Bear and Son quality?

[Joe Demko]

I was poking around their site and they have a couple old-timey patterns that caught my eye. I was also interested to note they are reproducing the old Blackie Collins Ninja and a couple of 80's-era Gerber patterns. For some reason, I had it in my head that they make fleamarket junk. No good reason for thinking that, I've never seen anything they make in the flesh, much less used it. Do any of you have first hand experience with the brand?

 

[hso]

Their quality is very good. Definitely not flea market junk.

 

[inherentical]

I have several of their knives. The build quality is good, right up there with any other production knives. Good, high quality carbon steel for their blades, too.

 

[mp510]

There may have been some lesser ones out there at some point in the past. I have seen some at gun and knife show tables that were not as smoothe as they could have been. However, I have seen many others at the same vendors' that were fine.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I have seen one and hope to get their Barlow this fall. I am broke from back to school shopping.

 

[Vonderek]

I'm not a huge fan of damascene but their damascus bowie caught my eye. Anyone know if their damascus is all produced stateside or outsourced?

 

[hso]

All the pattern welded steel comes from the US.

 

[jahwarrior]

i only have experience with their balisongs, which are decent quality. they have a nice weight to them, and flip well. they make nice EDC blades.

 

[TimboKhan]

There is a good article in Knives Illustrated magazine this month about Bear and Sons. Pretty interesting how the company developed, and they also address how they get their damascus.

 

[rklessdriver]

They make a quality blade. I have a couple in my collection. I like the fact that they are made right here in the USA (Alabama).

Two of mine:





Will

 

[bikerdoc]

I will get one soon as soon as I get a Moore Maker.

 

[Big Bill]

I recently bought this Bear and Sons Slimline Hunter from Sportsman's Guide. I really like the knife and will purchase more of them. They are, IIRC, made in the USA.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=670689&ecid=EX19D

I was curious about the steel and so I sent an email to the company. Here is the answer I got from Ken Griffey, Jr. (My question was below, where it says "Comments", and Ken's answer is at the top. This was the second email he had sent me. In he first email all he said was that the steel was 440.)

It's a modified 440a with extra carbon
We use an atmosphere furnace

From: ******
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2010 2:04 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Contact Us Form Submission

==========================================
Client Information

******
==========================================
Interest : General Question

Comments : OK, so when I ask what steel you use in you knife blades Ken
emailed and said "440." Can you be more specific? I'm buying a slimline
Hunter PEX19D-173237 roduct Code
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=670689&ecid=EX19D

Is it 440A or 440C? Or, what specifically? And, how do you heat treat your
steel?

Thanks - ******
==========================================

May 17, 2010 - 7:03 pm

Here's their website...

http://www.bearandsoncutlery.com/index.php?submenu=Home&src=