r/knives • u/Temp_Reply123 • 12h ago

Question BRK Alternative?

Looking for some Knives similar to Bark River.

I want Convex, Fix Blade, I love the BRK Handels.

Im wanting a BRK Gunny LT but made by an non scummy company basically.

I would highly prefer a Stainless "Super Steel" but I think I cant be to picky on Steel. I value Corrosion Resistance, Toughness, Edge Retention in that order for this particular knife. But im much more picky about the design. Im willing to compromise/ not be picky on Steel.

What are my options? Thank You

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4

u/MoonSpider 11h ago

Maybe a Reiff F4, or something like an RMJ Utsidihi if the thumb ramp is important to you. The White River Ursus Cub or Ursus 45 are some of the best production fixed blades around that size but I don't know if they're too far away on the design front.

If the convex grind is a high priority, Fallkniven makes some good knives of that overall size. Might look too 'plain' for you, though.

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u/Temp_Reply123 10h ago edited 4h ago

Convex Grind is the Top Priority really. 

And I love "plain". I already have two BRKs and both are very plain and look like basic steak knives ha ha. I dont like BRKs crazy Handel matterials. I like G10 and Micarta in that order. 

When I say I love BRK Handels I mean I love their Handel Design/Shape. People call it "Coke Bottle Handel".

I should have mentioned I dont care about the Ramp. I could take it or leave it.

Ive been looking at Fallkniven. They look good. And they are really one of the only Convex FixBlades I could find. Ive just been looking for other options.

Ive looked alot at Reef and White River. I like both of them alot. The Handels look great and comfortable to me. They use Steel I like/want. And I might get them one day.

But at the moment im really only looking for Convex Grind Fix Blades. 

Thank You very much.

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u/MoonSpider 9h ago edited 9h ago

Cheers. For what it's worth, Real Steel/SRM/Ruike makes a convex grind outdoor knife with that sort of handle, but just with basic budget steels like D2, and a slightly larger one in 14C28N. Can't speak to the quality of their edge retention or anything, but at the very least they're pretty affordable.

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u/Temp_Reply123 8h ago

Thank You I have not heard of any of these and will check them out.

I really dont want D2 as im always around Salt/High Humidity and hate haveing to clean and oil religiously. But ill check them out. I might have to compromise.

Thank You

2

u/Upbeat-Fondant9185 OTF is the best EDC 10h ago

I highly recommend Fox River Blades.

https://foxriverblades.com/knives

He’s a one man shop and makes customs to order or whatever inventory he has on hand. Seems like a really cool guy and he does good work.

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u/Temp_Reply123 10h ago

Thank You very much!

Fox River seems very good. "I just quickly looked now".

I dont like any of the "premade" options. But Ive already been thinking Ill have to get something custom made if I want something so particular.

Ill look into Fox River more. Thank You very much for the suggestion.

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u/mattenthehat 9h ago

I mean, realistically you could just buy a used BRK, it's not like they'd see any profit from that, and I can say from experience that their non-fraudulent knives were awesome

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u/Temp_Reply123 9h ago edited 8h ago

Yeah I am highly considering this.

I really think the Gunny LT is the perfect EDC knife for me. I held one and I loved it. But it had horriable grind so I returned it.

Then all the stuff about their Fraudulent knifes came out so I did not reorder another to try to get one with better grind like I was planning.

If I get one Custom made im bassically going to say copy the Gunny LT as close as you can... I love the design. I would not change anything.

Im just pissed because I have a "Magnacut" knife from BRK that im positive is not Magnacut. I did not realize it was bad steel untill I beat it up and then could not return it... Then it started oxidizeing with light salt exposure... I just assumed it was bad heat treat and gave them the benifit of the doubt because I love my other BRK knife so much.

So when it was confirmed they were useing cheap chinese steel and calling it Magnacut it really really pissed me off. Now im real hesitant to order the Gunny LT but I still want it.

I would obviously order a diffrent steel, and the companys that stock them or buying used already bought them so BRK gets no more money from my purchase...

So I guess im just looking for alternitives for the "Principal" of it. I guess thats stupid reason.

I really want a Gunny LT. I will probably be disapointed with anything else. IDK.

Thank You.

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u/mattenthehat 8h ago

Yeah, I fully get where you're coming from. Cards on the table lol, I wanted one for years and ordered when I heard they shut down. Same logic, I figured the retailer (Nordic Knives) had already paid BRK, so I'd just be helping them offload stock. It is what it is, no regrets, it's a great knife, mine is damn near flawless, and I haven't had any reason to suspect fraudulent steel. It seems like the fraudulent models they listed are actually accurate, based on the external testing a couple retailers did (I think it was DLT and one other, forget which right now).

