Bernie Garland blades?

[Everything Mac]

now I do not with to start any arguments as I understand there are quite a few fans of this chaps work ...but,

I had a look at a BG knife the other day and I am very curious as to why people are so enamoured with his work?

the handle was very pretty and the fit was good but the finish of the blade was appalling in my opinion.

andy

 

[Tadpole]

now I do not with to start any arguments as I understand there are quite a few fans of this chaps work ...but,

I had a look at a BG knife the other day and I am very curious as to why people are so enamoured with his work?

the handle was very pretty and the fit was good but the finish of the blade was appalling in my opinion.

andy

You say you’re not trying to start an argument, but...
Do you not think that this would this be better taken up with Him, rather than here.

 

[durulz]

That's a very odd way of not wanting to start an argument.

I kind of know what you mean though - sometimes you wonder if you are missing something that everyone else finds fantastic. I'm like that with the whole 'bushcraft' blade shape. I just don't get it.
But I generally keep it to myself, since it's not that important and I'm not that bothered.

Tell you what, why don't you go over to Bushcraft Living and ask that question? You'll get a more 'direct' response. Don't forget to wear your tin hat though.

 

[Draven]

The blades have a low grit finish (320 IIRC?) because they're intended to be used and a highly polished knife will mess up easier.

Of course it's also down to the fact that they're good users rather than just how they look If you don't like the finish of a blade it's easy to fix, HT isn't so and his HT is brilliant.

Pete

 

[Martyn]

The blades have a low grit finish (320 IIRC?) because they're intended to be used and a highly polished knife will mess up easier.

Of course it's also down to the fact that they're good users rather than just how they look If you don't like the finish of a blade it's easy to fix, HT isn't so and his HT is brilliant.

Pete

Hang on, are you saying that if I'm gonna drop £200 quid on a knife, I'm better picking one with a rubbish finish because it's just gonna get messed up anyway?

 

[sapper1]

I'm away for the weekend but I can't wait to get back and read this thread all the way through.okenest:

 

[Twodogs]

At the end of the day Andy if you dont like Bernie Garland knifes just dont buy one theres plenty of other makers , thats your choice .

Twodogs

 

[Andy2112]

I've not long got one of Bernie's knives which i intend to christen next weekend, i really like it. You won't go far wrong with one from Bernie, and yes he is a mate of mine. You pays your money, you takes your choice at the end of the day, that's up to you. His blades are users not drawer queens.

Right, this might get messy, where's me tin hat, lol.

 

[Paganwolf]

That's a very odd way of not wanting to start an argument..

make you right.

Tell you what, why don't you go over to Bushcraft Living and ask that question? You'll get a more 'direct' response. Don't forget to wear your tin hat though.

Ill tell you what rather than sending the moan somewhere else to escalate, Mac email or call the man himself and tell him http://www.berax.co.uk/ ,as he cant get on here to defend him self. Im sure he will take the critisism on board.

 

[Martyn]

I've not long got one of Bernie's knives which i intend to christen next weekend, i really like it. You won't go far wrong with one from Bernie, and yes he is a mate of mine. You pays your money, you takes your choice at the end of the day, that's up to you. His blades are users not drawer queens.

Right, this might get messy, where's me tin hat, lol.

Expensive drawer queens = no problem.
Cheap rough users = no problem.
Expensive rough users = ???????

 

[Martyn]

make you right.




Ill tell you what rather than sending the moan somewhere else to escalate, Mac email or call the man himself and tell him http://www.berax.co.uk/ ,as he cant get on here to defend him self. Im sure he will take the critisism on board.

He'll be able to read it though JP and as he's so often kind enough to offer his own constructive criticism of other makers, I'm sure he wont mind.

 

[Paganwolf]

He'll be able to read it though JP and as he's so often kind enough to offer his own constructive criticism of other makers, I'm sure he wont mind.

Im sure he wont martyn im sure he wont

 

[Tiley]

I recently took delivery of a Bernie knife. The blade received a customary hone because I like the look of a polished edge and it's better for carving wood (something I do too much of...).

So does it really matter? Not a jot. If you use your knife, you will eventually get the 'finish' (if that's what you want to call it) you want on it. The great things about Bernie's knives are the shape, grind depth, symmetry and attention paid to the handles in my opinion. It only takes a little effort on your part to finish it off how you want it.

When you consider that the waiting time for them is unbelievably modest and Bernie himself is extremely helpful and only wants the best for his clients, you have a series of very persuasive reasons for going down the Garland route.

