BRK Bravo Necker or Rat Izula

V

vaj1111

Joined
Dec 27, 2005
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I've got $100.00 to spend on a small fixed blade. I'd like to get something with around about a 3" blade to take backpacking and general camp chores. I've narrowed it down to the Bark River Bravo necker, Rat Izula, Bark River Pro Scalpel II, maybe even the Becker Necker. I don't need a necker in particular, just like the size. Any suggestions ?
 
The Izula was too small for my hands so I sold it. I've learned my lesson to not buy a knife unless I can actually hold it first. If you've held all these then go with the most comfortable. Excluding size, they're all winners.
 
well i would go with the izula and get the survival kit. the bravo necker is fairly short, around 2.5", and the becker necker is 3.25". plus you cant beat the warranty behind the izula. that is why i just ordered one!
 
Of those you mentioned I would go with the BRKTs. Soley on the fact they have scales (option for the Bravo).

If you plan on using your knife for an extended period scales add greatly to the comfort. If not, then it doesn't matter which you pick.

Ya I know, wrap it in cord.:rolleyes: There is no way my wrapped BK11 is equal to my scaled JK in terms of comfort.

And take a look in the Makers forum, in the for sale area there are ready made small fixed blades available. You might be able to expand your options.:thumbup:
 
Here's my 2 cents,

Izula = great warranty, several color choices, optional survival kit

Becker = great price at around $30, niffty bottle opener, optional belt clip

-My first choice goes to the Bark River because of these features:

Bravo = stainless, full convex blade, pollished non-coated cutting surface, optional firesteel, and optional handle scales, comes in a multitude of colors.

I ordered one and only two days later it was on my doorstep. I pollished it a bit on my strop and it quickly became the sharpest blade I've ever seen!!! It's small, but the handle is very comfy, pluss I can get all four fingers on it, and I'm 6' 2". The sheath is made to accomodate both the handles and a fire steel, ...just a heads up: the knife jiggles in the sheath a bit if all by itself, but snuggs right up if you put on the handle or just stick the fire steel in it.

various2008-2009153.jpg

various2008-2009150.jpg


-I also bought a Becker Necker, I figured $30 what the heck... still waiting for that one, but I'll maybe do a compairison. :)
 
BryFry said:
Here's my 2 cents,

Izula = great warranty, several color choices, optional survival kit

Becker = great price at around $30, niffty bottle opener, optional belt clip

-My first choice goes to the Bark River because of these features:

Bravo = stainless, full convex blade, pollished non-coated cutting surface, optional firesteel, and optional handle scales, comes in a multitude of colors.

I ordered one and only two days later it was on my doorstep. I pollished it a bit on my strop and it quickly became the sharpest blade I've ever seen!!! It's small, but the handle is very comfy, pluss I can get all four fingers on it, and I'm 6' 2". The sheath is made to accomodate both the handles and a fire steel, ...just a heads up: the knife jiggles in the sheath a bit if all by itself, but snuggs right up if you put on the handle or just stick the fire steel in it.

various2008-2009153.jpg

various2008-2009150.jpg


-I also bought a Becker Necker, I figured $30 what the heck... still waiting for that one, but I'll maybe do a compairison. :)
Click to expand...

I had my mind made up on the Izula....well until you posted the picture with scales....wow, a compelling arguement with now words needed!

I sill enjoy my Izula and Bk11, but from a comfort perspective I prefer the Izula. I think there are other options though such as a Rat3 or Rat4 to get even more of a handle. I think for something with lots of use, I would go for something like that before a "necker" style. Plenty of nice 3" knives out there with scales to go to. Have fun looking.
AI
 
I have the Izula and the BRKT Bravo Necker. They are very comparable knives, both very sharp and with good edge retention, but I find the Necker to be more comfortable and to be a better slicer (maybe because it has a polished blade). You can buy micarta handles for the Necker now, but RAT Cutlery is also releasing scales for the Izula in a month or two from now. The Necker is a little more expensive. You can't go wrong with either. My vote goes to the Necker, but only until the Izula scales are out, then I will have to reevaluate.
 
Tough call. These are my favorite 2 neck knives on the market. Izula has a thicker blade grind and is tough as nails, with a little more cutting edge. Love the convex edge on bark river knives. I find them to be easiest to touch up and bring back to a very sharp edge. Also like that it is stainless steel with good toughness. Bark River knows how to heat treat this steel with great results. If I could only have one of the two, I honestly could not decide.
 
If scales are important to you and you don't mind waiting a bit, RAT is putting out a set of optional scales for the Izula sometime next year.
 
The Izula scales are supposed to be out sometime in late January, or at least that's what I hear. I'm looking forward to them. :D
 
Lock1454 said:
If scales are important to you and you don't mind waiting a bit, RAT is putting out a set of optional scales for the Izula sometime next year.
Click to expand...

BK11 scales are coming soon too.

Ethan Becker said:
Hey Everybody....

First a word on the BK11 NECKER handle slabs......Very good news from Tooge....The Vendor has the material in house, at long last, and will be running the parts next week or the week after Christmas....Soooo Soon come.....Sorry it took so long but it took several protos to get it right...
Click to expand...
 
If you live in Chicago, the Necker is legal for EDC while the Izula is not.
2.5" limit here. :(
 
$40-55 just for the Bravo necker scales. I'll probably buy one someday but the scales are more than an Izula + sheath. I sure hope I like it.
 
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This is mine, I even sold my Izula after getting this one, it cuts soooo much better and it fits so much better in the hand.
 
Well, I ran into some extra money plowing snow today so I ordered a black bravo necker with the ghost green g-10 scales. I figure the sheath leaves a little to be desired so I'll probably bend some kydex for it and compare it to the Izula for EDC. $119 total. Whoa. Not necessarily a bad deal but it does remind me how good of a deal the Izula is.
 
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