In the future

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

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Feb 2, 2005
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I have committed to getting four Bark River models down the road, and would like your opinions on them. I'm not going to reclaim the wilderness with them, some are more for aesthetics than use. No specific purpose, other than I like the designs. I already have the older Kephart design, and have read of some members trials and tribulations with them. I haven't had any problems with my Kephart, but will still get the full tang, pinned version just the same. Also, I'll settle for micarta, but plan on getting wood handles.

Looking at the following

Aurora; Hudson Bay; Kephart full tang and Mountain Man models.

Just want to know your thoughts on the models above. Some might sit in the case, others might get put through their paces. IE, I shoulda used a chainsaw ;) type use.

I have had several Northstars, they weren't for me. Now, seeing them all over WSS, I want one again. Nothing wrong with them, I just got in a trading frenzy, and the Northstar was an unlucky casualty.
 
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I didn;t even know they made a Bushcrafter. Where can I see that?

I have no opinion here, SilentThunder, because I don;t own any of those models, except to say: I really like the Hudson Bay Camp. A big, beautiful, knife.

ON EDIT: I think I found it. Is it the "Ultra Light Bushcraft"?
 
I thought it was called the Bushcraft, I did a Google search, didn't find anything specifically called the Bushcraft. Contacted Mike Stewart on Jerzee Devil, he said they didn't make a model called the Bushcraft, and gave me a list of all of their bushcraft style blades. I am pretty sure it was the Aurora model I saw.
 
The Aurora rules as a bushcraft knife.
The Hudson Bay is a very good camp knife, and comes with an awesome sheath.

Don't know about the other two, but they look like they'll do their jobs just fine.
 
I have similar plan that I asked about here. My ides was to get a small, Medium, Large and Extra large. So far I have the mini Canadian, the Highland. and have I Bravo I on the works. I am however starting to lean toward the Bravo II and a different one to fit between the Highland and the Bravo II I have Sperati Point on lay away to pick up next month. I will have to see how that one fits in.
 
Silenthunter,

I have a curly maple Northstar that recently got the siguy treatment. It's a nice knife, but sometimes I wish for a more comfortable handle. I'd consider trading it for the right buscraft-type knife . . .
 
If you want to bludgeon everything without fear of hurting your knife then the Bravo 1 is want you need. A handier, more bushcraft knife would be the Aurora (much better handle than the Northstar). If you prefer a less pointed knife choose the full tang Kephart. I have all three, and right now I prefer the Kephart as it just feels right in my hand and seems the right size for an all around knife. It is the smallest of the three. The thickness is .145" which is a good compromise between a thin slicer and a batoner

By far the Aurora is the best looking knife. The Kephart is a little plain looking and the Bravo is more Tactical. Maybe the Aurora has an advantage as mine has desert ironwood burl scales with mosaic pins and the others have micarta.
 
Here;s some pics that could help:

3036156574_eb184a9761_b.jpg


Northstar
Kephart FT
Aurora

I would say that the Aurora handle fits me the best, but all three are quite fine for all bushcraft work. The FT Kephart has been getting the most carry recently(mostly because I just got it) and I'm in love with this knife. The balance and fit and feel is perfect for me. I also got the Kephart Companion to go along with it and feel that it's great little knife.

I don't have a Hudson Bay or Mountain Man, so no help there. But I believe you just can't go wrong with a Bark River.
 
The Barkie full tang kepharts are very beautiful. I would also say to consider and compare a JK kephart. His can be had for a lower cost, has great F&F, choice of O1 or 1095 and can be tweaked to your personal specifications. But then again, if you really are infatuated with the BRK&T, then go for it.
 
Sigh.

Nobody seems to give the Fox River much love.

At least take a look. Mine is excellent.
 
OldPhysics said:
Sigh.

Nobody seems to give the Fox River much love.

At least take a look. Mine is excellent.
Click to expand...

I have a Fox River and its a nice knife. I just prefer straight spine knives (Kephart, Aurora, Bravo) to curved spine knives (Fox River, Northstar, Highland, Woodland). Just my preference I guess but I never noticed a lot of difference in use (I own them all) until I started using the Kephart.

Maybe someone knows the advantage/purpose of curving the knife (blade angles down from the handle).
 
I have a Fox River custom prototype edition, and it is almost my grail production knife. If the handle were a little longer, it would be perfect.
 
I've got the same sentiments on the fox river, the handle is just too small. By a pretty fair chunk.

The aurora is a good blade, but the handle dimensions are off for me. The swell is far enough back that it makes it less comfortable for choking up, which is what a bushcraft blade should allow pretty much all the time.

The Kephart is a super comfy blade, feels pretty nimble. I don't tend to favor such a dramatic decrease in handle thickness as it approaches the blade though. I'd most definitely look to JK Knives first if I was going with that style of blade.

Next blade I'm trying is a canadian special, I hear lots of hype around it so we'll see how it goes. I'll post some pics of it when it arrives (hopefully tomorrow).

Edited to add: What's the Bravo II? What's different vs the Bravo I?
 
I really like my fox river, but there is so many nice ones out there I want to try them all.
Varg Lobos, I really like that trio there, wood is the way to go.
 
SpookyPistolero said:
I've got the same sentiments on the fox river, the handle is just too small. By a pretty fair chunk.
Click to expand...

Understood. My hands are only mid-sized, and the Fox River's handle is just barely big enough for me.

Perhaps this really is a problem with the design.

As to the curved spine, I've never really given that much thought. All of these knives are so thick that the spine's curvature probably does not matter much, if at all.
 
OldPhysics said:
Understood. My hands are only mid-sized, and the Fox River's handle is just barely big enough for me.

Perhaps this really is a problem with the design.

As to the curved spine, I've never really given that much thought. All of these knives are so thick that the spine's curvature probably does not matter much, if at all.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I really liked the design (or really wanted to like it) when I first got it. If it were beefed up in overall proportions I think it might become a contender.
 
SpookyPistolero said:
Yeah, I really liked the design (or really wanted to like it) when I first got it. If it were beefed up in overall proportions I think it might become a contender.
Click to expand...

Perhaps Mr. Stewart will see this and consider.

He's increased the size of his designs before!
 
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