Any BRKT Nebula or Bravo-1 owers?

Runs With Scissors

Runs With Scissors

Joined
Dec 3, 2000
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More BRKT indecision- I'm in agony here!

We just got in a new shipment of Bark Rivers. My wife says I can keep one of them, but have to sell the rest.

I decided to live without the Bosnian Skinners, because I view it as more of a fighting knife, and I'm not much of a knife fighting person.

I decided to live without the PSK, even though it's remarkably attractive and handy looking, I just want more blade.

my eyes hovered between an Amboynia handled Nebula, a Black Micarta handled Nebula and an Amboynia handled Bravo-1

I eventually discounted the Amboynia handled Nebula due to it's thinner, daintier slabs that aren't a great fit for my overthickened forepaws.

Now it's between the Bravo-1 and the Micarta Nebula. I CAN"T DECIDE!!

Both are incredibly attractive, and come with excellent tip notch sheathes (a rarity for BRKT) The Nebula feels so good, light, and nimble in my hands. It feels like it would be a remarkably usable woodsloafing knife.

The Bravo-1 seems hell bent for stout, definitely a helluva choice in those "if you could only have one knife" scenarios.

I can't USE either of them, since one is intended for resale. I even have to be careful how much I paw them, even though I can look at them all I want....:rolleyes:

Have any of you used either of these knives? Noted any characteristics? The convex-Scandi edge of the Nebula is interesting. I wonder which style it handles most like, and whether it's fairly easy to sharpen.

any other thoughts, observations, idiosyncracies regarding strenghts, and weaknesses of these two?

Your thoughts are appreciated!

Oh, BTW, none of them are intended to be sold here, so please- no inquiries in this regard. Thanks for understanding!:o
 
RWS, I have a Bravo-1, and like it a lot! Don't have a Nebula though...
 
You know which one you should want.

The Nebula feels so good, light, and nimble in my hands. It feels like it would be a remarkably usable woodsloafing knife.

The Bravo-1 seems hell bent for stout, definitely a helluva choice in those "if you could only have one knife" scenarios.
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The Bravo-1 is a known quantity, and fills a niche you've already filled, or easily could, anytime. But the Nebula is something a little different. A classic bushcraft knife, a different blade geometry. If it matches anything in your experience, it's the Scandinavians you already like.

Are you more likely to go out for the day ready to take on the Alaskan wilderness, or to wander around and enjoy yourself in the woods?

The Nebula is much more interesting.
 
Both are fine knives, the nebula cuts slightly better than the bravo1, as far a wood carving. I just bought another one. I like the handle on both very much, but again, I just don't like the thumb ramp on the Bravo1, but this is personal preference. You really can't make a bad choice...they both are more than enough knife.
 
It's a great looking knife, for sure.

Just musing here....

Not a real big kydex fan. Tends to get brittle and break up here in the winter. Also don't like the high carry knife sheathes, although it would be nice to be able to adjust this one for horizontal carry. I have gotten spoiled by the firesteel loops too, though. If course, I've got about $150 worth of leather sitting upstairs, not like I couldn't just make a sheath for it....

The Nebula fit across my Golok sheath wonderfully, in the same manner as the Puukko/Leuku combo's sold at Ragnars. Very tight, I' wouldn't at all be afraid to carry this one inverted.

The Bravo-1 is so damn tough though, very, very confidence inspiring. Of course, that begs the question though, how tough does the knife need to be?

Bravo-1 would definitely be better for skinning, batoning, prying, etc.

Nebula would be pretty nice for canoeing and use around saltwater. It'll rust like crazy too, but it won't turn orange and pitted within a day or two.

Sandvik 12C27 has been nothin' but good to me, but yet I continue to look down upon it when compared to carbon steels. I damn sure wasn't impressed with the chips and gouges in my Helle Lapplander that was 12C27, although I was impressed with my stainless Mora held an edge better than my carbon Mora, and resharpend with a barely noticeable increased degree of effort.

A-2 has been an awesome steel in my Highland. cleaned critters, cooked many a meal, and made many camps with never a complaint. Matter of fact, I could swear that very knife is looking at me right now like I'm not only retarded, but mean too. "why are you replacing me? I thought we were friends? Don't put me in the safe, I've always done what you asked of me...."

I do ALOT more camping and general walking, day trips than I do hunting. Hell, I do alot more dreaming than camping for that matter....

I don't know that I'm in love with the Nebula itself, as much as I am the style. I heard Spyderco is planning on making a similar style. maybe I could make one myself, for that matter. Dunno though, wife almost crapped when I mentioned modifying a Brusletto laminated blade. Dunno why. Morseth did pretty well doing that....

Could just make one with some O-1 or something though- I do enjoy knives made with my own ten thumbs....

Could make one out of an old file for that matter, but the truth is I'm pretty burned out on files, and ready to move on.

