Review: The UP Bravo may be your "Grail" knife

Рет қаралды 15,788

4 жыл бұрын

In the back of his/her mind, every knife enthusiast probably has an idea of what their ideal knife, that do-it-all "Grail" knife could be. For years, I hoped Bark River would some day combine their best-selling Bravo handle with the Canadian blade. I've used the Bravo-handles and the Canadian blades very successfully, and a marriage of the two should produce an incredible product.
It did. The result is the U.P. (for Upper Peninsula of Michigan) Bravo. So far the knife has been everything I imagined it could be.
Read the review: survivalcommonsense.com/up-br...
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Thanks!

Пікірлер: 51

@ajfoyt1163 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much for your review. Thoughtful presentation, full of insight and detail. I've been looking at Bark River knives for years, but when I saw this knife released it just spoke to me. Your review helped push me over the edge; yesterday I placed my order and by Tuesday, I should be receiving my first Bark River. 👍

@survivalcommonsense 4 жыл бұрын

Let me know how you like it!

@floridadad2817 2 жыл бұрын

I think you're right. I have more Bark Rivers than I should have and just got a UP Bravo in full flat grind today. The shape, the handle, the blade length, the blade shape - I can immediately tell it's probably the most useful fixed blade of any Bark River I have.

@survivalcommonsense 2 жыл бұрын

I agree!

@MorrowSind 3 жыл бұрын

Just when I thought I knew what knife I was buying next... Great review! :)

@d.vochoc6501 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for adding another great knife to my wishlist ;-)

@hgillung 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the great review. I just ordered a UP. This will be my second BR, in November I bought a Bravo 1.5. I am very happy and impressed with BR, the beauty and quality of the product is outstanding. My Bravo 1.5 is a beautiful beast. If you don't have a BR, I highly recommend getting one. In other YT videos I have seen where BR has outstanding customer service, at anytime I can send my knife to BR and they will reprofile or re-sharpening for free (just pay shipping), even if I am the one that screwed it up. A company that stands behind their products is so rare these days and speaks volumes about the company and their products. Buy USA!

@survivalcommonsense 3 жыл бұрын

You will love the UP Bravo.

@intenseaty2935 4 жыл бұрын

Excellent review. Thanks!

@survivalcommonsense 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

@Airik1111bibles 4 жыл бұрын

Check out the Condor Wayfinder knife for a budget friendly bushcraft take on this style of blade. Also there is the Tops Dragonfly 4.5 it also has the leaf shape Canadian style blade with an excellent micarta handle for only $100-$110.

@HollywoodTacticool 4 жыл бұрын

thanks very informative. interesting take on the convex blade grind

@survivalcommonsense 4 жыл бұрын

I am really impressed with convex as a working grind. survivalcommonsense.com/best-knife-blade-grind/

@alexandergutfeldt1144 4 жыл бұрын

Great review! Excellent presentation and explanation why this is your 'perfect' knife! The UP bravo is not my grail knife. I am not a hunter, more a camper/hiker and bushcrafter. Your presentation and reasoning help me understand what I might be looking for!

@survivalcommonsense 4 жыл бұрын

Happy to be of assistance!

@bfdadventure 3 жыл бұрын

I got a Bravo UP enroute specifically for deer field dress. You nailed all the reasons why this knife is tailored for that job! Thanks!

@survivalcommonsense 3 жыл бұрын

You will love the knife. Please let me know how it works out for you.

@bfdadventure 3 жыл бұрын

@@survivalcommonsense Will do. I got the handle in Firedog micarta. Anyway, you described the exact holds I use when field dressing a deer. Bravo! (Pun intended)

@survivalcommonsense 3 жыл бұрын

@@bfdadventure I have some small input into the design of the knife, and I based my thoughts on actual deer hunting use and experience. All those holds mentioned have been used by me many times.

@tolkienboutstuff446 3 жыл бұрын

Dear sir, what is that adorable little green micarta knife in the helle lineup? Thank you!

@paulgundersen6334 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Leon, enjoying your reviews. Been eyeing off one of these for a while but now glad I held off as I saw the gunny version is coming out and has a blade thickness of .125 which will suit me better as a primary hunter. What are your thoughts on it?

@beeriann 4 жыл бұрын

Have you used the UP Bravo yet? Do you like it better than the Tundra? I just got the tundra but I’m debating if I should’ve gotten this instead now

@GypsyBushcraft1 4 жыл бұрын

Great video really enjoyed watching it what other if any bark river knives other than the tundra would you compare this to I have a Puukko and a bushCrafter

@survivalcommonsense 3 жыл бұрын

hmmm...It is sorta comparable to the Bravo 1.25 LT.

