2016 Catalog quick view

[DeSotoSky]

Just reviewed some snippets from the 2016 catalog. The Traditional lines have been pretty much left stale, I see no LE 110's and the only new traditional is the leather washered 102 as the model 117 Mini Brahma joining the 119 Brahma. Interesting that the small knife has a new model number but the larger one kept the 119 designation. As a Vanguard collector I was disappointed that there was no new LE this year and the $900 Yellowhorse offering is a non starter for me. The 300 series is languishing with only Black and Rosewood scale offerings. The 120 and 124 are still there as well as the 3 Compadre knives. Two LE's that catch my eye are a Mother of Pearl Duke with stainless bolsters (MSRP $400) and an Ivory Micarta Chuck Buck Signature 405 (MSRP $300). Flat cut knives in the paklite series are plentiful as well as the new odd & interesting category, a set of Throwing knives and some fish spear and gigging heads. I counted 36 entries in the price list labeled 'Bantam', a knife I don't think I even have one of.

edit: I erred when I described the 117 as a leather washered 102.... bad assumption. The 117 blade is larger than a 102 and hence a new pattern.

 

[MT_Pokt]

Maybe they'll have a mid-year catalog update like they used to....

KnifeCenter has quite a few of the 2016 offerings already on their site including the Legacy and Chuck Buck collections along with all of the "flea market" stuff (throwing knives, spear heads, etc...)

The Open Season Moose Skinners with an S35VN blade might be a sign of things to come as well.
They show a new "selector" based on the Open Season folder too though I don't care for the model itself.

 

[DeSotoSky]

....along with all of the "flea market" stuff (throwing knives, spear heads, etc...)

With and MSRP of $200 I doubt the throwing knife set will be at the flea market anytime soon .......

 

[MT_Pokt]

YIKES!!!

I don't know if I would be throwing a $200 knife set around either!

Is there a collegiate or professional sport of knife throwing I'm not aware of?

 

[TAH]

the only new traditional is the leather washered 102 as the model 117 Mini Brahma joining the 119 Brahma.

Okay, now that's too cool. :thumbup:

 

[jb4570]

YIKES!!!

I don't know if I would be throwing a $200 knife set around either!

Is there a collegiate or professional sport of knife throwing I'm not aware of?

Most Black powder clubs all have knife and ax competitions with cash or item prizes to be had. But, they use real knives not Ninja mall knives! Not sure where the Brand is heading these days.....I guess I'm just getting old.

JB

 

[Badhammer]

I'd say the "brand" is trying to stay viable. A much as I'd like to see dozens of variations of the classic line I'm guessing the vast majority of Buck's customer base don't buy to collect hence multiple variations of the same models aren't their preference. More likely they buy different models for different purposes, hunting, fishing, EDC, camping, etc. The average Buck user isn't going to buy a new 301 every time they come out with a different steel, scale material, blade grind, etc. He bought and uses the one he has and won't buy another one, regardless of what it looks like until he looses or uses him up.

 

[bertl]

Originally Posted by DeSotoSky
"the only new traditional is the leather washered 102 as the model 117 Mini Brahma joining the 119 Brahma."

I'm not sure I would call the 117 a leather-washered 102. The blade is 1/2" longer, the handle is 5/8" longer and the overall length is 1 1/8" greater. In size, that's a lot closer to the 118 Personal but it has a different blade shape. Maybe that's why Buck is just calling it the Small Brahma.

Bert

 

[DeSotoSky]

Originally Posted by DeSotoSky
"the only new traditional is the leather washered 102 as the model 117 Mini Brahma joining the 119 Brahma."

I'm not sure I would call the 117 a leather-washered 102. The blade is 1/2" longer, the handle is 5/8" longer and the overall length is 1 1/8" greater. In size, that's a lot closer to the 118 Personal but it has a different blade shape. Maybe that's why Buck is just calling it the Small Brahma.

Bert

Ahhh, got it.... I made a quick assumption without checking the actual specs.
New blade in the 100 series line, guess I will buy one now.

 

[Makael]

Discontinuing the hood series and adding a folding selkirk. Glanced at it today.

 

[DocT]

Yawn.

 

[jb4570]

I'd say the "brand" is trying to stay viable. A much as I'd like to see dozens of variations of the classic line I'm guessing the vast majority of Buck's customer base don't buy to collect hence multiple variations of the same models aren't their preference. More likely they buy different models for different purposes, hunting, fishing, EDC, camping, etc. The average Buck user isn't going to buy a new 301 every time they come out with a different steel, scale material, blade grind, etc. He bought and uses the one he has and won't buy another one, regardless of what it looks like until he looses or uses him up.

Well BH,

As my comment was directed at the $200 throwing knife set. I went to a larger knife retail seller that Buck deals with in the Smokey Mountains and they have dozens of throwing knife sets priced from $4 - $30 a set with one out-lyre set set that is a full sized knife set at about $66. The viability of a $200MSRP set is in question to me, I can't wait to see the Buck video's of this set in action after the Shot Show. I have been wanting Buck to do a throwing knife again for a long time. As an old Buckskinner I have taught my entire family the art of knife and ax throwing and our Deer camp's have had some exceptional contest's. However, I don't see myself getting this set due to the cost of a full set, maybe they will sell them one at a time also. Funny, but I do like the spear & gig's even though I would never use them unless I hunted a neighbor's cat (just kidding).

