Buck knives.

[eveled]

There seems to be some confusion over what a quality knife is. I have come to realize gun guys aren’t knife guys.

I hate to see gun guys spend too much money to get a knife with a gun logo on it. Thinking it is the same quality as the guns they love. It just isn’t the way it is. They put their name on junk and charge too much.

I have always been both a gun guy and a knife guy.

If anyone is looking for the Ruger equivalent in a knife. Look to Buck knives. Their knives are well designed and use solid materials. Paul Bos designed all of their heat treat protocols. The man is an absolute legend. He can squeeze super steal performance out of run of the mill steels. Buck uses good steals, but they perform way better than they should.

Also they have the best customer service of anyone in any industry. Even better than Ruger of old. Buck has an actual written warrantee and they honor it.

Buck is in that sweet spot where you pay a little more, but get a lot more. Past their price point you get diminishing returns.

Buck is a company worth supporting.

 

[seasterl]

Well said! I love the Buck 112.

 

[Killer Bee]

I've carried a buck folder just about every day of my adult life. right front pocket of every pair of pants/shorts I own show wear from the clips.

current model 286 was a gift from a Kimball Midwest rep few years ago.

reluctant at first on the plastic but it's been a downright rugged work knife and holds a firm edge for the abuse it gets.

few years ago I picked up some Buck 119 specials for gifts, got three left I believe.

gun branded knives are cool but not generally the better end of quality spectrum.

few exceptions, for instance this benchmade 14460SBT HK nitrous blitz is a higher quality folder. this one was a gift, first production model. not sure what number 1 of 500 is worth, but I've got number 500.

on the other end of the spectrum is this S&W M9, better fit for the Mossberg 590 than the M7. while not a high end performer, it is well made and quite adequate for the purpose I bought it for. and the price was right.

Ruger fans may be able to find some of the CRKT Ruger models. they have a pretty good reputation.

 

[Richard76]

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

There seems to be some confusion over what a quality knife is. I have come to realize gun guys aren’t knife guys.

I hate to see gun guys spend too much money to get a knife with a gun logo on it. Thinking it is the same quality as the guns they love. It just isn’t the way it is. They put their name on junk and charge too much.

I have always been both a gun guy and a knife guy.

If anyone is looking for the Ruger equivalent in a knife. Look to Buck knives. Their knives are well designed and use solid materials. Paul Bos designed all of their heat treat protocols. The man is an absolute legend. He can squeeze super steal performance out of run of the mill steels. Buck uses good steals, but they perform way better than they should.

Also they have the best customer service of anyone in any industry. Even better than Ruger of old. Buck has an actual written warrantee and they honor it.

Buck is in that sweet spot where you pay a little more, but get a lot more. Past their price point you get diminishing returns.

Buck is a company worth supporting.

I've been a knife guy WAY longer than a gun guy. Bucks, Benchmades, and others are good knives, but I have found none better than case. My dad's 1962 Case XX 483-B Chef's knife is still in service in my home, as is my 1968 Case XX M3F fish and bird knife, as is my tiny 1973 6333 stockman's folder, and several others. No knock on Buck, just personal preference and years of use.

 

[eveled]

I agree on the old Case knives. Do you have experience with new Case knives? Since Zippo bought them? I have not been impressed.

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

I agree on the old Case knives. Do you have experience with new Case knives? Since Zippo bought them? I have not been impressed.

I have to admit that I do not have any post 90's Case. Haven't needed to buy any as my older knives seem like they will last. What did they do to or not do with the new ones? Cheaper blade composition? If a folder, cheaper construction?

 

[eveled]

They don’t hold their edge as well, and the points round off quickly. The handles seem cheap. Still made in America but sadly not the same as they were.

 

[Jim Walsh]

I’ve had a series of Buck knives in my right pocket for 50 plus years. When the Vanguard sheath knives appeared I bought one and it’s been my field dressing tool for at least a couple decades.

