The Bravo 1 is the most popular knife in the Bark River Knives lineup. And for good reason. It’s hard-working, dependable, comfortable, and tough as hell. It spawned an entire series of knives, including the Bravo 1.25, Bravo 1.5, Bravo 2, Bravo III, and Bravo EDC, along with others. All share the same DNA, as well as the same dedication to the craft of knife making. The Gen 2 Bravo-6 is the newest iteration. It’s a brand-new model, and definitely worthy of the Bravo name.
The Bark River Knives Gen 2 Bravo-6
Bravo-6 Development
Mike Stewart, head honcho at Bark River Knives, had this to say about the creation of the Gen 2 Bravo-6:
“The Bravo Series of knives has been a backbone of our line for decades. It is also one of the most copied patterns in the Specialty Knife industry. Lots of custom makers and now even the Russians and the Chinese have made and are actively selling these patterns. It is time for a second generation of the Bravos.”
He and his team worked for over a year on the design. The goal was to create something that was even more secure and comfortable in the hand. At the same time, they wanted a more rugged feel, look, and function.
It’s important to note that while they are introducing a new look and feel to the Bravo line, there are no plans to discontinue anything in the existing lineup. This is strictly an addition, not a replacement.
For comparison, here is the Bravo 1 on top and the Bravo-6 on bottom.
Bravo-6 Specs
The Gen 2 Bravo-6 is 11.25 inches from end to end, with a 6.25-inch blade. The CPM 3V steel is 0.187-inch thick and hardened to 60 Rockwell. The knife has the Bark River standard convex edge and arrives keen as a razor.
As with all knives that come from the Bark River shop, there is a huge range in handle materials available, including numerous colors of micarta and G-10. This model marks the first time Bark River has used stainless steel flared tubes in their handles.
On this, Stewart said, “The flared tubes in the handles are 304 stainless steel. I wanted the look of those tubes to be a bit different than other companies that we see on the market. There is a countersink in the handle that they flair into.”
The base weight of the Gen 2 Bravo-6 is 10.54 ounces, but this can change slightly with different handle materials.
Each Gen 2 Bravo-6 comes with a leather belt sheath equipped with a snap and strap retention. The strap fits perfectly the first time, no stretching or breaking in required.
Bravo-6 Performance
I’ve only played around a bit with it thus far, but I’m suitably impressed. It has a great balance and feels outstanding in hand. At nearly a foot overall, this isn’t a small knife, and most people probably won’t consider it for EDC. However, if you’re on the hunt for a good field knife, one that will help you clear a shooting lane as well as process what you harvest, the Gen 2 Bravo-6 just might be your huckleberry.
Find the Gen 2 Bravo-6 at DLT Trading and KnivesShipFree. The MSRP varies based on the handle material, but expect to see prices around $320 for base models in black canvas micarta, then going up from there for the higher-end materials.
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