Barkriver Bravo 1 in 3v or cpm 154

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neilblade

Joined
Feb 6, 2014
Messages
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Hi. I am a new member. This is my first post.
I am interested in getting a Barkriver Bravo 1 in 3v or cpm 154 and not sure which to get. Any advice please. Happy to buy a used one as well. Oh yeah, rampless.
Thanks. Neil
 
For a hard use knife, 3V is tough to beat IMO. However, it can and will rust if not taken care of. It is still pretty stain resistant, but if you find yourself in a wet environment for days, or leave the knife in a wet environment, rusting can occur. CPM 154 is more stain resistant, but not nearly as tough. For my money between the two, I say 3V. I own 8 or mor fb knives in this steel at various blade lengths from 3 to 10 inches. Rusting has not been a problem on any of them yet. If they do rust, they clean up pretty easily with steel wool as chiral.grolim shows on this forum. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IZe4T50nrog&desktop_uri=/watch?v=IZe4T50nrog. And Guy Seiferd http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bNo2YUe-mbQ&desktop_uri=/watch?v=bNo2YUe-mbQ

Regarding scale materials, wood is beautiful, but not practical for a hard use knife. Natural materials shrink or swell with less or more moisture, making the fit of the handle off. Micarta or G10 is impervious to moisture.
 
Thanks McVeyMac.
Sounds like I will go with the BR Bravo 1 in 3V Rampless with either Micarta or G10.

Does anyone have an opinion on the handle material? This is for bushcraft, wilderness camping survival environments. Thanks.
 
They're both excellent steels with similar edge-holding properties. You really can't go wrong with either one.

CPM-3V for maximum toughness, CPM-154 for higher corrosion-resistance.

G10 for low-maintenance handles that can really take a beating.
 
Thanks. I noticed that all the GSO Survival knives handles were canvas micarta and none were G10, so I was wondering if it were stronger than G10...
 
Nope. G10 is stronger than micarta and it resists moisture/gunk better.
 
Great. Thanks. Sounds like 3V with G10 is the way to go for a very durable survival/bushcraft/camping knife.
BR Bravo 1 is what I'm looking at. Staying somewhat close to that price, $250, are there any other knife makers I should look at?
 
Regarding your query "are there any knife makers I should look at?"
Look at James terrio website, read his posts, he knows 3v and is good re communication (addressing feedback and answering questions). I think it would be worth your time if you are serious about a 3v knife
Good look in your quest
 
I wasn't aware they were making 154CM Bravo's anymore. Are you sure you don't mean S35VN? Either way, I would go with the stainless blade. My 3V Bravo 1 rusted from handling it sitting in my living room. When I say "rust" I mean pitted rust. It also seemed to scratch easily from debris in the sheath. My current "go to" knife is a Bravo 1 in S35VN, and it's been great. It is a pain to sharpen (so is 3V) but it stays sharp for a long time. Also, the best part... After a year or more of woods bumming, camping, hiking, etc. it doesn't have any sign of staining or rust.

With a thinner knife, I'd be more worried about the strength of the steel, but on a .20" thick bladed Bravo 1 stainless steel is plenty strong. I've batoned mine through knotted hardwood and it hasn't rolled or chipped the razor sharp edge.
 
neilblade said:
Great. Thanks. Sounds like 3V with G10 is the way to go for a very durable survival/bushcraft/camping knife.
BR Bravo 1 is what I'm looking at. Staying somewhat close to that price, $250, are there any other knife makers I should look at?
Click to expand...

James Terrio, the guy who has been chiming in on this very thread, is a knife maker and does excellent work. He could likely make you anything your heart desires.
 
No one in this thread has been paid for their kind words. :D

Thanks, though :)
 
The Bravo 1 has not been made in CPM 154... it is available in CPM 3V, CPM s35VN, and A2 tool steel... CPM 3V has proven to be the game changer for all knives but if you aren't very good with a strop you might want to start with an A2 blade... much faster to sharpen.

Frank
 
Thanks for the all the info. I actually called James Terrio and I am interested in him making me a 3V knife. But then...MatthewSB, above, said, "My 3V Bravo 1 rusted from handling it sitting in my living room. When I say "rust" I mean pitted rust. It also seemed to scratch easily from debris in the sheath. My current "go to" knife is a Bravo 1 in S35VN."
I read the thread about S35VN edges rolling on two different knives, and not being any better than S30V, so thought I would stay away from S35VN for now.
I sharpen my own knives so I'm not worried about 3V in that aspect, I'm sure I can learn how, but any comments on what Matthew said about 3V rusting?
 
Magicatus said:
The Bravo 1 has not been made in CPM 154... it is available in CPM 3V, CPM s35VN, and A2 tool steel... CPM 3V has proven to be the game changer for all knives but if you aren't very good with a strop you might want to start with an A2 blade... much faster to sharpen.

Frank
Click to expand...

Actually, there was a run of Bravo 1’s in CMP 154 a few years back. I believe they were the first Bravo 1’s made that were not A2. It was after the CPM 154 that other steel’s were used.
 
Thanks KDUJ. I thought I read about one somewhere.
Any comments about the above post where 3V rusts too easily?
 
if anyone is looking at this 6 years later and wants to know, 3v doesn't rust as long as you use it regularly. lust make sure that befors you put it away, it should be dry and if you were prepping anything acidic, rinse and dry it
 
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