Fallkniven S1 and Bark River Bravo 1 Stainless Steel Knife Review

[ScottsUtubeWorld]

I can't even imagine being able to function in conditions like this... but your video inspires me to man up and work on it.

[CrawlingRoad]

@ScottsUtubeWorld If you can stay dry in those conditions, you'll be OK. But if you get wet you are in trouble! So concentrate on gear that will keep you dry no matter what.

[TheRunereaper]

Good video Craig, have you had any problems with the S1 blade chipping? I've read a couple of reports where this has happened after the blade hit bone and also stones when digging out holes in the ground. Also, how hard is it to sharpen these knives in the field? I noticed that the Bravo1 was a bit sharper out of the box but that was perhaps just the result of these 2 examples as I've seen reports of BR's being delivered dull. Finally, how do the tips hold up when making holes? Thanks again.

[CrawlingRoad]

@TheRunereaper I have not chipped my Fallknivens except a little on the 3G initially. But after I sharpened it it appears to have stopped. But I would never use a knife to dig or deliberately cut bone. That will ruin any blade. The VG-10 steel of the Fallkniven is easy to sharpen, especially if you use their DC3/4 sharpening stone. The tips hold up fine for making holes in wood.

[TheRunereaper]

@CrawlingRoad . Thanks for the reply Craig. I too, would never normally go sticking a quality knife in the ground but the S1 is pitched between the F1 & A1, both of which are marketed as "survival" knives. For me, that includes being able to root a bivvy in hard ground - hence the question. In the end I've bitten the bullet & bought an S1, it's £75 ($115) cheaper in the UK so price made a difference here. Can't report on it yet as not field tested. Good vids Craig, keep up the good work.

[SIeepyTyger]

Awesome review, I always learn a lot from your videos. I live in the pacific nw as well, and during the rainy/snowy seasons, my knives get some rust, so i am in the market for a stainless fixed blade. I am really fond of the brkt bravo 1 ss and the fallkniven s1, and am contemplating which one I should get. You probably have answered this a lot before; for backpacking/camping purposes, which knife would you reccomend (warranty considered - i know brkt has a lifetime warranty)?

[CrawlingRoad]

@SIeepyTyger I like the Fallkniven F1 as an all around hiking blade. It's thin, relatively light, and very strong. Honestly these lifetime warranties are overrated. Unless you are absolutely abusing your gear there is no reason why a couple year warranty wouldn't suffice. So don't let that be the only deciding factor. The S1 is also nice if you want a longer blade with clip point. The BRKT Bravo 1 is fine if you want a beefier blade.

[mijorebic]

Thank a lot for this review, I especially like your no nonsense approach! All the best!

[razor308]

Once again another great review. Cheers.

[mebbett70]

Ordered the Fallkniven S1 recently...should be here this week! I appreciate the review.

[CrawlingRoad]

@mebbett70 Can't go wrong with a Fallkniven of any kind. Enjoy that knife. I'm going to have mine out soon winter camping!

[hanslollick93]

Just watched your video on the BRKT Bravo 1...nice review....Just ordered my first. Thanks for the video...now on to your next one!

[digitalartwerks]

You need to mention your online store. I have watched your videos and made purchases on Amazon, but didn't realize till right not that I could have done it through your store.

[CrawlingRoad]

@digitalartwerks Oh I probably should. I put it at the end of the video as a link, but don't say it in the video. I may start doing that in the future. I appreciate you thinking about it for future purchases though. Thanks for commenting.

[cajoleable]

Thanks for the video. I was struggling to decide between the F1, S1 and Bravo. I went with S1. Thanks for the info.

[tecstrat]

Which Hilleberg tent is that?

[CrawlingRoad]

@tecstrat Hilleberg Soulo. I did an extensive review on it as well. Check my videos.

[tecstrat]

@CrawlingRoad found it. Really nice tent.

