Just missing these old days Wako and rewatching some of your old videos every bit as good as they were back then. Huge thanks for all of these Wako much loved friend be easy

Sir, you are an asset to the youtube knife community, and I'll also add that the world is a better place because you are in it. Be well, friend. By the way, most excellent video.

Why is it every time I watch your videos I want to buy a new Bark River? Hmmm!

Thank you very much for taking the time to analyse and comment the different knives. Very educational. Best wishes from Tenerife, Spain.

I would not even have thought about those difference existing. Thank you for pointing them out!

In my little experience 3V is a harder steel than A2. So It keeps longer than A2. But it is a bit more prone to chipping than A2. If 3V Bravo1 had the same geometry as A2 Bravo1, it would get damaged more. So 3V Bravo1 has fatter geometry from the factory not to take major chipping IMO. 3V is a harder steel to resharpen than A2. So the chip restoration on 3V tends to deepen the edge angle. The both steels take the same sharp edge without any problems. So I go to easier steel to restore. Thanks.

Thank you for your comments. I now have a Bravo1 Field 3V Bark River and the Sharpton stones with Bark River white compound. I sure hope Bark River does something for you. You are the reason I have all of their products. Again let me say how much I enjoy your videos and thank you for all the knowledge I have learned from you. Don

Thanks a lot for you review!!! It is very helpful for me to choose my primary knife for bushcraft!

Thank you finally uploading a comparison between the 2 steels. Hope your knee is recovering quickly!!

Excellent video as usual! I always enjoy them! Thank you so much and keep up the good work! By the way I love the handles on the new blade!

Bravo Knife Master! Thank you once again for your excellent reviews and testing. With your help I am narrowing in on the knife that will be the perfect companion for me. Thanks.

Long vid seemed short. Always very interesting and we appreciate you!

And I'm binge watching virtuovice again. ;) Well done sir, I appreciate your dedication and knowledge.

Love the sound of these wood cutting tests 😂👍🏻

The reason they consider chopping abusive is because there is far more freeplay and higher side loading stresses on an edge when swinging, compared to an edge lined up stationary and pounded through. an example of this is that most good knives will chop a soft nail that is clamped down tight and batonned. but if the nail is loose and rolling around then the free play can tear a chip out of your knife. the same can happen hitting a hard knot in wood. depending on edge grind of course.

Thanks Wako, great video! Nice abusive test and great proof that both steels and knives are great. All the best and keep it up!

Excellent video, been watching your videos for a while now......very good

Excellent video and compare! Thank you!

Excellent video, great testing, I love the torough testing. Thanks brother.

O, now I see the differense between 3V and A2. Thank you very much for your help! Спасибо!

thank you for this video, you did a lot of abusing to the blade of your knife,and help a lot of people including me to decide for the steel, I will go for 3V. Thanks again!

Great video, lots of help, thanks!!

I was having serious edge issues with my Bravo 2 (A2 steel), so I contacted Bark River. I was told that while batoning is not considered abusive, chopping is. Still, I find the edge to be a little fragile when batoning and splitting wood. But the edge is easy to restore. I guess that it's a small price to pay for the way it sails through material. There's nothing like it. Thanks for another great video, Wako! I love the longer ones, do don't shorten them! ✪✪✪✪✪

Thank you for your super job of testing. It helps me be confident with my choice. God bless. John

Hello Sir from Greece Europe You are amazing Thank you for your video Your advice are always to the point

Almost too beautiful to use in the woods.....almost ;).

thanks for posting. i got the knivesshipfree otter box sharpening kit. i agree, the green compound provides very little touch up when sharpening my 3v steel knife. my gransfor bruks hatchet get razor sharp using green for touch up, but the 3v is just too tough. that's special steel right there. wish i had the white stuff. i did persevere, however, and with enough strokes on the black compound and some on the green i was shaving hairs. you, sir, are a true ninja warrior.

You're welcome. The response was the suggestion not to chop, but only baton with it. In addition, I was told that when the edge gets damaged, just send it in for a "spa treatment." But having been a "Wako Knife People" guy from almost the beginning, I've learned enough to restore my edges very well-- so I don't think I'll ever need to send it in.

What an amazing review! Subscribed.

