i got my BR a month ago or so.it handle much like the DFLE nad feels a bit lighter and quicker in the hand as well as being about a 1/2 inch shorter and yes,it will have better edge retention.

black bade/tan handles BR's are the through hardened one with the black handle/black blade and tan handle/satin blade BR's being differentially heat treated.

i dont know which color combination BR came first.i can only guess the through hardened one came first and the diff heat treated ones came after only because the diff heat treat is obviously an improvement and its not like swamprat to take a step backwards in quality or production.

the whole diff heat treat thing does get in ones head for some reason but in all reality should never become an issue.

i really think both versions are way more knife than a human being could ever break unless they set out on a mission to break it and even then they would need mechanical assistance to really break the knife imo.

of coarse i would prefer a diff HT but i'm not going to loose any sleep over it,i will not treat the knife any differently and i will not notice any difference in performance and/or strength

i like my camp knives to be a bit bigger than the average and i find the length,weight and feel of the BR to be the ultimate camp knife