Yet another survival knife thread ??? vs ???

freq18hz

freq18hz

Joined
Mar 4, 2010
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BY ME =)

I should just upgrade to Gold so I can PM some people and stop clogging things up with threads...


I was all set to buy either a Fallkniven F1/S1 when I started looking at Bark River knives. I am probably being pulled in by the photos of sexy micarta and wood handles (oh my god did I really just use the word sexy when talking about knives????), but I like the look of some of the Bark River bladeshapes. They really look like no nonsense tools.

So...

Fallkniven F1/S1 vs. Bark River ???

Thoughts? Opinions? Also curious the best place to buy a Bark River?

BTW, I want to keep this thread on topic, but as an aside, it hasn't even been two months since I signed up. I originally came on after purchasing a Gerber crucial. I've since returned that, bought a swiss army, purchased a benchmade griptilian and a mini grip, purchased a CRKT m16 EDC, a spyderco delica which I returned, a CRKT Ritter MK5, and an ESEE Izula. I'm selling the benchmades (even though they are fantastic, I don't need them and they are too rich for my blood to just keep around) and now I'm looking to replace the Izula with something bigger. When will this sickness end? OH, and I also signed up at CandlePowerForums and bought 4 Surefire lights and a Petzl (2 Surefires and Petzl are going back). Help! :)

-Freq
 
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Haha, the Bark Rivers are dangerous ground to be treading on, that'll get real expensive real fast.
 
I'd say that Fallkniven and Bark River are of a similar style and are at a similar level of high quality, either would serve you quite well so you might as well go with the one that looks best to you on a visual level. That way you'll enjoy owning and using it that much more.:D

Personally I like the look of Bark River better for small knives, but I really like the NL, or "Northern Lights" series by Fallkniven when it comes to larger or beefier blades.
 
They both make some beautiful and fully functional blades. I have handled a few Bark Rivers and they are awesome. My current "most perfect" outdoor knife is my BRKT Fox River with African wood scales.
 
The fox river was exactly what I was looking at...

Does anyone know anything about A2 steel? How does it compare to the laminated VG10 sported on the Fallknivens?

Also what about blade thickness, and strength? I've heard a ton about fallkniven, but bark river seems more elusive.

Thanks!


-Freq
 
I've never seen a fallkniven but most BRKT blades are thick and their convex makes them cut very well so its not a issue. VG-10 is stainless A2 is not, A2 is a very tough easy to sharpen steel that holds a edge for a good amount of time. Lam VG-10 is not far behind but IMO carbon steels are just better all around unless you need it to be stainless.
 
freq18hz said:
The fox river was exactly what I was looking at...

Does anyone know anything about A2 steel? How does it compare to the laminated VG10 sported on the Fallknivens?

Also what about blade thickness, and strength? I've heard a ton about fallkniven, but bark river seems more elusive.

Thanks!


-Freq
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A2 is a high-carbon steel so it will rust more easily than VG-10 -- in theory. It is very, very tough stuff, so I hear.

Bark Rivers are exceedingly tough in general. Most models are made from thick stock and their full convex blade geometry strikes a good balance between slicing/cutting power and strength.

I'm not a fan of Micarta, but to each his/her own. The Bark River Gunny with no thumb ramp and wood handle slabs seems about perfect to me.

What I like about the Fallkniven F1 and S1 is that compared to other knives their size, they are typically lighter and yet no less capable, if not more so. And their handle ergos seem to be fantastic, though I've never held one and can't say for sure.
 
The A2 that Bark River uses is really great stuff, easy to sharpen, takes a mean edge too. For the most part they come from the shop perfectly convexed, so if you are not used to a convex setup, maybe get yourself a strop and some compound or use your search to drum up some info on sharpening methods.

Either way you are going to be happy with your new knife, but the Fox River just has a custom look to it.
 
Yeah to be honest, that was one of the reasons I was considering avoiding the Fallkniven. I absolutely SUCK at sharpening, I can't even get flat ground stuff wicked sharp with my sharpmaker. Convex just sounds impossible.

