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Thoughts on Bark River Knife Bravo-1?
- Thread starter Olaff
- Start date
I'm not a knife tester in that I don;t set out specifically to see how one knife does against another. I just use them when I need them and take general note on how they stack up against my other knives.
The Bravo-1 is a beast of a medium-sized fixed blade. With A2 steel at 3/16" thick, I can;t imagine breaking the blade or damaging it in any way. I've literally hacked at mesquite (and other) wood on several different occasions and have yet to see even the tiniest chipping on the edge. I've had this knife since last May.
I've seen several posts where guys will grind off the thumb ramp because it doesn;t suit their tastes. I think it looks even better when you do that, but I've left mine on.... I like it and it doesn;t bother me.
I haven't used the Bravo-1 for any skinning yet but I've cut plenty of other stuff (tape, cardboard, leather, twine, plastics, and of course wood) and the blade holds a fine, razor edge as well as any knife I own. It compares favorably, in my opinion, to Benchmade's 154CM, which is a beautiful stainless.
Each Bark River is its own animal when it comes to sharpening. Each requires a different touch to find that perfect blend of angle, pressure, wet/dry grit, and number of strokes to get the edge razor sharp. For some reason, I can get the Bravo-1 super-razor sharp every time I need to touch it up. So far, I can only do that with two other Bark Rivers - a mini-Canadian and the Northstar. I can get the others sharp enough to shave hair (in either direction), but these three will "pop" hairs skimming the knife about 1/8" above the skin.
The Bravo-1's scales are big and beefy. This is my favorite knife in the entire collection to hold in my hand. It fits me as if I designed it myself. As I said, I haven't skinned an animal, got blood or even water on the scales, but I'm reasonably confident that, although the scales are smooth, I wouldn;t have a slippage problem.
This is a beautiful knife. I like many of the other BRKT designs better than the Bravo (Northstar, Aurora, Canadian Special, and a couple or three others), but I own eight or nine of them now, and not one of them beats the Bravo-1 for overall function and feel. I have medium-large hands, if that helps.
I like the Kydex it comes with, but couldn;t resist making a homemade sheath....
The Bravo-1 is a beast of a medium-sized fixed blade. With A2 steel at 3/16" thick, I can;t imagine breaking the blade or damaging it in any way. I've literally hacked at mesquite (and other) wood on several different occasions and have yet to see even the tiniest chipping on the edge. I've had this knife since last May.
I've seen several posts where guys will grind off the thumb ramp because it doesn;t suit their tastes. I think it looks even better when you do that, but I've left mine on.... I like it and it doesn;t bother me.
I haven't used the Bravo-1 for any skinning yet but I've cut plenty of other stuff (tape, cardboard, leather, twine, plastics, and of course wood) and the blade holds a fine, razor edge as well as any knife I own. It compares favorably, in my opinion, to Benchmade's 154CM, which is a beautiful stainless.
Each Bark River is its own animal when it comes to sharpening. Each requires a different touch to find that perfect blend of angle, pressure, wet/dry grit, and number of strokes to get the edge razor sharp. For some reason, I can get the Bravo-1 super-razor sharp every time I need to touch it up. So far, I can only do that with two other Bark Rivers - a mini-Canadian and the Northstar. I can get the others sharp enough to shave hair (in either direction), but these three will "pop" hairs skimming the knife about 1/8" above the skin.
The Bravo-1's scales are big and beefy. This is my favorite knife in the entire collection to hold in my hand. It fits me as if I designed it myself. As I said, I haven't skinned an animal, got blood or even water on the scales, but I'm reasonably confident that, although the scales are smooth, I wouldn;t have a slippage problem.
This is a beautiful knife. I like many of the other BRKT designs better than the Bravo (Northstar, Aurora, Canadian Special, and a couple or three others), but I own eight or nine of them now, and not one of them beats the Bravo-1 for overall function and feel. I have medium-large hands, if that helps.
I like the Kydex it comes with, but couldn;t resist making a homemade sheath....
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2001
- Messages
- 546
I have a rather large collection of knives as well. They range from British bushcraft knives to Busse to handmade customs.
In the famous situation where you are running out the door to face God knows what and you can only grab ONE (1) knife.
Without a doubt, my Bravo 1/PSK/firesteel setup in NCM would be on my belt. I would hope I had time to grab my Golok or one of my hatchets but if I could not I think I would be just fine.
The Bravo 1 is one of those knives that crosses the lines between, hunting knife, bushcraft, survival, and utility. Combined with a smaller razor sharp blade like a PSK, Lil' Creek, ect. you have got most duties a blade can do covered.
:thumbup:
In the famous situation where you are running out the door to face God knows what and you can only grab ONE (1) knife.
Without a doubt, my Bravo 1/PSK/firesteel setup in NCM would be on my belt. I would hope I had time to grab my Golok or one of my hatchets but if I could not I think I would be just fine.
The Bravo 1 is one of those knives that crosses the lines between, hunting knife, bushcraft, survival, and utility. Combined with a smaller razor sharp blade like a PSK, Lil' Creek, ect. you have got most duties a blade can do covered.
:thumbup:
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2008
- Messages
- 82
I bought mine about 6 months ago. Call me crazy but I'm not thrilled. I don't like the kydex sheath, the blade is very thick bordering on too thick (IMO). I have the green micarta grips and it is very slippery when wet. On the plus side; the damn thing is just about shaving sharp and sturdy like no other knife I own. I'm also concerned about the possible difficulties of re-sharpening this type of blade but I haven't crossed that bridge yet. I dont' mean to be a nay sayer but...
