For anyone, looking at this vid to see whether if they need it: YES YOU NEED IT. I used to be a scandi purist, decided to get a Rampless (aka field) Bravo 1 in A2. Never looked back since.
I'm glad to hear someone say the bravo can be a hunting knife. Mike Stewart told me it was a great game processing knife and I will do well with it. Mine is in m4 but I didn't know much about it. Thank you.
With so many good knife makers out there it becomes very difficult to choose the right tool for what is needed. Thank you for your reviews to help make those choices easier. Looking forward to see the rest of these knives. God bless and stay safe.
I own three bark rivers. I had a real bad experience with a gunny which had a really thin edge which severely rolled and chipped on day one. I learned that I love bark river designs but hate how Mike Stewart treats people. He treated me so crappy I haven't bought one since. Always had a eye for a bravo. good review!
+Rprecision I hate stories like this. Well I can't speak for what happened or speak to what happened between you and Mike as I was not party to it but I would bet that there was some sort of miscommunication on 1 or both sides. Were you able to get that Gunny fixed? And thank you bud!
What happened? Mike Stewart has been nothing but extremely nice to me and their warranty covers EVERYTHING. I have a feeling there is something you might not be telling us?
+Texas Outdoors ; No its a simple story. I posted the problem I had on BRKT knifeforum outlined above asking for help. My post was deleted and I received a long rant from Mike who was pissed off I had publicly exposed a problem with one of his knifes. I ended up dealing with KSF to get it resolved as Mike wouldn't return any emails or phone calls. I have since learned that forum has a cult like following of Mike himself.
+Blue Mountain Bushcraft and Outdoors Thanks Mike. And yeah, I've been highly highly impressed. I came into these pretty bias against convex and have completely changed my mind about them. That and larger blades...
Greetings from the Coast Range of Oregon! Joe, thanks for another excellent video. Keep 'em coming! So far, BRKT and LTWK are my two favorite semi-production knife manufacturers; I just wish LT would make more convex grinds. I have a Bravo 1.5 (rampless) in 3V from Knives Ship Free and it is nearly perfect for me as a wood processor. The 5- 7/8" blade retains the full thickness of the spine right out to the tip, making it excellent for batoning. I wail away on mine without any fear of breaking the tip. And yet, at just over nine ounces, and with it's convex grind, it is easy to whittle with. It's not quite as precise at making feather sticks as my BRKT Canadian Special LT in 3V but it gets the job done. I find my Bravo 1.5 to be too light for a chopper, although using a lanyard to slightly increase the effective length of the knife probably would help. But as is, the Bravo 1.5 is good for "nicking" wood and then carving out the nicked portion. It also is good at de-limbing small branches, pencil-thickness or thinner, with a short, flicking chop stroke. I really like that you pointed out the Bravo 1.5 makes for a good all-around two-handed wood working tool although I would prefer the blade height be a little greater for use as a draw knife. A greater blade height would allow for a more secure grip when using it as a draw knife, but I wear a pair of thin, form-fitting mechanic's gloves to guard against cuts. The spine of my Bravo 1.5 makes a decent scraper for softer materials, although I wish the very slight "hump back" portion of the spine had a "sharper" edge like an LTWK spine for scraping rock-hard fatwood. Also realize, my Bravo 1.5 spine, as is, scrapes sparks off a harder ferro rod very well. As far as the BRKT ramps go, I like them on their larger knives, such as my Bravo Survivor (A2), but they seem to get in my way on the "smaller" Bravo knives. But, they can be used to strike a ferro rod without having to sacrifice the spine of the blade and the ramp tends to protect the handles (if not the baton) if one has to baton a bit on that portion of the knife. Aesthetically speaking, a "ramped" Bravo 1.5 also lends itself to a better proportioned-looking knife (overall knife height vs. knife length). IMHO, without the ramp, my Bravo 1.5 tends to look kind of long and thin. I agree the handle on my Bravo 1.5, which is the same size as the Bravo 1 and 1.25 models, is very comfortable, but I would prefer a slightly "beefier" handle for my somewhat large hands (the width of my palm is a shade under four inches). On a side note for those who don't like to hike with knives on their belts, my Bravo 1.5, in it's sheath, fits perfectly inside my Maxpedition waist pack along with a Silky Pocket Boy 170 (large teeth) and other "survival" gear and sometimes goes with me when I bike the myriad of logging roads near my house. Be well and enjoy Blade Show.
Excellent review. The ramp on the Bravo is designed so that your thumb rests on the front (smooth) side of the ramp for additional pressure for notching etc... The jimping side is actually for a ferro rod and not designed as a thumb ramp. That doesn't mean it can't be used as such of course. Thank you again for the video. I look forward to future videos.
+David Major It just doesn't work for me that way. Maybe with a bit more practice. I don't know, I just found it very awkward that way. That said, it is impossible to make a knife that fits everyone's hand. Thanks David!
David, I go through the same thing, but I always order with the ramp, because a knife in my bug out bag also has to be used for self defense, God forbid, if need be.
Being in the Marines myself, I can attest to the punishment that Forced Recon probably put each knife through. Much like the Ka-Bar 1217,which is synonymous with the Marines, this knife looks like they conveyed their ideas very well. Great video again Joe. And thanks for a little history lesson.
I asked Mike Stewart personally on facebook why the Marines went with such a small blade compared to the well know 7" kabar. He said they did not want a fighting knife, they wanted a heavy duty bushcraft/field knife. He also said, they told him they fight with guns, not knives, LOL.
Hey Joe, the reason convex does so good is, convex is the ORIGINAL Scandy edge. Look it up. Also, if you want to see someone that knows more about Bark River knives than Bark River even knows, just look for virtuavoice on CZcams. Thanks for the video!!!
+mister smith Yep, there is a loooonnng history there with convex, knife tech through the ages, etc, etc. I purposefully didn't broach that for several reasons (mostly being time constraints). I am a sub of virtuavoice but thanks for the reference Sir! By the way, every time I see your name on here, I always have flashes of The Matrix in my head lol
Mike Steward mentioned that the thumb should be place in front of the guard, so one can put maximum force into the straight cutting edge, eg during notching. The jimping im sure is there for “defensive” reason, given that it was developed in part with force recon, youd expect it to fill that role as well.