@5minutereviews906 3 жыл бұрын

So glad they finally made this! Perfect handle. Perfect blade shape. I'm curious though. Having never handled one can you tell why it's 25% heavier than the Bravo LT? Granted it's slightly longer and it has some extra height in the blade but 25% makes me wonder: is it as balanced as an LT or ambush Tundra?

@survivalcommonsense 3 жыл бұрын

I couldn't tell you. The balance is superb. I've handled the 1.25 LT and the Tundra extensively, and the UP is very comparable. I have used my UP at lot for camping and bushcraft and it works very well. Hope to wring it out this deer season on several whitetail.

@shaylacour8973 Жыл бұрын

That's a beautiful blade. !!!

@survivalcommonsense Жыл бұрын

It sure is! I really enjoy using and carrying it.

@shaylacour8973 Жыл бұрын

@@survivalcommonsense the nicest I have is a TOPS bootlegger 2. My carrier.

@survivalcommonsense Жыл бұрын

@@shaylacour8973 Good choice!

@yveslemmens5384 4 жыл бұрын

Great review! which is the top knife at 0:24s please?

@survivalcommonsense 4 жыл бұрын

That is a Bark River Fox River EXT-2. Excellent knife - here's the review: survivalcommonsense.com/best-deer-hunting-knife-bark-river-bravo-ext-2-review/

@anthonyrosa5006 2 жыл бұрын

I got one as a Fathers Day present from my wife. NICE. Pretty burl on the handle.

@survivalcommonsense 2 жыл бұрын

Your wife did very well when it came to choosing a knife!

@gabrielcr78 4 жыл бұрын

So Leon.. Have you chose between the Bravo up and the tundra? I have the tundra in 3v and I'm thinking if I should get the Bravo up.. Unfortunately no more ironwood handles... I wave similar taste in knives as u do from what I can see. That UP of yours is gorgeous! Hopefully someone will put one for sale some time :)

@survivalcommonsense 4 жыл бұрын

I haven't used the UP as much as the Tundra, so I can't compare them yet. But I did have some minuscule input into the UP design , so it looks like just what I wanted. Either one is a fantastic knife, and I could happily use either one for the rest of my hunting career.

@gabrielcr78 4 жыл бұрын

@@survivalcommonsense thanks a lot Leon. Really appreciate your experienced input

@grumpyoldwizard 3 жыл бұрын

I am sure seeing a lot of spear point blades lately. I even bought a White River FS-5 myself.

@inthemwoods523 3 жыл бұрын

Hmmmmm I wonder....... love to see that blade profile sude by side with a buck vanguard.

@mityjoeyoung8855 3 жыл бұрын

The Canadian blade is a much better wood working blade opposed to a skinner or game processing blade.

@ck7629 3 жыл бұрын

Anybody score one of these or the UP Gunny they would like to sell?

@survivalcommonsense 3 жыл бұрын

I'm on the road right now, but will be home in three weeks. If you haven't found one by then, contact me.

@ck7629 3 жыл бұрын

@@survivalcommonsense Appreciate the response! Would you be able to part with a UP Gunny? I’ll shoot you a message in 3 weeks as a reminder if I don’t come across one. Thanks again!

@ck7629 2 жыл бұрын

@@survivalcommonsense Hey man, not to bug you but did you make it back home to peruse you inventory? Thanks again!

@survivalcommonsense 2 жыл бұрын

@@ck7629 I lost my knife sponsor, so I'm hanging on to what I have right now. I need some on hand for reviews and field testing. That's my excuse, and I's sticking to it.

@ck7629 2 жыл бұрын

@@survivalcommonsense I hear ya my friend! No worries.

@random_eskimo_in_the_rockies 4 жыл бұрын

To have a design that great and not execute it in CPM-3V or CPM-20CV/M390/CTS-204P is disappointing. Great review, though.

@paulbrown6338 Жыл бұрын

That Canadian handle is not for everyone. Bravo handle is one of their best.

@survivalcommonsense Жыл бұрын

Knife handles are very subjective. You have to find the one that is the best for you.

@paulbrown6338 Жыл бұрын

@@survivalcommonsense Yeah but the problem is spending 300 to 400 on a Bark River to see if you like the handle is difficult.

@survivalcommonsense Жыл бұрын

@@paulbrown6338 Contact DLT Trading or Kniveshipfree.com and talk with them. Both are excellent companies (and I don't work for either!) they both have excellent returns policies. I checked out Bark River Knives several years ago to see if their returns policy was for real. They are: survivalcommonsense.com/ten-tips-about-buying-knives-online/