grit polishing wheel and then a 320 grit polishing wheel. The entire blade is then given a 600 grit overall polish and the very edge is hit on a 3000 grit black compound wheel to remove any trace of the burr.

if you see a bevel at all it is just where the HUGE-WIDE convex bevel is blended into the convex face grind.

We never put any other bevels or micro bevels on any of our knives. Our knives are also NEVER Zero Convex Ground - that is not as strong as what we do - our knives have a convex grind with a shaped convex edge. This micro bevel thing drives me nuts. The edge is brighter than the face because only the very edge is 3000 grit polished. You may be seeing that brighter part as a bevel or the blended area is not 100% blended out but there is no micro bevel.

Nobody in my shop ever puts a Micro Bevel on anything - they would not even know how. they are taught to do exactly as i describe above."

As the largest Bark River Dealer in the world, we have handled thousands and thousands of knives and though, we see what people are calling a micro bevel, we have not seen micro bevels on any Bark River Knives.

Are the sheaths supplied with Bark River Knives right-handed or left-handed?

The sheaths supplied with Bark River Knives are either right-handed or ambidextrous, depending on the knife.

An ambidextrous sheath, like the one that comes with the Mini-Bushcrafter, will work for either right-handed or left-handed carry.

Most Bark River Knives, however, come standard with a right-handed sheath. If you're a lefty, when ordering from KnivesShipFree you can request a left-handed sheath by including a note in the "Comments" section of your order at checkout.

If a left-handed sheath is available for a particular knife, and provided we have it in stock, we'll exchange the sheath before shipping your order -- absolutely free. If we don't have your left-handed sheath in stock, we'll ship the standard right-handed sheath. You may then contact Bark River Knives directly to request a left-handed sheath.

The good folks at Bark River will swap the sheath at no charge. (You'll be responsible for shipping charges.)

Which firesteels fit the loop on Bark River sheaths?

Firesteels for Bark River Sheaths

The firesteel loop on sheaths from Bark River Knives accommodates a 3/8" firesteel. The following firesteels will fit the Bark River loop:

The leather loop is designed to hold a firesteel snugly, so inserting it the first time may take a little effort. If you have trouble, insert a pencil or similar object into the upper end of the loop, work it around a bit, and then try the firesteel again. It'll get easier the more you use it.

If you have an early Bark River Bravo Necker or Bravo Necker II with a sheath (Kydex or leather) that accepts a firesteel, the KnivesShipFree 1/8" x 2" Ferrocerium Rod firesteels will fit.

Be sure to check out the other items in our Firemaking Supplies section.

Some Bark River knife handles look smooth. Will they be slippery?

The simple answer, no, they'll do great; rain or shine, snow or sleet, they'll deliver. This isn't because of the texture, though, but because of the shape. These handles that are designed to give your hand purchase and a grip that is locked in, even when holding your knife in different positions, such as a reverse grip or a choked up grip. Bark River knives, like many other great outdoor knife companies, design their knife handles with this in mind.

If you want a rough texture we recommend using a #240 sandpaper.

What's the difference between "matte" and standard handle finish?

That's a pretty common question. Even though the high-resolution photos on KnivesShipFree do a good job of showing the difference between the two finishes, it occurs to us that an explanation (and a couple of side-by-side comparisons) would be helpful.

The standard finish used on Micarta and G-10 by Bark River Knives (for example) involves polishing the material with very fine grit, followed by applying a wax compound to the surface and buffing it to a gloss.

A matte finish is accomplished by ending the polishing process a bit sooner, finishing with somewhat coarser grit. No wax is used.

Most folks who try both finishes develop a preference, one way or the other, based either on appearance or (perceived) grip. To start with, we'll focus on appearance.

First, here's what a matte finish looks like on black linen Micarta, compared to a standard finish (below).

Matte Handle Finish

As you'd expect, the matte finish isn't as shiny. You'll also notice that matte-black Micarta is somewhat grayish compared to the standard finish.

On other colors -- like green G-10 and maroon Micarta -- the color difference between the two finishes is much more striking. Perhaps the most dramatic shift is with natural canvas Micarta (below).

Matte Handle Finish

Although we've shown these finishes as they appear on Micarta, you'll see comparable differences on G-10.

