Completely agree with you brother! However, I haven't been impressed with A2 lately. Compared to my Enzo O1 it rolls much more easy while the enzo is about as easy to patch up. If I had to choose I would choose Bark river for both it's looks and handle ergonomics. But I have to say. I find myself picking the Fallknivens more and more just because I don't have to worry about damaging them. I could leave them in the dirt for a month and nothing would happen. So again, we have the same conclusions and opinions. Great comparion mate! keep these videos coming haha. Stay sharp!
BTW the rattle in the Fallkniven was designed on purpose that way for cold weather the extra space helps prevent the knife from freezing to the sheath. that is its intended purpose it was not an overlooked cheaply made sheath
I keep finding myself typing stuff here while watching your videos at the same time. Everytime a few seconds later you say exactly the things I wrote. Great minds think alike? haha
+1 on the rattling! The most underappreciated thing about a plastic sheath in my opinion is that if you get dirt inside you can clean it relatively easy, not so much with a leather sheath.
Great review. Thank you. I don't own any Fallkniven knives yet but own several Bark River knives. I am a complete Bark River knife NUT! One note about sheaths. There are a number of Kydex sheaths available for Bark River knives. I've got a Kydex sheath for my Bravo One and it's a perfect alternative to the leather sheath. Knife steel?? ....CPM3V is AWESOME!!
I love my Bark River Bravo 2 in A2! Now I need to get a Bark River in CPM-3V with pinecone resin handles. My Bravo 2 came with itty bitty rust spots... thanks A2. I live in Utah with BladeHQ's brick and mortar, so it probably happened before it got to BladeHQ (aka Michigan). I'm also one of the weird people that prefers the thumb ramp, because I put my thumb in front of it for detail work, which would otherwise not be so easy with the chunk of steel that makes the Bravo 2.
Big Brown I haven't ruled out the LT versions of their knives, but the thick spines on the standard blades makes me feel more manly, and my knives dictate how much of a man I am. Now I just need to trade in my hatchback for a gigantic oversized truck to complete my ascension to supreme manliness.
I've got a BR Ansgar in A2. I did my first wet forming with its sheath after a few youtube tutorials. I left the knife in the sheath! I pulled it out and it was covered in a fine glittering powder the same color as the brass bolster. It was quite beautiful, actually! A vinegar wipe removed. The rust. Overnight wrapped in a vinegar soaked paper towel gave an earthy patina to it. The subtropical Indiana weather (yes, technically we're subtropical!) hasn't put a dent in it since. I have more trouble with the traditional carbon steels.
Well done. I went back and forth between a Falkniven A1 Pro vs Bark River Bravo 1.5. I went with the BR because it was made in the USA and it is just a beautiful blade and handle. Very happy with my decision but I’ll probably buy a Falkniven too :)
I certainly say there are other contenders for best production fixed blades but the Barkie I own, one of their Scagel branded stacked leather pieces, is one hell of a knife. F&F is off the charts, performance and design are fantastic, the convex blade is a fine slicer and chews through wood like a dream. Not to mention it is an absolute stunner visually. I guess as a knife nut it is absolute blasphemy that I haven't tried a Fallkniven yet. Also, thanks for a no-bullshit, honest, informed overview of these two offerings!
Glad I found this video. I've been back and forth between the F1 Pro & the BRKT Bravo1 or Fox River. I think I've decided to start with the BRKT Fox River to begin. Maybe afterwards I'll try my hand at the DIY method with one of the Enzo Trapper or Camper knife kits out there. But I'm definitely going to end up with an F1 Pro. I love the look of that knife! :-) Sheath rattle? People really complain about that? Snip a fingernail size piece of mousepad or foam and shove it down to the sheath to stabilize the tip. Problem solved.
If I had to choose I'd go Bark River. Actually sold my Fallkniven A1 for a Bark River Bravo 1 LT. The A1 was a bit big for bush crafting (my bad) and I didn't like the feel of the handle after a while.
Love the video BBB...just to add I hunt and can clean 3 deer and still food prep in the field and my 3V Bark River Gunny stays sharp while my hunting friend needs to sharpen his 1095 after 1 deer or pull out another knife.
Good insights. Always liked VG-10 & the Japanese Heat Treatment of that Steel is unmatched. The san-Mai (sandwich) construction of the Fallkniven adds toughness to the blade... Have 2 Bark Rivers, in 3V, a Bravo 2, & a small Springbok: the HT of the Bravo is OK... the one of the Springbok less so... (if not hard enough, 3V rolls & flattens edges... They are now nudging the hardness up a bit, to avoid plastic deformation). All in all the Fallkniven have better quality control: That makes all the difference. (I keep A2 for whittling... TripleX Knives in Canada does it very well, & with their HT, it does not rust much here on Vancouver Island)
I think Fallkniven knives are better for someone who abuses his knives a bit more and who's using them in a constantly changing environment, like here in Québec where it gets very cold during winter and then very hot during the summer. They're carefree knives that can be left outside for days and it won't matter. For someone who doesn't really care about the looks and doesn't like to worry about his knives, Fallkniven is the way to go. Bark River knives are more for people who like to take care of their stuff and don't mind the extra maintenance. They're a little more work to keep in good shape and you gotta be a little more careful if you want them to stay pretty. They perform just as well as Fallknivens, they just need more attention. If you enjoy taking care of your knives go for Bark River and if you don't then go for Fallkniven. All of that being said, I recommend getting both. Can't go wrong with either of them and then you're ready for any situation!
Thanks mate. there is just one Problem on the Bark Rivers. The handle is so much slippery and not so safe to work outside, especialy as survival knife. And then with rain or wet hands the danger is very high to get into the blade. can you confirm that?
That’s why I’m considering a matte finish handle. I am torn between the F1 and a Gunny - like a woman, it’s sort of a beauty vs. brains type quandary...
Awesome video. I have the exact same problem as you with my beautiful bark river handles. It is a shame because it is meant to be use. I still get the beautiful handles but now I also get them in micarta handles to be heavily abuse.
I have just come across your channel and very pleased I did, you have some really great content here brother. This particular video i informative and I have to say I agree with every comment you make here. You have my like, subscription and I am really looking forward to watching some of your historic uploads and of course all future ones. I did note you appear to have both VG10 and COSlam steel Fallkniven's there being both the standard and pro with the steel hand guard ✊ 👊 👌
It's simple. You want a hunting knife? You choose Bark River. You want a survival knife? Then you choose Fallkniven. (Bark river: Fox River,Gunny and Loveless hunter for hunting) - Fallkniven A1 for Survival.Duloknives makes a much better copy of the A1,better materials ,also without the metal guard that has it's issues on the Fallknivens.
