Customer Reviews

Bear and Son 8" Black Zytel Skinner w/Leather Sheath

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This knife is a great value for the price. It's made in the USA, and comes with a quality 'slip in' leather sheath. This knife has good lines, and fits my hand well. It does not come razor sharp from the box, but we did some moderate cutting with it before putting a better edge on. It took an edge easily. The blade thickness is just over 1/8 of an inch. The zytel handle does have some edges, but this could be easily fixed if it bothered the owner. A lanyard hole would put this knife over the top, but the owner could easily remedy that as well.

Overall, a quality 'Made in the USA' knife and sheath for a very reasonable price.

Knife is heavier than anticipated. Very durable product. Holds an edge well and feels comfortable in my hand. Skinned a buck with it last hunting season. Should last long enough to be inherited by one of the grandchildren.

Bear and Son call this knife the Feathermate, and while it is compact, it is not the lightest knife of its kind. To its credit, it feels heavy and solid, so much so that I was surprised to measure the blade's thickness at only an eighth of an inch. It's made of hollow-ground, high-carbon stainless that should have no trouble taking a razor-sharp edge, although I find it sharp enough out of the box and am reluctant to hone it to a less durable edge.

I have several folders of similar size, but most of them cost twice as much, and there's something compelling about the way a well-designed fixed-blade kife feels like a natural extension of one's entire skeleton. The Feathermate fills that bill, with contoured Zytel grips that fit my (rather small) hand perfectly. They are finished rather roughly, and with their squared-off edges, they are much more comfortable than expected.

I'd compare this knife to the Cold Steel Pendleton Hunter, the Buck Mini Alpha, or the Gerber Freeman, and at this price ($19 as of this writing), it's an attractive buy.