A word about grip

You're probably guessing that a matte finish is "grippier" than a glossy standard finish. And you'd be right -- up to a point.

The difference in grip isn't nearly as great as you might think. For practical purposes, they're pretty much the same.

Micarta and G-10 knife handles are smooth, regardless of finish. That's a good thing, because the grippier the handle, the more likely it is to give you "hot spots" in prolonged use.

A properly designed knife handle moves in the hand. Grip comes from the handle's ergonomic shape, not from its finish or material.

Changing the finish

Let's say you try the standard finish and find yourself wishing for matte. You can make that happen yourself -- use a Scotch-Brite pad and some grease-cutting dishwashing liquid, and gently scrub the surface to a finish you like better.

As an alternative, of if you want an even grippier finish, you can use 400-grit sandpaper.

Go slowly, adjusting your handle's finish a little at a time. Don't use steel wool, and don't soak your knife in water (soapy or otherwise).

On the other hand, if you have a matte handle and decide you'd like to try a glossier finish, apply some paste-type car wax and buff away.

Finally, if you own a Bark River knife and you're not much of a do-it-yourselfer, you always have the option of sending it to the Bark River Spa.

The handle on my Bark River knife is very glossy. How can I change it?

The standard finish used on Micarta and G-10 by Bark River Knives involves polishing the material with very fine grit, followed by applying a wax compound to the surface and buffing it to a gloss. (A matte finish is accomplished by ending the polishing process a bit sooner, finishing with somewhat coarser grit. No wax is used.)

Let's say you try the standard finish and find yourself wishing for matte. You can make that happen yourself -- using a Scotch-Brite pad and some grease-cutting dishwashing liquid, gently scrub the surface to a finish you like better.

As an alternative, of if you want an even grippier finish, you can use 400-grit sandpaper.

Go slowly, adjusting your handle's finish a little at a time. Don't use steel wool, and don't soak your knife in water (soapy or otherwise).

On the other hand, if you have a matte handle and decide you'd like to try a glossier finish, apply some paste-type car wax and buff away.

By the way, don't worry about messing up -- modifying your handle in this way won't void the Bark River warranty.

Finally, if you're not much of a do-it-yourselfer, you always have the option of sending your knife to the Bark River Spa.

(For more information, see our primer on matte vs. standard finishes.)

Does Bark River offer rubberized handles on its knives?

No -- and for good reason.

We understand the feeling of comfort, at least initially, of picking up a knife with handle slabs of Kraton or other rubberized material, and there are plenty of fixed-blade knives available with soft, "grippy" handles. Mike Stewart and his crew at Bark River Knives take a different approach.

Bark River designs its knives to be used, used hard, and used hard for extended periods. A poorly designed or "grippy" knife handle creates "hot spots" that make building a shelter or field-dressing large game, for example, downright painful.

A properly designed knife handle accommodates a variety of grips -- it should move in the hand. The "grip" should come from the handle's ergonomic shape, not from its material.

That's the way Bark River does knife handles -- and that's the way we like 'em, too.

Do wood knife handles shrink?

We sell a lot of wood-handled knives. If you've ever looked at KnivesShipFree's selection of Bark River or Northwoods knives, you know exactly why -- they're absolutely gorgeous.

The only down-side to a wood handle, really, is that it can be prone to expansion and contraction. That's because wood is porous -- that is, it has natural pores and passages.

If it didn't, it wouldn't be wood, would it?

Wood used for modern knife handles is thoroughly dried (often in a kiln) before it's cut into slabs and shaped. Some of the softer and less-dense types of wood are also "stabilized."

The stabilizing process involves impregnating the wood with industrial resin. The objective is to fill any voids and pores with material that's unlikely to be affected by changes in temperature and humidity. It also goes a long way toward making the wood tougher.

Even the best stabilized wood, however, still can expand and contract -- it may not, but if it does it's simply a characteristic of the material. Knifemakers do their best to prevent it, but it can happen.

The good news is that it's truly not a problem.

If you have a wood-handled knife and notice that either the tang or the handle is slightly "proud" (contraction or expansion of the wood, respectively), you have a few options. The first, obviously, is to acknowledge that it's simply the nature of the wooden beast and accept it. It'll probably expand or contract back into place eventually anyway.

