Bark River Canadian or Grohmann RS1?

[StretchNM]

I'm at an impasse - I can't decide. I have a Canadian Camp knife and I kindly like the handle, especially if it was on a knife the size of the Canadian Special. But I don;t know how the Grohmann handle feels.

Does anybody have experience with both? (Or even just with one or the other to help compare).

Now, I know the Grohmann will be just about half price from a BRKT Canadian Special, but that won;t matter to me if the Grohmann handle is too thin, or the steel isn't all that great, or the grind isn;t right. Also: how is the Grohmann primary grind? Is it better to get the flat primary ground blade?

Thanks for any input.

 

[Mike Slate]

Stretch,

As the owner of SPAM!!!!!, I have wrestled with the same questions you raise. Here is my two cents: If you have "average"-sized hands, the ergonomic Grohmann handle fits like a glove. For larger hands, however, the Grohmann will likely seem too slender and may lead you to place less confidence in the abilities of the knife. For larger hands, the BRK Canadian Special will likely feel more substantial--indeed it is more substantial! If I were stranded on the proverbial deserted island and needed a survival knife, I would lean toward the Bark River, but if I needed to use the knife with a good deal of finesse (as in field dressing game), I would lean toward the Grohmann. Of course, the best of all worlds would be to have both! Also, don't forget the Knives of Alaska Yukon. It, too, is a heck of a good knife--about midway in "heavy-dutiness" between the Grohmann and the BRK. In fact, the Yukon might make a good compromise knife for you.

As for the Grohmann grind--since I don't slice cheese with a Grohmann, I prefer the regular saber grind!

All the Best,
Mike