BRKT question

Tyrkon Lawson

Tyrkon Lawson

Joined
Oct 31, 2003
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I have really been wanting to pull the trigger on one of the BRKT models for some time now. But there is one thing that has stopped me every time. Call me a whimp (no not really :p ) but the lack of a front finger guard makes me really nervous. Especially considering how sharp these knives are said to be. For those that have used them, do the ergonomics of the handle lend themsleves to a secure grip? Is the front finger guard not an issue here? Great looking knives I must say. Thanks. :)
 
It all depends on how you use the knife. If you use it for normal cutting there is no force applied forward on the handle. If you on the other hand shove the knife into something/someone the CSI guys will find your blood on the blade (generic CSI episode :)) and you will have a nasty cut in your hand.
If the samis in northern europe would have considered it to be a dangerous design, why have they made the same type of knives for hundreds of years?
It is actually until quite recently the average Mora knife got any kind of protection. For almost a century they had a red wood handle with no finger guard whatsoever.
I think it is a culture thing. In Europe people CUT things with their knives and consider it as a tool. In the wild west a knife was also a weapon to defend the user, to STAB bears and indians and other dangerous things so then the finger guard came in fashion.

Buy the knife you want and learn how it behaves. All knives have different personality. Some are nice, soft, helpful and almost female, some are hard, macho, angry, masculine and some try to be macho but only has the gadgets but
Some knives likes you and some dont. It all depends on how well your mood,hand size and the strength in your separate finger muscles compare to the person who designed it.
 
I think it's an non issue. BRKT are knives so use them accordingly. Never had a problem with one, or missing out on a finger guard.....

CZ
 
It depends very much which model we are talking about. There are some models like the Settler (great knife by the way) which have a very pronouced guard. Then there are some models that have no finger guard, most of those models have a very strongly contoured handle (such as the Aurora for example). Some others have a more traditional handle with no guard. Some of them are certainly not overly secure when using the knife to stab, but those are traditional designs that have been used for decades. They offer unparalleled control (IMHO of course) and the handle thickness and material offers enough grip to be quite safe, except when stabbing.
 
I actually shy away from the models with guards, Tyrkon. Like the Classic Lite Hunter, for one....it's nice, but I don;t like the guard. Most of the Barkies have some type of contoured handle that gives some protection during a heavy, point-first cut, even if they lack a guard.

I think Nodh summed it up pretty good.....some knives like you and some are angry. ((( :D )))
 
Some Bark River knives do have a guard and some models are available either way. The Classic Lite Hunter, Mountaineer, Lil' Boone, and Journeyman are a few that come to mind with either guards or semi-guards.

Other models have the distinct finger grooves, like the Canadian Special.

Good Luck deciding!
-Bob
 
I partucularly like the Li'l Nessy design and it has no guard. I'm not afraid of it, but I respect it and its capabilities....the same as I would my 1911 A-1 .45 Auto. It took some getting used to years ago carrying a piece "cocked and locked" having been brought up with gun safety as a priority. Knife safety is no different...it's just respect for what it'll do. If you like it....buy it....and learn to use it! A quality piece like BRKT carries a great deal of "pride in ownership" as well.
 
I think nodh said it best: it's a cultural thing. For time out of mind, basic knives have been made without any kind of guard. It's only certain fighting knives that have had a tradition of guards. With the popularity of the Bowie (not the original, which was probably guardless :eek:), and Marbles introduction of a guarded hunting knife, we Americans seem to think that a guardless basic knife is unsafe.

I've used many of the BRKT guardless knives, and have yet to be cut from having my had slip forward onto the blade - The Fox River, Northstar, and Upland Special are all excellent users with no guards, and they don't need them! Like Stretch, I actually prefer the knives without guards - guards just get in the way when actually using the knives.

BTW, my favorite user is the BRKT Canadian Special - in hand, working, it is amazingly versatile. It might be a good one to start with, since the shallow finger grooves give a little more purchase to your hand.
 
I grew up with the red handled Moras and the followers with plastic handles. I was told never to stab the work bench or the tree log or the stump we chopped wood on or whatever with a knife. My pinkie could come off, bla bla reference to some obscure relative bla bla etc. I know a guy who teaches sign language and the students keep asking if they have to bend their pinkie so strange. He learnt it the hard way.
Even today I have respect or fear for cutting myself. With a normal slicing motion there is no risk for yourself getting cut. It is when you start using the knife as anything else it might be spooky.
If you really want a classic and nice knife, look for a scandinavian sami knife with engravings and antler handle and stuff. They are masterpieces. They might be sneaky because the handle narrows toward the blade :)
 
nodh said:
Buy the knife you want and learn how it behaves. All knives have different personality. Some are nice, soft, helpful and almost female, some are hard, macho, angry, masculine and some try to be macho but only has the gadgets but
Some knives likes you and some dont. It all depends on how well your mood,hand size and the strength in your separate finger muscles compare to the person who designed it.
Click to expand...

A great piece of wisdom!
 
Bark Rivers, in spite of their beauty, are meant to be worked. Therefore, they are shaped ergonomically for a secure, comfortable grip. As long as you are slicing and cutting (as opposed to stabbing/jabbing), the guards are not necessary. The only time I ever cut myself on a Barkie was when I dropped one and reflexively tried to catch it:o; I've never cut myself using one due to the lack of a guard. Guards are for pointed weapons. I also find that guards get in the way and are awkward.

Most folding knives are guardless, and people don't worry about them.
 
Cultural thing. Sounds about right. The knife was first an SD weapon in my 15 + years in FMA. SO with lots of thrusts a guard was usually what I sought. But now that I view a knife primarily as a tool I guess I'll have to re-program myself. Thanks for the great responses guys. :)
 
The Bark River knives are available either way. Try a Northstar, (my favorite) Gameskeeper, Fox River. You'll love them all!:p
 
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