BRKT Bushcraft

udtjim

udtjim

Joined
Sep 4, 2007
Messages
6,583
For those who have tried quite a few, The ONE best Bark River Bush/woodcraft knife. I have been collecting a few for USING. This would be assuming that you have a chopper already so that base is covered. For hunting I have the Mini Canadian, Mini skinner and Highland. For kind of all around, I have the Fox River, Bravo One and Gunny.. I have the Sperati Point as well. The Bush craft is next.
 
No Aurora? Pretty sweet "classic" bushcraft design but with the BRKT convex grind. Even though I'm getting away from the bushcraft design (prefer some 'belly' on my blades), this is a great design. I batoned 11 cubit feet of aged dried almond wood without any damage, rolling or significant dulling of mine.
 
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If I could have any knife from bark river for the sole task of bushcraft, I think it would be the gaurdless snowy river. Oddly, I never hear much about it.
 
Theres a whole sub forum just for the Snowy River on another forum
 
Barberfolic,

I picked up a gaurdless Snowy River a couple of years ago second hand. And you're right, its a great bushcraft knife. My only fault with it is the handle is a little too small for extended carving (for me) and its stainless instead of A2. Don't get me wrong its a fantastic all around fixed blade and the stainless steel is super tough. I wouldn't hesitate to make the purchase again.

Since I don't have any other Barkies to compare it to I may be off base, but I think, for bushcraft, most folks preffer something with more handle. I know I can't wait to try a Gunny with the thumb ramp removed, it's the one that just looks right to me. But I can promise that my Snowy River isn't going anywhere!

Brandon
 
My all around outdoors knife is my Gunny. Before that I was rocking a Woodland. I have a North Star, but honestly I seldom use it!
 
The Aurora is the finest bushcraft knife they make, IMO.

Add a Ptarmigan for skinning and the chopper of your choice and you have a great trio.
 
Kinda funny I was on a BRK&T kick(16) last year now I sold or Trade all of them except 2 that fit my needs ;The Fox River & North Star. I 'll pick up a few more again but something about the FR & NS I really like.
 
The North Star has always been a big favorite of mine because of it's size.

I think the Gunny may finally beat it though cause it's a similar size but w a better handle.

I think the NS has the advantage of being pointier though.

I have an Aurora but it's too long handled for me.
 
In order of my favorites:

1) Kephart.
2) Close second Gunny
3) Close third - Aurora - if you want a little more blade length than the gunny - get the Aurora.

All three are GREAT bushcrafting knives. I really wish they would do a Gunny in a scandi grind.

TF
 
I have these four and like them all. But in order of versatility to size/weight for outdoor use, I prefer:

1) Fox River
2) Canadian Special
3) Bravo 1
4) Aurora
 
Of the barkies I have owned the Aurora is my favorite by far. I had a bravo, but it was just too thick. I haven't tried the fox river or the north star, I just don't feel the need due to the aurora. The ultralite bushcrafter is on my short list too.

aurora_5.jpg
 
Thanks for the reply's, I will check on what my dealer has in stock, He has a good supply but not to many of the newer models.
 
I've only owned three bravo, aurora and kephart

Sold the bravo
selling the aurora (and that was a hard decision)
keeping the kephart

The Kep just seems to fit my grip better and is easier for me to use. Mind you I don't baton (but i would like to think all of these would if asked to do so.) Just general food prep, traps and fire prep stuff.

I don't think you'd be dissapointed with any of the bark rivers. I've really liked everything but all my knives need to work and i believe it's better to get comfortable with one particular knive. Their customer service is pretty good also. I had a problem with a golok chipping (blade edge was too thin for the stuff i was putting it through.) I posted about it on the other forum and Mike from Bark River had responded to the thread within about an hour and the next day my knife was on it's way to have the edge thickened for free (they also made it gorgeous again for free) and I had them re handle it to match my other knife and he charged me something like 30 dollars for that (I thought it was pretty inexpensive.) Knife was back in my hands within 2 weeks also.

great blades
company backs them up
a little bit expensive but you can't take it with you
 
My Canadian Special is my go to outdoors knife. Handy knife for my uses.

Also I have a Northstar but I use it as a back up since I got my Canadian Special. The Northstar ain't really inferior to the Canadian Special but I just don't care so much for the lanyard loop on the back of the handle, it can rub a blister on my hand quick like.
 
I really, really like my Bravo-1. It does pretty much anything that you could ask a knife to do, and does it well. It's not designed as a chopper, but I've taken down some decent-sized trees with it, using a baton.
 
i have the golok, gameskeeper II, fox river, bravo-2 and the mikro canadian. also used a bravo-1 for a length of time.

of those knives, and infact my entire collection, the fox river sees the most work. its always on my belt when ever i'm in the woods and is probably going to stay that way for a long while. i've used the bravo-1 for a while but found that it wasnt really as nice as my fox river. albeit the bravo-1 is sure to be the better survival blade but i feel that the fox river is a more refined knife. the bravo-1 to me seems more like an all purpose all round survival blade. its fairly thick and more solid than fort knox. the fox river is alot slimmer in profile and slices better for me than the bravo-1 did. albeit i'm usually carrying my golok or one of my gb axes with me when i'm in the woods with my fox river.

the thickness that the bravo-1 has, is better suited to the size of the bravo-2 IMO. and the bravo-2 is definetly a nice camp knife for doin chores when out and about. the bravo-1 was nice but just didnt grow on me.


so the best barkie for me would be the fox river.


cheers,

JC
 
As much as I like the Aurora, it’s the Fox River Recurve that does it for me. :thumbup: :cool: :thumbup:

Kind of a cross between the Northstar and Fox River but with a fully contoured handle. :D







Big Mike

”Scaring the tree huggers.”

Forest & Stream
 
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