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5160 Vanguard
- Thread starter Blue Sky
- Start date
Personally, I would be much more excited about seeing Buck offer some of their hunting knives in 1095 or 1095CV.
The Vanguard, like the 100 series knives, are designed to be hunting knives. Other Buck's like the Hood collabs, the Reaper, Endeavor, Compadre, and Selkirk are designed as full tang survival or all-rounder knives. In particular, they invite being used for chopping or battoning. (IMO, these knives would be more compelling and better competitors to Bark River, Blind Horse, Falkikniven, Enzo and others if they used a convex or sabre grind.)
5160 is most well known for toughness, not edge hold whereas 1095 is more known for better edge holding (while being plenty tough for this size knife).
I say, 1095 for hunting knives. 5160 for survival knives.
The Vanguard, like the 100 series knives, are designed to be hunting knives. Other Buck's like the Hood collabs, the Reaper, Endeavor, Compadre, and Selkirk are designed as full tang survival or all-rounder knives. In particular, they invite being used for chopping or battoning. (IMO, these knives would be more compelling and better competitors to Bark River, Blind Horse, Falkikniven, Enzo and others if they used a convex or sabre grind.)
5160 is most well known for toughness, not edge hold whereas 1095 is more known for better edge holding (while being plenty tough for this size knife).
I say, 1095 for hunting knives. 5160 for survival knives.
BuckShack
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- Jul 19, 2015
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They should make one in _____ steel and _____ grind like _____.
We could fill in these blanks all day long and come up with many different scenarios. All of them right too, depending on what each of us want and for what purposes.
C&C picked 5160 for whatever reason and has brought us a whole line of knives in that steel. Good for them. Good for us!
I have a 110 and 119 in 5160. I may pick up the Vanguard. I have two already and I love them! I'm not a productive hunter (they hear me coming), so my Vanguards are for every day use and survival (getting me to the store safely, to buy my meat).
We could fill in these blanks all day long and come up with many different scenarios. All of them right too, depending on what each of us want and for what purposes.
C&C picked 5160 for whatever reason and has brought us a whole line of knives in that steel. Good for them. Good for us!
I have a 110 and 119 in 5160. I may pick up the Vanguard. I have two already and I love them! I'm not a productive hunter (they hear me coming), so my Vanguards are for every day use and survival (getting me to the store safely, to buy my meat).
Blue Sky
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- Jun 16, 2002
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- 3,568
We could do what-ifs all day long true, but I picked what I picked because there already is someone out there putting out many other models in 5160. Why not one more, and my favorite one at that? Makes it a whole lot more possible in my eyes and worth an ask.
Hey, if I'm the only one the idea appeals to that's fine, but I think some people sell the Vanguard short. And I'm just not so willing to get pigeon-holed about what is best for this or that, steel or shapes or whatever.
Hey, if I'm the only one the idea appeals to that's fine, but I think some people sell the Vanguard short. And I'm just not so willing to get pigeon-holed about what is best for this or that, steel or shapes or whatever.
I'd be interested to hear what you like about 5160 and how you see it comparing to other steels you've used?
It's not a challenge in anyway. But the discussion does raise my curiosity.
Loads of people enjoy loads of steels just because and from a collecting POV, I can see the appeal of snapping up steel variants just because Buck produced them. That's cool too.
For use on a hunting/meat knife, I've had good luck with well heat treated 1095 but that's just my taste and may not be to yours.
It's not a challenge in anyway. But the discussion does raise my curiosity.
Loads of people enjoy loads of steels just because and from a collecting POV, I can see the appeal of snapping up steel variants just because Buck produced them. That's cool too.
For use on a hunting/meat knife, I've had good luck with well heat treated 1095 but that's just my taste and may not be to yours.
BuckShack
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- Jul 19, 2015
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- 3,432
I admit I'm more of a snapper, snapping up steel variants just because Buck produced them. But I trust Buck's decision to produce 5160 over 1095. Blind ignorance, maybe. But, the Buck knives I have in 5160 are extremely sharp, cut very well and seem to hold an edge just fine.
I like 1095 too, but Buck through C&C have been producing a line of knives in 5160. This thread is about continuing that trend to just one more knife, the Vanguard. And I agree. And if they where to make one in 1095, well, I would agree with that too.
I like 1095 too, but Buck through C&C have been producing a line of knives in 5160. This thread is about continuing that trend to just one more knife, the Vanguard. And I agree. And if they where to make one in 1095, well, I would agree with that too.
Blue Sky
Gold Member
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- Jun 16, 2002
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- 3,568
To be honest, I have limited exposure to 5160. Mostly light duty use of an Ontario SP-47, not really enough to speak with any authority. I have much more experience with 1095 and some with O-1, both of which have performed very well IMO with regards to getting a sharp edge easily and holding it reasonably well, for things like trail clearing, field dressing (not enough of that lol) wood carving, chopping, some splitting/batonning. I like low alloy tool steels for those reasons and also for the character they gain over time, like broken in boots or worn leathers.
5160, 1095, I would jump at a chance for a Vanguard in either, and though you may be right that 1095 is a better choice for a hunting specific knife, these days I need more of a general purpose trail knife, a role I think a Vanguard would handle just fine though that may not be it's original intent.
5160, 1095, I would jump at a chance for a Vanguard in either, and though you may be right that 1095 is a better choice for a hunting specific knife, these days I need more of a general purpose trail knife, a role I think a Vanguard would handle just fine though that may not be it's original intent.