Great video, very informative and beneficial for knife enthusiasts. By the way Dan Keffeler is a custom knife manufacturer who uses CPM-3V and he states that he has never encountered any issues with the steel. Noss4 (ex KZfaq knife tester) also tested one of Dans knives and it prevailed in every aspect of the test. Thanks.

A Huge Thumbs Up ! I am purchasing a Bravo 1 in Black Ebony soon . You show details that I want to see & know . Thank You virtuovice, from aka rock

[16:46] - " Oke... It's done, maybe... OKE, BANG BANG BANG, hmmm not yet ... " This made my day :D

These are 2 of the best steels for outdoor knives available. You can't go wrong with either. I laughed so hard at that hammer !!

Excellent review!

Haha, forgive me for either not paying attention or not listening closely enough to the video. Thanks for the answer. Gosh, re-watching this video was amazing. Those Bark Rivers really bite deep into that wood. Gotta' get one someday.

I too was wondering what the advantage of a larger and heavier knife is if you shouldn't chop with it. No, I haven't honed it. I only used a rod to align the rolls and dents, and then I stropped it. I did read that changing the edge geometry would likely make it more durable. I might email the company to see what they suggest. They must be very familiar with the issues.

Thank you.

I love my bravo 1 in standard A2. It's bullet proof. And with the polish removed from the natural micarta handle, it's very comfortable with good traction.

It took micro bends or rolls decently after a single deer dressing. So, I needed to put a larger angled micro convex bevel on it. Gunny's original edge angle is pretty small like Bravo Necker2 in Sandvic which also needed a deep angled micro bevel to stand against bone touching. Thanks.

congratulations for your videos! greetings from Europe!

What they say traction grooves or what we say gimping on the spine of Bravo1 Field Knife is very sharp and makes pain on our thumb. You can have the ramp removed by BRKT when you order it from a dealer. Some dealer doesn't charge you for the modification. Thanks.

I don't have to worry about any of this since my blades don't cut anything tougher than paper...lol. I do appreciate that most folks actually use their blades for real work. :)

Thanks Sir ! Fantastic Test or a Masta 👈👍

Great Video!

@virtuovoice, your knives are just BEAUTIFUL!!! Thanks for sharing. SuperC

I just purchase three Bark River knives, a Bravo 1, Bravo 1.25, and a Bravo 1.5. I wasn't sure which steel to get, but because of this video, I got all three in 3V.

I have never tried your way of applying abrasive particles onto a leather strop. Thanks.

Could you do more surgery demos? Ilove them.

I totally agree with you. A single point is that the 3V Bravo1 geometry is still small enough to go sharp and its deeper convex bevel takes less side friction from wood and separate it wider, and as a result it will make a better wood knife probably. If the wood was harder or in case of skinning, the story of the fat geometry would go different. Anyway the 3V Bravo1 edge angle is not critically deep like BR Bushcrafter and it still seem to have a room to grind to sharpen. Thanks.

Wako, another point to mention that seems small, but is not. the 3V is only 58RC. the A2 is 59RC. this means the A2 is much stronger for a thin edge and will roll less. the 3V @58 is still 2+ times more wear resistant, but is more likely to roll when sliding across bones. had the 3V been RC to the same amount it would be Equally Strong, and still 80% tougher than the A2 if ground identically. Infact, the 3V at 62RC would be Much stronger than A2 at 59/60, and still same toughness as softer a2.

Great video. The thinner geometry blade will be easier to maintain a sharp edge over multiple sharpenings. Also, I find sharp jimping unnecessary.

Hi Doctor, you probably influenced my Bark River knife sets the most, I have 2knife sets, one in A-2, the other in 3v, I favor the 3V, and have the Bravo 1 in each set, between you and Bluntruth, I have to Thank You, if I was just stuck in a no where serious survival situation, and only had my Bravo 1 with me, I know I had a great knife with ne, it's a shame there's a pound separating us, I found a great bushcraft/survival/camp knife, for you to try, it became one of my favorites, and I have a few knives to compare the knife to, it is made by Busse, and it's called the Son of Badger, what makes this knife special, even though it's a 4 3/4" blade, it has a very functional small choil, not just a cut out, but a functioning small choil, I watch how you make any knife look so easy on your videos, I can imagine what you could do with the S.O.B., I know you would luv it too, your taste, and my taste in knives are very similar, keep up the great work, that video, when you had the trout lunch, I could almost taste how good it was, and alot of envy, just kidding, but keep up the great work, your a one of a kind, an Oriental Mors Kochanski.

