Browning Crowell & Barker Competition Knife

Horn Dog

Horn Dog

Joined
Sep 9, 2005
Messages
4,363
So why would I buy such a knife? I do not participate in competitions. I bought it when it first came out because it looked like one heck of a nice camp knife for the money. Competiton knives are made to chop 2x4s and slash ropes and such. I figured any knife that was good at those tasks, would make a good survival/camp knife. Now for the specs:
Blade 10" of 1085C high carbon steel.
OL is 15".
Handle is micarta.
Wt: 17.4 oz.
The knife came with a lanyard (which I have misplaced) and a nice leather sheath that slips into a handy belt frog.
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One of the things that impressed me with the Browning was the superb balance and feel of the knife. It balances right at the plunge line of the grind, has a distal taper, and even a tapered full tang. These features are usually only found on expensive customs.
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When I first tried to chop with the knife, I was disappointed. My Ranger RD9 just ran away from it in performance. But after I thinned the edge out some, the knife really impressed me. Sweet spot for chopping is closer to the handle than most knives this size. It chopped through this hard dead wood with ease.
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The knife is great for slashing vegetation and short machete work as well.
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Next up, some baton work and slicing.
 
It has been hot, humid and very wet here lately. Finding some wood dry enough to start a fire sometimes requires splitting some wood to get to the dry stuff.
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While not exactly a Mora, I managed to get some slices of dry wood thin enough to light with my Bic. A knife like this is a real friend when you need a fire in wet conditions.
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This Browning is a superb handling big knife, lively in the hand and easy carrying with minimal bulk. I like this knife. It's a lot of knife for the money.
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Thanks for the review Horn Dog.I've been curious about that knife for quite some time,like the type of steel its made from.In AGs catalogs they just state that it's made from tool steel,which does'nt really tell me much.Looks like a good blade.
 
Very nice review; your findings match exactly mines. You said it best: A lot of knife for the money. Thanks for the pics too :D:thumbup:

Mine has a thinner edge as well (convex) and it bites deep! Also you didn't mention it but I heard the steel is 1085. Any other info on the steel?

Three things I modified on mine are (see before/after pic):
1. Round the handle a little bit, and give it a slightly more pronounced palm swell. Feels much more comfortable now. Did you find the handle of your a little "blocky"?
2. Round the edges of the blade in the index finger area. Sharp corners there are a big risk of small injury/cuts when you swing full force.
3. Round the pseudo-swedge area, so the knife doesn't eat my batons "alive".

Before:
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After:
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Heck of a camp knife! Hunt one down while you can, guys...
 
Nice mods. It's nice to rediscover a knife I had shelved. Thinning that edge made it a new knife.
 
W&SS style review, my favorite kind :thumbup:

I wanted one of these a year or 2 ago. Other things got in the way of me getting it though. Seems as if it is a capable knife, until this review I had totally forgotten about it. May have to write it down on my list.

:thumbup:
 
TheGame said:
W&SS style review, my favorite kind :thumbup:

I wanted one of these a year or 2 ago. Other things got in the way of me getting it though. Seems as if it is a capable knife, until this review I had totally forgotten about it. May have to write it down on my list.

:thumbup:
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LOL! The moderators started moving my reviews from W&SS to here.....but I still do them the same way. :D It is a very nice knife for the price.
 
Hmm. I must re-visit my attitude toward this knife.:)

Facts are wonderful things. Thank you, sir!:thumbup:
 
Great review as always, HD. The Browning Crowell/Barker is one helluva knife, especially for the price. Someone asked A.G. Russell about them when they were first released. At the time, he said they were selling like donuts at a Texas BBQ. :eek: Mike Stewart also appears to like the knife. Of course, he liked it better after he modded the handle and convexed it. ;)

Based on your field report, I'd have to rate the Crowell/Barker a best buy. :thumbup: :thumbup:

.
 
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As you know, Bruce, I have a lot of choppers. The Browning has definitely moved up in my appreciation since trouncing some big name knives in slashing vegetation on another forum. The Browning has a flat grind, but the final convex edge was just a bit obtuse. Here you see the thinned out convex edge. That made all the difference.

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I have yet to put it up against my fully convexed Busse Bushwacker Mistress. That might be interesting for another thread.

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Nice post HD! That knife does look like it would be a great camp knife, it is shaped well for food prep and still looks sleek (not like the average kitchen knife) and the 1085 is a great steel for such all-around duties. Seems more and more lately production knives are coming with tapered tangs. I knew with modern CNC machinery that should become much easier for factories to do than a lot of custom makers. Nice balance point for a knife that size, just blade heavy enough to help with chopping but not make using it too hard on the wrist. What is the RC?
 
Great review and photos Vic, :thumbup: :thumbup: ...as usual. :cool:


I've always like the look of these knives, and the price is very attractive.


Glad to hear that they stand up to real use,

...1085C is a good steel for a hard use field tool.



:confused: Any idea on who makes them or where they're made? :confused:




Big Mike
 
Big Mike said:
Great review and photos Vic, :thumbup: :thumbup: ...as usual. :cool:


I've always like the look of these knives, and the price is very attractive.


Glad to hear that they stand up to real use,

...1085C is a good steel for a hard use field tool.



:confused: Any idea on who makes them or where they're made? :confused:




Big Mike
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They are made for Browning in Taiwan. RC is 57-59 according to A.G. Russell's catalog.
 
Horn Dog said:
They are made for Browning in Taiwan. RC is 57-59 according to A.G. Russell's catalog.
Click to expand...

Cool, I usually wouldn't want anything higher than 59 for field use. Until I put the A1 I have through so much I didn't want anything higher than 57. But it has handled everything I've thrown at it and it is stated as 59 which I am guessing is actually 58-60.
 
Nice review Hd, i've always admired that knife. :cool: The chopoff between your Bwm should be interesting. :thumbup:
 
Nice review Horn Dog! I just bought this knife a couple weeks ago.

How is that edge holding up after you thinned and convexed it? I've been thinking of doing it to mine but held off because the edge on my browning already seems thinner than most of my other choppers, and I was afraid of going too thin and risk it being easily dammaged when chopping.

I noticed that the handle on yours seemed to have a more pronounced swell to it than mine did. My handle came very blocky, and too slippery smooth for me. I really had to go crazy with the sandpaper to shape it more to my liking. I also purposely went with a 60 grit final finish on it to give it some extra grip. I don't have a before, but here is an after pic...

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I also thought it would be fun to add some jimmping and round the spine of the blade. Here's the result...
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I am really liking this knife right now. :D ...Convex edge may be coming next. :thumbup:

...Oh yeah, does anyone else think the leather used to make th sheath is a little on the thin side? -Not complaining since it is truely a bargain at its price. Just wondering how well it will hold together after a lot of use and carry...?
 
Nice work. Edge holding isn't something I specifically tested, but it seems to hold an edge well enough. As for going too thin, mine did not have thin edge at all. Even the one I put on it is plenty tough for most tasks. It's a good chopping edge, not really thin.
 
Yes, this is a great knife, and a great value. The distal taper and tapered tang is very impressive for the low price. I wish Busse could do this. :rolleyes:

The convex edge on mine is really good. Supposedly, some of these had edges tuned by Barker or Crowell themselves. Maybe I got one of those?
 
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