Elmax steel is Swedish right? Swedish brand Fällkniven is great. But I find the handles to block. Would like more swell on the back on the handles. Thanks for your comparison.
I agree that as far as production knives go they are on top. I do remember the time when Fallkniven came with Kydex sheaths. These new sheaths are functional but ugly. They do have adhesive diamond sharpeners to stick on them. For most models there's leather sheaths available. For my hands Bark River's have the mode comfortable handles but often they are also too pretty to use almost. And for the smaller knife (food prep) I prefer stainless over carbon. With the Fallkniven I kinda have a problem with the handles. The handle on the A1 is ok and fills my hand. The only really comfortable handle is on the H1. The handles on the F1, S1 and F2 are just a bit small for me. I do understand they wanted to make a package that's lightweight and not to bulky. Still if I have to choose between the 2 and throw one in my pack for the jungle it would be Fallkniven. For a desert with no rain then maybe the Bark River with leather sheath.
My A1 has been beaten to hell and back and you can hardly tell by looking at it. I also took 100 grit sandpaper to my BRKT micarta handles and it improves the grip alot.
I would add Cold Steel knives as another great outdoor knife maker. Mainly for their heat treat and virtually indestructible builds. I love Falkniven and BRKT though. Can't go wrong with them.
I know this is 2 yrs later, but BRK has so many steel options, that if you don't like A2, you don't have to be stuck with it. If you like stainless, then you can choose a CPM154.or S35. 3V is an awesome steel..not stainless, but does not rust easily as A2..if you just use basic maintenance it's fine, there is Elmax, and even 4v on some models, as well as Cru-Wear. They have something for everyone. Hell, they even have a machete in 1v. They have become the Spyderco of fixed blade knives as far as steel choices go.
All of those knives look great and the Bark River knives are too expensive for the average working person and their blades are shorter than many of the knives I already have. I checked their web site out and the stores which sell their knives and didn't find anything as good as the survival knives I have. The Japanese knives you have there is better and they are the length one would need for bush craft work.
I like you mr big brown bear, i my self have 5 fallkniven knives, A1pro + F1pro + PHK + TK4 + PC, and still didn’t use any of them, damn i love fallkniven 🥰
Must say I own a fallknivën S1, bravo vortex, 1, survivor, kalahari and more. I absolutely love them all. My favourite hands down tho is my bravo survivor with a pro scalpel 2 Elmax piggy back that I use as a gutter/skinner while hunting. Both great companies. Only complaint is the fallknivën handles are a bit too skinny for my hands.
Nice review between to very good knife makes. I am based in UK. Cost, purpose and avaliablity puts Fallkniven at the top of my list. I have been looking for a real working knife, that's why I have chosen the New Fallkniven S1 Pro.
Hi, I hope to go to this, www.fenlandfairs.com/index.php its great fun, lots of kit and activities. moonrakerknives.co.uk/index.html Often gets there, I can have a close look and get the feel before I buy it. Take care Stew
Been surprised how poorly the Fallkniven's have performed under hard hard use vids. VG10 is not the top steel they use, it's the Lam Cos steel which is VG10 laminated with another steel and process. I'm leaning toward BR currently, if I could actually find one...
I was put off Fallkniven to some extent by YOU. In one video you mention that your A1 (just the regular A1, if I remember correctly) handle got loose. I don't see any Bark River synthetic handles getting loose (you can BREAK anything -- but that's not what I'm talking about). I own 8 Bark River knives and, so far, no Fallkniven -- although I'm definitely interested in an A1 Pro.
Nice vid man, I agree FN & BRKT are the two best production knives on the market and my favorites as well. I found running my A2 and esp my 3V Barkies in kydex just by simply re-sheathing them dry I have no rust issues. 3V is particularly corrosion resistant in my experience.. I'll be getting a F1 Pro here soon, I'll run it head to head with my Bravo 1 in CPM 154 and see what the results are. I already know both will be exceptional but it'll be a fun test to run at the same time. Have you picked up a Barkie in 3V since shooting the video? I'd be interested to hear your insight on 3V. Thanks.
In terms of "beauty" you should compare BRK to Fällkniven Northern Lights or their "regular" blades with other than thermorun, kraton handle 😀😀😀. BTW nice review and at last new S1 Pro in CoS has a blade shape which I want. Greetings Robert.
Great video as usual man, I know your interested in the bark river grizzly they are doin pre orders on dlt, i got myself one just thought id let you know before they're gone, maybe do a comparison between a1 pro and grizzly if you get one?
Nice vid again. But that Fallkniven an Bark River are the two best production knives.... I think there are some smaller manufactorers that make comparable quality. Like Hill Knives from The Netherlands. Very high outstanding quality production knives.
These are the TOP brands. But in my opinion the Fallkniven is the best because it is laminated steel and is proven that steel sandwich (laminated) is much harder and withstands better negative temperatures (ice). Good video Bro! ;)
Hi Big Brown. Very niche Knife vid! I like the Elmax gunny hunter very much. i the only problem with Fjällkniven is the Handles. for me they are a little short. unfortunatlely.,..
Sheath rattle doesn't bother me... Unless I'm paying 400+ for a knife that is. I just start paying more attention to little things when the price gets higher.
Andrew S apples and oranges, they are very different, not a good comparison. 3v is tougher and will cut longer thanks to the extra carbide volume. CoS will sharpen wayyy better and is stainless
Bark River knives look like 300 Euro kitchen knives... not in to it at all. Fallkniven is awesome except for the zytel sheaths like you said, they look like a vacuum cleaner part wich is kinda not acceptable for such expensive knives.
Next to those two companies, you need to add LT Wright, man. I have bunch of BRKT and Fallkniven stuff (10+ knives of each company) but LT Wright knives grew on me in time. Their production quality and consistency is half a notch above Bark River's. It is just that they don't have so many fancy steels and especially, handle materials.
I have a bark river MACv SOG and it is too beautiful to use, whereas my fallkniven is stylish as heck but I’m so eager to abuse that one over the bark river.
