Best first Bark River Knife?

S

Spydiefan04

Joined
Jan 8, 2005
Messages
819
I've been reading reviews and looking at pics of Bark River knives for a long time and I want to finally get one as a light/medium utility user. I don't do chin-ups on my knives or chop concrete with them so I highly doubt I'll break it but I don't really want any of the small ones since I have plenty of big folders. I'm thinking I want about a 4" blade length and I want an A2 one just to try the steel. The ones I have been looking at are:

Bravo 1= I like it reminds me of my Beckers:thumbup:
Gameskeeper= very classic and classy looking
Huntsman= essentially a thinner gameskeeper
Fox River= This is the way I'm leaning I just like the look of it, would be most
different from my current crop of fixed blades

Scout= looks to me a lot like the Fox River

Just curious what you guys think?

Also where's a good place to buy and what about sharpening a totally convex grind, I've seen mention of leather and some green compound they make? All of my knives are conventional V-grind, and I use a sharpmaker on them.
 
Great post, I've been eyeing the bravo-1 for some time now. I'd like it for a hard to mild use knife ready for anything from camping to contract work in the sandbox. Can't wait to see the replys.
 
I've been eyeing the Bravo-1 as well (Northstar second). Don't have any BRKT knives yet....so many knives...so little cash.... :P

I don't know about the buying, but you can find a ton of stuff on sharpening convex edges if you search the forum. One of the more popular methods is to use various grits of emery cloth or sandpaper over a mousepad on a lying on a hard surface; sharpen lightly with a stropping motion (edge trailing). The mousepad backing is yielding and allows one to maintain the convex edge during sharpening. Then, if you want that hair popping edge, get a strop, rub some 0.5 micron particle chromium oxide honing compound (green compound, you can get this from Lee Valley Tools - look for Veritas Honing Compound) on it, and strop it. You should only have to sharpen with sandpaper rarely though, unless you really dull your knife. Stropping, or burnishing/steeling if needed, should be enough to maintain an already sharp edge. There are other methods (using a stone or hone etc.) that you can look up in the forums; look around for more details :)
 
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If you're looking for light/medium use, the Bravo might not be the one... it's a bit heavier.

The Northstar is nice as a bushie knife, but if you want the ultimate recommendation, Mike Stewart carries a Canadian Special. I would tell you what that knife is like, but mine hasn't arrived yet. :D
 
What no mention of the Aurora?

S6302711.jpg
 
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Of the ones that you mention, the Bravo-1 is the best for general purpose use. My son really likes his.

On the other hand, if you are willing to expand your selection, the Canadian Special is a great knife for general purpose use. We have six different Bark River designs in my house, and that is my favorite one. Second place for me goes to the North Star, which was my favorite until I got my Canadian Special.

Here's a comparison shot of a North Star, Canadian Special, and Bravo-1:
B1-NS-CS002.jpg
 
www.dlttradingcompany.com has the most extensive collection. Any longer, www.knivesshipfree is not far behind and is usually a few dollars cheaper (few= between $1 and $5). The lowest prices I've found, albeit with the barest selection of handle materials, is www.knifesupply.com.

ALL of the models you mentioned are great knives for my tastes. I'd also have to second adding the Northstar (I'm biased), the Canadian Special, and the Aurora! Get one of each....over time! ((( :D ))) (Learn to convex sharpen and strop!)

Companion shots:
Bravo-1, Northstar, Highland, mini-Northstar, two mini-Skinners, mini-Canadian
BRKT-02.jpg


Bravo-1, Canadian Camp, Northstar
Bravo-Camp-Northstar.jpg


I have since added another mini-Canadian in maroon linen to the collection. The new sheaths are superb! :thumbup:
 
FoxholeAtheist said:
If you're looking for light/medium use, the Bravo might not be the one... it's a bit heavier.

The Northstar is nice as a bushie knife, but if you want the ultimate recommendation, Mike Stewart carries a Canadian Special. I would tell you what that knife is like, but mine hasn't arrived yet. :D
Click to expand...

Yeah, i hear the Canadian special is awesome too :) For all you canadian users, what in specific do you like about the blade? The fit and look the Bravo-1 really appeal to me, but I always hear about folks in love with the CS.
 
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Out of the ones you mentioned, I have the Bravo 1, Gameskeeper and Fox River. They are all great knives, but for a first one, I would go with the Fox River, its just nice and simple and works. The Bravo is a great knife, but very solid and it may be a little much for what you described.

Realisticaly once you buy one, you will want more, so really its just a matter of which one to get first. I am up to 7 and counting.
 
If you have medium-sized hands, the Fox River.
If you have large hands, get the Bravo-1.
I'm not a big fan of finger grooves on my knife handles, so I stay away from the Canadian Special, even though it looks awesome in every other respect. My Fox River is still my favorite production fixed blade.
 
