Bear & Son Bird and Trout Knife

R

runscott

Joined
Mar 12, 2023
Messages
269
I wanted (almost said "needed") a new bird and trout knife, and liked a lot of things about this Bear & Son: the blade shape, handle thickness, weighting, and the look of the Alabama Damascus steel. I wasn't crazy about the gouged India bone scales, but even that sort of appealed to me.

So I get the knife home and look at it more closely: dull blade, scales and tang connection is very uneven. The latter was especially noticeable after the week before receiving a perfect L.T. Wright Northern Hunter.

Now I'm thinking this might not be the ideal bird and trout knife, or even practical. How well can this type of steel be sharpened? Has anyone tried to smooth out the scale/tang connections? Thanks.

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Are you open to suggestions for a different knife, or would you just like the original questions answered?😈
 
Pick one up from Horsewright Horsewright
He makes a variety of models that would be very suitable as a bird and trout knife. They all come with an excellent sheath and the fit and finish will not disappoint. I highly recommend it.
Specs:
Steel: 26C3 Core & 15N20 Damascus @ Rc 63, .120” thick , full tang
Blade Length: 2.990”
OAL: 7.020”
Weight : 2.7 oz.
Handle: Stag with torquiose spacers & matching lanyard bead and brass bolsters.
Sheath: R/H horizontal sheath
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Indeed, send it back. You'll never get that knife looking good, and you'll always be bothered by it. You have to be careful with Bear and Sons, they let a lot of very mediocre knives pass through, and rely on being made in America as a crutch to soften the fact that they do it.
 
Mendoman said:
Pick one up from Horsewright Horsewright
He makes a variety of models that would be very suitable as a bird and trout knife. They all come with an excellent sheath and the fit and finish will not disappoint. I highly recommend it.
Specs:
Steel: 26C3 Core & 15N20 Damascus @ Rc 63, .120” thick , full tang
Blade Length: 2.990”
OAL: 7.020”
Weight : 2.7 oz.
Handle: Stag with torquiose spacers & matching lanyard bead and brass bolsters.
Sheath: R/H horizontal sheath
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Thank you sir. I do make lots of knives in the Bird and Trout genre if someone is interested. However I don't work in damascus anymore. 26C3 and AEB-L are the steels I work in these days. Some examples:

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I bought a Bear & Sons sodbuster a few years back just to try them out, and wasn't impressed. The cro van steel is good, but overall construction gritty and poorly fitted. I wouldn't buy another.
 
tltt said:
Indeed, send it back. You'll never get that knife looking good, and you'll always be bothered by it. You have to be careful with Bear and Sons, they let a lot of very mediocre knives pass through, and rely on being made in America as a crutch to soften the fact that they do it.
Click to expand...
I went in to buy a Case Finn but liked the look and feel of the Bear & Son a little better. No longer enamored. Will make the switch today, as I have to go in for fishing supplies. Perhaps the rockfish were afraid of this new knife and avoided my bait Saturday.

I love the idea of a nice custom Bird & Trout knife, but it will have to wait, as such $$$ went into a couple of other knives this month.
 
runscott said:
I wanted (almost said "needed") a new bird and trout knife, and liked a lot of things about this Bear & Son: the blade shape, handle thickness, weighting, and the look of the Alabama Damascus steel. I wasn't crazy about the gouged India bone scales, but even that sort of appealed to me.

So I get the knife home and look at it more closely: dull blade, scales and tang connection is very uneven. The latter was especially noticeable after the week before receiving a perfect L.T. Wright Northern Hunter.

Now I'm thinking this might not be the ideal bird and trout knife, or even practical. How well can this type of steel be sharpened? Has anyone tried to smooth out the scale/tang connections? Thanks.

cMfFseV.jpg

DSlJUkX.png
Click to expand...
I wanted a classic B & T went down the same road with a Bear & Sons Bird and Trout. I received it and was disappointed with the workmanship. Below are some others that I have found. Some, such as the LT Wright Coyote are no longer available new but can be found on the Knife Exchange here and Ebay. The AG Russell Mini-skinner is very rare. I'm not sure what's going on with Hess. But the Pine Ridge Little Mesa and Arno Bernard are still available, albeit at different price points. My tastes are pretty conservative but have a look.
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MessieurRick said:
I wanted a classic B & T went down the same road with a Bear & Sons Bird and Trout. I received it and was disappointed with the workmanship. Below are some others that I have found. Some, such as the LT Wright Coyote are no longer available new but can be found on the Knife Exchange here and Ebay. The AG Russell Mini-skinner is very rare. I'm not sure what's going on with Hess. But the Pine Ridge Little Mesa and Arno Bernard are still available, albeit at different price points. My tastes are pretty conservative but have a look.
Click to expand...
Yes, you and I have taken a similar path. I found the L.T. Wright Coyote, discovered it was discontinued, then looked at the Battle Horse 'Birch River' because it is almost an exact duplicate, right down to the steel used. I also really liked the Hess B&T, but it seems like the maker has taken an extended break perhaps.

I ended up going with this L.T. Wright Bandit. I liked the 'Birch River' because the shape seemed more appropriate for use with small fish and I don't currently hunt birds; however, the Bandit is hard to find and if it is discontinued I will regret not grabbing one. Also, harder steel and more uses...I think.

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Alberta Ed said:
I bought a Bear & Sons sodbuster a few years back just to try them out, and wasn't impressed. The cro van steel is good, but overall construction gritty and poorly fitted. I wouldn't buy another.
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Same experience here it was an embarrassment to see made in USA on that horrible blade. I sent mine back to Blade HQ and they gave me a refund
 
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