Nice video bud. You owe it to yourself to try Battle Horse Knives and LT Wright knives. They have just as good if not better performance than Bark River while still being utilitarian and American made. Having used all 4 brands (LT Wright and BHK used to be a single company Blind Horse Knives) I would put LT and BHK above both BRKT and Fallkniven in terms of performance in use.
I just got the bark river Aurora and am not very impressed with it. The quality of the blade geometry is very sloppy and unfinished. Towards the tip on the left side of the blade there is a small area where there is excess metal where it is not convexed but a flat grind going to a micro bevel. The straight part of the blade is uneven and when you place the edge 90° to a flat surface you can see wavy light shining through. The straight edge portion has a blade geometry of up to 28° and the belly is pushing 35° or more. I wasted a few days going from stroping going to lower and lower grit stones trying to sharpen a brand new out of the box never used Aurora. Finally I saw a video from Virtuovice of completely reprofiling the Bark River blade due to bad geometry and since I had already scratched up the new blade, I went ahead and did a full sharpening and re-grinding of the Aurora. It worked! In addition the micarta handle on the left side just before the blade has a dull finish issue whereas the rest of the micarta has a gloss finish. My Fallknivens A1X and S1X with their thicker blades(7mm and 6mm respectively) had perfectly contoured edges and came perfect from the manufacturer. In fact a brief stroping of the Xs and it is crazy sharp. I wanted a Bravo 1.25 in CPM-3V, not so sure now.
Good video, and i agree with you , i like BRK more than fallkniven , they are just prettier knives and BRK offer so much more varieties over Fallkniven or any other knife maker, performance wised Fallkniven is probably better but by much, differences are not huge, and I disagree that A2 chips more over vg10 i have couple Fallknivens and few BRK and my Fallknivens actually chip easier than my bark river knives, not to mention sharpening is easier on BRK as you mentioned. I suggest you take a look at Fox knives, they are to me much more comparable to Fallknivens, i have quite a few of those and they are excellent knives.
Thanks mam, oh and I was saying that vg10 is a tad tougher then Elmax. The A2 is the toughest steel on the table by far. Fox knives? I'll check em out. Thanks.
I believe the Fallkniven pro series are laminated CoS (cobalt steel), not laminated VG10, as with their regular line (difference between A1 and A1 Pro). They offer several other steels as well in other knives. www.fallkniven.com/en/product-information/steel/
Thanks. Just wondering how it compares to VG10 as far as edge retention, toughness, and ease of sharpening. Similarly for 3g and CowryX if you have any experience with them.
Even though I like S1 xb looks and the F1, is great little knife...I would put my money on Bark River! Better steels and more choices, better handle materials and ergos, better sheaths, better edge geometries, everything seems that is better on Bark Rivers. USA vs Sweden-Japan colab? If they would use Swedish steels yup! But Japanese steels, exept Super Blue... just don't dig 'em as US or European steels!!
i'm obsessed with the fallkniven s1 pro man. in my eyes it is a very beautiful knife (especially when it has been mirror polished) and a very functional one with a strong steel. one day i'll own one, but that day is not today for my broke ass lol
Now we have COS steel on the Fallkniven. Bark River knives are great, but their sheaths suck so bad... I had a Bravo 1 and couldn't find a decent sheath
+Tough Journeyman The catch phrase is 'Where in the world is Carmen SanDiego?'. Each episode you have to locate her using clues. I think replies need to be enabled on the channel, it isn't hotlinkinig the folks I'm replying to.
Never been let down by Fallkniven, but there were a few pretty grim bladeforums threads of BRK blades chipping pretty severly during woodwork use a while back. I still love the look of the BRK knives and a bravo 1.5 id definitly on the cards.
BRK should perform flawlessly. There are some misunderstandings about zero grinding them that can make them too acute for use especially since the convex is less bulbous. Don't miss out. BRK is a big deal
Bark river is awesome. Do not be scared of getting one because of a few lemons. All companies will have defective items. I love bark river for their handles; the fit and finish, comfort in hand and their handle selections is hard to beat. I love bark river but they are not perfect. Most of my brkt knives came with a microbevel that I removed with chosera waterstones. Factory edge came decently sharp so you do not have to reprofile. The reason I did was because I like to strop m knives and the micro bevel does not take stropping easily at my preferred angle. Out of all my brkt knives I received only one lemon; an aurora lt first production run. The knife was overgrounded, the apex of the knife is severely off centered. The heat treat was totally messed up. With light use, it had chipping on the apex and on the sides of the apex. I ended fixing the knive myself by changing grind to asymmetrical grind (because of the off center apex) and it took me many hours on waterstones to remove metal untill I reach virgin steel. I am very happy with the knife now.
Say Heah, Nice to see you again, Yeah, I got a new Fallkniven H-1 to team up with my A-1. it's close to one of my Fav. Bush Craft Knife my 3V Skookum Bush Tool, So, yeah, I got the H-1, and I can carry both side by side on a cross draw, Yeah I also have (2) Bravo 1's in 3V and Santa brought me my Adventure Sworn White G-10 Handle with Black Liner's Guide to complete my Wannabe Nessmuk Trio it's in 3V too.
I just saw your youtube channel, my personal opinion is that BarkRiverKnives are way more towards the customs than Fallkniven will ever be...and and for a more decent price
Ok, after saying all that I forgive U. :-) And because U are a fan of Fällkniven. Of course Cowboys envy the Vikings, they discovered america before anyone else did. ;-) At least it´s what history say. But I don´t know, I wasn´t there. I live in the middle of siden but was on a vacation in Lappland recently on a roadtrip and enjoyed the nature. Very nice, and I´m planing to go back next summer to walk up the Kebnekaise. But I must say that U Americans have a lot of cool things as well that Swede´s like. Many Swedes love your country. And in my frustration every American knife I have to pay about dubble the price here in Sweden.
The Swede Mike haha very cool. Made me laugh Now we Must be friends:) Well at least you pay less for Fallknivens They are quite expensive here If only the world was smaller! hahaha
I've got a beater... an S.O.G. Seal Team Elite, which just about can't be destroyed... keeps on ticking no matter WHAT. I also pack a Fallkniven F-1 as a worker bee knife. Just keeps going with NO upkeep, just like the S.O. G. big beater. I bought Kydex sheaths for them both... the larger knife with a Kydex ferro rod holder. Can't ever complain about ONE thing... especially the handles (notice, I didn't say "scales.") They are production knives which are built to perform in low temperatures and in horrid conditions where a "pretty blade" just won't work... as it flies from your gloved hand.
