Bravo-2 are out & pure meanness

[Big Mike]

The Bravo-2 looks like quite a handful...

I got a loaner Bravo-2 headed my way as part of my continuing BRK&T Camp Knife Challenge, I’ll be sure to post my thoughts on this new beast after I get it out in the woods.

The Bravo-2 just arrived here, and this is quite a knife.

Though it has been advertised as being the same size as the classic Ka-Bar, it seems bigger to me, and the blade is much thicker.

Balance on this knife falls right about at the self guard resulting in a tool that feels fast and light in the hand.

I will get some photos as soon as I get this knife in the field, by this weekend for sure.

I hope to hook up with Tonym for some head to head field testing with some other big blades, but if Kev Estela, Marcelo, Bears Breath, Siguy, or anybody else in the area wants in on the fun shoot me an e-mail.

Works a little slows so my schedules pretty open, plus it’s a great time to get out in the woods for knife testing and show and tell.

 

[theonew]

The Bravo-2 just arrived here, and this is quite a knife.

Strange I'm not able to see the pictures

Looking forward to the reviews :thumbup:

 

[cgd160]

Man! that thing is a beast .

 

[Big Mike]

Strange I'm not able to see the pictures

Like me, they’re slow to load…

…I’ll try to get a few shots this afternoon.

I just happen to have a Bravo-1 for comparison.

 

[jca21]

i ordered mine from ksf on the 9th and it still hasnt arrived

looking forward to getting it though

 

[Big Mike]

Like me, they’re slow to load…

…I’ll try to get a few shots this afternoon.

I just happen to have a Bravo-1 for comparison.

Here you go.

 

[kgd]

Wow that is huge. The sheath looks amazing! How does it feel on the belt?

 

[IH8U]

Yea the Gunnie & Bravo 2 are on my list but so is the Auroa....

The Aurora is the best barkie IMO. Get yourself one Tony, you won't regret it one bit.

 

[jca21]

damn it mike now i cant wait for mine to get here.

 

[HikingMano]

Wow, that is nice. I'm interested in the upcoming performance reviews I'm on the fence about the bravo-2, though I must say the Bravo-1 is by far my favorite fixed yet.

 

[jh205]

was looking froward to this knife, but then I found all the info in the GB&U thread. Based on that I wont be buying this or any other BRKT knives. I am sure it will be a quality knife as most of their offerings are.

Can anyone give a link to the thread being referred to. Think I missed it.

Cheers,

J.

 

[kgd]

It is in good bad & ugly and the thread is about 11+ pages in length. It was pretty ugly and then there was another barky bashing thread posted in W&SS about F&F.

Most of the barkies I see however look to be stunning specimens. Big Mike's being no exception. I love the spacer on that handle btw! It really dresses it up.

 

[PB Wilson]

Though it has been advertised as being the same size as the classic Ka-Bar, it seems bigger to me, and the blade is much thicker.

It appears that the handle is quite a bit shorter than the Ka-Bar and they made up the difference in blade length. Looks solid any way you look at it.

 

[Stainz]

Gee, kinda like a Buck 120 compared to a 119. A big 'WOW!' at first, then the question: Who heeds a sword in the boonies? I never went for a Bravo-1, I'm more of a Boone & Gameskeeper type. If I need a brush chopper, I'll get a machete. If I need a splitter/chopper, I'll get a hatchet. Still, a big WOW!

My idea of great BRK&T boonie knives:

That Gameskeeper is, like the Bravos, .215" A-2 - pretty healthy, safe (FG), a great handful, and, with natural canvas Micarta, a bargain - including a fine Sharpshooter sheath. You'll save most of a c-note for other goodies, too. YMMV.

Stainz

 

[Big Mike]

I must confess that this Bravo-2 is not mine, but on loan to me from a friend for testing and evaluation.

I prefer my Gameskeeper II, it’s has a 5¾” blade that I have modified by eliminating the large ricasso and adding a full convex ground recurved cutting edge.

 

[baldtaco-II]

Handy looking bit of kit for the size. Good to see a solid looking sheath with it too.

 

[Big Mike]

Sorry!

 

[jca21]

got mine today, will be posting a review hopefully on the weekend.

 

[Big Mike]

Tony maybe we could get together while it’s here.

That'll be great Mike. Let me know.

Here are a few photos of Tony with the Bravo-2.

I’ll be posting more pictures and my thoughts shortly.

I imagine Tony might add his opinion too.

 

[Big Mike]

I really like the Bravo-2; in fact I like it better then the Bravo-1.

The Bravo-1 seems like it’s thicker then it needs to be, granted it’s a first rate cutting tool, but there are thinner/lighter knifes in that size range that I prefer.

Now on the other hand, the Bravo-2 seems just right; that thick hunk of A2 tool steel is just the ticket in a knife this size.

The knife works flawlessly on the simple tasks like food prep and cutting up KSF shipping boxes for recycling.

Out in the field this baby works well for all that tasks I might need a knife to do; jobs like notching, chopping and baton work are all handled with ease.

The balance on this big knife is great; it feels fast and light, becoming a natural extension of the hand.

The contoured handle fits my big hand just right and offers a very secure grip.

The thumb ramp, a feature I don’t really appreciate, is a bit less pronounced on the Bravo-2, making it easier for me to live with.

The only feature that I have issue with is the lanyard extension; when chopping with a loose grip (as I always do) the bottom tip of it would dig into my little finger, not a big deal, a little sanding could round it off.

The leather Sharpshooter Sheath that comes with this knife is a high quality, heavy duty unit, befitting such a fine field tool.

I would definitely recommend this tool to anybody looking for a large wilderness/survival type of knife.

The final photo shows the Bravo-2 with Tony’s Magnum Fox River and SAK.