Wheres the best place to buy a Bark River anyway?



-Freq
 
freq18hz said:
Anyone else? I'm hoping Kevin will chime in =D
Click to expand...

I hope you have a good job Freq, life just got pricey. :D:D (Farkoholism is a nasty addiction, sometimes also referred to as Ballkoholism)

Bark River is my other addiction. I would not hestitate to recommend BR in lieu of Fallkniven, or vice versa.

Keep in mind many BRKT knives are carbon steel, excellent carbon steel mind you, but for your intended use, I still think SS is worth considering.


Size wise:

The Bravo 1 or Gunny would be very comparable to the F1, both these knives are offered in a SS version. (just under and just over 4")

The Bravo 2 is comparable to the Fallkniven A2 (7")

I couldn't find the length on the Fox River Magnum, but I'm thinking it is around the 5.0 - 5.5" blade length, or similar to the S1.

You could look at the Canadian special as well. Actually you could look at several BR knives to find one that suits your fancy.

My BR users are.

Bravo 2
Canadian Sportsman 2
L'il Canadian
Gunny
PSK
Pro Scalpel


Good Luck deciding, and may god have mercy on your soul :D:D

Kevin
 
Fallkniven has a forum on knifeforums (sorry, I hope I do not break any rules by mentioning another site), that has a sharpening convex blades sub forum which is pretty good. I need to learn to sharpen better too, so I use my good beater, less expensive knives to practice.
 
freq18hz said:
Yeah to be honest, that was one of the reasons I was considering avoiding the Fallkniven. I absolutely SUCK at sharpening, I can't even get flat ground stuff wicked sharp with my sharpmaker. Convex just sounds impossible.

Wheres the best place to buy a Bark River anyway?
Click to expand...

Fallkniven and Bark River BOTH use fully convexed blades.

Convexed edges may be considered trickier to MAKE, but they are very simple (most would say even easier than V edges) to touch up or maintain. -it's realy not as difficult as it sounds.
 
Great thanks for the tips, I really suck at sharpening so I guess I'll have to figure this out.

Kevin: Hah! I have this overwhelming realization that I should whole heartedly listen to what you are saying, and just walk away now...but something is drawing me in. It's an uneasy feeling, like my wallet is about to be hurting very badly. =)

So besides the Fox River, I was also looking at the Northstar. Any suggestions on which is the better outdoors survival knife? I ask you because I think you are the only person who has thus far tolerated my 5+ threads on the subject. =)

I'm still totally considering the Fallkniven F1/S1, but I'm trying to just make the right purchase. I totally blew that by buying the benchmades folders I have, and while the Izula seems like an awesome knife, I still think it might just be too small in a real emergency situation where I need to hack apart some logs. The only reason I still consider keeping the Izula is that I probably wouldn't get in trouble for concealing it. Not like a park ranger is going to hassle me most likely, but still I prefer to keep in accordance of the law.

Bark River's look *drool* cooler than the Fallknivens, but photos have nothing to do with real wood cutting performance. Also the less sexy it is, the more prone I will be to use it. =)


-Freq
 
they both make great blades but if your comparing the kraton falknivens to bark rivers is no comparison.
IIRC somone sells falknivens with handles like the bark rivers (knives ship free i think)
but like i siad blades are great but bark rivers handles are better by a longshot.

knives ship free is the best place to buy them for sure
 
Yeah the Bark River Bravo 1 was designed by BR as the "one knife" (non-fighter) by Marine Recon unit/s according to them (BR). Of course when I was in the Corps 43 yrs ago they didn't exist You could carry about any addtl. weapons you wanted to hump in a war zone, not like these days from what I understand.

The Bravo 1 is a good looking piece of work - don't really know if it's the best or not, there's so many nice fixed blade survival knives available that it's really hard to choose one. So we must buy several right? ;)
 
freq18hz said:
Great thanks for the tips, I really suck at sharpening so I guess I'll have to figure this out.