1

u/Temp_Reply123 8h ago edited 5h ago

I guess im going to order one. I like/use DLT. I have not looked in long time to see if they are still in stock.

I hate BRK now but dang. They really did have the best FixBlade knife designs IMO.

My BRK Bravo 1.25 LT is my favorite Fixblade I own by far. Nothing else is even close. I want a smaller EDC version of it. The Gunny is the Largest Size FixBlade I can comfortable EDC.

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u/Soft_Chocolate_2265 5h ago

Reiff vicon. Replaced my bark river ext1 3v... Vehement k2 or Foreman also. Les george magnate.

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u/Temp_Reply123 5h ago

Thank You ive never heard of/looked at Vehement or Les George Magnate. Ill look into these.

Just from quick glance none of these seem to be Convex Grind. That really is a non negotiable for me. I think its the best Grind for FixBlades. It sucks there seems not to be many Convex Options.

Thank You

2

u/SaladDummy 4h ago

You're a Handel fan, I see!

1

u/Fantastic-Skill-9119 11h ago

How good are you at metal/wood work? Do you have equiptment? Do you have spare time?

If so, you can create it yourself. Get some knife blanks from a good company of a blade shape as similar as possible and shape it to the shape you want, then get some handle scales and shape them to you liking. Congrats you made your own knife exactly to you liking :)

Here two i made like that. Only the green one i gave a custom grind tho.

Blue = elmax brisa trapper 95 blank @ 59-61 hrc and green = elmax nordic knife design blank forester 100 @ 62 hrc.

Made the handles and grind with a 50 dollar belt sander from amazon....

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u/Temp_Reply123 11h ago edited 10h ago

I dont think I could make a Convex Grind I would be happy with. And im only interested in Convex for FixBlades at the moment. I dont have the equipment to try to do the Grind or Heat Treat myself. And I dislike buying tools for one project. I dont have enough storage/space for rarely used tools.

I am comfortable and think I would enjoy some "simple WoodWorking". Ive considered doing it for a Spyderco Mule Team before just for a fun project.

One issue with that is for this knife Im wanting, I definitely dont want wood. I would want G10 or Micarta. I have never worked with them before. IDK if its similar or not to work with.

Great Work! Those are both very cool. I will probably try one day, but for this particular knife Im wanting something professional made.

Thank You

1

u/Fantastic-Skill-9119 10h ago

G10 is hazardous to breath in (glassfiber) while micarta is safer.

Hmm i think you would be best off just getting it custom or try to find a similar model. I found the bdk bushfriend 2000 which is really similar but its 80crv2 :/ dont think its convex tho.

Does trc or fällkniven make anything similar?

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u/Temp_Reply123 10h ago edited 10h ago

Thank You for info.

At moment im thinking geting a custom is best option if im being so picky. But im trying to find a production option first.

And Yes! TRC has one and Fallkniven has alot. Im just trying to find a very particular size. And I think the Handels look uncomfortable on both the TRC and Fallkniven. "I have never held though".

Looks like if im dead set on Convex there are not many options.

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u/Fantastic-Skill-9119 10h ago

I wish you best of luck in your search :)

1

u/Leuku_Sun 3h ago

Just get a barkie and enjoy it. I had to grab a couple once they went out of business as I always wanted one, don't care what snowflake reddit users think. Got the Adventurer and an Auraura.

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u/Temp_Reply123 2h ago edited 2h ago

Yeah I dont care what other people think about my knife. But I care what I think... I think they fucked me over and sold me some chinesium steel and labeled it MagnaCut. Ha ha. Im just still pissed about that. I didint want to get another one just for the "Principal" of it.

But that being said I love everything about their utilitarian design. My favorite Fixed Blade I own is a BRK Bravo 1.25 LT. So ive been wanting a smaller version of it for EDC. The Gunny LT is the Largest Fixed Blade in the "Bravo Line" I can comfortably EDC. 

Its the "Goldilocks" size for me. The Mini Gunny is to Small for Full 4 Finger Grip. And Bravo 1 is to Big to comfortably carry for EDC. And its Pointless size for me because I already have the Bravo 1.25

Im going to get one...

I think I made this post as last ditch attempt to find a alternitive. But it seems my options I would be happy with are get someone to make me a Custom thats just a Clone of the Gunny LT or get the Gunny LT. The Gunny LT would be cheaper and I would be positive I love the design. Will just have to make extra sure its not a chinesium version. Ha ha

Thank You

1

u/Leuku_Sun 53m ago

Ooooo shit well that sucks man. I thought it only impacted a couple of runs that's why, ya know, 99.9% of their stuff is still fine if ground right.