You can't go wrong with any of the Bark River knives. You just have to find the one that fits your hand and your style of use.
The Aurora is my current favorite. I like the shape of the Fox River but the handle is a bit short for my using style. The Bravo-1 is a great knife. A little thicker than some others. Still a great slicer due to the convex edge and tough as they come.
 
Here are my first five Bark Rivers, starting L-R with a Benchmade 201 Activator+, Huntsman, Fox River, Gameskeeper, '07 LE North Star, and T.U.S.K.:

IMG_0467_edited.jpg


The Huntsman is smaller than it looks - great in a pocket sheath as an EDC. The Fox River is great for camping - fits my medium+ hands fine, feels safer than some. The Gameskeeper is a proper handfull - and intrinsically safe - my favorite - until I got my #6, not shown, a Bocote-handled Boone. The LE '07 North Star is pretty - but my forefinger slipped over the blade the first time I used it, producing, thankfully, only a paper-cut like injury. I like it, just don't use it! The T.U.S.K. is a woodcarver - great for that. The Benchmade 201 was a great idea - but, where the Barkies came hair-popping sharp, it needed external heat to cut butter - very sad. It's D2 is hard to re-edge, too. The A2 of the BRK&T examples is super - the convex edges easily rehoned.

I'd get the Fox River first - unless you have really big hands, then it would be the Gameskeeper.

Stainz
 
Didn't realize the huntsman was that much smaller, thanx for that pic, helps to see them all together. There's been much mention of the Canadian, but I think I'm leaning more towards either the Fox River or the Gameskeeper. Scary thing is I time I think I will probably have quite a collection. These knives look like Marble's on steriods, which is a good thing.
 
Can't go wrong with any Bark River. You won't stop at just one.

Just and fyi, the Scout is not done in A2. Mike was suppose to do a knife called the Bush Scout that was a little thicker than the scout .140 vs .170 and in A2, but not sure if that is still in the works.
 
The Gameskeeper and the Bravo are both large-bodied, hard use knives. Their blades are thicker, and they are made for biggier jobs, although they are also capable of finer work. But they are relatively large, bulky knives.

If you are looking for a utility knife, the TUSK cannot be beat. It's also A2, blade 3", convex grind, but a sheepsfoot design which is great for utility cutting. I have used mine for everything from notching out 2x4s to cutting fiberglass insulation, and insulation board.

Whichever Barkie you settle on, it won't be your last!

As far as sharpening; I think people go a little overboard with their accumulation of various equipment for dealing with convex grinds. It isn't that tough and you don't need a bunch of specialty stuff. If you do a search, though (google), you will find plenty of tutorials on how to do it.

Andy
 
Let me muddy the waters a bit more for you, on three different occasions I have given someone their first Barkie as a gift and in each case it was the Woodland Special. A great compact 3" blade that is almost indestructible.


The CS would be my second choice.
 
Spydiefan04 said:
I've been reading reviews and looking at pics of Bark River knives for a long time and I want to finally get one as a light/medium utility user. I don't do chin-ups on my knives or chop concrete with them so I highly doubt I'll break it but I don't really want any of the small ones since I have plenty of big folders. I'm thinking I want about a 4" blade length and I want an A2 one just to try the steel. The ones I have been looking at are:

Bravo 1= I like it reminds me of my Beckers:thumbup:
Gameskeeper= very classic and classy looking
Huntsman= essentially a thinner gameskeeper
Fox River= This is the way I'm leaning I just like the look of it, would be most
different from my current crop of fixed blades

Scout= looks to me a lot like the Fox River

Just curious what you guys think?

Also where's a good place to buy and what about sharpening a totally convex grind, I've seen mention of leather and some green compound they make? All of my knives are conventional V-grind, and I use a sharpmaker on them.
Click to expand...
Also where's a good place to buy and what about sharpening a totally convex grind, I've seen mention of leather and some green compound they make? All of my knives are conventional V-grind, and I use a sharpmaker on them.
Click to expand...

I've already posted this in the Busse Combat forum:

Everything you need to know is here:

http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/sh...hp?tid/776367/

An excellent writing by Jerry Hosson.

More info here on thew same subject with the feedback from Mike Stewart of Bark River Knife & Tool:

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=18391
Click to expand...

And this:

Using a belt-sander, as Jerry Hosson explains here:

http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/sh...hp?tid/776367/

http://www.jerzeedevil.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=18391

Harbor Freight 1''x30'' belt-sander:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=2485

Sharpening belts:

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...40&cat=1,43072

Compounds:

http://popsupply.bizhosting.com/buffing_compound.html
Click to expand...

Have fun!
 
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