BarkRiver question

C

Camp III

Joined
Feb 21, 2015
Messages
6
Hi everybody, New to the site and excited to start my knife journey. I currently have a Esee 4 with TKC scales and a Esee 5. I'm looking very hard at the Barkriver Bravo 1 and 1.5 looking to add one and wondering what one would be better suited to replace or go along with my esee's. Mainly hiking and camping. Thanks for any help.
 
I'm no expert, but I have a bravo I. It's lotsa fun to baton with, but I am thinking about getting a 1.25 or 1.5 instead. Let's say you are batoning a 3 inch thick branch. In real life you have about 1/2 inch of the blade sticking out of the far side to baton. Makes for a lot more wacking than necessary. Longer is better, but heavier.
 
I had an ESEE 5 and upgraded to the Bravo 1.5. The extra length in the 1.5 is very useful. I didn't like the edge geometry and coating on the ESEE and the blade was a little short for my liking. I'm really happy with the 1.5.
 
I have the Bravo 1, 1.25, 1.5, and find that the 1.5 works best for me when in the woods. I also find that a combination of two knives -- both a smaller and a large knife -- work best. Bravo 1.5 and a folder is the ultimate tag team in my book.
 
Better geometry aside, the Bravo 1 is still a thick knife; and it's shorter than the Esee 5. I avoided it for just that reason...until I learned of the Bravo 1-LT. I'm glad I waited.
I do like thick "bulletproof" knives, too, though; so I grabbed a 1.25 (3V), as well. One could argue that the extra length of the 1.5 (or even the 2) would make better use of the blade thickness; but I didn't want to go that long. I haven't had a chance to use it, yet; so time will tell how I feel about that decision.
 
Bark River makes so many nice blades. It is really hard to choose. My opinion is that the Bravo 1 is a great knife and you have multiple steel choices. I would be inclined to get the Bravo 1.25 myself or Bravo 1.5 for more flexibility. So, I would go with something at about the 5" blade point knowing that I prefer using a shorter blade. One my go to knives is a Dozier Pro Guides knife with a 5" blade. Big, but not too big....
 
I was comparing my Bravo 1 in A2, Bravo 1-LT CPM3V, Fallkniven F1 and S1, and my Benchmade Bushcrafter the other day. I just started getting into knives several months ago and the addiction has begun:)

The only thing I've really done with them is mess around feather sticking, batoning, and a few other minor tests. I took the Benchmade out on a backpacking trip over the summer and it worked fine, but when I used it to clean a trout I caught for breakfast I realized I wanted something with a thinner edge. However, All of the knives performed well recently in my little tests, but I could tell the difference between the knives. Haven't cut any concrete bricks or steel pipes and not planning too.

I would say that the Bark River Bravo 1-LT feels the best in my hand and was the best all around performer between the knives I listed. I wear a large size glove and the LT seems to fit the best for me. The strength of the CPM3V allows it to perform as well as the standard Bravo 1 in A2, but it also provides the thinner edge for slicing, filleting, feather sticking, finer wood work, and is easy to sharpen. I haven't had to sharpen it on stones and a leather strop put the edge back on with a few passes.

My backpacking setup now consists of my Bravo 1 LT, Necker II in CPM3v, a Gransfors Brux Wildlife Hatchet, and a Silky Pocketboy saw. I haven't ventured into the larger Bark River knives because I have the hatchet, but knowing me I'll probably end up picking a few up eventually. Unfortunately for my wallet I've been looking at the Busse's. Anyways, the Bark River Bravo series are great knives and I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.
 
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