It looks like a tiny chipping in the microscopic view. I didn't notice it when I inspected the edge through the microscope. But the A2 must have had a single persistent nick which took time to restore completely. It must be the one viewed in the microscope. Thanks.

It is very likely that the edge was just over heated and if the blade is sharpened a few time it will stabilize. There is no need to use a very thick edge for the work you are doing, if the steel is properly hardened it would not be a problem.

Thank you for this vid

He has videos using a SOG Seal Pup, Short Kabar and Navy Mark I Knife. He also had an Al Mar military-style knife he used to use years ago when I first started watching him. With folders, he has used Cold Steel AK47 and various Emersons. All of these are "tactical." And if you watch his videos on them, he appreciates them as much as "non-tactical" knives, or sometimes even more so because of their cool factor.

I have been using one for a year now, but not a big fan of the A2 Steel. Dulls quickly and rusts way too easy. The design isn't too bad, but a tad big on the thickness. I have been using the Benchmade bushcraft in S30V and has held up much better. I haven't had to sharpen it once in a year, while I have to re-sharpen the A2 Bravo monthly. The sheath is crazy bulky.

That's pretty much what they explained. I was told that the knife doesn't strike perfectly straight when chopping. Cheers.

I once owned the ESEE6. It was a bit light knife for chopping and I replaced it to cKc Forrester7 custom knife. I have a video "The survival hunting knife, cKc Forrester7 Japan version". Thanks.

No prob bud! Just figured I would tell you incase you missed it. Some times I dont catch things on the first watch so, i figure I would want to know too. heh. Yea. It is a pretty good video! I want to get one too pretty soon. I have a black jack knives model 14 halo attack, which is made by bark river and it is one of my favorite knives. I cant wait to get a bravo 1. Thanks bro!

Very good video.

I bought a bravo one today, first thing to do watch Wako San to get the ultra hype before it arrives in a few days. Bark river is as charming as you master Wako! Btw a rubber hammer is the Moste awesome shit for batoning!

I know they say so. But I know Bark RIver's spine has an edge sharp enough to make lots of sparks from a fero rod. The ramp positioning is very wrong just interfering with thumb stretching onto the spine. How comfortable the Rampless is in the thumb on the spine holding. What they say must sound quite strange for everyone. The gimped ramp will look cool for collectors since it has a decent military story on its background. But I cannot understand what the original designer thought. Thank you.

Its all in the tempering.

You can get it separately from The-Knife-Connection > Knife Accessories > Sheaths / Carry Accessories > Bark River Sheaths and Carry Accessories. It is $56.95 there. It is generally called Deluxe Sheath. But TKC doesn't call it Deluxe. But it must be the same thing.

To me it looks more stunning. And I have some experiences where the blade held water drops between the Kydex and itself, and took rust. When the water drops are a few, leather absorbs them to prevent the rust in my experience. Thanks.

Great comparison of steels, but I think it worth paying more for the CPM3V

Grats. Nice knife.

No booze or meat in this video :( lots of awesome steel though! Thanks for making the vid Wako.

Thanks, I will look it up. What was the response from Bark River?

I would go with a2 steel, I sharp myself

another great video as always this is a 31min video but for some reason it felt shorter

You are still a legend ! Where is the bear fighter?

What I dont like.. in all honestly.. is that they claim to be easygoing.. but in reality the level of ridicule they throw at their own customers defies belief. they actually ridicule you into not taking up the warranty. make it so that if you do take it up, it seems like you were a bad person for doing so.. I mean. I've read 100 times something like "We cover everything, even when it costs us money and its because they are inept knife users" constant customer berating for having injured a knife

Yeah, but it is cryo treated to stress relieve any tension and maximize relationship growth.

ebony can crack easy, dont drop on hard surface, i tend to stay away from jimping on fixed blade knives

Isn't it funny how the edge of a knife can have a hard enough steel and good enough heat treat to survive that brutal (I would never use a hammer to chop wood! I still respect your expert opinion though) edge test, but you can easily restore the edge with some leather and fine particles mixed with water to form a strop compound? That so awesome. Have you figured that one out Virtuovice?