Great review mate...I fully agree with the statement that these are both the best production knives on the planet...isn't that the truth. I have two Fallknivens the A1 and F1 and they are absolutely brilliant (I have the leather sheaths for both, plus have used custom kydex but choose their simple plastic ones over any other...tough, slim and so very practical.
Looks like your Swedish is a bit rusty :P att lära sig Svenska är liksom lätt som Engelska! It's Fellkneeven But you can call it what ever you like;) TOmato, toMAto as they say Fun fact Fallkniv Means "folding knife" Fallkniven means "That folding knife" Gotta love it Hahaha Thanks watching and the comment
Yes sir I bought my first one at this years blade show it's a Shin model, and I loved it so much I bought another (used) model called a Kou. Incredible knives, the rockwell is so high it sounds like you're sharpening a beer bottle if when you take it to a stone lol
well. i have a bark river , i dont think its the best. There are many small problems， The handle of the knife is high and low，The bottom of the blade is flat on one side and sloped on the other.small pits on the handle。 There may be imperfections in handmade products。But for the price of $500, I'm disappointed with the quality.I heard that the previous BARK RIVER was of better quality. I don't know this because I only have one。 i dont have fallkniven. but i saw joex destroy it very quick, The toughness is so bad. not even as good as the $10 MORA. and i saw many people say they like the sheath. but Survive lily carry it to a island. the sheath broke on the first day. and she lost the knife. maybe its truely sharp. but i will not buy it. If it is for collection，you can buy what ever you want, but if really for use. i think its have to be not too expensive. i have many knives. but i always use the cheap one
Yeah, that comment was fantastic. I love knives, but so many of my friends that watch knife videos seem a bit obsessed about the end of the world and tactical uses. I have piles of knives for camping and EDC and only a few are 'tactical', and even then it was more about them just being cool knives I couldn't pass up on.
Quote "While Fällkniven is a Swedish company, most if not all of its production is done by subcontractors. Early F1 knives made of ATS34 steel were manufactured in Germany by Linder-Solingen. Production has been moved to Seki Japan since Fällkniven replaced ATS34 steel with VG-10 and 3G (SPGS-powder steel) core laminates, in its products. Hattori manufactures all of their fixed blades, and Moki manufactures their folders." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%A4llkniven
Completely agree with you brother! However, I haven't been impressed with A2 lately. Compared to my Enzo O1 it rolls much more easy while the enzo is about as easy to patch up.
If I had to choose I would choose Bark river for both it's looks and handle ergonomics. But I have to say. I find myself picking the Fallknivens more and more just because I don't have to worry about damaging them. I could leave them in the dirt for a month and nothing would happen. So again, we have the same conclusions and opinions.
Great comparion mate! keep these videos coming haha.
Stay sharp!
+Dutch Bushcraft Knives nice, I've never tried EnZo.
Yup. You nailed it bro. Haha thanks for watching my rambling :)
BTW the rattle in the Fallkniven was designed on purpose that way for cold weather the extra space helps prevent the knife from freezing to the sheath. that is its intended purpose it was not an overlooked cheaply made sheath
Lee Pierro I've gotten my
hands on about 4 different a1's. some rattle some don't
Reminds Kalashnikov’s idea: everything rattles, but less prone to jamming because of sand, mud, ice :)
I would agree both companies are awesome
+H.I.S Survival yup:)
I keep finding myself typing stuff here while watching your videos at the same time. Everytime a few seconds later you say exactly the things I wrote. Great minds think alike? haha
+Dutch Bushcraft Knives exactly! Haha. We are the same. I'm just more tan ;)
Love your videos DBK
Which one of you two typed this? Lol
+1 on the rattling!
The most underappreciated thing about a plastic sheath in my opinion is that if you get dirt inside you can clean it relatively easy, not so much with a leather sheath.
Exactly. Kydex and leather does look cooler. But when Im cold and tired I don't care.
Beautiful and as fresh a review as it would have been 3 years back... Great!
Great review. Thank you. I don't own any Fallkniven knives yet but own several Bark River knives. I am a complete Bark River knife NUT! One note about sheaths. There are a number of Kydex sheaths available for Bark River knives. I've got a Kydex sheath for my Bravo One and it's a perfect alternative to the leather sheath. Knife steel?? ....CPM3V is AWESOME!!
I love bark river man.
so pretty.
so american.
haven't tried 3v yet.
Thanks bro.
I choose maintenance over fancy look. Does Bark River also have maintenance free knives?
jes
i have a bravo with micarta and cpm154
I love my Bark River Bravo 2 in A2! Now I need to get a Bark River in CPM-3V with pinecone resin handles. My Bravo 2 came with itty bitty rust spots... thanks A2. I live in Utah with BladeHQ's brick and mortar, so it probably happened before it got to BladeHQ (aka Michigan). I'm also one of the weird people that prefers the thumb ramp, because I put my thumb in front of it for detail work, which would otherwise not be so easy with the chunk of steel that makes the Bravo 2.
Don't get me started on those pinecone handles! Just Gorgeous!
btw
the 3v bravos are thicker from what I've seen at the store.
get the bravo LT bro!
Big Brown I haven't ruled out the LT versions of their knives, but the thick spines on the standard blades makes me feel more manly, and my knives dictate how much of a man I am. Now I just need to trade in my hatchback for a gigantic oversized truck to complete my ascension to supreme manliness.
+Jeremy Madsen MAN! Hahaha
+Jeremy Madsen MAN! Hahaha
I've got a BR Ansgar in A2. I did my first wet forming with its sheath after a few youtube tutorials. I left the knife in the sheath! I pulled it out and it was covered in a fine glittering powder the same color as the brass bolster. It was quite beautiful, actually! A vinegar wipe removed. The rust. Overnight wrapped in a vinegar soaked paper towel gave an earthy patina to it. The subtropical Indiana weather (yes, technically we're subtropical!) hasn't put a dent in it since. I have more trouble with the traditional carbon steels.
Well done. I went back and forth between a Falkniven A1 Pro vs Bark River Bravo 1.5. I went with the BR because it was made in the USA and it is just a beautiful blade and handle. Very happy with my decision but I’ll probably buy a Falkniven too :)
I certainly say there are other contenders for best production fixed blades but the Barkie I own, one of their Scagel branded stacked leather pieces, is one hell of a knife. F&F is off the charts, performance and design are fantastic, the convex blade is a fine slicer and chews through wood like a dream. Not to mention it is an absolute stunner visually. I guess as a knife nut it is absolute blasphemy that I haven't tried a Fallkniven yet.
