104 Compadre vs. 632 Mesa

Buck Knives Inc. said:
We do not have any remaining 632 blades but do still have some 822 blades which means at some point we might have another run on those.
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I know that Buck stopped doing SFOs like what they did with SK Blades, but it would be SUPER cool if the folks here in the Buck subforum could talk amongst ourselves for a week and then politely recommend a configuration for those remaining 822 blades if Buck doesn't already have plans for them. And then maybe they just show up in our email one day as a Web Special, BOTM, or something.

My recommendation would be to finish them out as an uncoated blade in the traditional 420HC finish - not polished, and not stonewashed - with burlap Micarta and a brown leather USA-made sheath since we know it fits the stock Compadre sheath. A brown leather Vanguard style sheath would also work with the larger finger guard of the 822, but that would require more work for a new sheath to be made. I'd love to see the Mesa/Sentry handle in the burlap Micarta to match some of the Compadre versions.

What do you say, fellow Buck Sub-Forum-ers, if you could make a recommendation on how to finish out some 822 blades, what would you like to see?

Buck Knives Inc. Buck Knives Inc. , approximately how many leftover 822 blades are there, for curiosity's sake?
 
I don’t care for serrations either but I’m going on the assumption they are already on the blades since he said they were 822’s. I have a strict rule against buying anything with serrations, but would make an exception here if Buck were to give us a little input. That would be cool!
 
I would agree with both Culprit and JB on the blade. No coating, and if it's possible, no serrations. As to the handles, micarta is a favorite for a blade I will use. Burlap is great looking. Can't argue with that. Any natural colored micarta would work for me. And yes a brown leather Vanguard type sheath would be my choice too.

I have simple tastes :)
 
Buck did make a couple of special runs of the 822 without serrations. They made some for the NRA and 600 for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fish in 2014 so maybe the blades they have laying around don't have serrations.
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Culprit99 said:
I know that Buck stopped doing SFOs like what they did with SK Blades, but it would be SUPER cool if the folks here in the Buck subforum could talk amongst ourselves for a week and then politely recommend a configuration for those remaining 822 blades if Buck doesn't already have plans for them. And then maybe they just show up in our email one day as a Web Special, BOTM, or something.
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When I first read this, I almost screamed "Yes!" but just in time I remembered that the kids are sleeping.
Culprit99 said:
What do you say, fellow Buck Sub-Forum-ers, if you could make a recommendation on how to finish out some 822 blades, what would you like to see?
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I don't have a lot of ideas on this yet, except that I'd prefer a plain blade over serrations. I'd be more than happy to ignore that preference for a Buck Sub-forum project though.
 
Culprit99 said:
I know that Buck stopped doing SFOs like what they did with SK Blades, but it would be SUPER cool if the folks here in the Buck subforum could talk amongst ourselves for a week and then politely recommend a configuration for those remaining 822 blades if Buck doesn't already have plans for them. And then maybe they just show up in our email one day as a Web Special, BOTM, or something.

My recommendation would be to finish them out as an uncoated blade in the traditional 420HC finish - not polished, and not stonewashed - with burlap Micarta and a brown leather USA-made sheath since we know it fits the stock Compadre sheath. A brown leather Vanguard style sheath would also work with the larger finger guard of the 822, but that would require more work for a new sheath to be made. I'd love to see the Mesa/Sentry handle in the burlap Micarta to match some of the Compadre versions.

What do you say, fellow Buck Sub-Forum-ers, if you could make a recommendation on how to finish out some 822 blades, what would you like to see?

Buck Knives Inc. Buck Knives Inc. , approximately how many leftover 822 blades are there, for curiosity's sake?
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Does someone want to start a poll? It'd probably be more simple that the SKBlades poll for the 104 since we already know the model and steel (I think?). Maybe the poll should just cover blade finish, serrations (y/n), and handle materiel.
 
jbmonkey said:
wish they werent serrated as most of us don't really like partial serrated blades, but is what it is. guess maybe a Botm or special run might be coming with them at some point, maybe?
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Maybe. I’m afraid if serrated is the only option I would probably stick to the 104. That is unless something like a unique micarta was offered. Regardless, I would expect them to sell out fairly quickly. It’s such a great size of fixed blade.

Edit to ask, that wasn’t a ceracote coating on the 822 was it? If it wasn’t, stripping it after purchase wouldn’t be a big then. Since it’s 420HC you wouldn’t have to worry about it rusting like 5160.
 
Welllll,,,, We, being me and the son in law, scarfed up on several of the 632's. Which have been my
go to blade for much of my deer doins.

So,,,, for me,,,, I think Buck missed the boat not going with a 632 in say 3V or D2 or S30V.

