Link: Michigan Knifemaker Closes Shop After Admitting to Using Chinese Steel and Labeling It USA-Made Closure of Bark River Knives Bark River Knives officially ceased operations on March 20, 2026. The closure was announced by the owner, who accepted full responsibility for the decision. Reasons for Closure Several factors contributed to the shutdown: Court Cases: Ongoing legal issues played a significant role in the company's downfall. Product Mislabeling: The company faced allegations of mislabeling knife steels, which damaged its reputation. Some knives were reportedly sold as "Made in the USA" while being manufactured from foreign materials. Impact of Closure The closure has left employees without jobs and has raised concerns among customers regarding warranty claims and the authenticity of products previously sold. The owner has acknowledged that the situation had been deteriorating for some time, indicating that the closure was overdue. I wanted to post this information to bring everybody up to date on this subject since there are a number of YouTube videos out there now bashing Bark River unnecessarily and even promoting the wrong information, resorting to armchair expert critique offering opinions about convex grind when it is obvious they have zero experience in these matters. Essentially, it's easy to claim to be righteous and knowledgeable after somebody else in the business makes mistakes, takes shortcuts, or plain lies about the quality of their product. I think it is wise to remember the people working for Bark River who really do care and had no power over this situation. The company still produced many quality knives over the years. The Bark River knives in stock and which are not compromised by this scandal are still for sale on sites such as DLT Trading and Knivesshipfree. The knives that were in question have all been pulled from sale. Information about convex grind knives and more here: STEEL And KNIVES (A Comparison and Explanation)
Convex is a GREAT edge for many applications and one I apply to some of my blades. The owner does however have a pretty chequered past and this was not his first “steel issue” or financial issue.
I have some Bark River Knives here at the compound. I will tell you that a lot of niche manufacturers, businesses and restaurants here in Michigan were decimated due to Covid and Gov. Whitmere's total lock down of the state. These folks were one of the victims. Eventhough they were on the free side of the state, evil gretchen and her minions in the health department roamed the state suing and fineing folks into submission. God help you if she becomes president of the united states.
We now seem to be in a two tier society. The real rich still have money and are buying the high value items. Art, yachts, houses, etc. The former middle class is being priced out of the quality market. They can no longer afford to buy a knife in the $200 to 600 range just because it is American made. As simply a tool, there are a lot of very good knives available for under $200. They do not have either the quality nor the work man ship of the more expensive knives, but they will do any task you set for them very well. Given that Chinese can make a knife for about 1/5 of what it would cost in the USA and the anti business aspects in some states, it is both a tribute to their attitudes and to their skills that any small run knife makers still exist in the USA. The big factor is tariffs and that is up in the courts and up in the air. https://blademag.com/uncategorized/tariffs-knife-prices-in-2025
Real question is What is US made steel. Crucible was big US producer, went bankrupt twice and now is French. Powder used to make the steel comes from Sweden, melted in France and made into steel, rolled into sheets and bars in US. Where was it made? Can't pay US prices for labor and energy and compete on world market anymore. https://www.knifecenter.com/knife-b...cle/crucible-bankruptcy-spyderco-steel-future Most of what is left in high quality metals seem to exist to supply materials to users, military, government contractors, air craft industries, ship building, etc, that are by law required to use US made inputs. Cost is really a second consideration when you are building a component and US made is a requirement. It is however a major factor if you are making a high quality knife. AI told me best way to make a cheap hand made knife was to but Japanese or Chinese kitchen knife, anneal it, regrind to desired shape, and retemper. Cheaper and more likely to get good steel. Well I guess it beats looking for meteorites.
A fool and his money are soon parted. Truer words were never spoken, and that includes your mother telling you that she loved you. Nobody needs a $200-600 knife, especially one that is just gonna gather dust in a drawer. You'll never use it cause that would ruin its value, and when you die, your heirs will get stuck with it or sell it for nothing in a yard sell. I know cause I got a drawer full of knives that I inherited from my father and grandfather. Better to own one or two knives of good quality that you will actually use.
Still have only a couple of good knives. One I have used for about 70 years is old USAF survival knife I 'lost" and cost was taken out of my pay. Have a Finnish puukko knife that my grand dad gave me in 1950 that I use for cleaning fish etc. Have several carbon steel knives that my grand mother had that she gave me in 1950's. They were made in 1800's and she got them as wedding presents in 1892 and some were well used then. I have never seen need to replace them. Have to dry and oil all of them when you put them away. Wife bought some of new paring knives with the serrated edges. I have never been able to get a real edge on them and they cut crooked when you try to slice cheese etc. Dad owned a butcher shop and used to buy paring knives from man who supplied knives to shop. Handles were wooden and dad had shop name and location burned into the wood handle. Gave them away as wedding present to clients. Have heard more than one woman tell dad that her daughter was getting married and she wanted to know if she could get her the same type knife as she had gotten from shop when she got married. Dad said grand dad had started doing it about 1900 or so. Kind of funny when you think about it and how things change. I use a knife when I cut up a chicken that the family has used for at least 125 years and is still good for another 100. I know it will be in the yard sale when I die for a buck or so and I only hope some one else gets some use out of it.
I still have the kitchen knives Dad and Mom were using when I was a wee youngster. Still going strong. A good knife will last generations if properly cared for, like any good tool.
