BK-16 vs SURVIVE! GSO 4.1

Definitely having fun with my GSO 4.1! Thanks for posting the comparison pics!
 
PatrickKnight said:
I am seriously thinking about a 4.1 literally the only reason I havent started putting money aside for one is I can not find the weight of the knife anywhere.

Would you say its very similar to the BK16?

I am trying to find a stainless blade to replace my ESEE 3 as my backpacking knife and the 4.1 fits the bill very well as long as it doesnt weigh anymore than a BK16 does.
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Naked: BK16 6.08 OZs / GSO 4.1 6.52 OZs
 
soapboxpreacher said:
I just got my Bravo 1 back from being modded, it is similar to both the BK and the 4.1 but thicker. Its has no thumb ramp, full height convex, and a drop point. I had them matte my scales as well...waxed seemed slick. I have been interested in both the BK16 with the micarta and the 4.1. Handle looks better on the BK16 but I havent held it yet. I am a little hesitant on the 4.1 over the 16 becuase the BK16 is around 100 bucks with micarta...it is hard to justify the 2x the cost for the 4.1. How do you guys like the handle on the Bk16 vs the 4.1? My bravo handle is shaped nice but even in matte it is a little slick to me. I have an F1 also with rubber which is grippy as hell! Wish Bark could have texturing the micarta to make it a little more rough. I might sell it and get one of these two...just cant decide this is were I ask you guys. Heres a pic of my Bravo...it really is awesome so this will be hard...would even consider trading it. Let me know what you guys think about your new toys. Thanks
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I had all 3 knives at one time or another. Sold the Bravo, it was a beaut, but the blade was too thick, ramp was useless (for me) and the handle seemed slick.
GSO 4.1 is great, tough enough for anything I would do with a knife, M390 is awesome, price was a steal (pre-order). Very good kydex sheath. Grips a bit blocky compared to the '16.
For ME, THE bk16 is the most comfortable to use, love the FFG, Minuses: need to pay extra for micarta, and strip the blade (if that's your thing), and the sheath is only ok.
I keep it on my web gear. But I wish they made 2 sizes, one that actually fit the shorter tweeners. Overall, it's my favorite of the three.
 
filedog said:
I had all 3 knives at one time or another. Sold the Bravo, it was a beaut, but the blade was too thick, ramp was useless (for me) and the handle seemed slick.
GSO 4.1 is great, tough enough for anything I would do with a knife, M390 is awesome, price was a steal (pre-order). Very good kydex sheath. Grips a bit blocky compared to the '16.
For ME, THE bk16 is the most comfortable to use, love the FFG, Minuses: need to pay extra for micarta, and strip the blade (if that's your thing), and the sheath is only ok.
I keep it on my web gear. But I wish they made 2 sizes, one that actually fit the shorter tweeners. Overall, it's my favorite of the three.
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I am leaning towards the BK16 with micarta. I can put an edge on it so that doesnt worry me for I have heard complaints about the factory edge. And the black finish doesnt bother me either...not my favorite but not a deal breaker. The blocky handle as you described the 4.1 would bug me especially if the 16 is that much better. I am not actually surprised you like the 16. The handle and the price are really hard to deny. If the 4.1 was significantly better more then just the steel...aka...better handle and a little cheaper I would be all over it. M

As for my Bravo 1, it will be up for sale very soon. Unfortunately, I have quite a nice Bravo 1 but it should go fast and fetch a decent buck. It has a drop point, full length convex, rampless, and matte black micarta. This in my opinion should be what the bravo 1 should have been designed as. It is as new as it can be! And it has a great sheath to match.
 
I still love both the 16 and the 4.1. I got the 4.1 on the pre-order for $140 and it was an absolute steal at that price. Knowing what I know now, I can say it's easily worth the 199 retail price.

With that said, the BK16 with micarta is a superb setup too.... but I absolutely hated the black coating on that one. I also don't like the cordura sheath with the 16. I don't think it's a bad sheath... I think it's a great one, actually... but for the way I use the knife, I really prefer the simple leather Condor pouch sheath for it.
 
Great looking knife and I am sure it is worth every penny but I can't see spending that much when I can get a BK tweener for a lot less. It took a lot of balls to rappel down using the knife as an anchor, only way i would consider it would be using the BK2 along with some heavy duty ratchet straps and some medication to help with the vertigo.
 
It looks a LOT like a condor to me, and the condor just didn't appeal to me that greatly. I know that sounds pretty stupid.
 