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2006
- Messages
- 1,255
Scars -
Try washing the micarta grips in warm water and a mild dish detergent, like Dawn or something. BRKT uses a wax-based polish on their handles, and once you wash that off, the cloth fibers in the micarta get exposed, and the handle has a more grippy feel, without being at all rough. It also makes it much more grippy when wet.
:thumbup:
Try washing the micarta grips in warm water and a mild dish detergent, like Dawn or something. BRKT uses a wax-based polish on their handles, and once you wash that off, the cloth fibers in the micarta get exposed, and the handle has a more grippy feel, without being at all rough. It also makes it much more grippy when wet.
:thumbup:
These_Nutz
BANNED
- Joined
- May 2, 2008
- Messages
- 378
How does A2 sharpen up compared to 12c27?.Ive found 12c27 the easiest steel ive ever tried to sharpen by far although i dont know if thats because its a small convexed blade.The first time i tryd to sharpen it using the mousepad sandpaper method i shaved most of the hair of my arm in one swipe.
I know A2 is very finaly grained but does it sharpen nearly as easy as 12c27?.
I know A2 is very finaly grained but does it sharpen nearly as easy as 12c27?.
I've found A2 fairly easy to sharpen. It takes quite a nice edge, too. On the other hand, while 12c27 is not difficult to sharpen, it does not seem to get quite as sharp as A2.
Grampa, Thanks for the tip on making those slabs a little grippier. I think I just made that word up.
Grampa, Thanks for the tip on making those slabs a little grippier. I think I just made that word up.
Mr. Scars,
It seem to me that your issues are easy to fix.
Sand the handles with some fine sandpaper and buy the optional leather sheath.
If you check , you will find that many people don't like the kydex sheath that was made for the Marines.
If I am not mistaken, Mr. Stewart does not like it and uses the leather sheath.
It appears to me that many people have switched to the leather one.
Jim
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2006
- Messages
- 1,255
Glad it worked for you, Scars!
I know some folks like their handles even "grippier" (great word, Johnny!), but I find that makes them the ideal "grippiness" (another new word?
) for me.
Jim, I switched to the leather sheath too - but then I almost always prefer leather to kydex.
I know some folks like their handles even "grippier" (great word, Johnny!), but I find that makes them the ideal "grippiness" (another new word?
) for me.Jim, I switched to the leather sheath too - but then I almost always prefer leather to kydex.
The build quality is on the Bravo 1 is phenomenal.
The edge on mine was easily shaving sharp right out of the box.
This knife is a brute.
However, I don't like the feel of the thumb ramp.
Recently I decided that if push came to shove, I'd probably grab my Fallkniven S1 over my Bravo 1.
Seems to be just about as solid, is also convexed, and I like the 5" blade rather over the 4-1/4 inch blade.
But that's a personal preference. The Bravo 1 is a really great knife and there's nothing quite like it.
The edge on mine was easily shaving sharp right out of the box.
This knife is a brute.
However, I don't like the feel of the thumb ramp.
Recently I decided that if push came to shove, I'd probably grab my Fallkniven S1 over my Bravo 1.
Seems to be just about as solid, is also convexed, and I like the 5" blade rather over the 4-1/4 inch blade.
But that's a personal preference. The Bravo 1 is a really great knife and there's nothing quite like it.
Ditto what JohnnyO said: the A2 takes a finer edge than the 12C27. I have no problems with BRKT's A2 steel, but I'll have to fuss over and play with the 12C27 to get the edge I'm looking for. It takes longer and is more finicky than A2.
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2005
- Messages
- 3,652
According to the President of BRK&T, the Bravo-1 was derived from the Gameskeeper model. The lack of a choil on the Bravo-1 is another difference between the two. You can read about it here: http://www.dlttradingcompany.com/index.php?cPath=24_342&osCsid=1549018ab765aeff06a285eef703acbe
Regards,
3G
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2006
- Messages
- 321
Bravo One
This knife was developed with the assistance of the Training Unit of the Force Recon Division of the U.S. Marine Corp. These folks Bought a large number of knives on the Commercial market and tested them without saying anything to any of the makers. The Bark River Gameskeeper came out on Top to Fit their Requirements of a Real Time General Purpose Survival/Bushcraft Knife. We were Contacted by them and were asked to make a knife based on the Gameskeeper with a Few Changes. The Bravo-1 is the Result of their Input. The Changes were the addition of a Ramp Style Thumb Rest on the Spine and changing the Guard into an Integral Self Guard. They also wanted the Choil eliminated to bring the Sharp Edge all the Way to the Front of the handle Slabs for Leverage in notching. The Balance of the knife had to be on the First Finger.
This knife was developed with the assistance of the Training Unit of the Force Recon Division of the U.S. Marine Corp. These folks Bought a large number of knives on the Commercial market and tested them without saying anything to any of the makers. The Bark River Gameskeeper came out on Top to Fit their Requirements of a Real Time General Purpose Survival/Bushcraft Knife. We were Contacted by them and were asked to make a knife based on the Gameskeeper with a Few Changes. The Bravo-1 is the Result of their Input. The Changes were the addition of a Ramp Style Thumb Rest on the Spine and changing the Guard into an Integral Self Guard. They also wanted the Choil eliminated to bring the Sharp Edge all the Way to the Front of the handle Slabs for Leverage in notching. The Balance of the knife had to be on the First Finger.