Also, thanks for a no-bullshit, honest, informed overview of these two offerings!
+no name
The Fallkniven stuff is great.
I highly recommend a Fallkniven F1 and some waterstones
Glad I found this video. I've been back and forth between the F1 Pro & the BRKT Bravo1 or Fox River. I think I've decided to start with the BRKT Fox River to begin. Maybe afterwards I'll try my hand at the DIY method with one of the Enzo Trapper or Camper knife kits out there. But I'm definitely going to end up with an F1 Pro. I love the look of that knife! :-)
Sheath rattle? People really complain about that? Snip a fingernail size piece of mousepad or foam and shove it down to the sheath to stabilize the tip. Problem solved.
Anthony Fister hi Anthony I'm a hunter and knife collecter but I can't see myself ever purchasing a Falkniven knife,I just can't like them.Stay safe.
Are you considering Battle Horse and LT Wright in this argument?
If I had to choose I'd go Bark River. Actually sold my Fallkniven A1 for a Bark River Bravo 1 LT. The A1 was a bit big for bush crafting (my bad) and I didn't like the feel of the handle after a while.
Love the video BBB...just to add I hunt and can clean 3 deer and still food prep in the field and my 3V Bark River Gunny stays sharp while my hunting friend needs to sharpen his 1095 after 1 deer or pull out another knife.
Still deciding on my first , tending towards the F1 with COS with the Gunny in 3V and the S1 VG10 very close. Good food for thought , thanks
the Gunny in 3V may LOOK better, but I'd still go with the F1.
Good insights. Always liked VG-10 & the Japanese Heat Treatment of that Steel is unmatched. The san-Mai (sandwich) construction of the Fallkniven adds toughness to the blade... Have 2 Bark Rivers, in 3V, a Bravo 2, & a small Springbok: the HT of the Bravo is OK... the one of the Springbok less so... (if not hard enough, 3V rolls & flattens edges... They are now nudging the hardness up a bit, to avoid plastic deformation). All in all the Fallkniven have better quality control: That makes all the difference. (I keep A2 for whittling... TripleX Knives in Canada does it very well, & with their HT, it does not rust much here on Vancouver Island)
great video! Your knowledge on the steels was super informative and helpful.
+brother love thanks brother
Keeps me going:)
Great video. There's just something right about fallkniven. The simplicity of form following function is highly alluring.
I think Fallkniven knives are better for someone who abuses his knives a bit more and who's using them in a constantly changing environment, like here in Québec where it gets very cold during winter and then very hot during the summer. They're carefree knives that can be left outside for days and it won't matter. For someone who doesn't really care about the looks and doesn't like to worry about his knives, Fallkniven is the way to go. Bark River knives are more for people who like to take care of their stuff and don't mind the extra maintenance. They're a little more work to keep in good shape and you gotta be a little more careful if you want them to stay pretty. They perform just as well as Fallknivens, they just need more attention. If you enjoy taking care of your knives go for Bark River and if you don't then go for Fallkniven. All of that being said, I recommend getting both. Can't go wrong with either of them and then you're ready for any situation!
Hey Shawn. How did you waterproof that leather sheath? Did you use one of those silicone-lanolin cremes or something else?
snoseal is great
Thanks mate. there is just one Problem on the Bark Rivers. The handle is so much slippery and not so safe to work outside, especialy as survival knife. And then with rain or wet hands the danger is very high to get into the blade. can you confirm that?
I just hold mine like a man xD
jk
its never been an issue to me, too each there own.
That’s why I’m considering a matte finish handle. I am torn between the F1 and a Gunny - like a woman, it’s sort of a beauty vs. brains type quandary...
...and a month later I went with the Fallkniven F1. The more I use it the more it grows on me. Thanks for good video and your thoughts.
Awesome video. I have the exact same problem as you with my beautiful bark river handles. It is a shame because it is meant to be use. I still get the beautiful handles but now I also get them in micarta handles to be heavily abuse.
Yea bro. Just too purty
Haha
I live in Australia and A2 steel is crap! Rusts up if I put salt on my steak!!! Haha
Had a bark river aurora cpm3v and it rolled its edge after batoning 1 piece of small soft birch wood
I have just come across your channel and very pleased I did, you have some really great content here brother. This particular video i informative and I have to say I agree with every comment you make here. You have my like, subscription and I am really looking forward to watching some of your historic uploads and of course all future ones. I did note you appear to have both VG10 and COSlam steel Fallkniven's there being both the standard and pro with the steel hand guard ✊ 👊 👌
5 yrs later...have to agree. Though I will add, Fallkniven makes pretty knives as well. However, they usually exceed the price of a pretty BRK.
It's simple. You want a hunting knife? You choose Bark River. You want a survival knife? Then you choose Fallkniven. (Bark river: Fox River,Gunny and Loveless hunter for hunting) - Fallkniven A1 for Survival.Duloknives makes a much better copy of the A1,better materials ,also without the metal guard that has it's issues on the Fallknivens.
you my friend are a steel jedi. who knows this much about the makeup of steels? great video and very well done.
Elmax steel is Swedish right? Swedish brand Fällkniven is great. But I find the handles to block. Would like more swell on the back on the handles.
Thanks for your comparison.
Love the look of both of these companies! Deciding on fallkniven A1 or A1 pro?
Get the Pro and don't look back
Thanks for the response! Did they fix the issue with the handle?
Scott Schneider Yes, that was a first batch issue. I have a video on it
What handle is that. Looks stunning on the bark rivers.
Love the turquoise handle on the larger bark river, what is the exact name of this knife and is that a custom handle?
I agree that as far as production knives go they are on top. I do remember the time when Fallkniven came with Kydex sheaths. These new sheaths are functional but ugly. They do have adhesive diamond sharpeners to stick on them. For most models there's leather sheaths available. For my hands Bark River's have the mode comfortable handles but often they are also too pretty to use almost. And for the smaller knife (food prep) I prefer stainless over carbon.
With the Fallkniven I kinda have a problem with the handles. The handle on the A1 is ok and fills my hand. The only really comfortable handle is on the H1. The handles on the F1, S1 and F2 are just a bit small for me. I do understand they wanted to make a package that's lightweight and not to bulky.
