Bark River Evolution 1... Field test... [Archive] - British Blades

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Sharpshooter

24-05-04, 07:18 AM

It was time to get my Evolution into the woods to put it thru it's paces.

I have a hunch that the majority of Evos will spend their lives in a drawer someplace, only to be fondled on race occasions and then wiped carefully down with a bit of Renwax before being returned to the safety of a zippered case.

That's no way to treat a knife, most assuredly not the way to treat a Bark River Evolution 1, even if it is a comemorative of the 25th anniversary of the Blackjack Mamba.

I had to find out if the Evo is a working knife or a drawer queen.

http://outdoors.free.fr/images/Sharpshooter_evo1.jpg

It certainly looks tough!

I lashed the kydex sheath to the side of my Maxpedition Condor pack and headed into the woods for some fun and testing. After a while I found a fallen tree on a bit of highground and figured that this would be the spot where I would build my shelter were this to be a "survival situation".

The woods were almost a swamp after a week of thunderstorm after thunderstorm. Not far from where I decided to do my thing, Robin spotted a tree that have been very recently hit by lightening...

http://outdoors.free.fr/images/Sharpshooter_strike.jpg

There were wood splinters 30-40 yards away from the tree, that must have been one heck of a boom when it was hit.

The first think I did was to try chopping off a 5" branch from the fallen tree... The Evo throws wood like a well tuned hatchet, chewing it's way thru the wood...

http://outdoors.free.fr/images/Sharpshooter_choppin.jpg

I actually had to stop to get the picture taken, after realizing the the cutting was going far quicker than I expected. Note how deeply the Evo buried itself into the birch branch with one swing; this thing certainly can chop. Robin took a turn and three or four swings later she was thru...

http://outdoors.free.fr/images/Sharpshooter_choppin2.jpg

I'm pretty sure that this is in large part due to the blade shape, that recurve makes every swing cut like a long draw cut thru a steak. The wood just seems to open up for the convex edge and fly away as the blade comes to a stop.

With some firewood lined up, I figured it was time to do some backwoods construction; chopping down a couple of standing dead trees to make main poles for my shelter. Using the Evo1 as an axe, I was more impressed by the swingability and effectiveness.

http://outdoors.free.fr/images/Sharpshooter_tree.jpg

Robin was even more impressed by MY lumberjack skills as I dropped the first pole exactly where I told he it would fall, I missed the second one by about two feet (the wind shifted...)

I then used the Evo to chop out a few notches for the poles, cut up a few smaller branches and fit them to the rest making a framework for my shelter. Before I could finish up... the sky again began lighting up as another storm began rolling in; fortunately we had a choice and decided to head for the car and home.

Once home, I cleaned up the Evolution 1 and decided that it WILL stay lashed to my pack. This knife is a SERIOUS worker that's going to see a lot of woods time...

http://outdoors.free.fr/images/Sharpshooter_Serious.jpg

There's only one bad part of this story... Mike tells me that the Evo 1 will not be added to the Bark River Line-up. I already have one, but once the few remaining knives are gone, there will be no more. I'm going to have to hunt down another one for my son, because I know he'll eventually "Need" his own.

Reid

Bex

28-05-04, 01:53 PM

Thanks for the review Reid. I'm expecting mine in the near future from Joe at ODS. Like yourself I got mine to use, though I think you are right when you say most will end up in collections. Seems a waste but there you go.

On a positive note, I am sure Mike Stewart did mention somewhere that he will be developing other big blades, so even though the E1 is a one off event, there may be some other equally effective new patterns down the line.

I'm sitting typing this in an internet cafe, waiting for BT to switch on my broadband connection, (rival supplier so they are taking their time). Ah the joys of home internet use...

Alick

29-05-04, 02:12 AM

Hi Reid, thanks for posting this up and for your reply to my email. I'm chuffed to be lined up for an Evo1 as well - thanks to Joe at ODS. This will scratch a long time itch from when I first met a Blackjack Mamba 10 years ago without knowing what it was. Cheers. Alick.

ODS

29-05-04, 09:15 AM

Excellent show of the Evo 1 potential use. Like you say many will end up in a drawer some where or a display case.

Bex yours is here with me in the US, Just got it the other day.
Alick your covered as well.

As stated down in the passaround forum there will be a Evo 1 going out for a passaround as the next knife and you will get to use it. So this I think everyone will like.

Will be good to see Mike create some more large blades in the future. The knives that he makes are both excellent and affordable. They do the job they were meant to do and you get your money's worth out of them.

cheers,
Joe

Danzo

29-05-04, 09:52 AM

Hi Reid

Thanks for an excellent review, and reminding some of us what knives are really for!

