Bear Edge Pocket Knife: An Affordable Workhorse

I’ve carried some type of knife on me most of my life. The first one was a tiny two-blade hardware store special my grandfather gave me when I was in Kindergarten. I remember bringing it in for show and tell and my teacher taking from me after I told the class all about it. She gave it to my mom after school when she picked me up. No, I wasn’t in trouble like the kids would be today. She told my mom she was afraid I would lose it or someone would take it. Through the rest of my school days, most of us had a pocket knife on us and I can recall teachers asking to borrow it from time to time when the needed it for some cutting chore. Times sure have changed.

My interest with tools and knives goes deeper than a fascination — it’s part of my DNA. I come from a long line of hands-on tradesmen with the most prominent being my grandfather Irving or Izzy to his friends. It didn’t matter what the project was — wood, metal, leather, electrical or automotive he was the guy everyone came to see when they needed help or a special tool. It never failed that at some point during the day someone would stop by his shop and ask him to sharpen a knife of some type. I must have watched him sharpen thousand of knives ranging from machetes’ and hatchets to kitchen and pocketknives. He did it all by hand on flat stones in the time most could do on a belt grinder today and the edges were perfect every time. No matter how much I’ve practiced doing it by hand over the last 40 plus years, I still can’t get edges as sharp and perfect as he did.

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My knife collection ranges from a couple older knives that don’t get used anymore to a “bunch” that I would call my EDC (Every Day Carry) knives. They are all tools to me — I don’t abuse them but they get used for all manner of daily chores. The knife that has been spending a lot of time riding in my pocket is the Bear Edge from Bear & Sons Cutlery.

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Knives usually fall into three categories depending on the intended use — too big — too small — and just right. If you pick up a knife and it feels like a porcupine that’s on fire you can bet it won’t see much use. When I first picked up the Bear Edge it felt really good in my hand. It took me a few reps to get the feel of the thumb stud and the small flipper portion worked fast and didn’t get in the way while the knife rode in my pocket. The reversible pocket clip fell into the just right category — it fit perfectly in both the front and rear pockets of my Wranglers. I didn’t have to fight with it to get it in and it wasn’t so loose I was worried it would fall out or move around. The green G10 handles are textured enough for positive grip without feeling like 80 grit sandpaper or worse a wet bar of soap.

The last couple of months the Bear Edge has seen plenty of use while doing chores on the ranch, range and around the house. The heavy-duty bailing twine on hay bales is pretty tough on knife edges and the Bear has kept its edge after a bunch of feedings. Like I said, I don’t abuse my knives but they do get put to work. If you are looking for a workhorse of a knife that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, check out the Bear Edge from Bear & Sons Cutlery.

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