Nice review. Loved it. I have a Bravo 1 A2 FHG rampless and I love the knife. You mentioned A2 to be corrosive resistent. That's not true. You need to protect it, but the upside is that it takes a very good edge. I have put the sheath through olive oil bath. This smoothens the leather, makes it weather proof and protects the blade very well from getting rusty. It also protects the edge much better. Hope this helps
It's been a long time since I filmed this so I don't remember exactly how I phrased it but my intent was as compared to the "normal" carbon steels such as 1095 or O1. It has far better corrosion resistance then either of those. Thanks for the tips Rob!
11:51 "mimosa" ? I thought that was a drink, LOL! Just kidding, Joe. Great video as always. I've always loved the design of the Bravo 1, but after hearing that backstory I'm even more of a fan. (I have several friends and family who are either active duty or prior service military, most of them from the Marine Corps. I would've enlisted if I could have. They wouldn't take me because of health problems. Oh well. Semper Fi.)
+kpw528 LOL! Yep, it's a tree. One of the prettiest trees in late spring/early summer here and one of the best for friction fire too. (as a side note, making a tea out of it's inner bark does a pretty good job as a prevention for insomnia too.) Anyway, I didn't enlist either but for other reasons. To this day it is probably my largest regret.
+Larry Norris I would highly recommend trying it out. Everybody being different and having different uses, they are obviously not going to be for everyone but I do certainly enjoy them. Thanks for watching Larry!
Great video. Bark River Knives are TOP NOTCH! You made it look easy making that bow drill set! I have a cpl Bark River knives...I guess I will have to get me a Bravo!
I have several other Bark River knives, and some had to be ordered with a ramp. I simply used a flipped over belt sander and 80 grit to knock them off cleanly in minutes. I did quench each knife a few times, but it never got to hot to touch. A2 is WAY easier to grind than S35, but that just needed a bit more time, and definitely a close watch on temp (mostly because I didn't want to get the micarta too hot).
Thanks for this review, I wasn't aware of how good of a knife this was. I did know of the story behind the development, and it was an interesting story.
I love my BR knife, as well as my Tops BOB. They are my first choices when deciding what to take (out of 20 or more knives), so I usually take them both. I hope you will periodically show us how you hone/sharpen your Bravo One. I have only had to strop mine, but you probably use yours a lot more than I use mine.
+csh 62 I have it filmed I just need to get that edited and I'll post it. By in large, I just strop it. As long as you keep them maintained, both A2 and V3 rarely need anything more then a strop in my experience. Thanks!
Nice review! I have a Bravo 2 in 3V that I use for larger stuff and really like it. I just picked up a Bark River Kephart in 3V and will be taking it out this weekend to try. It has a very thin blade but with 3V it should be very strong and the thin blade makes it quite a slicer.
Just got back from a 4 day AT hike and it performed fantastic. Took a little to get the feather stick angle down but slices really nice and batoned like a champ with 3 inch and under stock.
Great video, knife looks awesome. Just thought you might want to know I searched for Bushcraft on CZcams and this video shows up 4th!!! That's pretty cool. Have a nice day, subscribed.
I'm with you, this is the first knife that after of year of tying to like it, I sold it. Not a fan, dulled way too easy, and tarnished really badly. Bought the Benchmade Bushcrafter after the Bravo, and ended up loving it.
I've got a Bravo 1 and an Aurora. Love them both. My Aurora is probably my favorite knife I own (though I do have a Triple J Knives blade that swaps places with it for favorite sometimes lol). I felt same as you about the thumb ramp. I thought it looked really cool aesthetically, but functionally wasn't sure about it. I wound up liking it though. Still the ramp isn't for everyone.
+Atro785 The Aurora is still my favorite Bark River. Unfortunately I don't have it anymore but it is a great great blade. Honestly, I find when I use the Bravo for a while and then move to a knife without a ramp, it feels strange lol
+Brenguier Alexandre Brenguier I bet that did cost a pretty penny both for the knife and to get it over there and through customs! And I agree, it'd all be worth it. Thanks for chiming in! That is a testament to this blade for sure.
+Christian Cork LOL Christian. Knowing you as I think I do, I bet you'll end up with the 1.25. Function wise there isn't really any downside to going with the 1.25. You can process larger wood with it and have a longer cutting edge for slicing etc. The only possible negatives is the added bit of weight and difference in balance. Both of which are personal preference.
Good vid, but this is the first knife that after of year of trying to like it, I sold it. Not a fan, dulled way too easy, and tarnished really badly. Bought the Benchmade Bushcrafter after the Bravo, and ended up loving it.
Hey Joe, I'm not sure if you've been asked this question before, but if you could only choose one knife out of the Bark River Bravo lineup, which one would it be? Thanks for all the great content, and keep it up!
That is an impossibly hard question to answer LOL. At this time, probably a rampless Bravo 1.25 that has had a spa treatment and ground down to a spear point. Probably. My opinion changes though lol Thanks!
Hey there, As a fellow jumbo-handed guy, I appreciate your handle commentary in your reviews. How does this fit your mitt? I feel like it might lack meat in the pointer finger. Thanks!
Okay, so first off...amazing...not just the knife but more your skill on primitive fire. I really want to try this but I am absolutely dumb when it comes to trees identification (even though I've been in the woods my whole life. I live in Iowa and have a lot of hard woods in my area. What type of wood did you use and what would you recommend trying in Iowa and is there an abundance of that wood available in Iowa? Any thoughts is greatly appreciated.
great review! I was wondering how you liked the swedge up there? for once, I don't have to add a knife to my wish list after watching because I have one! whoo! this video didn't make me hungry either ha-ha. thanks for the background story and the steel info as well!
