Bear & Sons small pocket knives?

[Dand]

I seem to have lost my favorite little Kershaw pocket knife and I'm having trouble finding a good replacement. I like a sturdy but small lock back knife, about 2.5 inch blade of good steel. I'm not too crazy about the small plastic handled knives, and some of the smaller Bucks are a bit too big. 


On-line, I've seen some Bear & Sons small folders that look good but wonder about the steel they use.


I know Bill speaks well of this company.


Can anyone speak of the steel and edge-holding qualities of their little knives?


thanks

[Graybeard]

I have no idea how many of the Bear knives I own mostly seconds bought at the annual community knife sale. The steel is good and holds an edge well. I have them from rather small folders to the largest they make and small to large fixed blades as well.

At the community knife sale each year if you get there early on the first day and look them over closely you can buy knives that it is hard to find a reason they are seconds. Many times it's a small cosmetic blemish of the scales and the rest is same as what they sell at full retail.

If you find a style you like you won't go wrong with it. Which of their knives are you looking at? I might already have one like it I can comment directly about it.

[flintlock]

I bought one of these this spring, it's been a good knife...
 
http://www.bearandsoncutlery.com/index.php?src=directory&view=Products&submenu=Traditional&category=TRADITIONAL&query=%28category.eq.TRADITIONAL%29.and.%28category.eq.TRADITIONAL%29&refno=62&srctype=Products_detail
 
I bought their version of a SharpFinger a couple of years ago and it holds an edge real well when skinning deer...The blade on these for me are easier to sharpen than a Buck and aren't as soft as an Old Timer...This one replaced and Old Timer I had for several years...
 
I actually bought the two I have from and ACE Hardware store here in NC...Both were around $25...

[Dand]

I'm looking at the Executive Series with the metal ends.  Probably the Mini Executive with wood and metal handle or the upswept version with the 3 inch blade.


How thick are the blades on these? The website doesn't offer very much info.


Model: 240R  2 1/2" Rosewood Mini Executive Lockback
or
[/size]Model: 226  3" Oak Executive Upswept Lockback any info would be appreciated.  Oh and I DO like the idea of buying American Made - trying to do that whenever possible these days.thanks

[Graybeard]

I can't seem to locate my 240R at the moment. I have several of the 236s and the spine is 0.090" thick. I believe it is the same on the 240 but am not sure. A phone call to them should clear up the question for you.

[Dand]

Thanks GB the info is helpful.  The fact that you have one 240 and several of the  226 gives me confidence.


BTW, I think I made a mistake and looked at their damascus versions of the above knives- oooo do they look neat!


Do their damascus versions hold a good edge?


I don't want to get too into their website or I might be broke.


thanks
Dan

[Graybeard]

I don't have any damascus blades. Even at the community knife sale those are expensive.

I ran across my 240 today while rambling in a box looking for something else. That's how I normally find things I've not seen in awhile. It probably wouldn't be the 240R as it doesn't have the wood handles shown on their site for the 240R.

Mine was a limited edition over run on a contract to supply them to Eddie Bauer the big retail outlet. It has blue plastic handles rather than the wood and has the Eddie Bauer name/logo on it. There are no blemishes or anything to make it a second it was just a contract over run. They often have such knives at the sales you can get if you get there early.

The blade is 0.080" on it.

Bear makes a LOT of special runs for dfferent companies and they make about every style of their knifes with about every type handle/scale material from time to time. I have some patterns I really like that I have numerous examples of with several different scale materials.

[schoolmaster]

I have the Bear and Sons 3 blade large stockmans pocket knife in damascus and it takes an extremely sharp edge. You do have to keep it oiled so it doesn't rust. Overall I am very satisfied with this knife.

[Dand]

Well I searched all over, looked at some Bucks, Queen Steel, and Bear Damascus but finally settled on a little Bear 224R 3in Executive Rosewood. It looked like it would sit nice in my pocket and do all I need.  I'll have to try a Bear damascus blade when I have more cash. Amazon had that 224 for half what Bear asks and free shipping, plus I needed other stuff at Amazon anyway. 


I probably overdid the research but it was fun to find out what's out there and see the really wide range of prices. I think I like AG Russell's site for its very good listing of all the knife specs as well as country of manufacture, Knife Center is ok too. I'm trying hard to stick with USA made.


I'll be saving up for some Queen knives too - with D2 steel blades, and USA made, I really want to try them out.