Just my opinion, nothing more.

 

[Andy2112]

Expensive drawer queens = no problem.
Cheap rough users = no problem.
Expensive rough users = ???????

I'll not enter into a debate about the finish and quality of BG's blades Martin as i just can't be bothered mate. I like his blades and i like the man himself, that's my opinion.

It would be unfair to discuss this as he can't reply himself but i'm pretty sure he's not too fussed about what folk say about his work. lol

I did see an expensive rough user, one of RM's new woodlores with the dark wood scales ? the scales were not flush with the tang

I'll take my hat off to all the makers on here and elsewhere, the quality of work is astounding tbh, i just wish i had the skill to do it.

 

[tobes01]

I'm completely sold on Bernie's blades. Not just because of their quality as 'users,' but the service he provides. One of the scales on my bushcrafter shrank slightly after about a year, Bernie was only too happy to rehandle it for free and give the blade a service, no questions asked. The instructors on my last Woodlore course were all very taken with it, and they were mostly carrying Alan Wood knives.

Bernie's knives are built to be worked, I'd happily buy again from him.

 

[Bodge]

I have never owned a BG knife but have used a few here and there and liked them a lot. Buy one if you like them or buy someone else's if you like theirs.

I know Bernie personally and would not hesitate to purchase a knife or blade off him, not only for the quality of his work but also and more importantly imo the customer service and after care Bernie and Max offer.

I speak as I find and find Bernie a top bloke.

 

[Everything Mac]

I'm completely sold on Bernie's blades. Not just because of their quality as 'users,' but the service he provides. One of the scales on my bushcrafter shrank slightly after about a year, Bernie was only too happy to rehandle it for free and give the blade a service, no questions asked. The instructors on my last Woodlore course were all very taken with it, and they were mostly carrying Alan Wood knives.

Bernie's knives are built to be worked, I'd happily buy again from him.

now there is a gentleman who understood the nature of the thread and the question I posed.

have a virtual pint on me mate.


as I said in the op - I was not wanting to start any arguments. I fully understand that many one here are fans of his work and having not met the man myself I am in no position to pass judgement on him.

I was merely commenting on a blade I saw and expressed my opinion of it.


this thread is not a "if you don't like it bugger off and buy something else" thread.

it is an "express your opinion on the blades thread"

if some one wants to make it into an argument or turn it into the former statement then I will not hesitate to get the thread locked.

we are all adults - surely we can have a civilised discussion as such.

 

[Bodge]

now there is a gentleman who understood the nature of the thread and the question I posed.

have a virtual pint on me mate.


as I said in the op - I was not wanting to start any arguments. I fully understand that many one here are fans of his work and having not met the man myself I am in no position to pass judgement on him.

I was merely commenting on a blade I saw and expressed my opinion of it.


this thread is not a "if you don't like it bugger off and buy something else" thread.

it is an "express your opinion on the blades thread"

if some one wants to make it into an argument or turn it into the former statement then I will not hesitate to get the thread locked.

we are all adults - surely we can have a civilised discussion as such.

Just out of interest Andy, was the blade you saw as Bernie had made it or had it been used and possibly altered by the user?

I can't understand how you could say "the finish of the blade was appalling in my opinion".
If the knife in question was not altered by the current owner I would advise he/she contacted Bernie to get the finish sorted out.

 

[Prawnster]

I've got a Bernie Garland woodie clone that I handled myself. Bernie also supplied a few bits and pieces for it so it was like a kit.

Couldn't be happier with it. It has done everything I've asked of it very well indeed.

I've since bought other knives from well known and respected custom makers and spent a fair bit of money on them. I've not kept any of them for very long though because although they were very nice to look at they didn't compare in actual use.

There you go, that's my opinion of his work

Cheers
Sean

 

[Andy2112]

now there is a gentleman who understood the nature of the thread and the question I posed.

have a virtual pint on me mate.


as I said in the op - I was not wanting to start any arguments. I fully understand that many one here are fans of his work and having not met the man myself I am in no position to pass judgement on him.

I was merely commenting on a blade I saw and expressed my opinion of it.


this thread is not a "if you don't like it bugger off and buy something else" thread.

it is an "express your opinion on the blades thread"

if some one wants to make it into an argument or turn it into the former statement then I will not hesitate to get the thread locked.

we are all adults - surely we can have a civilised discussion as such.

Bit difficult with statements like "the finish of the blade was appalling in my opinion. " to have a civilised discussion