[heavencrew1]

oh no... i just found your channel... there goes my attempt at studying

[djSpinege]

Great review! is CPM 154 the same thing as 154CM ?

[samstterhamstteer]

this is why i got a fallkniven with a bark river handle

[Petegrin1]

If you would go bear grylls style but being alone without a camera crew for a weak, wich knife you you choose, the F1, S1 or the bravo 1?

and that will say in swedish climat, so rain, sun and snow

[bradwjensen]

@Petegrin1 If I had an Axe, I'd take the F1. If I didn't have an Axe, I'd take the A1, and maybe the F1 too.

[n2wilderness]

Great video.

[CrawlingRoad]

@n2wilderness Well it is a complicated question. Honestly the knife is lower on my list below good clothes, good sleeping insulation and a good shelter. But frankly any one of those knives I'd feel quite comfortable having during the survival courses I've taken. Maybe if I thought the knife is all I'd have I may want the S1 or Bravo 1 because it could be used better for chopping. But I prefer a folding saw over doing that.

[Evolancer276]

where did you purchase the Bravo 1 SS?

[lfnando23]

Can this knife take a little abuse, I mean will it cheap by chopping into not to big wood ? And is the point strong enough too ??

[CrawlingRoad]

@lfnando23 Not that I abuse knives, but I think this knife can take quite a bit of abuse.

[p1st0nb0n3s]

Hi! Gotta say awesome review, really made a diference in my decision to buy the s1, and i gotta say even tho i have not used it in the woods as yet it feals awesome in the hand.

[TheJungleD]

Great video.

I have a Falkniven Idun in VG10. I lost the knife an it spend some month in a wet place, so when I fortunately found it back, it was in afull condition, with rust traces on the blade. I cleaned it but didnt sharpen it, and believe it or not, it still cuts very well and even slices paper. To me VG10 is great and I want to buy the S1 now.

Thanks again for your great video.

[CrawlingRoad]

@TheJungleD Thanks for your story. I have had other stainless knives show corrosion as well. Stainless is better called "Stain resistant" as many of them will corrode if given the chance. I have a S30V Benchmade folder that will show red rust corrosion if not honed well from time to time. So even these super steels can and will rust as you point out. I would love to try an Idun. They look like awesome knives. The S1 is also a very good knife. One of my favorites for a larger blade.

[TheJungleD]

@CrawlingRoad Lol, and me I would like to try the F1, well, the Idun is expensive and I find it a bit to short. And its more a hunting knife, its blade is more for skinning I guess. I have the Esee4, but I guess I will be more happy with the S1. As you explained in your video, its better for use in rainy and cold conditions. And the Esee4 isnt as sharp as My VG10 Idun.

Well, ok, my Idun got some rust, but my story was to tell you that it is still sharp, dispite what it went through.

[TheJungleD]

Auf dieses Video antworten... Well, you compared the Esee4 to the F1, and I really would like to know wich one you find better... I cannot get my Esee as sharp as I want to, as sharp as my VG10. The Esee is brand new, but maybe I need to sharpen it first ...

[maydanlex]

Thanks for the video....an obvious amount of work went into it....work that we can now all benefit from!

[phishydk]

would u recommend the fallkniven a1 or s1?

[CrawlingRoad]

@phishydk If you need a chopper get the A1. If you want something more manageable but still a larger blade the S1 is your ticket. It depends.

[dannysees]

This is a great video, glad I found it. Learn a lot from using the knives in nasty weather.

[ayokay123]

Great review. As somebody pointed out, the Fallky has a tiny secondary bevel, so that's gonna give the Bravo a slight advantage in cutting. The question in choosing a survival knife like these is whether you believe your knife must have chopping ability. In my opinion, neither of these knives do, but both can probably be batonned with good success. As for me, I usually carry a pocket chainsaw and a 4-incher. If I didn't have the chain saw, I'd want a 6-incher. I have the F1, A1, Bravo1, Gunny.

