Bernie Garland Damascus Knife Reveiw

[siberianfury]

Hi there guys,
For a good while now ive been toying with the idea of getting a custom knife, ive been recomended a lot of great makers but this guy seemed to stand out from the rest. i was first introduced to Bernies website by my science teacher in year 11, who was a keen bushcrafter and had bought one of bernies blade blanks.

when i first joined a few online bushcraft boards i noticed that positive reveiws of bernies knives were popping up around the place, talking of the top quality and performance of his knives.

anyway i decided to go with bernie Garland knife and from today i regret nothing.
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the knife:
i accuired this knife second hand from another member of this forum. upon arriving home earlier today i was greeted by a little parcel. Upon opening the parcel i took out the little blade and was immediatly astounded by the quality and attention to detail of this peice, it came slightly dull, so i gave it a hone on my DC4 and before long it was RAZOR sharp. The design is interesting whereas its a full tang woodore style handle with a puuko style blade, i dont know if there is a particular name for this knife, but if there isnt i would call it
the "Hybrid".



Knife Statistics:
Steel-Alabama Damascus Steel
Heat Treatment-59rc
Blade Thickness-4mm
Blade Length-90mm
Handle Length-97mm
Handle Material-Box elder burr
Grind Height-8mm
Tapered Tang-Yes
Sheath style- Deep Pouch.
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Ok so how does this knife perform?

Lets start with some basic bushcraft tasks that determine a good knife.

#1 Battening:


the little knife performed well with this task, better than my other blades, the thick blade is great for splitting wood much thicker than the "stick" in this picture (it was the first thing to hand during the photographs).
Rating 10/10

2# The Featherstick:



the knife carved feathersticks admirably, civing some good curls and some great control, im not the best with feathersticks and this knife makes it alot easyer for me.
Rating 9/10

3# Carving:

being a small 4mm blade wasnt expecting much from this knife for carving and shaping.Yet I was proven wrong, the blade bit well into the wood, taking of perfect shavings, being a small knife it was quick and nimble to use and the tapered tang realy helped give it that quick feeling whilst carving.
Rating 9/10
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Over all.

well, what can i say, this knife has done everything ive asked of it, ive been using it all afternoon and the edge is still sharp enough to shave the hair on my leg. as for looks this knife is an absaloute beauty, imo my best looking knife, however this dosent put me off using it, somthing about this knife just crys use me!!
alot of knives people say are "too good to use" im my opinion this one is too good not to use.
Bernie, youve made one hell of a knife here.
thanks
Josh

[Bernie Garland]

Glad your happy with it Josh

Bernie

[sticks56]

Very nice blade,i like your review.

[Red Kite]

Good review, sir. Bernie's blades never disappoint and I particularly like that design. A little thinner for food prep, great scandi grind for carving, thick enough to give it some wellie and I bet it's great for filleting.

It's your bird and trout model, isn't it Bernie?

Very nice anyway, the perfect all rounder?

Cheers,
Graeme

[siberianfury]

Originally Posted by Red Kite

Good review, sir. Bernie's blades never disappoint and I particularly like that design. A little thinner for food prep, great scandi grind for carving, thick enough to give it some wellie and I bet it's great for filleting.

It's your bird and trout model, isn't it Bernie?

Very nice anyway, the perfect all rounder?

Cheers,
Graeme

i think its a slight adaption of the bird and trout,thicker blade and such. i think for food prep it would be great as its got a great sharp point. carving its also great compared to a broarder knife as its more manoverable when the bevel is deep in wood.

[Bernie Garland]

Originally Posted by Red Kite

Good review, sir. Bernie's blades never disappoint and I particularly like that design. A little thinner for food prep, great scandi grind for carving, thick enough to give it some wellie and I bet it's great for filleting.

It's your bird and trout model, isn't it Bernie?

Very nice anyway, the perfect all rounder?

Cheers,
Graeme

It was a one of custom job

Bernie

[siberianfury]

Originally Posted by Bernie Garland

It was a one of custom job

Bernie

so what was the intended purpose of use then bernie?
josh

[Bernie Garland]

Originally Posted by siberianfury

so what was the intended purpose of use then bernie?
josh

Sitting in a drawer from what i can gather

Bernie

[siberianfury]

Originally Posted by Bernie Garland

Sitting in a drawer from what i can gather

Bernie

lol, i can tell you it will do none of the sort in my house, im gonna take it out rabbiting tommorow. mabye get some pics of paunching if im lucky.
josh

[Dingo]

Originally Posted by Bernie Garland

Sitting in a drawer from what i can gather

Bernie

Best place for it!


only joking boys, i like the look of the damascus, does it keep an edge like the 01 bernie??? i wondered if it burred easier due to the laminating?????

nice as per usual bernard.