Awesome video! Cannot wait to get my hands on one of these. But I do have a question that is very important to me: I will be getting a Bravo 1 in the near future, but I am COMPLETELY torn between the version in Elmax steel, and CPM-3V steel. I simply cannot decide. I too will be using the knife for bushcrafting and camping. I want a blade that is tough enough for me to be able to baton it through a log without chipping or snapping, but I do not want to have to constantly sharpen the knife either. Also, Elmax being virtually stainless is a big turn on to me. If only it were in YXR7... Any thoughts or opinions would be greatly appreciated!
Oh man that is a hard one. I have no experience with Elmax on a full size knife. All mine in Elmax are small fixed blades. I've beat the snot out of CPM 3V on larger bravo's and they did just fine. If I were in your shoes, I'd give Elmax a try. I love it's qualities in the smaller blades and am itching to try it in a larger size. Just remember though...if you do manage to break the blade with whichever steal, Bark River will fix it if they can and replace it if they can't. That being said, I'd say pull the trigger on whichever calls your name the most and start tearing up some wood! Thanks for watching and please do let me know which you pick and how you like it :)
Pull the trigger.... I like it! :-D That is some damn good advice. I think I will go with my gut and give the Elmax a shot. After some good use with it, I will let you know my opinions on the blade. Honestly Bark River is probably one of the best in the game for working with Elmax, so I doubt I have much reason NOT to trust it and give it a try. Just subscribed to your channel and am looking forward to watching more of your videos! Thanks again man!
My vote is cpm 3v. I have both. I asked that same question on bark rivers facebook page. Almost all of the Barkoholics on there said, go with elmax for EDC and 3v for hard use woods knife. I hope this helps a little. If your on facebook, those guys on there are an awesome resource to ask your questions.
Both of my parents were Sergeants in the Corps, so that is a neat story....but yikes, I just cannot get over that insanely hideous thumb ramp. It makes me wish I hadn't been born every time I accidentally gaze upon it, it's like my own personal Medusa. OK, I'm being dramatic & yes, it can be ground off....but not for one second am I buying that you would, or even may, choose to order a Bravo1 WITH the ramp/jimping. You would order it without, because you're a good man & a wise person. Ohhhh, man, I need to shower now and scrub away this thick film of crappiness that the Bravo 1's ramp/jimping has coated my soul with. Seriously, I love your vids, even this one...you're that good my man!
+scott sherman LOL!!!! Man, you had me chuckling all through that haha! Honestly, it has grown on me and several other commenters have said that it's actually not for your thumb but for a ferro rod. Your thumb is supposedly supposed to go above it. I tried it...didn't seem to work but if it works for them, cool. Thanks for the chuckle and kind words Scott, I am grateful. Oh...and you caught me...You're right, I didn't order this one (of course I didn't say I did, I just said if I were to ;) ) But seriously, it has grown on me. To the point, I'd have to try them side by side to compare. Thanks again!
Interesting, never heard about convex on cheap Chinese knives. It’s actually the most difficult grind for mass production and needs some skills to be done properly. Scandy on other hand can is much easier to achieve with proper tools. Because of tat all those noobie knive makers push scandy as the best grind for bushcraft and everything else. In reality - convex is much stronger and better in almost any task and just a tiny bit behind of scandy in some fine aspects of wood carving. “Scandivex” in the golden middle. The question is Fallkniven or Bark River :)
Say Heah. Yesssss, Yesssss, One of my Fav's. Yeah Surrr, I have a Ghost Green Jade G-10 Bravo 1, I also got the Woodland Special, Bravo 2 and the Golok, all afe in A2 and the same handle coler. My 3V are with the Black G-10. Yeah I'm liking the 3V, But A2 is a pretty good steel on its own. They say it's better than O1., Oh and I luv the ramp, I got the ramp on all of them except tge Woodland Special and the Golok, The Golok reminds me of a large Butter Knife, They use to say a good bushcraft blade size should beable to touch the bottom.of a peanut better gar, Well the Golok is like a Butter Knife on steriods. But cutting close to the ground is where it shines, You don't bury tge tip into the ground, because there's no tip, it's like a butter knife. I luv it.
+paulie 4x Currently A2 is my favorite steel but I am thinking 3V may be taking that title. I am not sure yet but it just might. The Golok has been peaking my interest here of late. I will have to try one at some point. Thanks Paulie!
Great video and I love that knife. I plan on getting a bravo edc and was wondering what your thoughts are on Elmax steel?? Most of my knives are in s30v and idk much at all bout Elmax. Any advice would be appreciated
+Jeff Holmes Quality/durability wise they are the same in my opinion. They are obviously different styles altogether so it boils down to what you prefer. Most BR's have a convex on them, but as stated their convex performs an awful lot like a scandi. Not exactly mind you but pretty close.
hey good video thanks! How do you sharpen your Bark River Knives? Is CPM 3v really so hard to sharpen, what i can read/hear? Convex sharpening seems like harder on the field
Hi Stef. I have a play list on how I sharpen knives of various grinds and profiles (see below) but the short version is, I primarily use a strop. If it gets really dull then I use a ceramic rod, then a strop to finish it up and smooth out the minor flats created by the rod. 3v requires a bit more patience then say O1 or A2 but it's not terribly bad as long as you have the proper tools. Thanks! czcams.com/play/PL6F6mSN42hTLTOmfouPlvY9yOeJRXL2dB.html
HI, a convex blade seems like on the field without strop unsharpenable right? a flat or scandi grind is always able to sharpen on a riverstone or on something else. Convex is here not sharpenable..? is that thought right?
@@stefan-D You could get it done, but you are right, it's not as easy as a scandi would be. A flat grind typically (not all) has a convexed secondary on it so you might be in the same boat as the full convex. That being said, some food for thought. How often do you have the need to sharpen your knife out in the field? Also, remember that you can use many things to strop with. A leather belt, wallet, even denim will work (albeit, slowly).
+Zio Azalin OUCH! That would set one back a little bit for sure. I've got some budget stuff coming up right around the corner. I think folks might be a bit surprised about some of it. Thanks!
The sound came across just fine on my computer speakers. I really dig your videos; they're very informative and straight forward. I appreciate your insight and I look forward to many more videos to come. Nice work on the fire, by the way.
