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its getting pretty hard to find an affordable knife now days that isnt made in china. all the shrades, gerbers and most of the other "american" brands are manufactured there. even buck has some of their cheaper models made there. that being said, not all of them are "cheap" knives. i own several browning knives now and all of them are nice knives, very good finish and steel that will sharpen and hold an edge. this one is probably the nicest one yet. the only drawback i could foresee would be that this handle could get a little slippery when wet...overall a great knife for the money
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
I got my Browning 814 Stacked Leather knife a few weeks ago. It's not fair to compare it to my Buck 192 Vanguard (which is nearly the same size but with a slightly wider blade and leather sheath, so I won't, much anyway) except to say that I like the US made Buck much, much more. Pros: 1. This knife is reasonably light for the thickness of its hollow ground blade. 2. The nylon sheath, while not looking particularly durable, seems sturdy, is lightweight, fits the knife well and has a liner. 3. The knife comes in a VERY nice box, well packaged with the blade tip in a plastic shield, the knife itself in a plastic bag, with the sheath placed in the box separately. The sheath / knife fit is VERY snug. 4. Not sure what alloy stainless steel is used here, but stainless blades are a bit easier for most to maintain. They won't take QUITE as sharp an edge as carbon steel, but they aren't going to rust or discolor easily, and stainless, in my experience, tends to hold whatever edge you're able to achieve a little longer than carbon, so if you aren't interested in making the maintenance of your blade a separate hobby, stainless is the way to go. This would be a great blade to take on one of those weekend jaunts where you share wine, cheese and bread with your Dearly Beloved, and want something in your overnight bag to lop off hunks of bread and cheese. 5. I like the lanyard hole in the pommel. Good for keeping the knife from disappearing into the snow when it falls from your slippery, bloody hands while dressing a critter you've just bagged. Cons: 1. The blade, out of the box, is NOT terribly sharp. I would not undertake skinning a deer or boar with this blade without re-sharpening. 2. The fit and finish of the stacked leather and spacers is crude. In particular, the stainless steel spacers protrude with a sharp edge, which makes the knife feel CHEAP. I used some crocus cloth to these to break the sharp edges, and greatly improved the "out of box" feel. 3. A reviewer on another website mentioned that this knife SMELLS. It DOES. BAD. This is due to the treatment of the stacked leather handles. Yeah, fine, but I have a US made Marbles skinning knife with stacked leather handles, and it doesn't stink. Calling it the way I see (smell) it. I soaked mine in rubbing alcohol, dried it, sanded it down and applied mink oil. Better, but not wonderful. 4. New, out of the box, there are dings and dents in the stacked leather handles. I prefer to put my own dings and dents into my new toys. 5. That snug fit that the sheath has that I was bragging up earlier? Well, you REALLY need to seat the blade DEEPLY into the sheath to get the wrap-around strap to snap so as to secure your knife. Also, the belt loop looks like it will wear out quickly with any serious use. Fortunately, this knife also fits well in the Buck 192 Vanguard leather sheath, which are sold separately for about fifteen bucks as of this writing, so one need not worry about finding a replacement sheath that fits. I am sure other sheaths would be acceptable as well. Overall, I like this knife a little better than my $24, but not MUCH better. I am picky. Using crocus cloth, I was able to break the sharp edges on the steel stacking rings, but the transition between stacking layers still isn't perfect, and this could have been done at the factory with only a moments attention. In all fairness, this knife should last the user a long time with proper care, and perhaps I am a bit harsh in my review, but the "out of the box" dull blade, sharp edges on the steel stacking rings, the dings and dents, and the smell really disappointed me. Until then, my overall impression of "VALUE" is "Meh." Not sorry I bought it, but no intentions of getting another one.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Good overall knife for the price. Knife was semi-sharp on arrival with a good bevel. I made about 8-10 passes on each side on a very fine stone and is now razor sharp. We'll see how it holds up. Only negative was the stacked leather on the handle stinks !!! I soaked it well with some mink oil, let it dry and buffed with a cotton rag. Leather softened up and smell was reduced by 90 percent. Overall very happy with the knife.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Didn't have any problems with it holding an edge, or with the handle. Knife performed very well. Just used as a camping utility knife, nothing hardcore. Great deal.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
I love this knife! I realize its not the most expensive high tech steel but it is 440c which was a fine steel in its day and still is. The leather stacked handle with bone and wood spacers is what makes this knife awesome! It looks, feels and smells great. Only thing lacking is the sheath. I am copying the sheath in 8oz leather though. The black nylon just doesnt cut it. Buy this knife!
Verified purchase: No
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