Oh.. one other thing.. as advertised on all their sales websites for the Bravo1 "The Final Result is a Heavy Duty Bushcraft/Survival Knife that can stand up to Abusive use." So honestly.. its quite clear that if chopping is abusive, its designed to be chopped with and not have edge failure.

What kind of wood was the second piece?!?! Crazy hard!

Given the size/nature of the knife I am fairly astounded that they would recommend not to chop with it as if you remove chopping from the scope of work then the design of the knife seems a bit odd as what is all the weight/thickness for (aside from splitting). Have you sharpened the knife since the initial use (not stropping), if so have you see any change in the durability of the edge at all?

lol!!! Did you the radiography at the knives?! ...AHAHAH INSANE :)

Good video 👍🏻👌🏻

Is it my immagination or is there a slight chipping on the curve of the bravo 1 a2 ?

What was happening to the edge on the Bravo 2 when you were chopping? I assume you were just chopping wood?

Scott, I watched the video, but could not find the spots where you show and discuss the edge damage, was it in the first or second part?

Where did you purchase the knife and get the sheath for an extra $20? thanks nate

Great Video. But I'll stand by the words written by them. "have you tried to grind this stuff" its thicker because its so hard to grind. The lack of skeletonizing is compensation for them knowing they wont grind as much steel off. I do agree that the benefit of the thicker grind is to help rip wood fibres open. The downside is that it will require a vast amount of work to the end user in sharpening over the life of the knife. if its so hard for them to grind on a machine. think of handgrinding.

Great video & test, I'm still deciding on my first deer dressing knife to purchase in Australia & your channel has helped a lot. Any recommendations for a beginner anyone? Thanks

contd.. in fact.. They say that its a no questions asked policy.. but clearly its a high abuse policy.. As long as a badger doesn't chew on it, its covered? well.. they say that, and they probably do cover a lot.. but I think its a case of covering what they feel like, rather than treating everyone equally. I've seen a number of cases where they sure as hell did not replace items snapped in 1/2 that a badger was no-where near. I'm sure their margins are not massive, but they offered it.

I forgot the ESEE 6 and a Becker. There must be others, too.

Hello Wako. Why do you prefer leather sheath?

Hello. I was getting some pretty serious rolling/denting. This continues to be an issue unless I'm tame with the knife. Absolutely... I would never chop anything harder than wood. The knife was expensive by my standards. If you're interested, I talked a little about the edge issues during my review, which you can find with searchwords: "Bravo 2 Review by Scott." Cheers.

No, I don't do that, you must have misunderstood me, haha. I was referring to how stropping compound is only a bit of fine sand mixed with water, rubbed on leather, and somehow that can restore the edge that has withstood tons of abuse. It's a little hard of a concept to convey through text, I understand. If you still don't get it, no issues, it was just a bit of speculation.

Its claimed to be, but i wonder if its dipped direct into the nitrogen leaving a frigid mess with many micro-fractures just waiting to crack when you test the friendship out. there is also often a problem with harmonic balance when you get bigger, with a bit of a warped sense of friendship. I guess not everyone considers BFF to be BFF.. its like offering a lifetime warranty* (* Life of Mayfly applies)

I remember it was DLT Trading.

Back when bark river was a good product. Sad to see what they have become.

When I called to speak about the issue, I was told that chopping is abusive. The edge continues to distort in places even when I baton moderately. I should do a short video to demonstrate.

where can you get this sheath upgrade? I could not hear correctly.

I'd rather be behind my product than in front :) And if it took 45minutes to do 6" then yes, the edge geometry was a far cry from what BRK or I put on a knife. Seriously though. I'm just a hobby guy. I stand behind my work, but I make no false claims that its indestructible, and neither do I offer a no questions warranty. certain things should be covered by warranty, like bad material failure. i dont believe in covering use or misuse. BUT THEY DO, AND ADVERTISE IT. Thats the difference.

i forgot. re the comment from bark river about "have you tried to grind this stuff" as an excuse for them all to be thicker. i call serious bullshit even though it is harder. wako sent me the 60rc 3v brk bushcraft which had the very thick small grind and i fully ground it thin at 60RC. unless you are seriously skimping on decent fresh grinding belts ($5 each in USA) then there is no reason that the 3V blades shouldn't be equally fine ground.