 

[Killer Bee]

I agree on the old Case knives. Do you have experience with new Case knives? Since Zippo bought them? I have not been impressed.

1971 Case (XX 9 dot) was my grandpa's, then mom's, now mine, coincidentally my birthyear

 

[Yaworski]

Right now I'm carrying a SOG. However, I do have a number of Buck folders including a 500 Duke with Micarta scales. I also have a nice Buck fixed blade (105?) that was given to me by Chuck Buck and signed by Chuck and Frank Buck, Chairman and CEO of Buck, respectively.

 

[codebreaker]

I pretty much won't buy a folding knife that isn't a flipper but not a front flipper.

 

[Yaworski]

Don't your pants get wet?

 

[ex13F]

I had a Buck 119 back in the 70s but don't remember what happened to it. I may have given it to a friend?

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

They don’t hold their edge as well, and the points round off quickly. The handles seem cheap. Still made in America but sadly not the same as they were.

So sorry to hear that. Has Buck maintained their quality?

 

[eveled]

Yes they have, I believe it is even better than it was.

Full disclaimer Buck has dabbled in some Foreign manufacturing, but mostly pocket knives. I don’t buy them, but they are said to be relatively high quality and still lifetime warantee.

Buck used to get their pocket knives from Schrade and Camillus but both of those companies are gone. 2 great knife makers that are gone now. Their names are slapped on junk imported stuff now.

Buck is very similar to Ruger of old, family owned and you can trust them to do the right thing.

 

[Yaworski]

I mentioned a Buck 500 with Micarta scales in another post. I got that from my brother who found it in a rental car. The blade was chipped with a broken tip, the bolsters were pitted and scratched and the Micarta was beat up as well.

He showed it to me and I said, "Send it back to Buck." He asked, "What are they going to do?" and gave it to me.

I sent it back to Buck and they replaced the blade and polished the heck out of the bolsters and scales. Total cost to me? $5 for shipping.

I showed to to my brother and he asked if he could have it back. Nope.

 

[Richard76]

Was that recently and do they still do that ? I have a couple of 110's that could use a little repair work

 

[Yaworski]

Was that recently and do they still do that ? I have a couple of 110's that could use a little repair work

Probably 25 years ago but I understand they still do it.

I snapped the tip off a Kershaw blade and Kershaw repaired it for free.

 

[old 41]

Buck customer service gets an A+ from me.
I have sent them two knives, both of which were returned in100% condition, no charge.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

I’ve been more or less collecting Bucks for some time. Not sure how many variations of the 110 I’ve got, but for a few years I’ve had a Slim Select in my pocket, or hanging from the clip. My favorites are the 110, 119. 120, 124 frontiersman, Vanguard, and 184. I especially like when they offer customs with different blade variations, and handle variations. I’ve got a few elk horn grip variants.

 

[model70man]

Yes they have, I believe it is even better than it was.

Full disclaimer Buck has dabbled in some Foreign manufacturing, but mostly pocket knives. I don’t buy them, but they are said to be relatively high quality and still lifetime warantee.

Buck used to get their pocket knives from Schrade and Camillus but both of those companies are gone. 2 great knife makers that are gone now. Their names are slapped on junk imported stuff now.

Buck is very similar to Ruger of old, family owned and you can trust them to do the right thing.

I have one of the Buck pocket knives from the late sixties, or at least when they first came out. I think Schrade may have built it for them. I like it a lot, along with my old Model 119, whose steel is harder than my first wife's heart. Thank you.

 

[eveled]

Was that recently and do they still do that ? I have a couple of 110's that could use a little repair work

You pay for postage there. Spa service is $7, new blade and spa service is $10 both include return shipping. 110’s are very serviceable.

https://www.buckknives.com/about/behind-the-blade/bucks-forever-warranty/

 

[neilin]

There seems to be some confusion over what a quality knife is. I have come to realize gun guys aren’t knife guys.