We have all been looking at the Pre-order dealer site for a while now. I do have my eye on a few of the custom classic LE's but will have to wait to see the actual knives before I part with any cash on them this year. However, that is no big supersize as I collect mostly the old classic LE's of year's gone by:thumbup:

JB

 

[pinnah]

Just reviewed some snippets from the 2016 catalog. The Traditional lines have been pretty much left stale, I see no LE 110's and the only new traditional is the leather washered 102 as the model 117 Mini Brahma joining the 119 Brahma. Interesting that the small knife has a new model number but the larger one kept the 119 designation. As a Vanguard collector I was disappointed that there was no new LE this year and the $900 Yellowhorse offering is a non starter for me. The 300 series is languishing with only Black and Rosewood scale offerings. The 120 and 124 are still there as well as the 3 Compadre knives. Two LE's that catch my eye are a Mother of Pearl Duke with stainless bolsters (MSRP $400) and an Ivory Micarta Chuck Buck Signature 405 (MSRP $300). Flat cut knives in the paklite series are plentiful as well as the new odd & interesting category, a set of Throwing knives and some fish spear and gigging heads. I counted 36 entries in the price list labeled 'Bantam', a knife I don't think I even have one of.

There is no knife brand I love more than Buck. They had me 40 years ago when I got my 110 and read the note from the president. And I held that knife.

But I've changed since then, especially the last 10 or 15 years. Now my most commonly carried knives are the Case Sodbuster, the Opinel #9 and Mora Companion and I note that a) they are all flat or convex ground, b) are all made by companies with limited, focused product lines, c) are all made in their traditional country (two of which are known for high taxes, living wages and universal health care) and d) all sell for under $25.

This has me thinking...

A) I wonder if the market has moved away from the hollow grind. I'm glad Buck is exploring flatter grinds. I hope they try convex grinds. Go back to their long distant roots.

B) Buck makes some of the most iconic and globally recognized knives in the world. I'm confused by models that don't look anything like "a Buck". Doesn't the world have enough CRKTs, Bokers and Kershaws, trying to be all things to all people? Case, Opinel, Mora and Victorinox seem to demonstrate a lot more focus.

C) Whatever Buck is looking for, they won't find it in China. Feels like Esau selling his birthright for some stew. Case, Opinel, Mora and Victorinox are making it work without outsourcing.

I dunno....

I'd really love to see a beautiful convex ground woods knife in the 100 series, maybe a 4.5" blade. The Endevor, Compadre and Selkirk... Nice knives. Don't look like Bucks to me. I'd love to see more pocketable versions of the 110 and 112 with flat or convex grinds as options. Maybe I just need to stop wishing and just be content with what's in my EDC bowl. I still keep the 500 in rotation. But I want more...

 

[quaboag]

hey you all...new member here.

any idea what the new model 289 is like?

 

[Joe58]

Perhaps my Google fu is very weak, but is there a link to the Buck 2016 catalog?

The leather stacked knife like the Brahma has me curious, but I cannot find any info.

I would really like a limited vendor specific run, like the Alaskan Guide series, of the Selkirk made in the US with S30v blade steel. That'd be nice.

Thanks guys! Joe

 

[Old Hunter]

Joe, You might want to hurry on the Alaskan Guide series as that outdoor company is merging with another outdoor company - who knows what product lines will be kept or dropped. OH

 

[Joe58]

Joe, You might want to hurry on the Alaskan Guide series as that outdoor company is merging with another outdoor company - who knows what product lines will be kept or dropped. OH

Hey OH - Ive already snagged up a couple Akskan Guides. I'm not sure if the rumored merger is more than just a rumor. Since it's a NE based company, we'd hear here pretty quickly, and from what's being said around here, it wasn't much more than a stockholder sabre rattling to get his way. But who knows. I hope it doesn't happen myself. It's been an iconic NE company since 64. We'll see I guess.

 

[Badhammer]

Perhaps my Google fu is very weak, but is there a link to the Buck 2016 catalog?

The leather stacked knife like the Brahma has me curious, but I cannot find any info.

I would really like a limited vendor specific run, like the Alaskan Guide series, of the Selkirk made in the US with S30v blade steel. That'd be nice.

Thanks guys! Joe

The yearly catalogs are something that you get as part of being a BCCI member. Also one of our club officers is a Buck dealer/distributor and he sends out scans of certain items of interest.

 

[MT_Pokt]

Perhaps my Google fu is very weak, but is there a link to the Buck 2016 catalog?

The leather stacked knife like the Brahma has me curious, but I cannot find any info.

I would really like a limited vendor specific run, like the Alaskan Guide series, of the Selkirk made in the US with S30v blade steel. That'd be nice.

Thanks guys! Joe

I've not seen the catalog myself but I believe knife center has the majority of the new stuff listed.

 

[Joe58]

The yearly catalogs are something that you get as part of being a BCCI member. Also one of our club officers is a Buck dealer/distributor and he sends out scans of certain items of interest.

Hmmm - I'm a BCCI Life member. Perhaps I'll check their site, or email "the boss". Tnx!