Buck 119 hard use; could the 5160 version stand up?

Funny enough, mustard is my preferred patina. However, I think I'm going to let this one patina naturally, not enough knives of mine with unique patinas.
Boy do I love my carbon steel buck :)
 
One thing I find interesting. While the 119 was designed as a hunting knife they do list the new Brahma 119 in their tactical section. Not arguing for or against hard use. Just wondering what their thoughts are since the 119 Braham is basically just a dressed up 119.


This is from Buck's website.
We started making tactical knives during WWII and we never stopped pushing the potential of material and design to make a better functioning partner. Built to serve the needs of those in tactical situations, this line of heavy duty knives are designed for the most demanding of situations
 
G, to answer your question on steel directly.... or indirectly... I've not use 5160 but have use a lot of 1095 and 1086 next to both 420HC and 12C27. I honestly don't see any difference between 1095, 1086, 420HC and 12C27 when battoning wood or using a blade in a "hard use" situation such as hard cutting wood near metal and nails which could lead to a sharp impact against steel. All of these steels seem pretty tough in that they tend to dent on hard impacts instead of chipping. How bad the dent is seems to be related to how hard the steel is (56 Rc dents and recovers but at 58 Rc, I might see a non-fractured crease) and how thin the cutting apex is (15DPS is more prone to denting than 20 DPS or 25DPS).

My (maybe incorrect) understanding is that Buck started using 5160 as a result of their collaboration with Ron Hood/Tops on knives like the Hoodlum and Punk and 5160 has a good reputation for toughness for choppers. How much more toughness compared to 1095, 420HC, 12C27... I can't say.

But does it matter? I can't conceive that there are many situations where a 420HC 119 would break and a 5160 119 would not. What I can believe is that there may be situations where you'll get a deeper crease in the edge of a 420HC 119 compared to a 5160 119 if you were forced to batton with it. But it's not the knife I would reach for to batton with.


Kyhunt, I see the Brahma as a stylistic homage to the Ka-Bar. But the grind is very different. The Ka-Bar is sabre ground (or scandi, if you prefer) and better at splitting and being used for as a "sharpened pry bar". I suppose it depends on what is meant by "tactical" but my sense is that that Brahma's blade is still more a hunting knife blade, despite the visual similarlity to the Ka-Bar.
 
Pinnah I agree wholeheartedly. I just think its interesting how Buck lists it.
 
Now that's a very helpful answer, thank you pinnah. I will admit I did baton my 420 version a couple times just because, and it worked well enough, didn't continue because it was just for fun, but it is a good point that 420HC is along the lines of a lower alloy stainless, and is still in what I believe t be a good strength range for hardness (must be a reason hard use fixed blades are around that point?).
 
Well I can tell you that I'm glad Buck went to a carbon steel, at least for a minute. With all the Batoning and cutting questions I failed to see the other use of carbon steel, that can not be done with stainless and that is utilizing the spine of the knife with a Ferro Rod to start fire or the use of the carbon steel with flint to again start a fire. These are uses that carbon steel can be used for that stainless can not, and is why carbon steel is better than stainless in a survival type knife. IMO. As far as the patina, I saw it on YouTube and tried it on a a carbon steel knife. It works nicely and as far as the "foul taste" thing, if you clean the knife after you force the patina, you won't have a problem. Again, its for protecting your carbon steel knives, that are used for outside activities, not food prep, unless you are in a survival situation, and in that case you are probably lucky you are eating at all...
 
You can use stainless on ferro rods, just not flint :) just need a sharp spine for Ferro rods.

I've been able to use the 119 a time or two since starting this, and it feels rock solid. I've even batoned a little, no problemo.

So yes, go buck for finally making a 5160 119, coincidentally my first 5160 knife. Love it so far :)
 
XDnQLIE.jpg


BDSUCmz.jpg
 
DocT said:
I have camped, hunted, and fished from Florida to Alaska for 50 or more years and I have never batoned with a knife. I have cut small trees down with a 110 and some other knives, but by slicing, not batoning. If you need to hack through some wood get a light hatchet or small axe.
Click to expand...

This is how I feel about this issue too.

Thank you.

Cate
 
Thanks kyhunt, I love the brass/phenolic, my favorite combo of 119 handle materials, I couldn't believe how this knife was so perfect when I heard of it! On my hip all the time, so ridiculously sharp. And not even the tiniest bit of discoloration, though it's been coated in mineral oil as soon as I get home any time I use it.

Overall, the blade is similar to that of the cold steel leatherneck (SF, anyway. 4116 version). Not quite as wide a tang, not quite as much meat above the grind, and like .02" thinner i believe, but the cs is still a really high hollow grind, and that knife was changed from an ffg, afaik, to avoid breakage while batoning. Which is interesting, that it goes to a similar profile of that of the 119. Now, I'm not saying I would wail on my buck like I would on the cs. But it does seem to be plenty tough, in both knives. And the leatherneck is in a similar steel to the stock 119 as well, though a couple points softer.

Just observations, and thoughts.

U2fqUAm.jpg
 
I typed "afaik" into a search engine and got the answer.
Huh.

Isn't the internet wonderful?.........
 
GPyro said:
I typed "afaik" into a search engine and got the answer.
Huh.

Isn't the internet wonderful?.........
Click to expand...
only if ya use it. 😉

since 6 year old thread brought back to life........on topic I've beat the heck out of one of my blem 5160 119....can handle it all I've done with it. done more than I would with a 420hc one, but its very tough too.

20210626_182035_compress75.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top