Thanks for the question Brian. I am probably not the best person to answer that question as I have no experience with any of the knives you mention there. My recommendation will always be "whichever knife lines up with your typical preferences the most" though.
Man I wish I could find the perfect lobbed that would make both pieces in 3 minutes you cut to times and had a heart board perfect didn't even need to shape it... Try that with mosquito
+Onix Pyro Oh it's no stainless steel for sure (sorry if I gave that impression) but it is far more corrosion resistant then O1. Abuse it and give it no maintanence and sure, it will rust but it's far easier to prevent. Watch Alone Season 2 coming out and you'll see A2 vs O1 up close and personal. Thanks bud!
+Feral Woodcraft Greetings from the Coast Range of Oregon! Great review and one-stick fire, Joe; your skills are impressive. I have a Bravo 1.5 rampless in 3V and a rampless Gunny in 3V. Both are exceptional knives. I also have several Barkies in A2 which definitely are much more corrosion resistant than any knife I've used in 1095. (I don't have any O1 knives so I can't speak to that steel.) I didn't know the rest of you Gauntlet guys had the inside scoop on Alone 2...
+Feral Woodcraft I was just asking what you think of a convex grind but then I watched your video and understand that you don't like convex grind I have an ice maker that's making me a knife and he recommend convex grind
+penny parker I actually do like convex grinds. If I gave that impression in this video then I did something wrong. Bark River absolutely nailed the convex on this blade.
Mike, I agree. I have ordered all of my Bravo's with the ramp. Does it get in the way sometimes? Yes, but I'm a prepper type person and all of my outdoor knives have to fit one very important category. They must all be capable of self defense, God forbid if ever need be. Plus, it just looks fricken cool with the ramp :-)
You were using your bow drill on your blanket. How dumb is that! Let's put holes in the blanket... mostly though why don't people take a lighter with them when they go in the woods and make it easier on themselves? I never understood that. Yes, your lighter will eventually run out, but will you be able to survive that long in a real case scenario if you were stuck somewhere? How do you get food? Most people will die from dehydration or lack of food. Theyres not enough videos showing wild edibles and making shelters. There are only knife reviews on that particular knife. Just because you have a great knife..... doesn't mean you will live through a disaster. Hone all your skills. That's what people need to see
For anyone, looking at this vid to see whether if they need it: YES YOU NEED IT. I used to be a scandi purist, decided to get a Rampless (aka field) Bravo 1 in A2. Never looked back since.
I'm glad to hear someone say the bravo can be a hunting knife. Mike Stewart told me it was a great game processing knife and I will do well with it. Mine is in m4 but I didn't know much about it. Thank you.
With so many good knife makers out there it becomes very difficult to choose the right tool for what is needed. Thank you for your reviews to help make those choices easier. Looking forward to see the rest of these knives. God bless and stay safe.
Very awesome looking knife! Thanks for your time Joe!
+Doc O Thanks Doc!
I own three bark rivers. I had a real bad experience with a gunny which had a really thin edge which severely rolled and chipped on day one. I learned that I love bark river designs but hate how Mike Stewart treats people. He treated me so crappy I haven't bought one since. Always had a eye for a bravo. good review!
+Rprecision I hate stories like this. Well I can't speak for what happened or speak to what happened between you and Mike as I was not party to it but I would bet that there was some sort of miscommunication on 1 or both sides.
Were you able to get that Gunny fixed? And thank you bud!
What happened? Mike Stewart has been nothing but extremely nice to me and their warranty covers EVERYTHING. I have a feeling there is something you might not be telling us?
+Texas Outdoors ; No its a simple story. I posted the problem I had on BRKT knifeforum outlined above asking for help. My post was deleted and I received a long rant from Mike who was pissed off I had publicly exposed a problem with one of his knifes. I ended up dealing with KSF to get it resolved as Mike wouldn't return any emails or phone calls. I have since learned that forum has a cult like following of Mike himself.
Ten Four. Thanks for your honest reply.
Damn fine review Joe. The best I've seen for the Bravo 1. Your endorsement speaks volumes for its quality and ability.
+Blue Mountain Bushcraft and Outdoors Thanks Mike. And yeah, I've been highly highly impressed. I came into these pretty bias against convex and have completely changed my mind about them. That and larger blades...
Awesome knife!Still saving money to buy a Bravo 1.I have fixed blade knives from Sweden,love the scandi grind on them!
Greetings from the Coast Range of Oregon! Joe, thanks for another excellent video. Keep 'em coming! So far, BRKT and LTWK are my two favorite semi-production knife manufacturers; I just wish LT would make more convex grinds. I have a Bravo 1.5 (rampless) in 3V from Knives Ship Free and it is nearly perfect for me as a wood processor. The 5- 7/8" blade retains the full thickness of the spine right out to the tip, making it excellent for batoning. I wail away on mine without any fear of breaking the tip. And yet, at just over nine ounces, and with it's convex grind, it is easy to whittle with. It's not quite as precise at making feather sticks as my BRKT Canadian Special LT in 3V but it gets the job done. I find my Bravo 1.5 to be too light for a chopper, although using a lanyard to slightly increase the effective length of the knife probably would help. But as is, the Bravo 1.5 is good for "nicking" wood and then carving out the nicked portion. It also is good at de-limbing small branches, pencil-thickness or thinner, with a short, flicking chop stroke. I really like that you pointed out the Bravo 1.5 makes for a good all-around two-handed wood working tool although I would prefer the blade height be a little greater for use as a draw knife. A greater blade height would allow for a more secure grip when using it as a draw knife, but I wear a pair of thin, form-fitting mechanic's gloves to guard against cuts. The spine of my Bravo 1.5 makes a decent scraper for softer materials, although I wish the very slight "hump back" portion of the spine had a "sharper" edge like an LTWK spine for scraping rock-hard fatwood. Also realize, my Bravo 1.5 spine, as is, scrapes sparks off a harder ferro rod very well. As far as the BRKT ramps go, I like them on their larger knives, such as my Bravo Survivor (A2), but they seem to get in my way on the "smaller" Bravo knives. But, they can be used to strike a ferro rod without having to sacrifice the spine of the blade and the ramp tends to protect the handles (if not the baton) if one has to baton a bit on that portion of the knife. Aesthetically speaking, a "ramped" Bravo 1.5 also lends itself to a better proportioned-looking knife (overall knife height vs. knife length). IMHO, without the ramp, my Bravo 1.5 tends to look kind of long and thin. I agree the handle on my Bravo 1.5, which is the same size as the Bravo 1 and 1.25 models, is very comfortable, but I would prefer a slightly "beefier" handle for my somewhat large hands (the width of my palm is a shade under four inches). On a side note for those who don't like to hike with knives on their belts, my Bravo 1.5, in it's sheath, fits perfectly inside my Maxpedition waist pack along with a Silky Pocket Boy 170 (large teeth) and other "survival" gear and sometimes goes with me when I bike the myriad of logging roads near my house. Be well and enjoy Blade Show.
