Bark River Help??

B

bigjake83

Joined
Jan 1, 2015
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I'm taking your advice and buying a Bark River Bravo 2 and I just don't know what steel to buy, should I get the A2, 3V or 35VN???? Please let me know your choices and why?? Also this blade will be used as a daily Ranch worker in Austria...thanks
 
It all depends on what characteristics you want in you steel. Hardness, toughness, strength, edge retention, ease of sharpening, rust resistance, cost, etc.
 
If it were me I would get 3v. Great toughness and edge retention and even for a high carbon steel it has okay rust resistance. That said I have a Bravo 1 & 2 both in A2. They work great but do require significant rust maintenance. My 1 has a nice forced patina so that helps a lot. My 2 would get rust all over the exposed tang so I put a patina on that. The blade does require buffing to keep it looking like new and get rid of discoloration after outings.
 
Thanks guys I just put my order in, I wanted the Bravo Survivor but it only comes in A2 so to make this work I ordered the Bravo3 in 3V and had them cut it down to 7.5" with a drop point. For the Handle I chose the Desert Ironwood Burl and to top it off I had them engrave Revelation 6:8 on the spine.
 
redman2006 said:
I had no idea that he would modify them to that extent. Great information! I love my Bravo 1
Click to expand...

They will do almost anything you want. My Bravo 2 has a nice unsharpened swege and less shinny handles (couldn't think of the phrase).
 
3V is a very good steel for most outdoor needs, and for pretty much anything that involves inpact like choping, batoning, etc, because of its extreme toughness. It's also pretty good at keeping clean with a little care like Craytab said, and will hold an edge very well from my experience with Bark River's HT (though that experience was somewhat limited). Bark River's S35VN is very good at resisting staining with how they treat it, but it doesn't hold an edge for an extended period of time (had to be softer for stability and toughness I think), and while their A2 is very good overall, you have to watch it more to keep ot from forming a patina or potentially rusting.

I think you've got a very good knife incoming for yourself ;)
 
I have several BRs in 3V and they rock. You will have quite a piece when you get that blade. A2 is great steel but 3V is a powdered super steel.
 
Hey guys just wanted to give y'all an update, DLT just messaged me and I should have her on a couple days..I'll post pics ASAP..
 
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