The calender shows today to be a bank holiday...

[Mack The Knife]

....but I got something in the post.

























To be continued after dinner.

[Mack The Knife]

Pardon the terrible pictures but I was only able to open the parcel after dark.


Courtesy Bark River Knives












It's a Bark River Aurora. A knife that always fascinated me since it was released 5 or 6 years ago.

The handle is thick and sits in my hand nicely but if you have medium or small sized hands, steer clear of this knife.

Ergonomically, the handle feels very good but aesthetically it appears to be way out of proportion.

The blade tip is almost as pointy as a needle, which would be dandy on a stiletto but not on an outdoor general purpose knife.

It's early days but right now if I were told to choose between the Aurora and the Canadian Special, it would be the CS for me.

[Skyman]

Good pics.How much?

[Mack The Knife]

How much?

More than what the average teenager can afford.

[Skyman]

Come now, don't be coy... .It wasn't a teenager that bought it was it?

[Moin.]

Hi Mack, how delicate is the tip, although the spine thickness is substantial the bevel from the pics appears to be way high on the blade shaving too much metal from the tip.

If it had a spine thumb ramp or a guard like protrusion this would be more like a blade for combat/back up purposes than a general utility blade.

Also the sheath has the loop for fire steel, but there appears to be no jimping on the blade, how is it used with BRKT's ? These puppies come with G10 slabs as well and since you use these blades why the preference for this green micarta over G10 which would offer more traction in wet conditions which I assume you use it in for fishing/angling.


Regards
Moin.

[xl_target]

Looks like a spear point or a dagger like blade for combat/back up purposes than a general utility blade.

I'm a basic knife newbie but from what I have read, the Aurora is Bark Rivers first bushcraft knife.
The point is there to allow you to drill holes in wood.

That is a very appealing looking knife. Mack, If you do use it, please give us your impressions.
Thanks,

[Mack The Knife]

How delicate is the tip? To answer that I picked up a child's wooden play block I had on my desk and drilled it with the Aurora. It was very precise to work with, leaving behind fine saw dust and the tip is as good as new. I would say the wood is between a soft and hard wood. Probably rubber wood.

Next I stabbed the block of wood with moderate force and the tip curled (approx. .125 mm) but this was expected as BRK had put too fine a point. Once I remove the curl, I will have the sort of tip it should have had in the first place. Pointy but strong.



At 0.170" thick, the blade could have been fully convexed and still be strong enough as is the case with the Fox River. I much prefer a higher convex grind as it makes for a more gradual convex rather than a thicker one.

This knife resembles a kitchen knife more than it does one for combat.

To strike a fire steel one can use the actual edge (BRK frown upon this practice), the edge of the spine (it isn't rounded) or a small piece of hacksaw blade that rides with the fire steel.

The G10 handled versions add an ounce on the medium sized Barkies and may change the balance. The natural materials (wood, bone, horn and antler) would be lighter but would also be prone to expansion and contraction. Micarta gives me all the advantages of G10 without the excess weight and change in balance. I am a firm beliver in the use of wrist lanyards when I am outdoors - be it for a knife or camera or whatever. The contours of the handle will also determine how slippery the knife could get. So far I have had no problems with polished micarta.

Horn is tough as old boots but makes the knife too expensive. I would like to have atleast one knife in Desert Ironwood and Cocobolo. Not the burl as that again makes it too expensive.

[Mack The Knife]

XL_T: The Aurora wont suit your needs well. Have posted my findings on tip strength above. BTW, the Aurora isn't BRK's first dedicated bushcraft knife. The Nebula and North Star preceded it.

For what it's worth, the Fox River is the official knife of Marty Simon's Wilderness Learning Center. http://www.weteachu.com/merchandise1.htm

[Mack The Knife]

Drilled another hole with the rolled tip and it performed just as well. Infact, it's difficult to even see the roll in the pic.



In other words, there is a very fine line between pointy enough and excessively pointy. The same applies to sharpness. Hair wittling sharpness will most probably result in a rolled or chipped edge if the knife is going to be used for general purpose work outdoors.

[xl_target]

XL_T: The Aurora wont suit your needs well. Have posted my findings on tip strength above. BTW, the Aurora isn't BRK's first dedicated bushcraft knife. The Nebula and North Star preceded it.

For what it's worth, the Fox River is the official knife of Marty Simon's Wilderness Learning Center. http://www.weteachu.com/merchandise1.htm

I see that, thanks to your demo.

[Mack The Knife]

Not that I am recommending the Aurora for your needs but do keep in mind that mine was ground to a needle point. Hence, the expected failure.

I have more or less removed the roll using the spine of my Chakma and will finish the tip as I would like to have it later this evening or tomorrow.

[slingshot]

I just feel like running away to the forest with this ...Mack The Knife, this is one of the best dressed cutlery I have seen in a long time. Love the lines, the flow. Seems fit for a decent sized fist

No doubt it is a high end carry. I mean, this may not be a beater...though I am sure its up for the task. However, I think the Esee 5 or Becker Campanion will do the hard work. This is a bushcraft fondling knife. I am simply drooling What a glorious way to start a Tuesday morning

I would have liked a double choil on this though...for fine work. And maybe a tapering of the sides of the handle towards the blade for a more tactile grip.

But these are only silly gripes. Very nice blade....and congratulations !!!

[Mack The Knife]

Slingshot, are you saying you like it? It's been a while since I read someone wax so lyrical over a knife.

I would have liked a double choil on this though...for fine work.

No way! Not on the Aurora.

Let me know when you are heading out next. If I have no plans of using the A at that time, I'll send it across for you to play with.

Standby for another BRK with the compass logo next week.

[slingshot]

Let me know when you are heading out next. If I have no plans of using the A at that time, I'll send it across for you to play with.

Standby for another BRK with the compass logo next week.

Mack...Bark River platinum blondes are extremely addictive ...and I am hearing a compass logo...so the excitement is surely on the up...almost to the North Star? I sometimes wonder what Mr. Kephart must have done to shift careers from a librarian to naturalist and surely that deserves a Bravo!