Nutz! My detailed comment was meant for the Bravo 1.5 but I inadvertently added it here...
No worries :) Thanks!
Excellent review. The ramp on the Bravo is designed so that your thumb rests on the front (smooth) side of the ramp for additional pressure for notching etc... The jimping side is actually for a ferro rod and not designed as a thumb ramp. That doesn't mean it can't be used as such of course. Thank you again for the video. I look forward to future videos.
+David Major It just doesn't work for me that way. Maybe with a bit more practice. I don't know, I just found it very awkward that way. That said, it is impossible to make a knife that fits everyone's hand. Thanks David!
+Feral Woodcraft Joe I've had a few Bravos and I still can't say if I like the ramp or not. LOL The ramp does fit me though as designed.
David, I go through the same thing, but I always order with the ramp, because a knife in my bug out bag also has to be used for self defense, God forbid, if need be.
That was freaking legit! Very nice demonstration of the knife and what it is capable of. I look forward to more of your vids!
+TheZomb0t Thanks alot Zomb0t!!
Looking forward to more Bravo reviews! All the best
+John Poc Thanks John!
Being in the Marines myself, I can attest to the punishment that Forced Recon probably put each knife through. Much like the Ka-Bar 1217,which is synonymous with the Marines, this knife looks like they conveyed their ideas very well. Great video again Joe. And thanks for a little history lesson.
I asked Mike Stewart personally on facebook why the Marines went with such a small blade compared to the well know 7" kabar. He said they did not want a fighting knife, they wanted a heavy duty bushcraft/field knife. He also said, they told him they fight with guns, not knives, LOL.
Texas Outdoors I always thought to myself that if I let my enemies get close enough to defend myself with a knife, I did something really wrong.
LOL
Good vid.
I have the Bravo 1. Purchased it several years ago. It's everything you said in your review and more.
I agree with you 100%. It'd be about impossible to fit all of the great things into a video short enough for people to watch. Thanks!
Bark river makes some really nice knives. In their case you really do get what you pay for. One day I will own one!
+Adventure Time Outdoors I couldn't have phrased it better. Thanks for watching!
Hey Joe, the reason convex does so good is, convex is the ORIGINAL Scandy edge. Look it up. Also, if you want to see someone that knows more about Bark River knives than Bark River even knows, just look for virtuavoice on CZcams. Thanks for the video!!!
+mister smith Yep, there is a loooonnng history there with convex, knife tech through the ages, etc, etc. I purposefully didn't broach that for several reasons (mostly being time constraints). I am a sub of virtuavoice but thanks for the reference Sir! By the way, every time I see your name on here, I always have flashes of The Matrix in my head lol
Bwuaaaa haaaaa! I'm going to get you Neil!!!
Mike Steward mentioned that the thumb should be place in front of the guard, so one can put maximum force into the straight cutting edge, eg during notching. The jimping im sure is there for “defensive” reason, given that it was developed in part with force recon, youd expect it to fill that role as well.
Nice review. Loved it. I have a Bravo 1 A2 FHG rampless and I love the knife. You mentioned A2 to be corrosive resistent. That's not true. You need to protect it, but the upside is that it takes a very good edge. I have put the sheath through olive oil bath. This smoothens the leather, makes it weather proof and protects the blade very well from getting rusty. It also protects the edge much better. Hope this helps
It's been a long time since I filmed this so I don't remember exactly how I phrased it but my intent was as compared to the "normal" carbon steels such as 1095 or O1. It has far better corrosion resistance then either of those. Thanks for the tips Rob!
11:51 "mimosa" ? I thought that was a drink, LOL! Just kidding, Joe. Great video as always.
I've always loved the design of the Bravo 1, but after hearing that backstory I'm even more of a fan. (I have several friends and family who are either active duty or prior service military, most of them from the Marine Corps. I would've enlisted if I could have. They wouldn't take me because of health problems. Oh well. Semper Fi.)
+kpw528 LOL! Yep, it's a tree. One of the prettiest trees in late spring/early summer here and one of the best for friction fire too. (as a side note, making a tea out of it's inner bark does a pretty good job as a prevention for insomnia too.) Anyway, I didn't enlist either but for other reasons. To this day it is probably my largest regret.
Good solid review Joe! Have not tried a Bark River knife nor a convex blade to speak of.. Might have to give them both a try....
+Larry Norris I would highly recommend trying it out. Everybody being different and having different uses, they are obviously not going to be for everyone but I do certainly enjoy them. Thanks for watching Larry!
Great video. Bark River Knives are TOP NOTCH! You made it look easy making that bow drill set! I have a cpl Bark River knives...I guess I will have to get me a Bravo!
+Jerry Morris They are just a pleasure to use. I think you'll enjoy a bravo. Once you use one, it's easy to see why it's such a good seller. Thanks!
Outstanding Video Joe...
A real pleasure to watch.
Thank you.
I have several other Bark River knives, and some had to be ordered with a ramp. I simply used a flipped over belt sander and 80 grit to knock them off cleanly in minutes. I did quench each knife a few times, but it never got to hot to touch. A2 is WAY easier to grind than S35, but that just needed a bit more time, and definitely a close watch on temp (mostly because I didn't want to get the micarta too hot).
