So I guess we can rule out this knife being a mongrel as we know the parentage, the bear knife produced by Rob Bayley knifes is manufactured from RWL34, which is produced by a company called Damasteel AB of Sweden who are renowned for their Damascene steel and their production of advanced powder steel metallurgy.

You can find them at http://www.damasteel.com/steelgrades.html

A data sheet is available here at http://www.damasteel.com/pdf/rwl34-datasheet.pdf

We all have a different views on Bear Grylls, but to suggest as others have done, that what seems a well made product is just poor or average just because of the association is I think unfair. I personally wouldn't pay the extra cash for the bear moniker but the knife should be taken for what it is. From the materials selected and from the design it looks like a very fine knife from a good custom builder.