Bark River Bravo 1?

B

BJJKnifeGuy

Joined
Oct 9, 2014
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I was thinking about picking up a bark river bravo 1 but it seems like people are hit and miss with them. Doing a quick youtube search there are alot of videos showing the 3v edge chipping or rolling with light use.
Should I pass on it? Is there a better option? Looking for a "hard use" fixed blade with around a 4-4.5 blade length. Maybe a little bit smaller.
I was thinking about getting a survive 4.1 but I already have a 3.5 on order and I wanted something to start edcing soon.
Thanks guys...
 
I love my bravo 1 in a2.

There will be a lot of guys say the same about theirs, and then there will be guys who tell you they are junk. I think a few guys on here just dont like Mike Stewart so they jump on these threads and bash Bark River Knives whenever they get a chance. I think doing research on your first one is tough because of this.

I love my bravo 1 in a2, along with my other bark rivers.
 
I have a Bravo-1 and Gunny both in A2. They are my favorite all around knives for woods carry. I have had no problems with using them both. Plus, Bark River stands behind their knives.
 
Bark River has lifetime guarantee. They know what they are doing. Have some bad blades been shipped? Yes. Do they make it right? Yes.

Buy with confidence.
 
I have a Gunny in A2 and a Necker 2 in 3V coming, granted they are for edc mmore than hard use tho. And thats because if I want to beat the snot out oof a knife I will use my ESEE 6. I dont think I would have a problem using a Bark River though.
 
The Bark River--Bravo 1 is a very fine knife.

There's a reason it's Bark River's number one selling model.

Internet chatter about poor edge performance is way overblown.

Try one out for yourself, and see why they are so popular. :thumbup: :cool: :thumbup:


7VSnMk3.jpg




Big Mike
 
The Bravo-1 is most certainly a sturdy knife, they're using excellent steels and HT, and the handles on the few I've examined were shaped and finished very well.

My belief is that reports of poor initial edge performance on this and many other knives are a result of individual blades being ground a little too aggressively at the factory (over-heating). That sort of damage usually only extends thousandths of an inch into the steel, and is generally remedied with a couple/few "normal" sharpenings. (gently removing the embrittled or softened steel on the surface)
 
Bravo 1 is a great knife, and an incredible value for $175 or whatever they go for.

I've had them in A2, 3V and S35VN and couldn't really tell the difference, other than that the S35VN Bravo 1 doesn't rust like the A2 and 3V knives do.

After owning a half dozen Bravo 1s, I still only have the stainless knife and it is my "go to" survival knife.
 
I love my Bravo 1 in A2. Some folks here are going to hate on BRKT. The only way you are going to find out if a Bravo 1 is right for you is to buy one. Brkt stands behind their products and they hold their value well. If you dont like it, you can sell it. If something goes wrong you can send it in.
 
Well... that didn't take long. It's probably better to discuss the knife, not the company here.
 
I can highly recommend the Survive! GSO 4.1

BRK Bravo 1 will always be there, but the 4.1s will sell out pretty quickly. Especially with sheaths in stock right now.
 
knife chop said:
Survive! GSO 4.1 in 3V is available right now and it's only $200 as oppose to $220 + burnt bark river 3V. they're employee turn over rate from what I heard is high so they constantly train people who has minimal knowledge on making knives.
Click to expand...

Got any facts or evidence to back up that claim, or are you just making stuff up?
 
knife chop said:
Survive! GSO 4.1 in 3V is available right now and it's only $200 as oppose to $220 + burnt bark river 3V. they're employee turn over rate from what I heard is high so they constantly train people who has minimal knowledge on making knives.

Check you this video. I know its not 3V but bark river sure know how to ruin a good steel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3S5jDpVV4Y&list=UUZLaWayFxnhCAoCWqASKeDQ&index=3
Click to expand...


I know Mike Stewart and this is utter bull$hit. He is constantly adding employees because his company continues to explode even in this economy. Occasionally a bad knife will get shipped. This is true. However, Stewart will always make it right if you send it back.

I own two Bravo 1's (A2) and two GSO 4.1's (3V) and if I had to pick one with which to deal with a life threatening emergency "survival" situation, I'd be happy with any of them.

The GSO fits my hand slightly better, holds an edge slightly longer, but is a bitch to sharpen if you let it get really dull or damage the edge. A severely damaged edge on the Bravo's will require maybe 15 minutes with some 320 and 400 grit sandpaper and a few strokes on a strop to get it hair poppin' sharp again. The GSO will require a diamond (I prefer a Lansky type system) and a few strokes on a ceramic V sharpener (med grit) and a very light stropping to get it to the same state, but will require more than twice the time and effort.

Ask me how I know this - well, since you asked : I took a Bravo(A2) and a GSO 4.1(3V) - both razor sharp, and smacked the edge down 90 degrees against my bench vise a half dozen times with maybe 20 or so ft lbs of energy. Guess what? The Bravo edge micro chipped pretty badly, but it still cut. The GSO's edge did not chip. Instead, it was compressed back against itself until it rolled very slightly. It was useful only as a butterknife at that point until I reworked the edge.

Knives are tools. They all have their strengths and their weaknesses. It is important for each individual to assess their own personal conditions and pick the knife that embodies the best series of compromises for them. And when it is all said and done, remember that our ancestors "survived" on a daily basis with sharpened pieces of stone....
 
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knife chop said:
Survive! GSO 4.1 in 3V is available right now and it's only $200 as oppose to $220 + burnt bark river 3V. they're employee turn over rate from what I heard is high so they constantly train people who has minimal knowledge on making knives.
Click to expand...

marcinek said:
Got any facts or evidence to back up that claim, or are you just making stuff up?
Click to expand...


While it's true that Bark River Knives is having a few growing pains as it continues try to meet production demands, and they do hire and evaluate many trainees;

...the fact is that the hand full of employees who grind the convex edges are well trained and are the top craftsman in the shop, a few followed Mike Stewart from Marble's when he started BRK&T, that's the kind of talent we're talking about.


The quality of Bark River Knives speaks for itself,

...as does the nature of the comments by the naysayers.




Big Mike
 
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Never had a bad knife from Mike's shop, whether Marble's or Bark River. His blades are absolutely top quality IMHO. The Bravo 1 is on my next-to-buy list. I think I'd go for A2 steel in that.
 
I have six (yes, 6) Bravo-1's, all in A-2, and I have never had a problem with chips or rolling edges. They have performed extremely well for me (even in wet and cold conditions), and I would never even hesitate to recommend them to anyone. This one in Lignum Vitae gets used quite a lot, and the blade still looks and performs like new (with modest stropping, and I tend to keep my knives as dry as possible - even when working - and properly oiled always):

 
Bravos are good knives and Bark River is a good company making quality product.

I don't own one due to the handles being a bit too small for my hand and, in my experience, can be slippery when wet. I've handled many of them though and they pretty much reek quality.

If you like the handle there is no reason I know of not to purchase one. They are excellent.
 
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