Another one for the BRK Smoke Jumper

[J. Doyle]

BRK Smoke Jumper

I got this knife a couple weeks back but I’m just now getting around to the review. I wanted to actually use this knife over the course of several different outings realize the full potential. I was not really swayed to buy just on the first sight of this knife. I liked it, but I just wasn’t sure one way or another. I really think that you actually have to have one in your hand to see what a great knife it really is. This may be one of the true “One knife does it all” blades that I’ve had pass through my hands.

The blade is made out of 3/16” thick, 50-100B, a good tough carbon steel that takes an amazing edge. Blade length is 6” overall with a 5 3/8” cutting edge. There’s a nice false grind on the top of the knife that makes for a very sharp tip that’s still strong enough for good penetration. The knife has a double quillion guard and a very nicely contoured handle that completely wraps and hides the tang. Fit, finish, and sharpness were all fantastic right out of the box. A really nice leather sheath that fits the knife perfectly is supplied by Sharpshooter Sheaths. This knife comes ready for action.

I noticed immediately out of the box how light and fast this knife feels in the hand. It seems that it’s almost weight forward and yet perfectly balanced at the same time. The blade feels like it just can’t wait to cut something. In spite of its surprisingly light weight, the knife somehow ensures you that it’s built like a tank and will take anything you throw at it. The handle is very comfortable to hold in a variety of grips.

Here’s some in hand shots.

Here’s some size comparison shots.

With my Fox River:

With my fox river and Cold Steel (KSF Bowie Size)

 

[J. Doyle]

Part 2

The first thing I did was take the knife to the woodpile out back and do some botonning. Not really out of necessity but more out of curiosity and the fact that I had a new knife to play with. The knife batons really well through pretty good size pieces. It made short work of this pile which we used for a fire that night. The false edge didn’t really hinder the process at all that I could tell. I beat on this knife really hard to get through some of the wood. I don’t know what kinds of wood I have mixed in here but some of it is pretty hard. The knife and the edge had no ill effects at all. I didn’t even strop it before I headed out to the forest and streamside.

For being somewhat light, the smoke jumper bites pretty deep with a good swing into this green aspen.

The knife saw additional use over the weekend as we staked out and planted our garden. It makes such short work of stakes that it’s hardly worth dwelling on.

Now to the hills. Here’s a few shots as I start up the trail.

Here’s my destination.

 

[J. Doyle]

Part 3

I stopped along the stream about halfway to my destination. A good place to test the knife. This knife is a “survival” type knife in addition to being a fighting knife. I don’t have the proper avenues to test for the latter so I’ll stick to the survival stuff. I took the knife stream side for some simulated survival type chores. The first thing I noticed was a huge fatwood stump that had been cut by the Forest Circus Service. This would supply some nice tinder for and kindling for a fire. The stump had some unique thin ridges on the edge so it was easy to use the baton and Smoke Jumper to split off some strips.

The knife really slices thin curls quite well. This size is about all the smaller you really have to go with a firesteel and good technique. The spine is plenty sharp to get good sparks from the firesteel.

The knife works really well to aid in all stages of the firemaking.

I then decided to begin construction of a lean-to type shelter. I used alder from the stream side to cut poles for the framework. I cut some extra for the firepit also. The smoke jumper’s weight forward aspect that I mentioned earlier makes it really easy to snap cut clean through pretty good size saplings. I’d say that you could pretty easily go through ¾” to 1” saplings in one swipe.

You can see that this knife would be a real asset to have in camp to make shelter, fire, prepare food and even be a back up weapon to your sidearm. I ran out of time but I plan to go back and finish the shelter and stay a night or two there.

Some real-life smoke jumper territory. In 2000, the smoke jumpers jumped in here to battle the blazes that raged all summer due to a mild winter and an unusually hot dry summer.

 

[J. Doyle]

Part 4

I carried this knife quite a bit in the past week or two. It carries very comfortably. You’ll hardly even realize it’s on your belt until you need it. I personally, always like to carry my knife on my right side even while carrying a pistol. The knife rides very well even behind a gun. If I’m going to be doing a lot of walking, like hiking or backpacking, I like to tuck the sheath inside my back pocket. This keeps the sheath very still and out of the way. This is one of the most comfortable ways to carry, in my opinion. It still leaves room for my gun.

I will really enjoy carrying this knife on my long day or overnight hikes into rugged country.

The knife was also handy stream side. I always find small saplings or branches obstructing the trail to a fishing hole or in the way of my cast. The smoke jumper is enough blade to take on these tasks without being big and heavy like a machete. It also is just a handy blade to have around for the random things that always pop up while fishing.

Briars and branches in the way:

That's better.

