Big, beautiful, and functional: Bark River Tope Recon
Published: 1 day ago
Tope Recon
The Bark River Bravo Tope Recon is a robust fixed-blade survival and outdoor knife developed as a major collaboration between Bark River Knives (founded by Mike Stewart in 2001) and custom knifemaker Dan Tope.
Design and Origins
Collaborative Design: The knife features a handle designed by Mike Stewart based on the Bravo 2 platform, while the blade was a "carte blanche" design by Dan Tope.
Purpose: It was originally designed specifically for military chores and heavy field use, intended to be light and fast in the hand despite its size. It is often described as the definitive "Bark River/Tope Survival Knife".
Production Era: The model has seen multiple production runs. Early reviews and social media posts date back to at least 2017–2018, with significant batches released in June 2021 and June 2022.
Inspiration/Tribute: Some sources note the knife also serves as a tribute to Matt Belz, a longtime regular at Bark River and Tope functions who passed away.
Performance Characteristics
The Blade: Typically crafted from CPM 3V tool steel, the 7.5-inch harpoon-style blade features a deep fuller (often mistakenly called a "blood groove") to reduce weight and improve balance.
Versatility: It is designed to bridge the gap between a light chopper (camp tasks) and an agile tool for finer tasks like feather sticking or field dressing.
Handling: Users frequently highlight its "fast" and "nimble" feel, noting that the larger handle provides a more secure grip than the standard Bravo line.
Key Specifications
Blade Length: 7.5 inches (approx. 19.1 cm).
Overall Length: 13 inches (approx. 33 cm).
Blade Steel: CPM 3V.
Weight: Approximately 13.5 to 14.7 oz depending on handle material.
Grind: Convex, consistent with the Bark River manufacturing style.
https://www.knivesshipfree.com/bark-river-knives-bravo-tope-recon/
The Bark River Bravo Tope Recon is a robust fixed-blade survival and outdoor knife developed as a major collaboration between Bark River Knives (founded by Mike Stewart in 2001) and custom knifemaker Dan Tope.
Design and Origins
Collaborative Design: The knife features a handle designed by Mike Stewart based on the Bravo 2 platform, while the blade was a "carte blanche" design by Dan Tope.
Purpose: It was originally designed specifically for military chores and heavy field use, intended to be light and fast in the hand despite its size. It is often described as the definitive "Bark River/Tope Survival Knife".
Production Era: The model has seen multiple production runs. Early reviews and social media posts date back to at least 2017–2018, with significant batches released in June 2021 and June 2022.
Inspiration/Tribute: Some sources note the knife also serves as a tribute to Matt Belz, a longtime regular at Bark River and Tope functions who passed away.
Performance Characteristics
The Blade: Typically crafted from CPM 3V tool steel, the 7.5-inch harpoon-style blade features a deep fuller (often mistakenly called a "blood groove") to reduce weight and improve balance.
Versatility: It is designed to bridge the gap between a light chopper (camp tasks) and an agile tool for finer tasks like feather sticking or field dressing.
Handling: Users frequently highlight its "fast" and "nimble" feel, noting that the larger handle provides a more secure grip than the standard Bravo line.
Key Specifications
Blade Length: 7.5 inches (approx. 19.1 cm).
Overall Length: 13 inches (approx. 33 cm).
Blade Steel: CPM 3V.
Weight: Approximately 13.5 to 14.7 oz depending on handle material.
Grind: Convex, consistent with the Bark River manufacturing style.
https://www.knivesshipfree.com/bark-river-knives-bravo-tope-recon/