Bark River Bravo 1 CPM 154, Desert Ironwood

The Bark River Bravo 1 is designed for (para)military use, specifically for the United States’ Marine Corps. Soon, however, it became evident that this knife is capable of a lot more. Today the Bravo 1 is a popular knife amongst bushcrafters and hunters. It is solidly constructed with enough blade thickness to handle heavy-duty tasks. Perfect for wood work, gutting game and many other outdoor tasks.
On the spine of the blade you find the so-called ramp. This is a small protrusion with serrations on one side. Intuitively the ramp appears to be placed too far back for the natural placement of the thumb. However, you are meant to place your thumb just in front of the ramp. As a result it is easier to apply more force during detailed jobs. The serrated edge of the ramp is formed as such that producing sparks with a firesteel is a lot easier.
The blade is made from CPM 154. A premium type of steel which is stainless and retains its sharpness well. As you might expect from Bark River this knife is razor-sharp when delivered. The edge has a convex grind which you maintain by stropping it.
The handle is made from Desert Ironwood. A type of hardwood that is mainly found in the United States and Mexico. The stunning colour with the rich pattern is characterizing. This striking type of wood makes the knife look extra luxurious.
The Bark River Bravo 1 comes with a leather belt sheath (max. Belt width 7.0 cm). It can also be worn horizontally.
Bark River Knives makes most of its knives by hand. As such each knife is unique. Especially with natural materials a knife can differ from its picture. The knife you receive can, as such, be subtle different from the product photo’s. The model and type of material, however, remain the same.