I hate to see gun guys spend too much money to get a knife with a gun logo on it. Thinking it is the same quality as the guns they love. It just isn’t the way it is. They put their name on junk and charge too much.

I have always been both a gun guy and a knife guy.

If anyone is looking for the Ruger equivalent in a knife. Look to Buck knives. Their knives are well designed and use solid materials. Paul Bos designed all of their heat treat protocols. The man is an absolute legend. He can squeeze super steal performance out of run of the mill steels. Buck uses good steals, but they perform way better than they should.

Also they have the best customer service of anyone in any industry. Even better than Ruger of old. Buck has an actual written warrantee and they honor it.

Buck is in that sweet spot where you pay a little more, but get a lot more. Past their price point you get diminishing returns.

Buck is a company worth supporting.

Buck knives! You have my attention! I own several and appreciate their quality. I like best the ones with the black high quality plastic. I do not hunt, although I encourage others to do so. I hone the sharp edge, and put it away, until I need one for around the house or yard, or for digging bullets out of the ground. In the military I used a knife on a daily basis, although I used a Case because the sheath allowed the knife to be removed quicker than the long flap on the sheath of the Buck. The Case is of high quality. The Buck now has an easy release on the sheath, making them my favorite fixed blade knife.

 

[neilin]

I had a Buck 119 back in the 70s but don't remember what happened to it. I may have given it to a friend?

They’re still around. Even Walmart carries it, as well as eBay.

 

[eveled]

That black “plastic” they use for their handles is phenolic resin, it is tough stuff. Virtually indestructible and very stable never shrinks or swells. The 110’s used Macassar Ebony, then switched to laminated wood. Like Altamont uses on grips. Now they are using Ebony again. Sometimes you find them with stag.

All materials chosen for their durability over looks. You never see a Buck with s broken handle.

 

[neilin]

I have a question about the Buck 124. The 124 is a large handsome knife, probably for camp usage. The blade, of course, is thick, and sharpened at a different angle than the 119 and 120. Mine was made in the early 1970’s. My sharpening/honing is not achieving a sharp blade, as in a shaving sharpness. I am keeping the factory angle, which is, perhaps, intended for chopping small limbs, ect. My question is; can the Buck 124 be sharpened to a shaving edge while keeping the factory angle? Or, am I just not seeing the purpose this knife was designed for?

 

[sharpblade7777]

Buck knives are a great value.

 

[eveled]

I have a question about the Buck 124. The 124 is a large handsome knife, probably for camp usage. The blade, of course, is thick, and sharpened at a different angle than the 119 and 120. Mine was made in the early 1970’s. My sharpening/honing is not achieving a sharp blade, as in a shaving sharpness. I am keeping the factory angle, which is, perhaps, intended for chopping small limbs, ect. My question is; can the Buck 124 be sharpened to a shaving edge while keeping the factory angle? Or, am I just not seeing the purpose this knife was designed for?

Buck knives from the 70’s are hard to sharpen. Being a thicker blade means a wider bevel which means having to remove even more metal. I’m thinking you aren’t reaching the apex.

What stones are you using? You can’t sharpen a 70’s Buck on a natural stone. I used to go to the sporting goods store to use their diamond stone, until they became more affordable and bought one.

 

[Star43]

Well said! I love the Buck 112.

The 112 is my favorite Buck. The 110 is their all time sales leader, but to me, the 112 is the perfect size. The story of how it started because of a knife fight between 2 sailors on the USS Ranger, which I believe was the name of the ship is pretty incredible. No one was killed, but the Captain banned the size of the 110 knife for sailors to use or carry. Hence the 112 was born. Pretty neat story. One can go on and on about Buck knives and of course the old 2 dots, 3 dots, 4 dots, and then to the insignia markings now used. I love all my Bucks....especially the older ones. One should look up their story and how they started. It's a great story...