Bear & Son Cutlery
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papasmurf
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Wed Nov 29, 2006 11:25 pm
- Location: Littlestown PA
Bear & Son Cutlery
Has anyone picked up a knive from Bear & Son and are they any good? I have only seen photo's, but they look nice. Any thoughts befor I buy one..
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agteacher2
- Posts: 402
- Joined: Sat May 28, 2005 1:04 am
- Location: Athens, TX
Hi papasmurf,
I have had a few of the 4-1/8" trappers, both the Damascus and the stainless. I customized one of them. I can tell you from tearing one apart that they are built as well as most knives around. I was a little dissapointed in the thickness of the back springs and chose not to filework them. I'm not sure that many of them have any major collector interest, but I would not pass one by for a user. I personally don't like the look of their bone Stag or the wood but then again I'm not buying it.
Hope this helps,
Jeff
I have had a few of the 4-1/8" trappers, both the Damascus and the stainless. I customized one of them. I can tell you from tearing one apart that they are built as well as most knives around. I was a little dissapointed in the thickness of the back springs and chose not to filework them. I'm not sure that many of them have any major collector interest, but I would not pass one by for a user. I personally don't like the look of their bone Stag or the wood but then again I'm not buying it.
Hope this helps,
Jeff
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El Lobo
- Gold Tier
- Posts: 3036
- Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 4:47 pm
- Location: Arizona, right here in the U.S. of A.
Here are a couple of older ones I actually have in my store.
The first one is a 1991 Trapper in real stag...the second is a 2002 Stockman in red bone. However, I don't have any of the newer ones since they became Bear and Son. I agree with Jeff about the newer knives having thinner backsprings.
Just as information...
Bill
The first one is a 1991 Trapper in real stag...the second is a 2002 Stockman in red bone. However, I don't have any of the newer ones since they became Bear and Son. I agree with Jeff about the newer knives having thinner backsprings.
Just as information...
Bill
- Attachments
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- Bear MGC Stockman.jpg (29.64 KiB) Viewed 2938 times
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- Bear MGC Trapper.jpg (15.67 KiB) Viewed 2937 times
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justold52
- Posts: 4459
- Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 2:47 am
- Location: Bloomington, ILL the sick state
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Gr8Scout
I noticed recently that Bear & Son had a new 5 inch MOP texas toothpick, which is something I collect, so I ordered one. I paid street price: $75.
My brief review of the knife: It is of the "Custom Heritage Collection" Packaging rates a 10+. Nice tin, with the familiar bear illustration on the hinged top, also "limited Edition Series". Foam padding inside, and the knife was wrapped in paper that is treated to be corrosion resistant. Paper insert included, with warranty, nice personal message from the head man at Bear.
The mother of pearl is flawless. Perfect. Lots of color, lots of fire, lots of interest. The handles of this knife along ought to explain to anyone my love of long, lean, slender, toothpicks. I appreciate it is hard to find quality pearl shell of this size. What I don't like is that the handle slabs are glued on, not pinned. I know this keeps costs down... but I like the workmanship it takes to skillfully install a handle without glue, using the pins. The shield is flush, as it should be, also appears to be glued in place; I see no evidence of a pin inside on the liner. Its a fancy shield, which I find very attractive, "bear and son' and the company logo. Nice. The liners are not as nicely polished inside as I would like. But OK at this price point.
The N/S front bolster is engraved with the serial number. I have number 0215 of an issue of 600. The blade: Two nail nicks, which I think is so cool. Blade is etched "Custom Heritage, Limited Edition of 600". with the Bear and Son tang stamp. The blade is OK sharp. What is the blade steel? Strangely enough, I do not know. Nothing in the paperwork tells me. Nothing at the web site tells me. Most Bear & Son Knives seem to be made of what they call 'high carbon stainless steel'. Backspring on this knife is strong like a bear trap. Nice and loud when closing, solidly holding the knife open.
Overall fit and finish: Not bad. Blade does not sit perfectly centered when it is closed. It is way off, scraping the liner when it is closed. I don't like that. The end of the bottom bolster is a touch off, where it was given a final shaping.
I am happy to add this toothpick to my collection, but a little disappointed. With the blade off center, the off bolster problem and the glued on pearl slabs, I don't find it of the quality of most of the other very similar knives I own: Bulldog, Blue Grass, Case, Fightn Rooster, ect. I think at the 'street price' ($75) it is almost fairly priced. The MSRP is way more than this knife is worth. I do like seeing the ever-dwindling US knife manufacturers trying to make a very nice knife like this, however. I will not send it back to the factory to be tuned up or replaced. It will sit in my collection, appreciated for what it is, and it's shortcomings noted, but not held too much against it. Besides, it would no longer be a typical product of the company if I sent it back. Bear and Son has to live with this one too.
http://www.bearandsoncutlery.com
Note on the web site: Hey, doesn't a web presence mean that companies of all sorts can get thier newest products in front of the public as soon as possible!? The Heritage Collection gets no mention there.
Phil
My brief review of the knife: It is of the "Custom Heritage Collection" Packaging rates a 10+. Nice tin, with the familiar bear illustration on the hinged top, also "limited Edition Series". Foam padding inside, and the knife was wrapped in paper that is treated to be corrosion resistant. Paper insert included, with warranty, nice personal message from the head man at Bear.
The mother of pearl is flawless. Perfect. Lots of color, lots of fire, lots of interest. The handles of this knife along ought to explain to anyone my love of long, lean, slender, toothpicks. I appreciate it is hard to find quality pearl shell of this size. What I don't like is that the handle slabs are glued on, not pinned. I know this keeps costs down... but I like the workmanship it takes to skillfully install a handle without glue, using the pins. The shield is flush, as it should be, also appears to be glued in place; I see no evidence of a pin inside on the liner. Its a fancy shield, which I find very attractive, "bear and son' and the company logo. Nice. The liners are not as nicely polished inside as I would like. But OK at this price point.
The N/S front bolster is engraved with the serial number. I have number 0215 of an issue of 600. The blade: Two nail nicks, which I think is so cool. Blade is etched "Custom Heritage, Limited Edition of 600". with the Bear and Son tang stamp. The blade is OK sharp. What is the blade steel? Strangely enough, I do not know. Nothing in the paperwork tells me. Nothing at the web site tells me. Most Bear & Son Knives seem to be made of what they call 'high carbon stainless steel'. Backspring on this knife is strong like a bear trap. Nice and loud when closing, solidly holding the knife open.
Overall fit and finish: Not bad. Blade does not sit perfectly centered when it is closed. It is way off, scraping the liner when it is closed. I don't like that. The end of the bottom bolster is a touch off, where it was given a final shaping.
I am happy to add this toothpick to my collection, but a little disappointed. With the blade off center, the off bolster problem and the glued on pearl slabs, I don't find it of the quality of most of the other very similar knives I own: Bulldog, Blue Grass, Case, Fightn Rooster, ect. I think at the 'street price' ($75) it is almost fairly priced. The MSRP is way more than this knife is worth. I do like seeing the ever-dwindling US knife manufacturers trying to make a very nice knife like this, however. I will not send it back to the factory to be tuned up or replaced. It will sit in my collection, appreciated for what it is, and it's shortcomings noted, but not held too much against it. Besides, it would no longer be a typical product of the company if I sent it back. Bear and Son has to live with this one too.
http://www.bearandsoncutlery.com
Note on the web site: Hey, doesn't a web presence mean that companies of all sorts can get thier newest products in front of the public as soon as possible!? The Heritage Collection gets no mention there.
Phil