[CrawlingRoad]

@ayokay123 Both knives cut about the same truth be told. The Bravo 1 feels quite good in a bare hand though and the Fallkniven S1 a little less so. I like both knives and have a hard time often deciding which to carry when I want a bigger blade.

I'm not a fan of chopping with a knife blade. Too much risk of blade damage or injury swinging around sharp things in the woods. I like the idea of a pocket chainsaw or my preference is a folding saw. When cutting needs to be done, I use a saw!

[ayokay123]

@CrawlingRoad Out of curiosity, is the handle thickness the same as the F1? That's the only thing I don't like about the stock F1; the handle is too thin and blister potential is high. The stock A1's handle fits fine, though. Both my F1 and A1 have custom wood grips.

[CrawlingRoad]

@ayokay123 Handle thickness on the S1 is a little bit more than the F1. The H1, which I have and need to review, has a much nicer handle thickness than the F1 or S1. It is rounded and fits the hand well. I don't like the H1 blade as much as the F1 though. I wish they had the F1 with the H1 handle. That would be a very nice combo. But again I'm splitting hairs. All these knives are excellent.

[ayokay123]

@CrawlingRoad I'm curious to know where the balance point is on the S1. Can you describe its approximate whereabouts? Thanks

[CrawlingRoad]

@ayokay123 At 7:16 in the video I show the balance point. It's right in front of the front finger guard. It's a good balance for the size blade. 

[ayokay123]

@CrawlingRoad Hmmm...surprised I missed that. Looks to be excellently balanced and a very good compromise of a knife. I love my A1, but have considered dropping down to a smaller, lighter version, which the S1 seems to be. I really should pick one up.

[xxboristhespyderxx]

What a crock? Fallkniven is a swedish knife company that that sells knives made in Japan!! What kind of bull is this!! Let's get real! Don't buy Fallkniven or VG-10. How about a Enzo Trapper blank in D2 for $65.00 much better deal!

[CrawlingRoad]

@xxboristhespyderxx The steel they use is not available for export from Japan if my information is correct. I don't care where the knife is made because the steel is just excellent and the fit and finish is as good as many customs I've handled. D2 is good steel, but it does rust and can be a pain to sharpen. For about $100 street price the F1 knife is a good deal and the S1 is too if you want a bigger blade. But I agree that an Enzo Trapper blade could be a nice setup as well and a fun project.

[Slic3R1]

@CrawlingRoad just use fine sandpaper glued to a flat surface (flat piece of granite is excellent) and it will eat through any steel

[kinskibrain]

@xxboristhespyderxx All R&D and design is done in Sweden. Japanese blade production is among the best in the world with extremely long tradition. So the collaboration between Seki and Fallkniven strikes me as being far more qualitative than for example Apple and Foxconn. (btw would you say that Apple products are Chinese?)

Seki will not allow production of VG10 outside of Japan which is why Fallkniven have to produce the blades there.

[aseglkj]

You think you could make a fire just with a firesteel in these conditions?

I find the firesteel fanboys fail to consider extremely wet conditions like this one. You're better off with a BIC there.

BTW, I have an A1 and I don't have any problem with the size. I think it's the minimum size you need if you want decent chopping ability. If you go into the wilderness, you put your knife on your belt and forget about it. The size doesn't really matter that much (within limits of course).

[CrawlingRoad]

@aseglkj I carry a Bic but if they get wet they actually are unreliable as the sparker fails. The firesteel can actually be more reliable at times. It depends. I carry both. I make a fire in soaking wet conditions in my pine resin fire video. Since it rains so much I get a lot of practice making fire in the rain. I'm not always successful which is why I don't rely on fire as my primary way of staying warm. Sometimes trying to make a fire can make your situation worse due to weather exposure.

[rainmechanic]

I'll take a BRKT over a Fallkniven any day of the week... The Fallknivens are overpriced for what your getting... I do like their leather stacked laminated blade series knives but those are in the stratosphere price wise.... BRKT hudson bay knife is an excellent survival knife imo.... pair it with a custom kydex sheath and your set... im in the big knife camp when it comes to outdoor knives...

