The new Bravo Company Colonel fighting knife (here LowVz option).
Bravo Company Manufacturing (BCM) is one of the most respected firearms accessory businesses on the market. The BCM AR-15 uppers, lowers, complete rifles, and accessories are considered some of the best available. BCM just recently announced their first solo knife design, the Colonel.
According to Bravo Company, the Colonel has been “designed from the ground up for the special operations community.” The Colonel is a fighting blade designed to “work around the shooter, leveraging reps that warfighters have in their current training regimens to deliver an immediate effective fighting platform.”
The Colonel is specifically designed to be a fighting knife.
Bravo Company Colonel
Bravo Company Manufacturing has previously teamed with famed knife maker Emerson to offer a BCM licensed Bulldog knife, but the patented Colonel appears to be BCM’s first flagship design to jump into an already packed and highly competitive knife market. However, unlike some, it appears BCM has taken its time and done its homework before releasing the Colonel.
The Colonel was designed by respected martial artists and knife makers Al and Nico Salvitti. Using input from Special Operations Users After Action Reports (AAR), the Colonel is particularly designed for fighting. The uniquely curved profile, G10 grip handles, and specially designed grip method all combine to present a very effective fighting knife. Shaped to mirror a pistol, the Colonel will sit low in the user’s hand, giving them a stable and familiar grip they can guide naturally to target with uppercuts, hooks, jabs and heavy crosses.
The 3-inch Colonel blade is designed as devastating punch extension.
The blade of the Colonel is a full-tang design hand-forged in Italy with American made G10 grip panels. Sharpening and assembly of the Colonel are completed in the United States. Each blade is Quench Polish Quenched (QPQed), a nitrocarburizing case hardening that increases corrosion and wear resistance. This is particularly noteworthy and absolutely necessary for users who will routinely be exposed to the harsh elements.
The Colonel’s G10 grip handles provide outstanding grip texture, while naturally angling the blade outward for striking.
The purpose-designed angled grip, the draw of the Colonel from concealment is the same as a handgun draw from concealment. Unlike other blades that can take years to truly master, the Colonel’s near semi-circle profile is designed around how people naturally throw a punch. Punching and stabbing are the same motion, a user who can throw a targeted punch can deliver a decisive attack in less than a second, which is key to the Colonel’s effectiveness. This translates to instinctive fighting techniques and does not require learning complicated new fighting techniques.
The Colonel is tailor-made for punching, but can also complete slicing motions as well.
“Blended for striking and moving, The Colonel is designed for real-world fights which are often against multiple opponents. The shape of the blade makes it near impossible for a user to stab themselves while defending themselves, something that happens when fighters employ stabbing motions with other kinds of blades and miss the target.”
As designed, the Colonel is tailor-made for punching and strikes. “The point is where the most damage is inflicted by a blade and unlike conventional blades, which use systems of slashes to position for a stab, every strike with the Colonel is a stab.” However, I suppose the Colonel could be used for slicing motions as well – most effectively in a backswing. The handle has a nice glass-break point, that could also be used as a devastating striking surface.
The Colonel’s Kydex sheath establishes a very compact and concealable package (shown here in standard length).
The Colonel is comfortable to conceal and fast to land an effective strike on an opponent. The 3-inch blade is compact, but “more than enough to hit vital organs in the chest, stomach, neck, and head with targeted strikes allowing the user to finish the fight or disengage as the situation dictates.” As configured, the Colonel could be a great duty knife, fairly easily concealed on the under belt behind duty gear located on the outer duty belt.
The Colonel is also offered in a “LowVz” option, where the handle is reduced to only 3.0 inches. This reduces the handle bolts from 3 to 2, and also brings the edge of the G10 panels to the edge of the edged pommel/glass break.
As packaged, the Colonel comes with a GCode 100% Kydex sheath. The sheath uses a simple tension retention system for the blade.
Bravo Company Colonel Specifications
- Blade Material: N690Co steel
- Blade Finish: QPQ nitrocarburized
- Blade Length: 2.75 inches
- Handle Material: G10
- Handle Length: 3.5 inches; LowVz version: 3.0 inches
- Sheath Material: GCode Kydex
- MSRP: $149.95 (for either option).
Serrations on the spine of the blade add grip strength.
Bravo Company Colonel Features
- Full-tang steel blade
- QPQ nitrocarburized
- Angled grip profile
- G10 grip panels
- Forefinger grip loop
- Serrated spine for thumb texture
- Pommel glass break or strike surface.
The Bravo Company Colonel appears to be a very good duty knife.
Final Thoughts
The new Bravo Company Colonel appears to be an excellent selection as a duty fighting knife. I like the over-angled grip design that specifically assists with devastating punches while also helping to conceal the knife during carrying. The G10 handles should have more than enough grip texture, and the forefinger grip hole is particularly well designed for the intended use.
The Colonel is not a traditional duty knife, by any means. I would not select this knife for many of the other routine chores that come up during duty. For instance; cutting through boxes, cutting seatbelts, scrapping fraudulent license plate stickers off, or other related tasks are better suited to a straight blade knife, whether fixed or folding. The CRKT Acquisition knife that we posted on here, would be a much better option for routine knife uses. The Colonel is a defensive knife (deadly force), and should be used as such in my opinion.
The biggest concern for me with the Colonel is one shared by our very own Randall, posted here on his own ThinBlueFlorida blog. That concern is a sheath that has very simple tension retention, and not some form of locking mechanism. This is not to talk down on GCode sheaths, which I have heard are very good. It simply recognizes the particular needs of police officers. Randall reviewed of the KA-BAR TDI knife, very popular with law enforcement for the same reasons the Colonel has appeal – it’s easily concealed behind duty belt gear, and has a great potential in standard fighting techniques.
However, the non-locking sheath presents major problems for officers. First, the Colonel (like the TDI) will show itself somewhat behind duty gear, so it’s profile is not entirely concealed in that location. Opting for ballistic armor carry, or ankle carry comes with its own set of limitations. Second, during heavy movements, like those occurring during grappling or ground fighting, the knife could become dislodged making it available to your adversary or simply a very dangerous obstruction in the fighting area.
Finally, officers must ensure they only carry the Colonel if it is something that will be legally permissible in their jurisdictions. In that regard, I would caution officers to examine more than just the simple wording of State Statutes on the who/when carry of knives, but go more in-depth into how the courts/juries are making decisions on an officer’s use of force. Remember, this knife in it’s intended use, is absolutely on the deadly force level. If the Colonel is permissible, and the officer takes precautions on the sheath (maybe even opting for locking sheath that KA-BAR developed for their TDI Hellfire and Hinderance knives), then the Colonel could be an excellent self-defense tool.