Bravo-1 USERS...

Big Mike said:
Now don’t get me wrong, that fine convex edge makes for a better slicer then you ever thought .215” a thick blade could be.

It is a serious cutting tool, and I was able to thin slice tomatoes and onions with mine no problem.

But my thinner blades do the same jobs with ease, and are still tough enough to abuse.

In fact, I think the Bravo-2 is the better Bravo, same great edge but the longer blade fits my needs for a big knife.

br2003jj2.jpg





"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike

Forest & Stream
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its a shame i was never able to get my tomatoes thin enough.
:D

MallorysWedding086.jpg
 
ah see i told ya vance had some good pics vances where the one your holding up that is translucent:D
 
eastr77 said:
ah see i told ya vance had some good pics vances where the one your holding up that is translucent:D
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hahaha

even mike stewart commented on these photos over on kf.com.

im assuming you are talking about this one

MallorysWedding085.jpg
 
Thumb ramp, nix that on the Gunny please! Can't see the reason for it on that model...makes it like a Mini me of the B1 IMO. Now some nice rounded gimping of an inch or so would'nt be out of place up there, and would allow your thumb access along the spine if need be.
 
sawgrass7 said:
Thanks, guys. This is just what I want to know.

I am hoping that DOC-Canada will chime in here as I know from reading his posts that he is a big fan of this blade.

thanks again to all!
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Hey sawgrass, yes I am a big fan of the Bravo-1. Having said that, I really haven't used it all that much. On my normal trails, there are just too many knife-fright people around, so I tend to keep a low profile. In fact, I don't use my knives as much as I used to, anyway, so I don't want to lead you astray.

I can tell you this, though. I have no doubt that when the need arises, the Bravo-1 will be more than up to the task.

In past years, without benefit of the collected wisdom of my fellow W&SS'ers, I would use whatever I had, and would make it work. Even used a sharp edge stone to make a friction fire set. Is a Bravo-1 necessary to survive in a survival situation -NO!!!! - but I would be damn glad to have it.

Guys like Eastr77 and Jake (jwilliams) seemed to have used theirs quite a bit, so I would consider their impressions to be more 'tried' than mine. Also, I would keep watch on further reports on the Gunny, as the people that have both seem to be quite impressed. In fact, I would even like to try out the Gunny, but I'm reluctant to put out the bucks that I can ill afford to do so, without having first had 'it in hand'.

Good luck on whatever your decision is, and keep us informed.

Doc
 
Big Mike said:
Ok, here’s my two cents.

Now a lot of you know that I’m a big fan of Bark River knives, and have owned or tested a large percentage of their products.

I’m also big on large blades, and often carry one a field.

Please don’t hold my opinions against me.

For me, the Bravo-1 is just overbuilt for a knife in its size range.

I like the feel and performance of a thinner blade in a knife with a 4.25” blade.

I have big hands, and even though the Bravo-1’s got a great handle, it’s really more then I need in a knife this size.

Now I’m well aware of the history of this knife, and if I was a Marine facing unknown conditions I could see the logic of a "tool" like this.

But as one who usually carries a big chopper, there are plenty of other knives that meet my needs as well, if not better, then the Bravo-1.

In fact the new Gunny would be the knife I would pick if I was forced to choose.

Personally I carry a Custom Fox River Recurve, my Jim Steward Custom, or even my Stephan Fowler Stone Mountain (a sweet forged blade), and have sold my Bravo-1.

I hope the Bravo-I owners will forgive me.





"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike

Forest & Stream
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Mike pretty much captures my feelings on the Bravo--it is over-built. But it does exactly what it was intended to do.

I much prefer a finer blade. Different strokes for different folks.
 
Remember, the Bravo-1 was made for some extreme situations where an overbuilt knife could be required. For me its a great balance and useable through a large range of needs as well as a last ditch, all around knife.
 
bigox said:
I agree with most of what has already been said.

... I think that the B1 is the ultimate "survival" knife.

...It is overbuilt enough that you don't have to worry about abusing it.

