Bark River Knives Closes After Owner Admits Using Chinese Steel in Some USA-Made Knives

Bark River Knives, a knifemaker in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, closed on March 20, 2026, after 25 years. Its owner admitted using imported Chinese steel in some models, The Mining Gazette reported.

What happened

Co-founder and owner Mike Stewart said in a March 23 Facebook post that the decision to use an alternate Chinese steel in some knives was a “blunder” and his alone. He said it affected a handful of models, including the Camp Bolo, Highwayman 4 and Mini-Manitou, and that the steel had been mislabeled. Distributors were not aware, he said.

“This use of import steel was only for a very short period of time to keep our employees working.”

Mike Stewart, owner, Bark River Knives, on Facebook

Stewart also cited health problems and wrote, “This closing was long overdue.” The company employed about 34 people as of September 2025. A former employee said final paychecks initially did not clear but were replaced. Stewart’s son plans to start a new knife company and handle warranties.

Why it matters for Made in USA

Stewart said the knives still qualified as “Made in U.S.A.” because of the work done in-house. Under the FTC standard, a product must be “all or virtually all” made in the USA, and steel is usually a significant part of a knife’s cost and character. An imported blade steel would typically call for a qualified claim, such as “Made in USA from imported steel.”

For knife buyers, the steel is a central selling point. The case shows how quickly trust can collapse when an origin claim and the materials do not match.

FAQ

When did Bark River Knives close?

March 20, 2026.

Which knives used Chinese steel?

The owner named a handful of models, including the Camp Bolo, Fox River Trailing Point, Highwayman 4, Mini-Manitou, Gladstone Hunter, Bitterroot Caper and the last two Club Knives.

Can a knife with imported steel be called Made in USA?

Under the FTC standard, an unqualified claim requires the product to be all or virtually all made in the USA. Imported blade steel would usually call for a qualified claim.