Still if I have to choose between the 2 and throw one in my pack for the jungle it would be Fallkniven.
For a desert with no rain then maybe the Bark River with leather sheath.
My A1 has been beaten to hell and back and you can hardly tell by looking at it. I also took 100 grit sandpaper to my BRKT micarta handles and it improves the grip alot.
+John nacho Nice
What about Bradford knives?
And please what model is that green handled Bark River on the top ?
butch thompson bark river Bravo 1in A2 steel
Thank you sir I guess you found something else for me to fall in love with.
Thank you sir I'm in love again
I agree with everything you have said. I love both these brands.
I would add Cold Steel knives as another great outdoor knife maker. Mainly for their heat treat and virtually indestructible builds. I love Falkniven and BRKT though. Can't go wrong with them.
I know this is 2 yrs later, but BRK has so many steel options, that if you don't like A2, you don't have to be stuck with it. If you like stainless, then you can choose a CPM154.or S35. 3V is an awesome steel..not stainless, but does not rust easily as A2..if you just use basic maintenance it's fine, there is Elmax, and even 4v on some models, as well as Cru-Wear. They have something for everyone. Hell, they even have a machete in 1v. They have become the Spyderco of fixed blade knives as far as steel choices go.
yup two to three years ago Mike didn't have as many options.
Thanks for the great video. I really enjoyed it. Do you plan on doing any reviews of LT Wright Knives?
All of those knives look great and the Bark River knives are too expensive for the average working person and their blades are shorter than many of the knives I already have. I checked their web site out and the stores which sell their knives and didn't find anything as good as the survival knives I have. The Japanese knives you have there is better and they are the length one would need for bush craft work.
I like you mr big brown bear, i my self have 5 fallkniven knives, A1pro + F1pro + PHK + TK4 + PC, and still didn’t use any of them, damn i love fallkniven 🥰
Hey BBG are you saying H2 steel ? My hearing isn't the greatest .I am quite interested .Thanks
Must say I own a fallknivën S1, bravo vortex, 1, survivor, kalahari and more. I absolutely love them all. My favourite hands down tho is my bravo survivor with a pro scalpel 2 Elmax piggy back that I use as a gutter/skinner while hunting. Both great companies. Only complaint is the fallknivën handles are a bit too skinny for my hands.
+Danimal Levis yea they are on the small side
Good share :)
Thanks
yes I have a BK aurora and a F1 both great knives.
Couldn't agree more sold everything but my Bark Rivers long time ago👍
yeah those are SICK
id say the fallknivens look way better but that's my opinion also the liners on the bark rivers aren't just for look they absorb some impact☺
Nice review between to very good knife makes. I am based in UK. Cost, purpose and avaliablity puts Fallkniven at the top of my list. I have been looking for a real working knife, that's why I have chosen the New Fallkniven S1 Pro.
+Stewart Holmes good choice brother!
+Stewart Holmes good choice brother!
+Stewart Holmes good choice brother!
Hi, I hope to go to this, www.fenlandfairs.com/index.php its great fun, lots of kit and activities. moonrakerknives.co.uk/index.html
Often gets there, I can have a close look and get the feel before I buy it. Take care Stew
haha looks like great fun indeed
Keep up the excellent content, you have a new subscriber
Been surprised how poorly the Fallkniven's have performed under hard hard use vids. VG10 is not the top steel they use, it's the Lam Cos steel which is VG10 laminated with another steel and process. I'm leaning toward BR currently, if I could actually find one...
CoS is an entirely different steel than VG10. FK laminates all their steels except elmax.
I definitely don’t use my barkrivers as much only because I love them so much, I don’t want to loose them.
Great video! But I think the BR leather sheaths are horrible.
I was put off Fallkniven to some extent by YOU. In one video you mention that your A1 (just the regular A1, if I remember correctly) handle got loose. I don't see any Bark River synthetic handles getting loose (you can BREAK anything -- but that's not what I'm talking about). I own 8 Bark River knives and, so far, no Fallkniven -- although I'm definitely interested in an A1 Pro.
GIN-1 and CTS-BD1 are the same though. Im a big Bark River fan...especially the handles for prolonged use.
Gingami 1 and Bd1 are both great.
Not sure why that came up though:P
The steel in this video is VG10, CoS, A2, Elmax, 1095CroVan
how about Spyderco company using VG10
I just can't get over Fallknivens kraton handles.
You could just buy a quiet sheath lol. How do they compare to the puma knives, have you ever had german steel knife?
How’s their cmp m4 steel
Nice vid man, I agree FN & BRKT are the two best production knives on the market and my favorites as well. I found running my A2 and esp my 3V Barkies in kydex just by simply re-sheathing them dry I have no rust issues. 3V is particularly corrosion resistant in my experience.. I'll be getting a F1 Pro here soon, I'll run it head to head with my Bravo 1 in CPM 154 and see what the results are. I already know both will be exceptional but it'll be a fun test to run at the same time. Have you picked up a Barkie in 3V since shooting the video? I'd be interested to hear your insight on 3V. Thanks.
In terms of "beauty" you should compare BRK to Fällkniven Northern Lights or their "regular" blades with other than thermorun, kraton handle 😀😀😀.
BTW nice review and at last new S1 Pro in CoS has a blade shape which I want. Greetings Robert.
Haha indeed. Thanks for sharing Robert :)
Great video as usual man, I know your interested in the bark river grizzly they are doin pre orders on dlt, i got myself one just thought id let you know before they're gone, maybe do a comparison between a1 pro and grizzly if you get one?
Nice vid again. But that Fallkniven an Bark River are the two best production knives.... I think there are some smaller manufactorers that make comparable quality. Like Hill Knives from The Netherlands. Very high outstanding quality production knives.
+KnifeCollector031 The Netherlands (Messenhobby) thanks bro, I agree
These are the TOP brands. But in my opinion the Fallkniven is the best because it is laminated steel and is proven that steel sandwich (laminated) is much harder and withstands better negative temperatures (ice). Good video Bro! ;)
+S7 thanks for sharing. Yup these are my top performing production knives
Hi Big Brown. Very niche Knife vid! I like the Elmax gunny hunter very much. i the only problem with Fjällkniven is the Handles. for me they are a little short. unfortunatlely.,..
+Pascal Stolz yeah they're on the small side.