Kevin: Hah! I have this overwhelming realization that I should whole heartedly listen to what you are saying, and just walk away now...but something is drawing me in. It's an uneasy feeling, like my wallet is about to be hurting very badly. =)

So besides the Fox River, I was also looking at the Northstar. Any suggestions on which is the better outdoors survival knife? I ask you because I think you are the only person who has thus far tolerated my 5+ threads on the subject. =)

I'm still totally considering the Fallkniven F1/S1, but I'm trying to just make the right purchase. I totally blew that by buying the benchmades folders I have, and while the Izula seems like an awesome knife, I still think it might just be too small in a real emergency situation where I need to hack apart some logs. The only reason I still consider keeping the Izula is that I probably wouldn't get in trouble for concealing it. Not like a park ranger is going to hassle me most likely, but still I prefer to keep in accordance of the law.

Bark River's look *drool* cooler than the Fallknivens, but photos have nothing to do with real wood cutting performance. Also the less sexy it is, the more prone I will be to use it. =)


-Freq
Click to expand...

Hopefully I can give some insight on all your questions.

I trust you have come to the realization that over the next few years you will own all these knives you are looking at? :D

I own all the knives you are considering. Most are collectors, so I can't give you a "hands on, use it to death" perspective, but I pulled them out of storage and gave each one a glance over In order to help you out a bit.

I didn't check any specs, so my observations are based on visual comparison, and I may have a few misquotes here.

The Gunny is probably the closest comparison to the F1 with respect to blade length and thickness. A great sturdy knife and one I use side by side with my micarta F1. I really like both knives and would be hard pressed to ever choose one over the other. At just under 4" blade length it may be too close to your Izula in size.

The Bravo 1 is probably sort of a crossover between the F1 and S1. It would be a bit shorter than the S1, but blade thickness is probably pretty comprable. I believe it is just over 4" in length, but very thick and sturdy.

The Fox River, and Fox River Magnum are both slightly thinner blade than the Bravo 1 and without the thumb ramp. (I believe both the Bravo and Gunny can be purchased in a rampless version) When I say slightly thinner I mean these blades are still very robust and will hold up against anything.

The Fox River Magnum was my first Bark River, so it still kind of holds as a favorite of mine. This is probably the closest to the S1 in length at just over 5". I don't have my S1 here to compare, but the Fox River may be a just slightly thinner blade.

The Northstar is the same blade thickness as the Fox River (or appears to be) and is just over 4" in length. The Northstar is a beauty of a knife, but I find it "feels" like a finer, lighter knife, than the others. Even though the specs may not suggest it.

For a starting point, and from my understanding or your intended use, I would still suggest one of the following.
Bravo 1 SS
Fallkniven F1
Fallkniven S1
These are good sized, all round survival knives, and the stainless steel can be left unattended in your bag without worry.
But you really have to go with your gut and buy the one that speaks to you. regardless of my, or anyone else's, opinion.

As for handle material, the BRKT's can certainly be more attractive than Fallkniven, and BRKT handles are also tough and very functional. Bear in mind that Fallkniven knives were (are) developed specifically for arctic climates which is why the don't have exposed tangs on their knives. They are also desigened to be grippy when wet or blood soaked from skinning/dressing, or when wearing gloves.

As time, funds, and desire allow, any of the other knives discussed are worthy of ownership and eventually the (your) cream will rise to the top.

as for the best place to buy in the US. I have purchased from Knives Ship Free, DLT Trading, The Knife Connection, Howes Knife shop, and McKnight Cutlery. They are all top notch, 100% resellers.

Kevin

Here is some *drool* for you

4 Gunny Salute
BRKT-4GunnySalute-2-1.jpg


Bravo 1 Desert Ironwood Burl with Turquoise Spacer
BRKT-Bravo1-DIBandTurquoise-3-1.jpg


Fox River Purple and Green Elder Burl
BRKT-FoxRiver-PurpleandGreenElde-8.jpg


Northstar Green and Gold Elder Burl
BRKT-Northstar-GreenandGoldElder-8.jpg


Fox River Magnum Desert ironwood Burl
BRKT-FoxRiverMagnum-DIB-2-1.jpg
 
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