3V has twice the edge retention that 1095? :eek: Might have to try me some 3V. What about sharpening differences? Now if you tell it takes half the time, I know I just died and gone to dirtnap heaven :)
 
Dirtknap said:
3V has twice the edge retention that 1095? :eek: Might have to try me some 3V. What about sharpening differences? Now if you tell it takes half the time, I know I just died and gone to dirtnap heaven :)
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Acutally from my uses 3V at 60 hrc like Guy runs it at has easily 3-4 times the edge retention of 57 hrc 1095 like Ka-bar uses. That being said you are not going to be able to grab a river rock and put an edge back on it like you can 1095. 3V while being better than 1095 at everything is a good bit more difficult to resharpen. My uses show it to be similar to D2 in that way.

Now M390 is basicly my dream steel. It is extremely stainless, holds its edge forever (about 6-7 times longer than 1095), resharpens pretty easy given its edge retention, and for being stainless is tough as nails (I would not hesitate in the slightest to put it up aginst 1095 and would bet on M390 being tougher). The only down side to M390 is the fact it is not at all a cheap steel, and a fixed blade at 200 bucks to carry this steel is freaking unheard of. Guy really went all out on his stainless choice.
 
PatrickKnight said:
Acutally from my uses 3V at 60 hrc like Guy runs it at has easily 3-4 times the edge retention of 57 hrc 1095 like Ka-bar uses. That being said you are not going to be able to grab a river rock and put an edge back on it like you can 1095. 3V while being better than 1095 at everything is a good bit more difficult to resharpen. My uses show it to be similar to D2 in that way.

Now M390 is basicly my dream steel. It is extremely stainless, holds its edge forever (about 6-7 times longer than 1095), resharpens pretty easy given its edge retention, and for being stainless is tough as nails (I would not hesitate in the slightest to put it up aginst 1095 and would bet on M390 being tougher). The only down side to M390 is the fact it is not at all a cheap steel, and a fixed blade at 200 bucks to carry this steel is freaking unheard of. Guy really went all out on his stainless choice.
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Puts those prices into perspective, including the value of the pre-orders. Thanks.
 
I have no issue at all with the prices Guy is asking on his knives. They might be out of some people's budget... and there's nothing wrong with that - but they are most definitely worth the asking price.

I still love my Becker and ESEE blades too, but I'm very pleased with the SURVIVE knives. I had been wanting to get into some knives of high end steel, but I really didn't want to support Bark River. Good stuff all around.
 
It seems like it is a little more hand filling, but maybe that's just because of the micarta texture.... I don't have a micrometer, so i'm not sure. That was my biggest complaint about the factory scales is that they just felt too small. With some home made liners they were alright... but I still didn't really care for the knife much. Factory micarta made all the difference to me. I wish they would just sell it as a factory option with stainless hardware. I'd pay $100 for the knife to come with micarta and stainless hardware.
 
Uncle Malice said:
It seems like it is a little more hand filling, but maybe that's just because of the micarta texture.... I don't have a micrometer, so i'm not sure. That was my biggest complaint about the factory scales is that they just felt too small. With some home made liners they were alright... but I still didn't really care for the knife much. Factory micarta made all the difference to me. I wish they would just sell it as a factory option with stainless hardware. I'd pay $100 for the knife to come with micarta and stainless hardware.
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I called KABAR before orderering. They say they are the same dimensions, and mine feel like it. I'd pay $100 for that too. Oh, and could we get a sheath the right size for the shorter knives too?
 
filedog said:
I called KABAR before orderering. They say they are the same dimensions, and mine feel like it. I'd pay $100 for that too. Oh, and could we get a sheath the right size for the shorter knives too?
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If you're interested in the leather pouch sheath like I'm using... the sheath from the Bushlore is only $10 from Condor. Awesome price for the quality of the sheath.
 
I am not to up to date on the Beckers so this may be a dumb question. Are the micarta scales sold at Tomars the factory Ka-bar replacements? I am seriously thinking about picking up a new BK16 now that they are FFG.
 
Uncle Malice said:
I have no issue at all with the prices Guy is asking on his knives. They might be out of some people's budget... and there's nothing wrong with that - but they are most definitely worth the asking price.

I still love my Becker and ESEE blades too, but I'm very pleased with the SURVIVE knives. I had been wanting to get into some knives of high end steel, but I really didn't want to support Bark River. Good stuff all around.
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I know the feeling bud, I love my beckers, that hasn't changed, but I also want knives made of high end steel with better edge retention, and so I found swamp rat and couldn't be happier. Now this Survive knife is awesome, thanks for posting it. I think you got a HELL of a deal for 140 on that blade. The price is justified in my eyes. I will probably try one of these out in the near future, I just hope the handle is more comfortable than Esee knives.... I don't care for Esee much at all despite trying 5-6 of them now. the ergos just are not there for the price of the knife, and with the same steel as a becker I see no justification of this higher price. Technically I think beckers should cost more than Esee because they are more comfortable in my hands And Ethan is way cool!!!!
I love me some 3-6 inch blades and think this would make a great addition to my collection... I will keep my eyes open, thanks again for the info!
 
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