…That being said I think a smaller version like the Gunny would make a better all purpose knife for most of us.
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hollowdweller said:
I agree.
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okbohn said:
Mike pretty much captures my feelings on the Bravo--it is over-built. But it does exactly what it was intended to do.

I much prefer a finer blade. Different strokes for different folks.
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Wow, …I thought I was going to get dumped on by all the Bravo-1 owners out there. :eek:

Glad to see I’m not alone and that some folks agree with what I found in my testing. :thumbup:

The beauty of Bark River is that they make knives to meet everyone’s tastes and style of usage. :cool:





"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike

Forest & Stream
 
Big Mike said:
Wow, …I thought I was going to get dumped on by all the Bravo-1 owners out there. :eek:

Glad to see I’m not alone and that some folks agree with what I found in my testing. :thumbup:


Forest & Stream
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Eh, the sun shines on a dogs a$$ every once in awhile...........:rolleyes:

:eek::D


Just kiddung, I agree as well! As soon as I recieve payment for a knife I just sold, Derrick will be recieving an order for a Gunny:thumbup:
 
Best thing to do, is if a knife design really catches your heart, buy it. Let's face it for using a knife in the real world, just about any sharp piece of metal will work (wouldn't have caught me saying that a couple years ago. Experience erases snobbery.). A particular design may not excel at certain tasks, but there's few tasks that can't be done by just about any knife.

So buy the one that calls to you, and learn to use it the way it wants to do the job, and you'll probably be happy. Try to make it conform to your way of doing things and it will probably not make you happy.
 
I've skinned and quartered reindeer with mine:D Does it pretty well, not quite as good as a dedicated hunting knife.

Food prep: Hard foods will get split instead of cut because of the thickness of the blade. It still slices very well and works well with meat. Thinner blades are better, the B-1 is ok.

Works well with almost all tasks I've used it for, but would have done all of them, except battoning and splitting, better if it was about 4mm thick instead of 5mm.

All in all it is a knife that does most things well while being a pretty indestructible brute if needed. Handles are great and the leather sheath is very good. The kydex is just ok.

I tend to carry my North Star more because it does most hiking things better while being lighter, and prettier;).

Sverre
 
Can't say I've skinned any animals or made a billion traps with my Bravo-1 yet, but I have put it through seasoned oak logs, used it in the kitchen, and used it on hikes. I can't add much to what the more experienced users have already said. I like the knife because of it's excellent handle ergos, and because I know it can and will handle anything thrown at it. I don't carry heavy duty tools while hiking, so I tend towards robust knives that I know won't fail on me if I have to use them roughly. But I'm starting to discover, as already discussed, that the thickness might be overkill for the average user. I'm only now starting to grow out of the "it has to be bombproof to the extreme" phase. Sorta the same thing with my progression from the overbuilt Maxped pack to a more practical and useful Osprey pack (for my normal activities).

I do think the knife could use a little thinning, and I really want to try out a Gunny. It looks like a better balance in strength and cutting ability/weight, and does indeed seem like a better all-around hiking user knife. I want something stronger than a Mora, but I don't think I really require something as bombproof as the Bravo-1. That being said, I still love the Bravo-1, and it's still top dawg for me.

I have a NWA sierra scout on the way that might replace the Bravo-1 as my #1 knife. It's looking better at 3/16", but I might miss the convex edge :)


And +1 on the passaround :D

ETA: And +1 also on what Mike said about the B2 vs. the B1. I think the thickness matches the B2 better also.
 
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Thanks Doc, Big Mike, jwilliams, and NoFair the Reindeer Man and rksoon, estr77 and everyone who replied and kept this going! You gave me just what I wanted to hear. My good old buddies SRK and Moras are looking better by the minute! Again, many thanks to all you guys.
 
give me till the end of the month and i will do a passaround for the gunny put not doing it till my secound gunny gets here. sound good if so watch fro the post. at the first of next month i will be selective on who gets it.:D:thumbup:
 
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