An alternative would be to contact the knifemaker and have the handle re-finished. Most reputable 'makers will do this work under warranty at no charge to you. If you go this route, keep in mind that the "fix" may be only temporary -- wood is still wood.

Your third option, if you simply can't abide wood's quirks, would be to buy knives with handles made of synthetic materials like Micarta, G-10 or acrylic.

In the end, you'll need to decide if wood's unique beauty is worth the possibility that it may grow or shrink a little bit.

For us, it's definitely worth it.

Is it really ok to use a knife with a wooden handle?

While all wood is beautiful in it's own way, some wood is simply not suited for knife handles. Natural materials that make the cut have to be resilient, durable, stable, and attractive. Wood handles such as Arizona Desert Ironwood, Snakewood, and Lignum Vitae are by nature incredibly hard materials -- if you've ever had to cut Ironwood you know where the name comes from! These species of woods make fantastic knife handles. They not only accept abuse, but ask for more.

Wooden Knife Scales

More important that durability for most knife users, is stability. The materials previous mentioned are are dense enough that they are naturally stable and not as susceptible to warping or shrinking as other natural materials. Softer woods that are not naturally stable require an industrial process before they can be used for handle materials. This process involves impregnating the material with a resin substance, think Cyanoacrylate Ester on steroids. This substance fills the pores of the material and 'locks' it in place. This stabilization process adds to the durability of the wood, prevents the wood from deteriorating, and also adds to the brilliance of the wood when it is polished; particularly after being sanded to a high grit.

Stabilized wood can still warp if taken to a drastically different environment than what it has been acclimate to, it's the nature of the beast. If this happens, it's not a worry! Contact the knife maker or knife company to have the handle re-finished, any reputable knife company should warranty this for free.

Do Bark River Knives come with a sheath?

Yes -- each Bark River sporting knife includes a high-quality sheath.

However, kitchen knives produced by Bark River do not since they're meant for indoor use.

Do Bark River Knives come with a firesteel?

No -- firesteels are sold separately.

The loop on sheaths from Bark River Knives will accommodate a 3/8" firesteel.

What's the "swedge" for on a blade?

Swedged Blade A swedge is a section of a knife's spine, beginning at the point and extending generally one-third to one-half the length of the blade, which has been ground to give the appearance of a second edge (but without actually being sharpened).

The purpose of a swedge is, in most cases, purely decorative. Properly made, however, a swedged blade can perform certain tasks -- plunge cuts, for example, and thrusts -- more efficiently.

A decorative swedge can be sharpened, effectively creating a double-edged blade. Before buying a knife with a sharpened swedge (or sharpening an unsharpened swedge), check your local and state laws regulating possession of double-edged blades.

What is the "Bark River Spa"?

As you probably know, all Bark River knives and axes are guaranteed against manufacturing defects for life -- and that warranty covers anything and everything. If you ever have a problem with a Bark River product, just return it directly to them and they'll repair or replace it.

Bark River also offers something they call a "spa treatment." They'll re-sharpen your knife, or even completely refurbish it, for only the cost of handling and return shipping (currently $15 in the continental U.S., with other locales higher).

Your knife will come back to you just like new. It's pretty cool.

Bark River Knives offers other services as well, some at extra cost, and we advise always checking with them before shipping your knife back to the factory.

We're proud to carry knives from a company that stands behind their products and takes such good care of our customers.

All Bark River Knives and axes are guaranteed against manufacturing defects for life. Please refer to their warranty page for more information about repair, refurbishment, and shipping.

Why do some Bark River Knives have skeletonized blade tangs?

Finally -- Mike Stewart reveals the truth behind the "skeletonized" tangs cleverly hidden under the handles of some Bark River Knives.

Okay, the video was a spoof. Now let's talk about the real reason.

Bark River Knives carefully skeletonizes the tangs of some of its fixed-blade knives to reduce the weight of the handle and, as a result, move the "balance point" forward. Whether a knife is large or small, the closer the balance is to neutral, the easier (and less fatiguing) it'll be to use.

When you pick up a knife that's balanced in this way, it feels like it's an extension of your arm, becoming (as the saying goes) "light in the hand."

And no, skeletonizing the tang has no effect on a Bark River knife's strength.