Haha the Gunny has a smallish handle though too
Sheath rattle doesn't bother me... Unless I'm paying 400+ for a knife that is. I just start paying more attention to little things when the price gets higher.
amen
What about CPM3V and COS????
Andrew S apples and oranges, they are very different, not a good comparison.
3v is tougher and will cut longer
thanks to the extra carbide volume.
CoS will sharpen wayyy better and is stainless
Bark River knives look like 300 Euro kitchen knives... not in to it at all.
Fallkniven is awesome except for the zytel sheaths like you said, they look like a vacuum cleaner part wich is kinda not acceptable for such expensive knives.
+Finest I know exactly what you mean. But it's something you have to use and try to fully form an opinion. Problem being its expensive
What kind of wood is on that bravo? And has it darkened overtime?
its a dyed burl, and yes
Next to those two companies, you need to add LT Wright, man. I have bunch of BRKT and Fallkniven stuff (10+ knives of each company) but LT Wright knives grew on me in time. Their production quality and consistency is half a notch above Bark River's. It is just that they don't have so many fancy steels and especially, handle materials.
I like their handle finishes
I have a bark river MACv SOG and it is too beautiful to use, whereas my fallkniven is stylish as heck but I’m so eager to abuse that one over the bark river.
Nice video bud. You owe it to yourself to try Battle Horse Knives and LT Wright knives. They have just as good if not better performance than Bark River while still being utilitarian and American made. Having used all 4 brands (LT Wright and BHK used to be a single company Blind Horse Knives) I would put LT and BHK above both BRKT and Fallkniven in terms of performance in use.
+Patrick Knight yeah that have some great knives good tool steel great prices. But the designs just don't do it for me. That's all
I just got the bark river Aurora and am not very impressed with it. The quality of the blade geometry is very sloppy and unfinished. Towards the tip on the left side of the blade there is a small area where there is excess metal where it is not convexed but a flat grind going to a micro bevel. The straight part of the blade is uneven and when you place the edge 90° to a flat surface you can see wavy light shining through. The straight edge portion has a blade geometry of up to 28° and the belly is pushing 35° or more. I wasted a few days going from stroping going to lower and lower grit stones trying to sharpen a brand new out of the box never used Aurora. Finally I saw a video from Virtuovice of completely reprofiling the Bark River blade due to bad geometry and since I had already scratched up the new blade, I went ahead and did a full sharpening and re-grinding of the Aurora. It worked! In addition the micarta handle on the left side just before the blade has a dull finish issue whereas the rest of the micarta has a gloss finish. My Fallknivens A1X and S1X with their thicker blades(7mm and 6mm respectively) had perfectly contoured edges and came perfect from the manufacturer. In fact a brief stroping of the Xs and it is crazy sharp. I wanted a Bravo 1.25 in CPM-3V, not so sure now.
Good video, and i agree with you , i like BRK more than fallkniven , they are just prettier knives and BRK offer so much more varieties over Fallkniven or any other knife maker, performance wised Fallkniven is probably better but by much, differences are not huge, and I disagree that A2 chips more over vg10 i have couple Fallknivens and few BRK and my Fallknivens actually chip easier than my bark river knives, not to mention sharpening is easier on BRK as you mentioned. I suggest you take a look at Fox knives, they are to me much more comparable to Fallknivens, i have quite a few of those and they are excellent knives.
Thanks mam, oh and I was saying that vg10 is a tad tougher then Elmax.
The A2 is the toughest steel on the table by far.
Fox knives? I'll check em out. Thanks.
bark river all the way.....no contest!!!!!.....in 2020
I believe the Fallkniven pro series are laminated CoS (cobalt steel), not laminated VG10, as with their regular line (difference between A1 and A1 Pro). They offer several other steels as well in other knives. www.fallkniven.com/en/product-information/steel/
Hahaha, I'm aware I was talking about "flagship" steel.
The main steel they use is VG10
Bark Rivers flagship steel is A2
Cheers
:)
Ok. I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on CoS and their other steels.
All the tea in China sure, ask away :) just be specific
Thanks. Just wondering how it compares to VG10 as far as edge retention, toughness, and ease of sharpening. Similarly for 3g and CowryX if you have any experience with them.
I'll just make a video :)
Even though I like S1 xb looks and the F1, is great little knife...I would put my money on Bark River! Better steels and more choices, better handle materials and ergos, better sheaths, better edge geometries, everything seems that is better on Bark Rivers. USA vs Sweden-Japan colab? If they would use Swedish steels yup! But Japanese steels, exept Super Blue... just don't dig 'em as US or European steels!!
i'm obsessed with the fallkniven s1 pro man. in my eyes it is a very beautiful knife (especially when it has been mirror polished) and a very functional one with a strong steel. one day i'll own one, but that day is not today for my broke ass lol
Now we have COS steel on the Fallkniven. Bark River knives are great, but their sheaths suck so bad... I had a Bravo 1 and couldn't find a decent sheath
Great video.
Thanks bro :)
+Big Brown No problem man.
By the way where in the Pacific Northwest are you?
Tough Journeyman the place where carman sandiego hangs out :P haha
+Big Brown I have no clue where that is! I don't do PC Games.
+Tough Journeyman The catch phrase is 'Where in the world is Carmen SanDiego?'. Each episode you have to locate her using clues. I think replies need to be enabled on the channel, it isn't hotlinkinig the folks I'm replying to.
Never been let down by Fallkniven, but there were a few pretty grim bladeforums threads of BRK blades chipping pretty severly during woodwork use a while back. I still love the look of the BRK knives and a bravo 1.5 id definitly on the cards.
BRK should perform flawlessly.
There are some misunderstandings about zero grinding them that can make them too acute for use especially since the convex is less bulbous.
Don't miss out.
BRK is a big deal
Bark river is awesome. Do not be scared of getting one because of a few lemons. All companies will have defective items. I love bark river for their handles; the fit and finish, comfort in hand and their handle selections is hard to beat. I love bark river but they are not perfect. Most of my brkt knives came with a microbevel that I removed with chosera waterstones. Factory edge came decently sharp so you do not have to reprofile. The reason I did was because I like to strop m knives and the micro bevel does not take stropping easily at my preferred angle. Out of all my brkt knives I received only one lemon; an aurora lt first production run. The knife was overgrounded, the apex of the knife is severely off centered. The heat treat was totally messed up. With light use, it had chipping on the apex and on the sides of the apex. I ended fixing the knive myself by changing grind to asymmetrical grind (because of the off center apex) and it took me many hours on waterstones to remove metal untill I reach virgin steel. I am very happy with the knife now.
