BRKT bravo 1 handle material

K

kvwpwr

Joined
Nov 2, 2009
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What is everyones favorite handle material on their bravo 1. I am replacing a buck pathfinder with this knife but cant decide on handle material. Some of the wood handled bravos are beautiful... I'm afraid they are too beautiful to mess up. Are the wood handle ones durable? are they slippery? Should I just get a micarta handle?

oh...I will be using the knife as a camping knife and maybe a backpacking knife... although I don't go as often as I used to... and any other excuse I can come up with to use it.
 
The wood handles are beautiful, but they are made to be used. And don't worry about messing them up. If you do, just send it back to Bark River and they will fix it up for free, all it will cost you in the postage to and from.

As far as my Bravo-1, I have Black Canvas Micarta.

Just chose one that speaks to you and use it hard.

3388755250_6270e806b6_b.jpg
 
I just got a bravo 1 in cpm154 steel, with natural color micarta handle. Natural is a warm

brown color that looks very wood-like; you'd almost expect to find it growing in a

forest. I like micarta because it's stable, almost indestructible, and not too slippery

when wet. Wood handles are okay I guess. Some types need to be stabilized to

prevent shrinkage or swelling. I see this instability in some woods as the main drawback

to wood handles, although some types like ironwood and cocobolo are supposed to be

naturally stable. I guess it boils down to whatever turns your crank, stabilized wood or

micarta. For me, it's natural color micarta all the way!
 
That's a big step up from the Pathfinder to the Bravo 1, whatever handle material you choose I'm sure you'll love the knife.
 
I don't have a Bravo, per se... but I ordered a Fox River in Tan Burlap during their last run of them and have been nothing short of impressed. The picture does it no justice.

It's probably not the best material for food prep, as it tends to have a fair few cavities along the surface (third time I've handled this material - once on a loaner, then with this Fox River and a matching FireSteel) but it doesn't seem to get slippery when wet like my other Barkie in BCM... it's more... waxy. I think it looks great, too. Outside, the burlap fibers catch the light just right to have an almost golden glistening.

...but whatever you chose, you can't go wrong. As Varg said, if anything happens to it, anything at all, they will fix you right up.
 
kvwpwr said:
well this is the one wood one that I just can't stop going back to http://www.the-knife-connection.com/br-bravo1-smb.html I

other than that one I do want a user that I will use and not just oogle over.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't hesitate to get wood handles on a user. Some woods even look better with age and use. Slippery-ness should not be an issue if the handle fits your hand correctly. Wood (in general) is smoother than canvas/burlap micarta, but has more friction than polished G10 or CF.

I'm going to assume that the spalted maple in the photo has been stabilized. Spalting has a tenancy to soften the wood, so stabilization is vital for use in knife handles (especially end-grain). It wouldn't hurt to ask and make sure, though.

Phillip
 
kvwpwr said:
Some of the wood handled bravos are beautiful... I'm afraid they are too beautiful to mess up. Are the wood handle ones durable? are they slippery?
Click to expand...

They're not slippery. The ergos of bark river knives (and all good quality knives) rely on form rather than texture.

As for durability Bark River's stabilized wood is in the same performance class as g-10 and micarta. It's made to be used plain and simple. No exceptions.

Any wood used by Bark River that is not stabilized is crazy strong and doesn't need it.
 
cgmblade said:
That's a big step up from the Pathfinder to the Bravo 1, whatever handle material you choose I'm sure you'll love the knife.
Click to expand...

The pathfinder was given to me a long time ago by my dad and it was/is my only fixed blade. It has been ok, but i think I could use a little more knife. I'll be getting an Izula also(it'll probably be my backpacking knife).
 
I Chose the Black G10 over the Black Micarta. I think it looks great. It was just a touch more but I found a phenomenal price. Wood handles are nice and look better but come at a premium price with Bark River.

bravo11p.jpg



Bill
 
I had a Bravo-1 in coyote brown G10. Loved the handle material and color.

I also have many micarta's and Tan Burlap. Love the tan burlap! Micarta is a classic. The GCM ages very well....
 
My Bravo-1 is handled in Lignum Vitae (wood) and it has held up incredibly well. Lignum Vitae wood is fairly ugly stuff, as Bark River's wood goes, but is it ever tough. Ugly, heavy, and tough as pig iron. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Bravo-1. Best knife I own, hands down. :thumbup:
 
I've got a handmade knife made on a farm sometime in the early 50's. Its got seasoned oak handle slabs that have been thru 3 generations of owners and they are still nice and still tight. Theres no telling how many days in the rain.fish cleaning tables, or times its been rinsed off and left to dry in the sun. BRKT has a reputation for extreme durabilty and customer service. Get wood if thats what "speaks" to you..Its worked for a million billion years so far! best regards Anrkst
 
Anrkst6973 said:
I've got a handmade knife made on a farm sometime in the early 50's. Its got seasoned oak handle slabs that have been thru 3 generations of owners and they are still nice and still tight. Theres no telling how many days in the rain.fish cleaning tables, or times its been rinsed off and left to dry in the sun. BRKT has a reputation for extreme durabilty and customer service. Get wood if thats what "speaks" to you..Its worked for a million billion years so far! best regards Anrkst
Click to expand...


Very true.

My great-grandfather's butchering cleaver was used for decades on his farm. Later, it was simply stored in my grandfather's garage for many more decades. The blade had rusted considerably, but the osage-orange handles were almost good as new.
 
I ordered the one in the link I posted above. I didn't notice at first but it says a collector knife... but that doesn't matter to me as I don't buy knives to just look at. I can't wait to get it. I don't even have my next camping trip planned... probably going somewhere in the smokey mtns.
 
kvwpwr said:
I ordered the one in the link I posted above. I didn't notice at first but it says a collector knife... but that doesn't matter to me as I don't buy knives to just look at. I can't wait to get it. I don't even have my next camping trip planned... probably going somewhere in the smokey mtns.
Click to expand...
Yea, I think he labels all of his Bark River stock as "collectors" for some reason. I mean, sure, they all look great, I can't imagine getting one in-hand and not going straight into cutting something. :p

Congrats on a fine lookin' (and no doubt performing) knife and good luck on the 1:30 for $100 off! :cool:
 
Fascion said:
I don't have a Bravo, per se... but I ordered a Fox River in Tan Burlap during their last run of them and have been nothing short of impressed. The picture does it no justice.

It's probably not the best material for food prep, as it tends to have a fair few cavities along the surface (third time I've handled this material - once on a loaner, then with this Fox River and a matching FireSteel) but it doesn't seem to get slippery when wet like my other Barkie in BCM... it's more... waxy. I think it looks great, too. Outside, the burlap fibers catch the light just right to have an almost golden glistening.

...but whatever you chose, you can't go wrong. As Varg said, if anything happens to it, anything at all, they will fix you right up.
Click to expand...



paleojoe said:
I had a Bravo-1 in coyote brown G10. Loved the handle material and color.

I also have many micarta's and Tan Burlap. Love the tan burlap! Micarta is a classic. The GCM ages very well....
Click to expand...


Thanks for the good words regarding the burlap laminate...I can suggest it too! I'm kinda partial to it myself:D




;)
 
I like the variety of handles you can get from Bark River. I think the Sambar Stag handles are some of the best looking along with the better wood handles. Some stores list their Sambar Stag individually so you can view several and pick the one you like best.

edit - Just checked a few stores and it looks like they're out of those handles right now. Pity.
 
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