[Kylemagg88]

After using this blade, how does it hold up with heavy use? what do you think about the cpm 154 steel in comparison with the a2?

[CrawlingRoad]

@Kylemagg88 Both steels seem fine to me. A2 will rust in wet weather. CPM 154 won't. Just depends on what you need. Both blades have been holding a very good edge in field use. I strop both on occasion and that's pretty much it.

[Kylemagg88]

@CrawlingRoad Thanks for the reply. been watching your videos for a while now and its great stuff. trying to decide between that bravo 1 or f1. have you developed a partiality for one or the other?

[CrawlingRoad]

@Kylemagg88 Each has their plusses and minuses. The handle on the Bravo 1 is more comfortable. The blade on the F1 is more manageable in size. The F1 can fit in a pocket easily. The Bravo 1 is too bulky and really needs to be on a belt. My slight preference at this point for all purpose field knife is the F1 and is the one I find myself usually putting in my kit when I'm going out hiking. FWIW. But again it's hard to go wrong with either.

[drkknight614]

@Kylemagg88 Bark River makes a knife more comparable to the f1 in size called the Gunny. It shares a similar design to the Bravo but is a tad smaller knife. Blade is just short of 4 inches and the handle is just as ergonomic as the bravo. And like all BRKT the blade is convex and razor sharp. I have this knife and its easily one of my favorites. Made in both A1 and stainless. CR, great review. If the S1 had a full convex like the bravo rather then a secondary edge it would be sharper.

[dmgm1970]

I have an F1, not an S1, but your comment about the S1/A1 being a bit larger than you need/feel comfortable with resonates with me. I really like that you did the review in poor conditions and can share the experience of working with gloves, and the cold on bare hands. Issues I've not seen in any other reviews. Well done.

[CrawlingRoad]

@dmgm1970 The F1 is a great blade size. I like using the knives in real conditions because that's where I depend on them. I've had a lot of gear (knives and likewise) do poorly in wet weather. So I test them always under those scenarios. What may look great on a kitchen table or 70 degree sunny day may work horribly when soaking wet and freezing temps.

[aammcc14]

thanks for the review. Very helpful since I'm in between the Bravo 1 A2 and SS version. Your test is not repetitive and I believe this may be the only Bravo 1 SS version field test out here. It would have been interesting to see the A2 steel Bravo 1 exposed to the same elements since you have it already. Most reviews and forums claim the A2 steel does just fine in humid weather which may be true, but then again, maybe not. thanks again!

[CrawlingRoad]

@aammcc14 I like the A2 Bravo 1, but it will definitely rust in those kinds of wet conditions. That's why I bought the SS version. But if you can keep the knife dry and oiled the A2 is fine. I intend on keeping mine if that means anything. I think it's a great carbon steel.

[brandondferrier]

just bought the bark river bravo 1 today! should be here by next week! so excited!

[knivesandstuff]

very cool review.. Love it when someone gets the camera out in the wet :)

[CrawlingRoad]

@knivesandstuff If I don't go out when wet, then I never get to go out!

[SpartanJohns]

i really liked this video...great job.

[Despierto]

Great review! FOUL Weather! Finally a serious review/testing. Many videos it's just splitting and chopping mindlessly. This was a review of the knife use with skills beyond chopping and considering many factors such as handle construction, use with and without gloves etc... A+ Sir.

[CrawlingRoad]

@Despierto Thanks for the nice comment. I like testing in bad weather because I get so much of it. If the gear doesn't work when wet, then I don't use it.

[bradwjensen]

Shame the Bravo 1 doesn't have the option of a grip like the Fallkniven knives. It would also be cool if it had some of the tang sticking out the back end - like the Fallkniven knives.

