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Best BRKT for General Use
- Thread starter Lenny
- Start date
Bravo-1, Gameskeeper, Montana Guide; all based on the same tough as nails blade design.
Northstar and Fox River, both based on the same design; the FR geared toward hunting, the NS towards bushcraft.
The Highland Special is Bark River's original 4" General Purpose/Hunting blade.
The Liten Bror is a CPM 3V slicing machine, geared toward bushcraft.
But there are more, the beauty of Bark River is they make knives for all tastes.
Big Mike
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2010
- Messages
- 575
Don't forget about the Gunny. I picked up one recently and I'm really liking it. Blade is just under 4" though if that really matters for ya. Great blade shape for dressing game but also does well with bushcraft tasks. It isn't near the brute that the Bravo 1 is but that wasn't what I was looking for. It's very comparable to my Fallkniven F1 which I love.
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2010
- Messages
- 2,691
The Bravo 1 is not just a great knife, but you have such a nice handle. It's long, contoured, and full in the hand. Fatter than other knives of that length. The tang has cutouts that lighten the weight. Get the Sharpshooter sheath, it's nice.
The handle of the Woodland, Highland special is smaller, but so is the OAL, blade length, and thickness.
So, how big do you need the knife? I don't see the Bravo 1 as a chopper, so if you want a smaller knife, the Highland, and others, are still just as capable.
They make good handles, the micarta is not as grippy as other companies, ie ESEE. Some of the micarta is polished with a wax, others are a matte finish, which is a bit more grippy.
Here's a few of mine for size comparison, top down
IMP in A2
Custom TUSK in CPMS35VN
Custom Highland Special's
Bravo 1 in A2
The handle of the Woodland, Highland special is smaller, but so is the OAL, blade length, and thickness.
So, how big do you need the knife? I don't see the Bravo 1 as a chopper, so if you want a smaller knife, the Highland, and others, are still just as capable.
They make good handles, the micarta is not as grippy as other companies, ie ESEE. Some of the micarta is polished with a wax, others are a matte finish, which is a bit more grippy.
Here's a few of mine for size comparison, top down
IMP in A2
Custom TUSK in CPMS35VN
Custom Highland Special's
Bravo 1 in A2
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2010
- Messages
- 2,137
I love my Aurora. It was my first Bark River and has been with me on many a camping trip. I love it so much I think I'll buy another in 3V when they become available later this year.
I have a Bravo1 but decided I didn't need the overbuild toughness for general utility and a lot of the weight was going to waste. My uses aren't so extreme as to require 'the tank'.
Here's the Aurora and some spoonie carving.
I have a Bravo1 but decided I didn't need the overbuild toughness for general utility and a lot of the weight was going to waste. My uses aren't so extreme as to require 'the tank'.
Here's the Aurora and some spoonie carving.
Lenny
Gold Member
- Joined
- Oct 15, 1998
- Messages
- 2,504
I never thought about the Aurora, but it's a nice looking knife.
The tip looks a bit thin though.
Is it strong enough for some prying?
It's a Convex grind, right?
How difficult is it to sharpen?
I know a lot of people say just strop it on a mouse pad with some sandpaper on top,
but it couldn't be that simple, could it.
Or does it need to be stropped on leather?
Lenny
The tip looks a bit thin though.
Is it strong enough for some prying?
It's a Convex grind, right?
How difficult is it to sharpen?
I know a lot of people say just strop it on a mouse pad with some sandpaper on top,
but it couldn't be that simple, could it.
Or does it need to be stropped on leather?
Lenny
Last edited:
Rupestris
Gold Member
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2006
- Messages
- 29,630
That would be my choice. I went with the shorter Woodland Special (same handle 3" blade) as it's a bit more pocketable but in the 4" range the Highland is one well built, comfortable, tough, workhorse of a knife.
I also have the Bravo 1 and while its a great knife, if I was limited to one BRKT knife, I'd trade the Bravo 1 and the Woodland for a Highland and be happy.
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2010
- Messages
- 2,137
I wouldn't do any prying with a knife unless it was abig hunk o' steel like a recon scout. Maybe an ESEE5 would be okay to pry with too. The tip of an aurora is designed for detail work like carving and drilling wood. It also excels at slicing. Convex is the easiest edge to maintain for me period. It's much more forgiving. I don't even use sandpaper, just stropping on black and green compound ($40 kit from KSF) and I can get an edge that is tough and still pops hair on my arm.