Say Heah, Nice to see you again, Yeah, I got a new Fallkniven H-1 to team up with my A-1. it's close to one of my Fav. Bush Craft Knife my 3V Skookum Bush Tool, So, yeah, I got the H-1, and I can carry both side by side on a cross draw, Yeah I also have (2) Bravo 1's in 3V and Santa brought me my Adventure Sworn White G-10 Handle with Black Liner's Guide to complete my Wannabe Nessmuk Trio it's in 3V too.
I just saw your youtube channel, my personal opinion is that BarkRiverKnives are way more towards the customs than Fallkniven will ever be...and and for a more decent price
Dude, the ELMAX steel is a Swedish steel from Uddeholm.
As I thought! Remember, I follow U, I´m watching U and I will be ready.
hahahha
Swedes have all the cool stuff I cant help it!
fallkniven
gransfers
mora
the lapland forests
Cowboys always envy the Vikings
haha
Ok, after saying all that I forgive U. :-)
And because U are a fan of Fällkniven.
Of course Cowboys envy the Vikings, they discovered america before anyone else did. ;-)
At least it´s what history say. But I don´t know, I wasn´t there.
I live in the middle of siden but was on a vacation in Lappland recently on a roadtrip and enjoyed the nature.
Very nice, and I´m planing to go back next summer to walk up the Kebnekaise.
But I must say that U Americans have a lot of cool things as well that Swede´s like.
Many Swedes love your country.
And in my frustration every American knife I have to pay about dubble the price here in Sweden.
The Swede Mike haha very cool.
Made me laugh
Now we Must be friends:)
Well at least you pay less for Fallknivens
They are quite expensive here
If only the world was smaller! hahaha
+Big Brown Guy Well, to the next evil plan.... World domination!!!!!! Hahaha....
love that you say faell/fell- kniven . instead of fall kniven
Thanks ☺
Super!
+MILITARY SURVIVAL haha thanks
A1 pro with a gunny hunter
done
I've got a beater... an S.O.G. Seal Team Elite, which just about can't be destroyed... keeps on ticking no matter WHAT. I also pack a Fallkniven F-1 as a worker bee knife. Just keeps going with NO upkeep, just like the S.O. G. big beater. I bought Kydex sheaths for them both... the larger knife with a Kydex ferro rod holder. Can't ever complain about ONE thing... especially the handles (notice, I didn't say "scales.") They are production knives which are built to perform in low temperatures and in horrid conditions where a "pretty blade" just won't work... as it flies from your gloved hand.
Great review mate...I fully agree with the statement that these are both the best production knives on the planet...isn't that the truth.
I have two Fallknivens the A1 and F1 and they are absolutely brilliant (I have the leather sheaths for both, plus have used custom kydex but choose their simple plastic ones over any other...tough, slim and so very practical.
Have you ever heard of TRC knives?Definitely better than both companies that you advertise!
maybe fallkniven but not bark river
Saphira ,what type of steels do bark river use?
SURVIVAL VEGAN elmax cpm3v m4 s35vn 154cm cpm 154 and a2
If you think any off these companies are shit you know nothing about knives
lol @ the internet commandos doing air-born drop missions performing silent kills =D >.
I don't talk about my kills... remember, they're silent!
flagships are fallkniven cos and bark river is 3v m8... most sold is something else...
Oh really? Vg10 is an excellent steel you say? I won’t let u forgot you said that.
I'm sure bark river makes quality knives but they look too much like your average kitchen knife to me.
Fall-nee-van**** NOT felk-nee-van. And yes I agree there is nothing out there that performs as well out of the box aside from a Rockstead.
Looks like your Swedish is a bit rusty :P
att lära sig Svenska är liksom lätt som Engelska!
It's
Fellkneeven
But you can call it what ever you like;)
TOmato, toMAto as they say
Fun fact
Fallkniv
Means "folding knife"
Fallkniven means "That folding knife"
Gotta love it
Hahaha
Thanks watching and the comment
I digress, I hear it pronounced so many different ways, I thought I K was silent.
simonize251 you got a Rockstead?
Yes sir I bought my first one at this years blade show it's a Shin model, and I loved it so much I bought another (used) model called a Kou. Incredible knives, the rockwell is so high it sounds like you're sharpening a beer bottle if when you take it to a stone lol
simonize251 nice bro. I've always wanted to try one out.
Those knives are top.tier
well. i have a bark river , i dont think its the best. There are many small problems， The handle of the knife is high and low，The bottom of the blade is flat on one side and sloped on the other.small pits on the handle。 There may be imperfections in handmade products。But for the price of $500, I'm disappointed with the quality.I heard that the previous BARK RIVER was of better quality. I don't know this because I only have one。 i dont have fallkniven. but i saw joex destroy it very quick, The toughness is so bad. not even as good as the $10 MORA. and i saw many people say they like the sheath. but Survive lily carry it to a island. the sheath broke on the first day. and she lost the knife. maybe its truely sharp. but i will not buy it. If it is for collection，you can buy what ever you want, but if really for use. i think its have to be not too expensive. i have many knives. but i always use the cheap one
Thumbs up for your comments on sheath rattle!
Hahaha thanks :)
Yeah, that comment was fantastic. I love knives, but so many of my friends that watch knife videos seem a bit obsessed about the end of the world and tactical uses. I have piles of knives for camping and EDC and only a few are 'tactical', and even then it was more about them just being cool knives I couldn't pass up on.
Fallkniven knives are made in sweden not in japan, the blade material comes from japan but the knives are made in sweden
prove it
Big Brown Guy prove it ?? google it....is bark river made of steel from usa PROVE IT ???
The knives are made in Japan
www.fallkniven.com/en/knife/handle-replacement-a1/
Read
Read more
hattoricollector.com/
Quote
"While Fällkniven is a Swedish company, most if not all of its production is done by subcontractors. Early F1 knives made of ATS34 steel were manufactured in Germany by Linder-Solingen. Production has been moved to Seki Japan since Fällkniven replaced ATS34 steel with VG-10 and 3G (SPGS-powder steel) core laminates, in its products. Hattori manufactures all of their fixed blades, and Moki manufactures their folders."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%A4llkniven
L.T Wright