Put me down for a few of those... sigh,,,

One of the 632 has the Great Grandson's birth year stamp and is still waiting on him... a few more years.. He is now 7 and maybe as soon as he shows a real interest,,,

Dont give up on the 632 BUCK!!!
 
mill428 said:
Maybe. I’m afraid if serrated is the only option I would probably stick to the 104. That is unless something like a unique micarta was offered. Regardless, I would expect them to sell out fairly quickly. It’s such a great size of fixed blade.

Edit to ask, that wasn’t a ceracote coating on the 822 was it? If it wasn’t, stripping it after purchase wouldn’t be a big then. Since it’s 420HC you wouldn’t have to worry about it rusting like 5160.
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Buck called it a "Black Traction" coating. There is a video online of a guy who stripped a Reaper (same Black Traction coating) with a product called Klean Strip. He said it took about 15 minutes so it sounds like it worked pretty well. I only read the video description but have not watched the video yet.

Based on that, I would love to see Buck Knives Inc. Buck Knives Inc. finish those 822 blades with burlap Micarta handle scales and no LockTite. :) And a USA brown leather sheath, please.

And I would pay extra if they're able to re-grind them to remove the serrations, but that might mean going too deep, messing with the heat treat, and a lot of hand re-work. I'd still buy one or two with serrations if they have burlap Micarta, and a brown leather USA sheath knowing I can strip the coating. That would be a fine-looking knife to complement our burlap Micarta 104s.
 
Culprit99 said:
Buck called it a "Black Traction" coating. There is a video online of a guy who stripped a Reaper (same Black Traction coating) with a product called Klean Strip. He said it took about 15 minutes so it sounds like it worked pretty well. I only read the video description but have not watched the video yet.

Based on that, I would love to see Buck Knives Inc. Buck Knives Inc. finish those 822 blades with burlap Micarta handle scales and no LockTite. :) And a USA brown leather sheath, please.

And I would pay extra if they're able to re-grind them to remove the serrations, but that might mean going too deep, messing with the heat treat, and a lot of hand re-work. I'd still buy one or two with serrations if they have burlap Micarta, and a brown leather USA sheath knowing I can strip the coating. That would be a fine-looking knife to complement our burlap Micarta 104s.
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That would be nice. A few years ago, I stripped some of my Beckers – a Machax, a BK2, BK7 and 9 - with some Klean Strip. I guess I do it to any non-CeraKoted blade I buy. It doesn't take long at all. I then give them a quick gun blue and put them to use. That seems to help. That old coating causes too much friction for on the stuff I use my blades for. I think CeraKote is better in that regard but I'm just not a huge fan of any coatings that add thickness or texture to the blades. I have a 119 and 110 AG that I will leave coated.

I'm with you on the micarta and brown leather. I would strip the blade and put it to use. I would be very useful. But I can't imagine Buck would regrind the blades since they are ultimately in business to turn a profit. It's too bad the 632 is gone for good. I keep that Mesa close by most days and wouldn't mind having a few more in strategic areas. My 3v 104 has taken over the role of my hard(er) use woods knife now, but I am planning on getting a couple more regular 104's to keep handy...along with a 108. That is if I can catch them when they are in stock.
 
I haven't found the serrations to be that bad on my 622 after I made a minor modification. When cutting, things would hang on the last serration so I ground it down to ease the transition between the serrations and the straight edge. This helped a lot. This is a before photo showing the area I modified. I have seen photos of other 622s and 822s where this serration was less pronounced and also more pronounced. All in all, I have been happy with this knife and really don't mind the serrations.
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the partial serrations just arent long enough to be really useful beyond a few cutting tasks and materials. i borrowed your picture fishman....if they ran this length give or take theyd be a much more useful setup. if they couldnt grind them away without making the edge too thick and poor looking...id prefer more serrations.


either way I'd buy one if they get them out jsut cause, but I never understood the design idear of these partial serrations being so short on the total blade length and cut so deep and high up, from the plain edge.....
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I'm so glad I had found the plain edge years ago. Saw the last one at Walmart and didn't think twice. I remember at the time it was right about 40ish dollars.

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If Buck ever brought these back I would buy another one in a heartbeat. For a while. It was regulated to camp kitchen duty and woods walking all around general knife

I cannot compare to the compadre because I don't have one, but I can tell you the Mesa is extremely comfortable to use and has excellent blade geometry.
 
Buck Knives Inc. said:
We do not have any remaining 632 blades but do still have some 822 blades which means at some point we might have another run on those.
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Quick update while we wait for those 822's to drop. Waiting, waiting...

My 3V is a champ at camp and I've also ended up using it nearly daily for food prep. It's a beast with hard squash.

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