I also thought the blade made for a good fish cleaning blade. Although, not a fillet knife by any means, the knife works perfectly for cleaning fish on the lake or trail. The fastest, easiest way to clean a fish, especially trout, is to cut off the heads and slit the belly to remove the entrails. The smoke jumper made this task a breeze.

 

[J. Doyle]

Part 5

The smoke jumper is a perfect knife to throw in the pack to supplement a smaller knife such as the little creek.

I did think of a way to test the penetration of the smoke jumper with it’s sharp point. The method may not be exactly “scientific” and I realize there are many variables out of my control but that’s not really the point. I took a watermelon out in the back yard. I then took the smoke jumper and my fox river out there too. I think these knives are very similar in weight as my fox river is quite a bit heavier than a regular fox river due to thicker and longer scales, liners, bolts and pins. I think it comes very close to the weight of the smoke jumper. I laid the watermelon on the ground then with a good pair of thick shoes on, I held each knife straight out at shoulder level above the watermelon. These two knives have similar weights but very different tips and geometries. I held each knife by the end of the handle and then dropped them into the melon. I dropped each knife three times. All three times the Smoke Jumper penetrated about twice as far as the fox river. The fox river averaged about 1 ¼” of penetration while the smoke jumper got 2 ½” to 3” per drop. I think this just shows the piercing ability of the smoke jumper.

The smoke jumper would make a fine addition to any sidearm.

After it was all said and done, I used the smoke jumper to slice up some meat and vegetables for dinner. I have yet to strop this knife and it still slices like brand new. A compliment to the heat treat and edge holding of 50-100B.

In summary, I think the smoke jumper has many more applications than just survival or combat. It is a knife well suited to almost any cutting task. The light weight makes it suitable for backpacking and hiking. It fills the bill as a camp knife. It will work for survival or combat. Even fisherman can realize the benefits. It’s just a great all around, do everything knife. So if you don’t have one, get one before they’re gone. Dale at http://the-knife-connection.com/bark-river-knives--smoke-jumper.html has several still in stock with a variety of handles with single or double guards. Don't miss out on this one!

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Absolutely fantastic review!!

:thumbup::thumbup:

 

[WILLIAM.M]

absolutely fantastic review!!

:thumbup::thumbup:

I agree 120%

OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!!!

I noticed that they also make a version without the top guard

http://the-knife-connection.com/br-smokejump-bcmhg.html

 

[barrabas74]

Great review and thanks for using it for different applications. I saw that they have a smoke jumper without a double gaurd. Do you think one without the double gaurd would be even more useful? Did you find the double gaurd a hindrance at any time? I really like this knife and now have seen too solid reviews of it.

Great pics by the way and it looks like you have some fun places to run around in.

 

[J. Doyle]

Great review and thanks for using it for different applications. I saw that they have a smoke jumper without a double gaurd. Do you think one without the double gaurd would be even more useful? Did you find the double gaurd a hindrance at any time? I really like this knife and now have seen too solid reviews of it.

Great pics by the way and it looks like you have some fun places to run around in.

Thanks for the comments guys.

I usually am not a fan of double gaurds. It might be more of a looks thing than a function thing. With this knife, I really did not notice any hindrance at all. The knife feels very natural in the hand and at no time felt in the way. The nice thing about the double gaurd is I could always grind the top one off if I want to. I think I'm going to leave it there for a while as it wasn't in the way.

 

[Big Mike]

Great Review John. :thumbup: :thumbup:

I’m just starting to put my Jumper through the paces,

…but so far I’ve been very impresses.


While not designed to be a bushcraft knife, it makes a great all-around wilderness and survival knife.


Here’s a photo of mine from our little impromptu skills gathering yesterday.







"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike

Forest & Stream

 

[shunsui]

Nice review. The Smoke Jumper looks to be a modernization of the old Cold Steel Carbon V SRK. Many people suspect the basic Carbon V steel was 50100-B. A few more subtle curves, a stout handle, and probably a better grind. That'll work.

 

[Diomedes Industries]

CountryBoy:

When can I come visit?

TF

 

[Mistwalker]

Great review! Great looking knife. The shape of the blade reminds me a bit of the Randall #1-6 which I liked very much. I notice the tang isn't exposed on this model, how is the balance?

 

[J. Doyle]

The balance on this knife is somewhat weight forward. That is to say when you're holding it the weight feels like its towards the tip of the blade. The balance point is right on the front of the gaurd. It's a little different to describe. The knife just feels "right" in the hand.


TF- You can come visit anytime. Just say when.

 

[Big Mike]

Same with my knife, the balance point is where the blade and guard meet,

…the feel is very neutral, light and fast in the hand.






"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike

Forest & Stream

 

[J. Doyle]

Big Mike, I'm really looking forward to your review and impressions of this knife also. Thanks for adding the pic.:thumbup: