Bark River Bravo knives: all-round outdoor knives for everyone

Features of the Bark River Bravo

Bark River Bravo blade

The Bark River Bravo is available in different steel types: CPM 3V steel, A2 or CruWear. CPM 3V is a type of tool steel known for its exceptional strength. As such it won't break and will retain its sharpness well. A2 is also not stainless, so make sure to dry the knife after use and apply some maintenance oil occasionally. Like CPM 3V, A2 is a tool steel that would sooner bend than break. CPM CruWear is a tool steel that is known for its exceptional sharpness retention. Sharpen it once, and it'll stay that way for an impressively long time. You do, however, need to be careful with moisture and acids: CPM Cru Wear is not completely stainless. There's one thing that these different blades have in common; they are all solidly constructed with a thick enough blade to be able to perform heavy-duty tasks. The edge of the Bravo always has a convex grind.

Bark River Bravo handle

There are different handle materials to choose from, like wood or micarta. Micarta is a strong and lightweight material, made from linen and synthetic resin. It feels comfortable in hand, even in wet or cold circumstances. There are also other types of handle materials in the Bravo collection, such as Desert Ironwood or Pinecone. Desert Ironwood is a type of hardwood mainly found in the United States and Mexico. It has a distinctive colour and a beautiful grain. This great type of wood makes the knife look extra luxurious. Pinecone is an extra special handle material: it's a pinecone cast in epoxy resin. This is achieved through a special process that makes every knife unique. It's also virtually impossible to make the left and right sides of the handle the same. The material can have natural imperfections, such as small holes and noticeable flaws. However, you forget all about those when you look at the material: it is truly spectacular.

So many people, so many knives

The great thing about how Bark River produces knives is the large amount of variations that are possible. The result? Knives with over 10 different types of steel, and 10 different types of handle materials. Add the fact that there are also variations in jimping, and special light-weight versions and you there is enough to choose from!

History of Bark River Bravo

The remarkable thing about the Bark River Bravo collection is its history. Members of the 1st Force Reconnaissance Company of the US Marine Corps were looking for a new bushcraft knife without any means or support from their organisation. Together they purchased a bunch of knives and started testing them until they could no longer be used. In the end there was only one knife left: the Bark River Gameskeeper. They decided to take this knife and head over to Bark River to have it adjusted. The Gameskeeper was namely a hunting knife and could definitely use an upgrade to be used for bushcraft purposes. The result of these adjustments is the Bark River Bravo 1. Today there are multiple versions available of this knife, even with different types of steel. This once again shows that Bark River listens to what their customers prefer!