Spyderco is making one pretty soon. Charles May might have one around also. Who else makes that style? hmmm.....

yeah. Truth is I prefer carbon steel, although I certainly see value in stainless....

Sorry, just thinking here....
 
Make one. You're good. I made a bushcraft recently. Came out OK. Did a convex Scandi on it. Bueno. 1/8" thick 01.


Oooo. Charles May. Beautiful stuff.
 
I can only speak for the Bravo 1 as it's the only Barkie I own. I like the design, from the blade shape to the feel of the handle. It's only drawback, for me anyway is it's a bit too thick for how short it is. 3/16ths" would be perfect, and not take away much strength.
 
Holy Crapo...thanks man...now I need more money! I must try that one out...thats cool!
 
i have been wanting a bravo-1 for a long time now....:( i figured i would hold off, since i have the NWA knife on the way.... and a few others on order...:D

hhhmmmmm... i might just have to buy one anyways.....:o
 
I don't have a Nebula, but I do have a Bravo in GCM. I carry mine in a JRE sheath with a firesteel loop and a mikro canadian/little caper piggybacked to it. The Bravo cuts very well even though it is very thick, I hardly use my Helle anymore. It does split/baton very well and will probably survive anything I'd every try doing to it. I could probably use it to moor a boat with total confidence:D

I use the Mikro/Caper for small delicate work, but usually carrying only the Bravo would be fine. BRKT is making a long trickle that would probably be even better as a second blade with the Bravo.

The Nebula is probably strong enough, but since you have a Highland I'd take the Bravo...
 
If you like the design of the Nebula and love A2 get an Aurora. I have an A2 Aurora with Antique Stag grips and a Nebula in Blaze Orange G3. Both knives are exceptional bushcraft knives. My A2 Aurora was a rusty duck from the beginning however. I eventually put a dark black patina on it with hot vinegar. It solved the rusting problem with most of the blade. You still have to watch the sharpened convex edge or it will rust.
In my opinion the 12C27 Nebula solved the problem. Strange thing though. I have a Northstar in A2 that has never offered to rust despite heavy use. Must be different batches of steel or treatment batches or something.
My Stewart Marsh Bushcraft knife is made of O1 tool steel and it is rust free after several years of heavy bushcrafting.

A2patenia1.BMP


Nebula_Blaze_Orange_S.jpg


smbushcraft1.BMP
 
I hear what yer sayin' there RoS- Neither of my Highlands have ever rusted or given me a bit of trouble, even after being left in a pot of water for three days. My Northstar started rusting from the first time it ever came near an unopened bottle of water, let alone get carried in a good rainstorm or something. I've considered an Aurora, and will have one some day. (they were out of stock this month) but really, I wanted a Scandi edge anyways.

Thanks for the comments from everyone! Esav Benyamin was dead on with his post, especially, and as always I appreciate Andy's input- the kind word is nice too, though. All the Bravo owners have pretty much confirmed my intuition regarding this one.

I'm leaning towards the Nebula. (someone's gotta review one of these critters, right?);)

Although I think I'm gonna find a source for O1 and make my own version too.

Maybe I'll pull the Nebula from stock and mark the Bravo-1 at full MSRP- that'll ensure no one buys it, and then I can pull it from stock in a few months also. Unless some insane person does buy it for full MSRP, but if they do that I'll probably be able to afford half a dozen more of 'em anyways.:D

Once again, thanks for the remarks. I'll make up my mind for certain in another day or so.
 
I'm having a tough time understanding that one. It's 12C27 Just like a Nebula, hidden mortised tang, just like the Nebula. All I see different is the bead blasted G-10 and the kydex sheath. Now that I look a little more I see the pins are larger, and the Saltwater Bravo is listed as having a blade thickness of .165 while the Nebula is at .156...

Anything else I'm missing?

Oh, BTW....I performed my blade claiming ritual this evening.

1. sharpen it myself
2. Strop the hell out of it
3. tie a decent lanyard around it.

It is now mine!:D

I usually soften the bevels of a scandi, or thin the edge on a blade. In this case I did neither, it's one of the first that came the way I like it.

Hopefully I'll have time to post a mini review this week. I'm going out Burl hunting on Sunday. (my big knife will be a Stihl with an 18" blade):D Maybe I can play with it some and give some feedback. Also lookin' to get out on a day hike or two and a fishing trip...
 
I think the Nebula will own your fishing trip.

The Saltwater Bravo was tweaked for a specific customer, which is understandable, but there's nothing there that justifies spending a penny more for one of us.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
I think the Nebula will own your fishing trip.

The Saltwater Bravo was tweaked for a specific customer, which is understandable, but there's nothing there that justifies spending a penny more for one of us.
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Ii might be justified if your a collector. Only 18 of this prototype were made, 8 of which went to USMC Force Recon 10 for public sale production models if made will look like current production A2 models with the thinner 12c27
 
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