BRK Magnum Fox River.

[Mack The Knife]

Final specs announced.

http://www.knivesshipfree.com/index.php?cPath=465_904

[xl_target]

That's one big honker of a knife to carry around.

[Mack The Knife]

I'll let you know.

[xl_target]

Definitely looking forward to the review

[Skyman]

Wah, what a work of art.

[Rajat]

Wow, thats pretty big!

[Mack The Knife]

Definitely looking forward to the review

That would take ages. What I post is usually an 'initial impression'.

Wow, thats pretty big!

I was hoping it would have been a tad bigger - a 7" blade.

[Mack The Knife]

Some more Magnum images here - http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showt ... id/925989/

No rivets on the sheath, so no piggy backing the Mini for me. Which is probably just as well.

[Mack The Knife]

This is the one I am getting.





Pics courtesy Bark River Knives.

[Mack The Knife]

Shown alongside the Mini and regular Fox Rivers.

[winnie_the_pooh]

Mack,

You have nice knives.Would love to have some of them but they are a bit too rich for my pocket.

[Mack The Knife]

Winnie,

Contrary to what many may think, I don't have deep pocket.

Most of my knives are gone, along with three other Bark Rivers, so that I could try out some new ones. There will be a cull amongst these as well after I get a few more and decide which three or four Barkies I want to keep.

Mack

[Moin.]

Mack, since you've handled them Esee's and a lot of BRKT's, what are your thoughts on the Esee 5 vs the ST5. Maybe a diff of USD 70 to 80 between both I think. The Pros, Cons et all.

Thanks
Moin.

[Mack The Knife]

Moin,

I haven't handled the S-T-S - 5, so I will have to wing it based on photos I have seen.

The STS-5 was derived from a fighting knife sans double quillon guard. BRK kept the swedged spine to make it look the part but now you cannot batton on this knife. So it's neither a fighting knife nor an out and out outdoor knife.

The ESEE-5 was supposedly made for E&E (Escape & Evasion) and I feel it is the better of the two knives for this purpose. I also feel it would make the better camping knife of the two. i had no intention of getting one but got one on Rajat's prodding and really liked it. Very well made, well balanced and is comfortable to hold.

The ESEE-5 comes with a very well made and versatile kydex sheath. The sheath the STS-5 comes with looks like weak sauce - not enough retention. This is an important point. BTW, it should be noted that ALL kydex sheaths will loose their retention over time but the retention on the ESEE-5 sheath can be adjusted, thereby giving you longer service.

Though cheaper, the fit and finish on the ESEEs is as good, if not better than that on the Bark Rivers. Based on my experience, ESEEs come with better fit and finish.

When it comes to value for money, the ESEEs are ahead but not at the cost of quality - both product and customer support.

So why did I sell off most of my ESEEs? I don't care for tactical looking knives, with their coatings and Mickey Mouse logos, I needed to fund the Barkies, their handles aren't always very ergonomic (custom G-10 handle scales are available though) but above all I wanted knives with a factory convex grind.

I would not recommend the STS-5 but if you want to try a knife with a convex ground blade and a blade longer than 4", wait for the Bravo - 1.5. The 3V and S35VN versions are being assembled and should hit the shelves in a months time. The A-2 version is at the water-jet cutting stage and will probably take a month or two more.

If you can tell me what exactly you want either of those two knives for, I may be able to give you alternate suggestions.

[Moin.]

Thanks much Mack, you've reiterated what I've heard from a lot of people and read about the Esee's with their impeccable fit and finish, I'm suprised though you say it's better than them higher priced BRKT's.( If you don't factor in the diff in steel cost).

I was intrigued by these what appear to be indestructible production knives like the Becker BK2 and the Esee 5. Though the Khukri House Khuk's had one cm thick spines and would probably outchop any of these production blades, I was looking at these blades by Esee and Becker.


Someone pointed out the STS 5 fighting knife made on request by the US Marine Special Forces and got me curious with the outrageously thick blade, 154CM Steel et all. The military versions are with the sharpened swedges I think.

Have yet to check out the Barkies and the Esee's that have landed at Slingshot's door.

I know this is much frowned up here, but this is for another addition to the collection of Sharpies .

Not an outdoors man like Slingshot and all my cutting needs are addressed by the Izula(absolutely smitten by it) the Vic SAK and the. Gerber 600 Multitool.

The same reason someone buys a 470 rigby when no more elephants or bisons to hunt and ammo is outrageously expensive, I.e just for the sheer joy of owning it.

The Barkies atleast from the pics appear to be lower end of the spectrum custom knives rather than production. I say lower end of the spectrum only because of the lack of embellishment and final finishing (like the tool marks) and themEsee's very good quality standard production blades.