All About Pocket Knives

I'm looking at a Bark River Indian River Jack but I prefer carbon steel.

How hard is BR's ATS-34 to sharpen.

Thanks
Charlie

ats-34 is a very good steel, holds an edge a long time. but when you do need to sharpen it, it does take patience.....

That's what I was afraid of.

GEC,,, here I come.

Not to hijack this thread but I was looking at a Titusville Cutlery knife on Knives Live last night that had ATS-34 blades. Got me wondering about the difference between the metals used like this one, 440 HC, 440B, CTS, AUS-8, 1095 and others. Which is the best metal for the price?

gec is using ats-34 now??

my preferrence isn't in your list,, but i like vg-10. my edc spyderco endura has still got the same sharp blade that came from the factory 6 yrs ago.. i haven't honed it once and it gets plenty of use...

What I've gleened in my searches for GEC knives id that some GEC marked kinves are HC or Stainless, but the Tidiouet and Northfield labels are 1095.

I'm far from an expert, but I think I'm pretty close on this one.

hey dogs, your right,, my mistake there. gec has never used ats-34. queen has used it that steel in all of their schatt&morgan file and wire knives and also other queen knives..
i was thinking gec was making the titusville knives too.. but it is queen who makes them.
kind of confusing sometimes when the two knife giants are in the same town....

can you imagine what it must have been like in tidioute when there were about 5 companies in that town, or how about soligen, germany with boker,puma, eye brand, hubertus, hen and rooster, kissing crane etc, etc....

I own a several knives in ATS-34, sharpening them ain't difficult. It's all in the technique. That said, if you have any experience with good 440-C or 154CM, or let alone sharpening S30V or D2 you'll have no problems maintaining ATS-34.

That being said the Indian River Jacks are Northwoods, built by Queen but edged by Bark River. They are covex ground so should be pretty easy to maintain the edge regardless of steel. I ordered one over the weekend myself, should be here soon. Can't wait.

2xTap

chetr1200c wrote:hey dogs, your right,, my mistake there. gec has never used ats-34. queen has used it that steel in all of their schatt&morgan file and wire knives and also other queen knives..
i was thinking gec was making the titusville knives too.. but it is queen who makes them.
kind of confusing sometimes when the two knife giants are in the same town....

I hear ya brother.
Makes my old brain hurt trying to keep up with who's making what, for who, in which building.
Only thing more confusing is trying to figure out the true definition of "Made in the USA".

Didn't know that S&M uses ats-34 but it doesn't suprise me as I'm about to send a little Muskrat back to them for sharpening. At 62, I'm so stranger to sharpening stones, but between that steel and the "belly" (for the lack of a better term) in the shape of the blades, I'll be darned if I can get an edge on this beauty.


Back on topic,,,, I found a nice little EDC Northfield Single Blade Jack with Burnt Orange Bone scales at a price good enough to get me to try one of their well thought of knives.
Ordered it about an hour ago, so I'll post up pix when I get her.

Charlie

2xTap wrote:I own a several knives in ATS-34, sharpening them ain't difficult.

That being said the Indian River Jacks are Northwoods, built by Queen but edged by Bark River. They are covex ground so should be pretty easy to maintain the edge regardless of steel. I ordered one over the weekend myself, should be here soon. Can't wait.

2xTap

I'm sure you're an expert at sharpening, but I simply don't like hard srteel. I'd rather sharpen a knife everyday than spend forever trying to bring one back.

That being said,,, are you telling me that Bark River, GEC, and Queen are one in the same?
Wouldn't suprise me if they are, but please elaborate.

Charlie

when i was at the queen factory last month. i noticed a northwoods on the repair table. i asked if queen was making knives for them now.and they said it was a supposed to be a hush hush deal. but everyone in the know,,knows the facts.
i am always amazed at the wide assortment of knife companies that queen has been contracted to work for and never a drop of true credit went to queen...the knives that have had a bad public knowledge big time is the winchester repos of the 80s and early 90s. some people who are selling them, still believe bluegrass made those..

but yes, queen does make the northwoods nowadays..


edit::::oops, i let the cat out of the bag

What about Canal Street.
I've got a couple of theirs that are wonderfull.
Is Queen involved with that outfit too?

Not that I care, they're both great knives IMO.
Just curious.
If so,,, maybe I'll just start buying Queen and cut out the middleman. Ha

Charlie

not now charlie, but when canal street 1st started with the group from schrade, they did have help from queen.

Interesting how they all seem to be connected in one way or another.
More Maker's a great example of that.Unfortunatly I learned that the hard way with a sweet little trapper with a "B" in the model number. The back springs weaker than my bladder.

Sure wish Schrade was still around, but have to admitt that CS filled their shoes and then some.

Anywhoooo,,,, Can't wait to get the new GEC.
Hope I don't break a nail.

Charlie

MyDogsHunt wrote:
I'm sure you're an expert at sharpening, but I simply don't like hard srteel. I'd rather sharpen a knife everyday than spend forever trying to bring one back.

That being said,,, are you telling me that Bark River, EDC, and Queen are one in the same?
Wouldn't suprise me if they are, but please elaborate.

Charlie

I am by far no expert, just haven't found ATS-34 that difficult. Especially with an already great edge. I seldom ever let any of my users get dull, while in use when doing heavy cutting I strope them occassionally to maintain the edge.

As chetr1200c mentioned the Northwoods brand is being built by Queen. The brand is owned by Derrick over at KSF. Queen builds them, and in the case of the Indian River Jacks, Derrick has BRK put the finishing edge on the blades.

I got mine in today, very nice little piece. Could use a heavier backspring. Not bad, but I have been spoiled by my GEC's. The edge is sharp but not quite as sharp as I am use to from Bark River. Some of the fixed blades I got from them are as sharp as a laser, this Indian River Jack ain't quite that sharp but it is close.

2xTap

2xTap wrote:

MyDogsHunt wrote:
As chetr1200c mentioned the Northwoods brand is being built by Queen.

2xTap

That figures since Queen does a fine job on a plethora of knives as was also mentioned.
I actually got a nice little Northwoods B&T as a gift last year.
I used it on a recent Grouse hunt, and absolutely love that little Carbon Steel beauty.
Not my favorite handle style, but the blades perfect for my needs so it's growing on me.

Here's a pic of it with a CS full size Trapper for comparison.

Really a great little knife.

Glad you like the Indian River.
We'd be comparing notes if it had a carbon blade, but I went with the GEC instead.
If I like it, I may eventually get a Stag Barlow with a wharncliffe blade.
Don'ty know why, but I'm really drawn to that pattern.

Charlie

MyDogsHunt,

I do believe you'll be thoroughly impressed with the GEC. They build one hell of a slipjoint. You can never go wrong with a GEC.

2xTap