[CrawlingRoad]

@bradwjensen The designer was asked not to use a rubber handle. I think the Bravo 1 has a more comfortable handle overall (no hotspots) vs. rubber. But for gloved use I think the S1 may have a slight advantage. But I emphasize *slight*. I still prefer the Bravo 1 overall.

[bradwjensen]

@CrawlingRoad The Br1 looks to be for hard / quick work; while the F1 and S1 look to be for more detailed / finer, smaller work. I would love to have an F1 and Br1, but the slick, two-pieced handle on the Br1 keeps me from getting it. I like to have a grippy, one-pieced handle grip. I'm afraid, over time, the handle on the Br1 would crack, loosen, break, and/or fall apart (especially when pounding the butt-end on something); while I don't have those doubts with the Fallkniven handle grip design.

[CrawlingRoad]

@bradwjensen The F1/S1 are great designs. Not knocking them. Hard to go wrong with any of these higher end knives. The F1 is one of my favorite blades.

[bradwjensen]

@CrawlingRoad I really enjoyed your video. The wet, rainy, snowy setting with "unusual" materials (wet sticks/wood) was something that lots of people probably forget about when choosing a knife - there are so many other things to think about when choosing a knife.

I recently Ordered a Fallkniven F1 :)

Videos of the Bravo 1 really have me wanting it too.. The handle on it is just not my thing.

[CrawlingRoad]

@bradwjensen You will enjoy that knife. It's a great performer in the bad weather. Very comfortable to use and the edge is excellent. I have to deal with wet otherwise I don't get to go out much. ;) When I go out hiking I have a hard time choosing between the F1 and the Bravo 1. They are both great knives.

[TheBeebopper]

The 4.1/4" length is not a short blade, it's just that the belly on the Bark River takes away a lot of the useful straight length for bushcraft. I think it's like most Bark River knives, they are predominantly meant for hunting. If I could justify the cost, the Fallkniven Forrester would probably be a first choice carry knife for me. I'm really glad you've identified the handle size being important for winter use, it's something I've not really considered at the time of purchase.

[CrawlingRoad]

@TheBeebopper I actually see the Bravo 1 has less belly than the Fallkniven F1. There is a lot of straight edge on the knife, but not as much as the larger S1 though but more than the F1 by about 1/4"-1/2".

I think the S1 has a slight edge (pardon the pun) with thick gloves/mitts on. The thinner handle and rubber material grips better in that use. However the Bravo 1 still feels best in bare hands to me (if it's not too cold). I think the Bravo 1 overall handles slightly better.

[TheBeebopper]

@CrawlingRoad Just to clarify, the F1 is the shorter (too short in my eyes) airman's survival knife, meant for someone with little knife experience. Short knives are generally safer in inexperienced hands. The S1 is known as the forest knife with 130mm VG10 blade meant for extended use.

[LiVApathy]

Very nice review. Keep them coming and I bet you'll start getting a ton of subscribers. Nice camera work too.

[CrawlingRoad]

@LiVApathy Thanks for the note. I'm having fun making these videos.

[TheBeebopper]

Your skills are tuned to the stubby knife, you use the cutting edge perpendicular to your direction of movement. It is easier to cut with the 'long' blade by allowing the tip to trail when needing to remove stuff quickly. Once you have developed this skill an improved work rate becomes obvious. Some people like to use a tip forward operation, but that really needs a guard.

[CrawlingRoad]

@TheBeebopper Yes this is true that I prefer smaller blades. Even with the slicing motion you describe with larger edges I still don't like the feel of bigger knives. The leverage near the tip throws off my carving mojo.

[torquefactory]

You are right Craig, you have to test everything before you get into the worse case scenario , from gear to your skills ! Stainless/Carbon steel blade, large/small blade, Tough/hard steel who knows which is the best, I always try to combine those for a specific task I have !

Kind regards!

Mike

[CrawlingRoad]

@torquefactory The weather out here can rust a carbon knife in hours. Stainless is a good option for these conditions.