Thanks for this review, I wasn't aware of how good of a knife this was. I did know of the story behind the development, and it was an interesting story.
Great looking knife ! I dig the crafting of a bowdrill set for the review. Totally awesome !
+SurvivalComms Thanks! To me it seems to cover the most ground the quickest.
I love my BR knife, as well as my Tops BOB. They are my first choices when deciding what to take (out of 20 or more knives), so I usually take them both. I hope you will periodically show us how you hone/sharpen your Bravo One. I have only had to strop mine, but you probably use yours a lot more than I use mine.
+csh 62 I have it filmed I just need to get that edited and I'll post it. By in large, I just strop it. As long as you keep them maintained, both A2 and V3 rarely need anything more then a strop in my experience. Thanks!
Nice review! I have a Bravo 2 in 3V that I use for larger stuff and really like it. I just picked up a Bark River Kephart in 3V and will be taking it out this weekend to try. It has a very thin blade but with 3V it should be very strong and the thin blade makes it quite a slicer.
+WeApoNut Oh man those Kephart's are sweet! Please do come back and let me know what you think of it after you have a chance to use it! Thanks!
Just got back from a 4 day AT hike and it performed fantastic. Took a little to get the feather stick angle down but slices really nice and batoned like a champ with 3 inch and under stock.
That looks like a really great knife, I've never used a Barkriver knife but I may just have to give one a try, great video Joe.
Great review, thanks a lot.
Greetings from Germany!
Thanks! Hello back!
Great video, knife looks awesome. Just thought you might want to know I searched for Bushcraft on CZcams and this video shows up 4th!!! That's pretty cool. Have a nice day, subscribed.
Not really a Bark river fan but thumbs up for the friction fire!
+MegaWoodswalker Thanks! I like the way you think lol
I'm with you, this is the first knife that after of year of tying to like it, I sold it. Not a fan, dulled way too easy, and tarnished really badly. Bought the Benchmade Bushcrafter after the Bravo, and ended up loving it.
Bravo 1.25 is on my list. ...really like that size.
+Bosse Grytbakk ....I want it with a spear point though. ...so cool.
I've got a Bravo 1 and an Aurora. Love them both. My Aurora is probably my favorite knife I own (though I do have a Triple J Knives blade that swaps places with it for favorite sometimes lol). I felt same as you about the thumb ramp. I thought it looked really cool aesthetically, but functionally wasn't sure about it. I wound up liking it though. Still the ramp isn't for everyone.
+Atro785 The Aurora is still my favorite Bark River. Unfortunately I don't have it anymore but it is a great great blade. Honestly, I find when I use the Bravo for a while and then move to a knife without a ramp, it feels strange lol
Nice to see you liking my favorite grind. never really liked a scandi for bushcraft imo it's just too fragile for me.
I still really enjoy scandi but the performance on these convex blades are impressing me more and more everyday. Thanks!
I just recently saw a video on the EDC version. Looked good. I will have to look at the Games keeper too. Thanks Joe !.......PAPA DUKES
+john rossi The EDC is a great. It is an excellent companion to any larger blade. Even it's bigger brother the Bravo 1 here. Thanks John!
Great review and video, thanks Joe!
Excellent job :)
+MrTatts64 Thank ye Sir!
that 1.5 looks sweet
+wildernesscamp 85 Oh it is. It's not next in line but you'll see more of it soon. Thanks!
Great review and video. Thanks.
+NorseMan Thanks a lot, I appreciate that!
great vidéo and good skills too. i ve got this knive cost me a lot of money ( cpm s 35vn + i'm in france) but i'm happy to have it
+Brenguier Alexandre Brenguier I bet that did cost a pretty penny both for the knife and to get it over there and through customs! And I agree, it'd all be worth it. Thanks for chiming in! That is a testament to this blade for sure.
Ok, time to checkout my shopping cart. Thanks for the video. I don't visually like the ramper either so let me order one without it and see.
Nice video nice knife. great work as usual.
Joe, fantastic video as always! Unfortunately you haven't made my choice between the 1 and 1.25 and easier as well as that bad boy performed! :D
+Christian Cork LOL Christian. Knowing you as I think I do, I bet you'll end up with the 1.25. Function wise there isn't really any downside to going with the 1.25. You can process larger wood with it and have a longer cutting edge for slicing etc. The only possible negatives is the added bit of weight and difference in balance. Both of which are personal preference.
As always Joe, it's a pleasure and thank you for the info brother and always putting out great vids!
Good vid, but this is the first knife that after of year of trying to like it, I sold it. Not a fan, dulled way too easy, and tarnished really badly. Bought the Benchmade Bushcrafter after the Bravo, and ended up loving it.
Hey Joe,
I'm not sure if you've been asked this question before, but if you could only choose one knife out of the Bark River Bravo lineup, which one would it be?
Thanks for all the great content, and keep it up!
That is an impossibly hard question to answer LOL. At this time, probably a rampless Bravo 1.25 that has had a spa treatment and ground down to a spear point. Probably. My opinion changes though lol Thanks!
Haha! That's understandable, and I had a feeling that it would probably be something like that. Thanks for the response!
Hey there,
As a fellow jumbo-handed guy, I appreciate your handle commentary in your reviews. How does this fit your mitt? I feel like it might lack meat in the pointer finger.
Thanks!
must try the senegal and the ultra lite bishcrafter looks like the perfect couple 😉
So many Barkies, so little time. It is amazing just the shear number of models they have on the market!
+Feral Woodcraft yes drooling over the senegal and mini bushcrafter myself hehe
Okay, so first off...amazing...not just the knife but more your skill on primitive fire. I really want to try this but I am absolutely dumb when it comes to trees identification (even though I've been in the woods my whole life. I live in Iowa and have a lot of hard woods in my area. What type of wood did you use and what would you recommend trying in Iowa and is there an abundance of that wood available in Iowa? Any thoughts is greatly appreciated.
own one and love it!
