Buck 103 skinner - alternatives

Camillus

Camillus

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Jun 3, 2015
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Recent searches on all things Buck related took me to posts about the Buck 103 - and it kinda caught my eye a little - you'll know the feeling I am describing ;)

So here she is

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Apparently one of the best production skinning blades around.

I am tempted by the 103, but (once Australian shipping is included) it is a little pricey for me for an economy production fixed blade with fairly basic steel and a resin handle - and I can't find a used one to dip my toes. So I was wondering if anyone could recommend alternatives that might provide a better value or higher end choice - by makers such as Bark River or Hess or Black Jack - a similar skinner shape (not too pronounced sweep) but perhaps with better steel or better handle materials.
 
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I don’t know that you’ll get a better value than 59 bucks for a knife such as this. 420HC heat treated by Buck is a good steel, takes and holds an edge well. I’m sure others may chime in, but history says this one is a good one (price to value ratio, as you were seeking). I don’t know of any knives with “better” steel and materials for cheaper than 59 bucks. :thumbsup:

ETA: Opinel may be an option. Another that comes to mind is the Mora. Although they are carbon steel, so ‘better’ would be subjective to personal preference. I also would not consider their handle materials better, but again that is entirely subjective. They are both cheaper in price than the 103.
 
Bark River makes a Kalahari @ 9.25" and a Mini-Kalahari @ 7.78" OAL. They are beautifully designed semi-skinners in a variety of handles with their excellent A2 steel.
 
Thanks BP - should have mentioned I am in Australia so I am paying closer to $150 so around US$100 which takes this out of the economy range for me, hence the interest in alternatives.
 
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Camillus said:
Thanks BP - should have mentioned I am in Australia so I am paying closer to $150 so around US$100 which takes this out of the economy range for me, hence the interest in alternatives.
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That’s crazy.

Strangely, in Canada 103’s go on sale at my local Tire store for about $25USD. Same with the 102. Both are about $45US when not on sale.

Here a comparable Bark River STARTS at over $150USD.

I love my 103, but I wouldn’t pay $100US for one.
 
The charm of the Buck 103 is that it is a good skinner and bushcraft knife, and costs about 40-50 US dollars.

I dont see how you get a better knife for the same price, especially if shipping is added to all purchases. Maybe a US member could mail you one to the land down under? How much could postage be on a 3 ounce knife?

This link, though limited in content, seems to say hunting knife is fine for import.

https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav...k-weapons/can-i-bring-fixed-blade-knives-back

Ok, i take it back, shipping anyhting to Australia is outrageous! Maybe you should visit the US, bring a suitcase full of knives back then sell some of them in Australia to pay for trip!?

Here is one that is worth the postage!

https://aaforge.com/collections/custom-order-models/products/mini-muk
 
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I am hearing you. You US guys don't know how good you have it. The Australian knife industry is non-existent and dominated by very cheap Asian knives (and historically a lot of cheap UK knives), rather than US brands.

In fact, one reason I am so into knives these days is based on my impoverished childhood in New Zealand, where buying knives of the quality we discuss on these forums was a rare occurrence. Back in the 80s and 90s there was no global economy and local sports stores only stocked products that would sell in large quantities, so options were limited.

So I can buy a Buck 103 locally for around $150 or import one for around $120 - but as noted earlier, that's pushing a budget knife into the medium price bracket, where the Buck 103 starts to get some competition.

One thing that counts for the Buck is that this blade shape, although well regarded, doesn't seem at all common. Small skinners are clearly less popular than hunting knives and bushcraft knives.

That Hess looks pretty good, however I have the smaller Whitetail Hunter and don't think too much of its ergonomics - the blade is too small and thin in proportion to the handle.
 
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Is there any way to buy one off of someone in a country much closer to you so that you didn't have to spend so much on a $60 knife ?
 
There is the Puma White Hunter, a very similar looking knife (pretty cool looking to my eye) but the price (for a steel quite similar to Buck's) will make you think your Australian postage is a mere pittance. OH
 
Hickory n steel said:
Is there any way to buy one off of someone in a country much closer to you so that you didn't have to spend so much on a $60 knife ?
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Shipping etc is actually a manageable (although undesirable) cost and just a harsh reality for us non-US knife enthusiasts. The real issue is that there is the magic $100 mark and in the US the Buck 103 is under it but for me it is over it. Once you are over $100 you start looking a bit harder at what you are buying and that's why I started looking for comparable knives.
 
Poking around on the internet took me to these guys. Although discontinued they seem to fit the bill - Queen's premium hunters

2brothers said:
Queen Premium Drop Point Hunter 3.5" D2 Steel Fixed Blade, Forest Maple Burl Handles
QUEEN4180SMB.jpg


Queen Premium Sabre Hunter 3.75" D2 Steel Fixed Blade, Forest Maple Burl Handles
QUEEN4185GMB.jpg


Queen Premium Skinner Hunter 3.75" D2 Steel Fixed Blade, Forest Maple Burl Handles
QUEEN4190GMB.jpg



Also offered in Fossilized Spalted Maple Burl.
Embossed leather sheath included with all of the above.
All of the above are the same pricing.
MSRP $95.00 Street around $55
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Camillus said:
Shipping etc is actually a manageable (although undesirable) cost and just a harsh reality for us non-US knife enthusiasts. The real issue is that there is the magic $100 mark and in the US the Buck 103 is under it but for me it is over it. Once you are over $100 you start looking a bit harder at what you are buying and that's why I started looking for comparable knives.
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Yeah I totally get it, I find their knives great but their price is part of what makes them great knowing how much knife you get for the money.
Buck is all about building knives to a price, giving you the best cutting tool they can for the money with everything the knife need where it matters most.
I really wanted a Buck 119 special but being a lefty the sheath kept me away.
I consider it priced perfectly at about $50 and didn't want to up it's price by getting a custom or aftermarket sheath , I also like the looks of the Buck sheath.
I found out Buck offered a factory lefty sheath and thanks to a generous forum member I was able to put a 119 on my left hip.

Buck makes excellent knives , but not wanting to spend more than you have to is perfectly reasonable.
 
What kind of price range (in US$) are you looking to spend (pre-shipping)? I recently learned how expensive shipping is to Australia: my wife shipped a 6lb box there about a month ago for $60. Nuts.

Forum member @Landi has been running some great specials lately on his knives in the Knife Maker Exchange. His last couple runs were in 1095 steel, but he has also posted knives in CPM154 and A2. If I remember correctly, all were priced under $100 and he ships internationally at cost. He has sold a boatload of them, so I'm sure someone could chime in with a review.
 
Thanks for the suggestions Wurrwulf. I have collected a few fixed blades over the years, despite the shipping costs, and I've sold a few back to the States as well. I can afford them when I have to.

The hidden secret to my success is indeed the makers exchange here on Bladeforums, where you can pick up great fixed blade knives for an absolute steal sometimes.

Here are a couple I have bought from Eastern European makers.

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So the issue (for me) isn't that I can only afford a budget knife, the problem is more about relative costs and value for money for what I do buy - noting shipping costs are based on weight not value. That's why I asked about alternatives to the 103.

To answer your question, something better than the Buck for around $US150 would tempt me. But that particular blade style, that caught my eye, seems hard to find.
 
Maybe the LionSteel M3? Blade is around the same length, tall blade with a nice belly while maintaining the straight edge, niolox steel, and a variety of handle materials. It doesn't have the same spey/nessmuk type profile as the 103, though.

m3_st.jpg


The LT Wright Camp Muk might be of interest, but it's entire edge is curved, unlike the Buck and Lionsteel.
 
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