Bark River Bravo I or RAT RC3 or RC4

bigbob68

bigbob68

Joined
Nov 14, 2005
Messages
399
Just wanting opinions on the 2 different knives. I am ordering an Izula and wondered if i should venture out to the Bravo I or stick sith RAT and one of the RC versions. I do know the BRK&T are convex blades but any other helpful info would be great. Please share your experiences with the knives and other options as this would compliment the Izula as my EDC and back it up for general woods/camp knife.. Thanks in advance
 
Hard to go wrong with either. I imagine it would be a matter of aesthetic preference more than anything else. Some prefer the more traditional look of the Barkies, while others like more modern designs and materials. I tend to prefer old school traditional stuff.
 
that is indeed a difficult choice...:o i have both the Bravo-1 and the RC-4.. both are great all around field/utility knives... the Bravo-1 is going to a bit heavier and bigger all around...

after getting to handle a Bark River Gunny, i think i would go for that over the Bravo-1...

i do also like the fact that you have many options for handle scales when considering a BRKT...:)
 
What handle thickness do you prefer? [Thicker with contours, or much thinner and flat] And grind type? [Flat or convex] And do you love or hate choils?

Those answers should tell you pretty easily. If they made a choil-less RC with a rounder handle, I'd be down. But the Bravo1 is a great and much more comfortable knife. Just a little thicker than I like in the blade.
 
i would say the b1. much more comfy to handle, stronger edge profile, better steel, couple other pro's. it is heavier but you dont notice it in your hand because of the skeletonizing in the handle. rats are excellent too i just think the b1 edges it out, mostly its personal preference.
 
after getting to handle a Bark River Gunny
excellent choice.
Rats are fine knives too.
a Rat7 will do some chopping
buzz
 
Tough question.

I have a Rat-3, but convexed it... So basically take the one that looks better to you, because both are great.
 
What everybody else said, plus the Bravo-1 will be a slicing machine right out of the box.

Even if you take the time to re-profile the RAT, unless you strip the blade coating it will never be as efficient a slicer as the Barkie.

The handle is another matter, the Bravo-1’s fully contoured handle is a pleasure to hold and use, but he slab sided RAT is not too bad.

The Bark River Gunny is another option to consider, slightly smaller then the Bravo-1, it is a contender.


But don’t get me wrong, the RAT’s are very tough field tools.




Big Mike

”Scaring the tree huggers.”

Forest & Stream
 
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Never considered the Gunny but I think the Bravo 1 it is. Thanks to all for your help.
 
You wont regret it.
I was very enamored of my RC-3 until I got my mitts on a Bravo1. Granted there is a price difference between the two, and I would never turn my nose up at a RC-3, but the Bark River is just a darn good knife.

Chuck
 
There's only one thing better than a Bravo-1:


1.jpg


(Gotta take some new pictures :o )

:D

Doc
 
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say an rc-4. It is easier to sharpen. All Rat knives are built to last. You also can't beat rat cutlery's customer service.
 
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