Thank you.
I actually am the first to watch this video, never done that before.
great review! I was wondering how you liked the swedge up there? for once, I don't have to add a knife to my wish list after watching because I have one! whoo! this video didn't make me hungry either ha-ha. thanks for the background story and the steel info as well!
Awesome video! Cannot wait to get my hands on one of these. But I do have a question that is very important to me:
I will be getting a Bravo 1 in the near future, but I am COMPLETELY torn between the version in Elmax steel, and CPM-3V steel. I simply cannot decide. I too will be using the knife for bushcrafting and camping.
I want a blade that is tough enough for me to be able to baton it through a log without chipping or snapping, but I do not want to have to constantly sharpen the knife either. Also, Elmax being virtually stainless is a big turn on to me.
If only it were in YXR7...
Any thoughts or opinions would be greatly appreciated!
Oh man that is a hard one. I have no experience with Elmax on a full size knife. All mine in Elmax are small fixed blades. I've beat the snot out of CPM 3V on larger bravo's and they did just fine. If I were in your shoes, I'd give Elmax a try. I love it's qualities in the smaller blades and am itching to try it in a larger size. Just remember though...if you do manage to break the blade with whichever steal, Bark River will fix it if they can and replace it if they can't. That being said, I'd say pull the trigger on whichever calls your name the most and start tearing up some wood! Thanks for watching and please do let me know which you pick and how you like it :)
Pull the trigger.... I like it! :-D
That is some damn good advice. I think I will go with my gut and give the Elmax a shot. After some good use with it, I will let you know my opinions on the blade. Honestly Bark River is probably one of the best in the game for working with Elmax, so I doubt I have much reason NOT to trust it and give it a try.
Just subscribed to your channel and am looking forward to watching more of your videos! Thanks again man!
Thanks for the support Taylor, I am grateful and welcome!
My vote is cpm 3v. I have both. I asked that same question on bark rivers facebook page. Almost all of the Barkoholics on there said, go with elmax for EDC and 3v for hard use woods knife. I hope this helps a little. If your on facebook, those guys on there are an awesome resource to ask your questions.
Good video.
+HBC258 Thanks!
Both of my parents were Sergeants in the Corps, so that is a neat story....but yikes, I just cannot get over that insanely hideous thumb ramp. It makes me wish I hadn't been born every time I accidentally gaze upon it, it's like my own personal Medusa. OK, I'm being dramatic & yes, it can be ground off....but not for one second am I buying that you would, or even may, choose to order a Bravo1 WITH the ramp/jimping. You would order it without, because you're a good man & a wise person. Ohhhh, man, I need to shower now and scrub away this thick film of crappiness that the Bravo 1's ramp/jimping has coated my soul with. Seriously, I love your vids, even this one...you're that good my man!
+scott sherman LOL!!!! Man, you had me chuckling all through that haha! Honestly, it has grown on me and several other commenters have said that it's actually not for your thumb but for a ferro rod. Your thumb is supposedly supposed to go above it. I tried it...didn't seem to work but if it works for them, cool. Thanks for the chuckle and kind words Scott, I am grateful. Oh...and you caught me...You're right, I didn't order this one (of course I didn't say I did, I just said if I were to ;) ) But seriously, it has grown on me. To the point, I'd have to try them side by side to compare. Thanks again!
Those are very nice knives, not crazy about the sheath style. It's a quality sheath just prefer a sheath where the knife sits deep and no strap.
Knives Ship Free and DLT Trading carry the Bravo I.5. They also have deep-carry, strapless sheaths that fit the 1.5.
Yes, I did a sheath switch on my Gunny by getting a deep-carry from DLT.
Interesting, never heard about convex on cheap Chinese knives. It’s actually the most difficult grind for mass production and needs some skills to be done properly. Scandy on other hand can is much easier to achieve with proper tools. Because of tat all those noobie knive makers push scandy as the best grind for bushcraft and everything else. In reality - convex is much stronger and better in almost any task and just a tiny bit behind of scandy in some fine aspects of wood carving. “Scandivex” in the golden middle. The question is Fallkniven or Bark River :)
Say Heah. Yesssss, Yesssss, One of my Fav's. Yeah Surrr, I have a Ghost Green Jade G-10 Bravo 1, I also got the Woodland Special, Bravo 2 and the Golok, all afe in A2 and the same handle coler. My 3V are with the Black G-10. Yeah I'm liking the 3V, But A2 is a pretty good steel on its own. They say it's better than O1., Oh and I luv the ramp, I got the ramp on all of them except tge Woodland Special and the Golok, The Golok reminds me of a large Butter Knife, They use to say a good bushcraft blade size should beable to touch the bottom.of a peanut better gar, Well the Golok is like a Butter Knife on steriods. But cutting close to the ground is where it shines, You don't bury tge tip into the ground, because there's no tip, it's like a butter knife. I luv it.
+paulie 4x Currently A2 is my favorite steel but I am thinking 3V may be taking that title. I am not sure yet but it just might. The Golok has been peaking my interest here of late. I will have to try one at some point. Thanks Paulie!
Great video Joe!
+Quickhatch Knives Thanks Brenton!
Great video and I love that knife. I plan on getting a bravo edc and was wondering what your thoughts are on Elmax steel?? Most of my knives are in s30v and idk much at all bout Elmax. Any advice would be appreciated
I've been eyeballing an L.T. Wright blade for awhile now. How does this knife stack up against a Genesis or a GNS?
+Jeff Holmes Quality/durability wise they are the same in my opinion. They are obviously different styles altogether so it boils down to what you prefer. Most BR's have a convex on them, but as stated their convex performs an awful lot like a scandi. Not exactly mind you but pretty close.
You cannot go wrong with either one. Similar steel options, handle materials, and craftsmanship. BR is predominantly convex grind. LT offers several.
Greetings from the Coast Range of Oregon! Joe, have you had the opportunity to try a Bravo I LT? Thanks, Gary.
