Any love for the Odyssey?

Badhammer

Badhammer

Joined
Jun 8, 2009
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I've run across them a few times and seen a few in photos on the SPS but never really gave the Buck 186 Odyssey a second glance. Last weekend I ran across a 2003 Model 186 at a local shop for $20. It was in dire need of a sharpening but lock up was fine, blade centered, a little dirty and as noted, dull as a rock but I figured what the heck. After a good scrubbing and some time on the Sharpmaker I'm quite impressed. The scales (G-10?) are a little slick and the detent isn't super strong but I like the way it feels and it cuts quite well. I like the pocket clip and overall the size is just about right for tasks around the office and at home.

Now I'm kinda looking around and seeing what other variations of this model are out there. I've seen one with different scales and I'm pretty sure Buck offered one in ATS-34, maybe some other premium steel. Gonna have to review some back copies of the Buck catalog. Anyone else got an Odyssey or two?
 
As near as I can tell, the ATS-34 version was only offered with a partially serrated blade. I would love to be disabused of this notion. Anybody?
 
Quote courtesy of the outstanding gentleman Mr. Jeff Hubbard, this forum, 1999:

"All, here is a short history of the Odyssey series and the changes it has gone through from 98-99
The 98 Odyssey started as a 2 model series...
1. 181-fl/fx -- ATS-34 with a plastic side and single liner (linerlock)This knife had a plasitc backbone, and came in serrated and non. early models had a chamfer, but was later dropped.
2. 182-fl/fx -- ATS-34 with G-10 and single liner (early protos were of Micarta) This knife had a steel backbone. This was available in serrated or non and had a chamfer on backbone(less than 3000 made)

Changes for 99 are this..
We now have three in the series (so far)
Major changes to the whole series include - Full steel backbone and double liners on all models. We found that by adding the second liner, the knife had better action and less handle flex that could contribute to lock failure. We also decided not to carry the 181 in serrated and not serrated both, just serrated.
1 - Model 186-fl -- designed as a price point for the consumer that likes the Odyssey series but needs to save money or doesn't care about specialty steel (mostly mass merchant type customers who shop by price.) This model has a full steel backbone and no blade chamfer. unserrated only
2 - Model 181-fx -- ATS-34 steel serrated blade. Plastic handles. This model also has a steel backbone with two liners also. No blade chamfer.
3 - Model 182-fxCF -- Ats-34 with chamfer and serrations. Carbon Fiber scales and double liner with steel backbone.

I hope this helps ID the changes we've made.

Jeff


------------------
Jeff "Without data it's just another opinion" Hubbard
Quality Supervisor

JeffH@buckknives.com
www.buckknives.com
Watch for Pete's Custom Knife Shoppe on www.buckknives.com"
 
I like it, but I like other styles better…but it is my brother's favorite.

He has two…the one he carries with him and the one that he sends home with me to put an edge back on it.
 
Never appealed to my eye. Seems too spydercoish. I know thier knives are quality, but I dont like thier look.
 
tiguy7 said:
As near as I can tell, the ATS-34 version was only offered with a partially serrated blade. I would love to be disabused of this notion. Anybody?
Click to expand...

I have a plain edge non-serrated 181 Odyssey, it took me a couple of years to land it. The Odyssey is my go to knife when doing any kind of light carpentry. That pointy blade is great for marking cuts. Looks aside, I find the ergonomics of the model unsurpassed. I've got about six of them, and am always on the lookout for another non-serrated ATS-34 model.
 
attachment.php

Here is a pic of the non-serrated ATS-34 Odyssey.
 
sitflyer said:
attachment.php

Here is a pic of the non-serrated ATS-34 Odyssey.
Click to expand...

Great photo!! Thanks to all for the responses. I'm going to start keeping my eyes open. Not a dedicated effort per se but I may start putting a small collection of these as I really do like the one I just acquired. I've got a slight addiction to ATS-34 so all the better that the Odyssey can be found in that steel. Isn't there one in a brown and white cross hatched scales? Just did a google search and it's a 181 in red paperstone.
 
Bad, they were offered in paperstone for a few years in the end, and another great one to look for is the build out that was offered in 12C27 on the web specials a year or so back. The 186 is found in pretty good numbers without serrations also, it makes a great work knife. My very first 181 had the blade replaced twice over the years, I wore them down to a nub using them in a warehouse environment.
 
Thanks guys. So from what I've read and what's been posted there are the following variations/changes:

ATS-34 and 420HC steel
Paperstone, carbon fiber and G-10 scales
One steel liner or two
Blades have a flat top or a swedge
Plain edge or partially serrated.
 
Another blade steel was 12C27M, marked 181, dated 2011, non-serrated edge, blade is swedged. They were on the web special, and I've always wondered if the blades were leftovers from a special project. I wish I had bought a few more of those at the time.
 
Thanks, forgot that one had a different steel. Also according to the various buck catalogs they show thermoplastic scales and G-10 in addition to carbon fiber and paperstone.
 
I had one years ago, the lockup was really weak, had to be careful in use or it would fold.
It ended up getting confiscated when I forgot I had it clipped and entered a building where knives are a no no.
They tried to give me grief when I attempted to get it back, I think someone took a liking to it and didn't want to give it up.
 
BJE said:
I had one years ago, the lockup was really weak, had to be careful in use or it would fold.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, that was my experience with them to. I had one, and my nephew had one given to him, and both of them, the lock would fail without much pushing on the back of the blade. :(
 
I got two of the ATS-34 CE steel backbone when they first came out. At the time they were a excellent deal at $40 with G-10 and a Boss ATS-34 HT. Carried the first one for 5 or 6 years and used it very heavily. I gifted it to a Friend who had a crappy knife and he used it for a few more years until the clip screw inserts rounded out the G-10 they were set in. I then gave him my spare one as I knew that Buck could not replace the ATS-34 blade. I kept the replacement Buck sent me in 420HC. My friend, who has worked with me side by side for 9 years loves the knife shape and design. When his current one wears out I will give him the 420HC one also.
 
It is in reference to Oregon's post #4 describing different models with plastic and metal backbones. I am thinking that the backbone area is the area where the blade contacts the back as a blade stop when open. I have not seen the plastic ones but thought perhaps they were similar to some of the older Buck Crosslocks that had plastic in the same area as a blade stop.
 
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