:biggthump

Danzo

gurushaun

29-05-04, 11:02 AM

If you pop over to Outdoors Magazine, you'll see an interesting discussion with Mike Stewart and others about a golok style blade he has been working on.

Cheers

Shaun

ANDYLASER

29-05-04, 02:58 PM

Thank you for an excellent review. Looks like a mighty fine blade.

The General

29-05-04, 11:34 PM

Moved to reviews!

Great pics and interesting reading, thanks! :cool:

Mike Stewart

31-05-04, 09:06 PM

Gentlemen,

I am shipping a passaround E-1 to Joe at ODS on Tuesday. I had a couple of these that had the plate marking numbers on them. The laser just cuts the whole plate and can't see the numbers. It would be silly not to get some good use out of these. The difference is just cosmetic. These really aren't Sunday knives anyway. Joe assures me that he will begin the passaround here on Britishblades. Do you gents want to test any other of our models?

Mike........

ODS

31-05-04, 10:02 PM

Mike ask that question your opening up the cookie jar to these guys! But it is yet a good idea as it allows them to see and play with models that otherwise they would only be able to read reviews upon and see pictures for the most part. Pictures and reviews can go far, but when it comes to knives everyone likes to see them up close and personal. Making sure they meet the job before parting with that hard earned cash and a ear chewing from the spouse.

At the same time as you already know you get true feedback about blades and as Sal at Spyderco found out that the guys here in the UK and on this forum like certain styles. Which in the end resulted in a Spyderco knife made for the UK.

So I'm sure the gesture of other models being offered will be well received and enjoyed by the members here. So if you do have any more blemished/number stamped knives in various styles you may want to go ahead and throw them in and I'll just do a mass Bark River Passaround for the next one. That is if you don't mind such. Currently I have 2 other passarounds as well curently going with a Fallkniven and a Extrema Ratio along with some various torches and other tid bits.

cheers,
Joe

The General

31-05-04, 10:03 PM

I am currently making a comparitive test of the Highland Special, Fallkniven Idun and the Alan Wood Woodlore.

Three apparently quite similar knives, but very different in fact! About the only thing they share is they have 4" blades and suggest to potential buyers that they are ideal for camping and outdoor activities.

I have already found some interesting findings... More info as the review reaches completion. :biggthump

The General

31-05-04, 10:05 PM

Oh and if anyone wants to set aside an Evolution 1 for me... :p Money is tight at present... but I am waiting on a tax rebate and... well... you know! :biggthump

Tax rebate= new knife fund! :cool:

ODS

01-06-04, 01:46 AM

Oh and if anyone wants to set aside an Evolution 1 for me... :p Money is tight at present... but I am waiting on a tax rebate and... well... you know! :biggthump

Tax rebate= new knife fund! :cool:
Got you covered.....hmmmmm makes you wonder how many of these are sitting in my hands doesn't it ;)

ODS

01-06-04, 01:48 AM

Mike Stewart

01-06-04, 02:47 AM

Joe,

I knew we would open a cookie jar with my question but, I really think that it is very important to have our knives out there where folks can see and try them. I will start sending a few extra marked for passaround with each shipment.

Mike.......

I guess we should do a couple of Mikros next.

ODS

01-06-04, 03:33 AM

Yeap...Mikros would be good one as well.

cheers,
Joe

Sharpshooter

01-06-04, 06:57 AM

EVO vs Onion...

http://outdoors.free.fr/images/Sharpshooter_onion.jpg

let's just say:

Many tears were shed...

and The Onion went to pieces... :lol:

Reid

Bex

02-06-04, 05:15 PM

Good stuff Joe. I got the Brush Thinners, thank you. One will be going to Greece and it will be intresting to see how it performs. One will be staying in the UK with me, and seeing some use eventually when I get the chance to get out and use it.

Should be back online at home sometime next week. 2 weeks to flip a switch and turn on an IDSL connection...

ODS

02-06-04, 06:54 PM

Good to know that you got the Brush Thinners. Hope that they do they job that they are designed for. They look baically like a long handle curved machete that I have for clearing out small to med size brush under and around trees.

The Evo 1 is still at my US location. Mike is sending me down a extra for passround so waiting for all those to come into stock and will just do a bulk shipment over to the UK.

cheers,
Joe

Bex

08-06-04, 11:24 AM

No worries.

Mike Stewart

08-06-04, 10:11 PM

Joe,

All the Evo-1's and part of you Mikros on the way. I included the Passaround Evo-1. You'll know it when you see it.

Mike.......