I've fondled one at Blade Show but I haven't actually used one. I do hope to change that at some point though. Have you? Thanks!
hey good video thanks! How do you sharpen your Bark River Knives? Is CPM 3v really so hard to sharpen, what i can read/hear? Convex sharpening seems like harder on the field
Hi Stef. I have a play list on how I sharpen knives of various grinds and profiles (see below) but the short version is, I primarily use a strop. If it gets really dull then I use a ceramic rod, then a strop to finish it up and smooth out the minor flats created by the rod.
3v requires a bit more patience then say O1 or A2 but it's not terribly bad as long as you have the proper tools. Thanks!
czcams.com/play/PL6F6mSN42hTLTOmfouPlvY9yOeJRXL2dB.html
HI, a convex blade seems like on the field without strop unsharpenable right? a flat or scandi grind is always able to sharpen on a riverstone or on something else. Convex is here not sharpenable..? is that thought right?
@@stefan-D You could get it done, but you are right, it's not as easy as a scandi would be. A flat grind typically (not all) has a convexed secondary on it so you might be in the same boat as the full convex. That being said, some food for thought. How often do you have the need to sharpen your knife out in the field? Also, remember that you can use many things to strop with. A leather belt, wallet, even denim will work (albeit, slowly).
what other convex knives made by asia have u used i cant think of any. condor is the only company i can think of but thats not asia
+Keep Out I am not going to toss any brands under the bus, which is why I didn't name them in the video :)
I assume that it does come with the leather sheath shown in this video?? for under $150 ??
really good review, as always, but those knives are way too expensive for me to consider ^^" (they run around 400€ on Amazon italy)...
+Zio Azalin OUCH! That would set one back a little bit for sure. I've got some budget stuff coming up right around the corner. I think folks might be a bit surprised about some of it. Thanks!
Dont feel too bad Zio. I really want an authentic french lagioulle knife, but dang they are expensive.
I ordered the bark River adventure and I received the bravo one in the mail should I be disappointed
You should get a mic joe your sound quality will be a lot better cool videos btw
+Dean Henderson I've been using one for about 6 months. The camera that was filmed doesn't have a mic jack. Thanks for the feedback.
Feral Woodcraft hey Joe, I'm looking into the bravo 1 cpm 3v. does it have a 90 degree spine? or the bark rivers don't have a sharpened spine?
The sound came across just fine on my computer speakers. I really dig your videos; they're very informative and straight forward. I appreciate your insight and I look forward to many more videos to come.
Nice work on the fire, by the way.
Say Heah Joe, Yeah, The Bravo 1 starts both of my stables . One in A2 and now in 3V, But yeah, I love my 3V Bravo 1. ,, .
Where'd this guy go?
I have a Fallkniven S1 an ESEE 6 and I just ordered a Ratmandu.
Should I order the 1 or 1.25?
Thanks for the question Brian. I am probably not the best person to answer that question as I have no experience with any of the knives you mention there. My recommendation will always be "whichever knife lines up with your typical preferences the most" though.
NICE
Nice! I'll give you $5 for that knife! >_o
Great review brother.
Thanks for the video
+Eat Carbs I'll take it. $5 40 times...:-P
Thanks Mark!
Does the bark River bravo 1 have 90 degree spine? Can it throw sparks?
My friend,how would that Bravo compare to the Enzos Trapper.
Man I wish I could find the perfect lobbed that would make both pieces in 3 minutes you cut to times and had a heart board perfect didn't even need to shape it... Try that with mosquito
a2 is not really very corrosion resistant...it's similar to o1 i think
+Onix Pyro Oh it's no stainless steel for sure (sorry if I gave that impression) but it is far more corrosion resistant then O1. Abuse it and give it no maintanence and sure, it will rust but it's far easier to prevent. Watch Alone Season 2 coming out and you'll see A2 vs O1 up close and personal. Thanks bud!
+Feral Woodcraft Greetings from the Coast Range of Oregon! Great review and one-stick fire, Joe; your skills are impressive. I have a Bravo 1.5 rampless in 3V and a rampless Gunny in 3V. Both are exceptional knives. I also have several Barkies in A2 which definitely are much more corrosion resistant than any knife I've used in 1095. (I don't have any O1 knives so I can't speak to that steel.) I didn't know the rest of you Gauntlet guys had the inside scoop on Alone 2...
I really like the intro animation what is name of song used?
I honestly don't know. It came from the person I contracted to make the animation. Thanks!
+Feral Woodcraft oh ok thanks though I enjoyed your video
+Feral Woodcraft can it throw sparks? Does it have a 90 degree spine the bark River bravo 1?
A2 is not really rust resistant though.
what about a convex grind?
+penny parker I am sorry, I don't really know how to answer that. Could you be a bit more specific? Thanks!
+Feral Woodcraft I was just asking what you think of a convex grind but then I watched your video and understand that you don't like convex grind I have an ice maker that's making me a knife and he recommend convex grind
+penny parker I meant knife maker and he recommended convex grind
+penny parker I actually do like convex grinds. If I gave that impression in this video then I did something wrong. Bark River absolutely nailed the convex on this blade.
+Feral Woodcraft no sir you did nothing wrong yeah you're pretty excited to use it convex grind LOL
I’m going bravo as I lost my bob
I my opinion, knives with a swedge are for stabbing.
Mike, I agree. I have ordered all of my Bravo's with the ramp. Does it get in the way sometimes? Yes, but I'm a prepper type person and all of my outdoor knives have to fit one very important category. They must all be capable of self defense, God forbid if ever need be. Plus, it just looks fricken cool with the ramp :-)
O
You were using your bow drill on your blanket. How dumb is that! Let's put holes in the blanket... mostly though why don't people take a lighter with them when they go in the woods and make it easier on themselves? I never understood that. Yes, your lighter will eventually run out, but will you be able to survive that long in a real case scenario if you were stuck somewhere? How do you get food? Most people will die from dehydration or lack of food. Theyres not enough videos showing wild edibles and making shelters. There are only knife reviews on that particular knife. Just because you have a great knife..... doesn't mean you will live through a disaster. Hone all your skills. That's what people need to see