Buck 119 or Queens Cutlery Lite Hunter Skinner?

Id say Buck Special because of the ease of sharpening in field, the extra blade length and (personal preference here) ergonomics. though I have no idea what you like when workin in the woods.
 
If you want an excellent knife that's do anything and everything I'd say save up a few bucks and grab a Cold Steel Master Hunter. It's about 80$ but it's just all around a really good knife, on a different level to those two you've posted for not much more. Go check out some youtube reviews on it, one of the best deal around for what you're going for. It'll do exactly what you're looking for: excel in every environment and task.

Edit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEUxtvm9gR4 if you can ignore the cheesyness of the video and pay attention to what he does with the knife it shows its well made, and other reviews will tell you the same thing.
 
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The Buck 119 is heavier and larger than I prefer to carry, and the Queen is definitely prettier and a higher grade steel. But I don't find the skinning blade shape as useful as a drop point, spear point, or even clip point. So if choosing between only those two models, I'd go for the Buck 119 Special.

My own preference though would be either a Queen with a different blade shape, or a smaller Buck - the Woodsman and Pathfinder are the same style and materials as the 119 but in a smaller size.

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Have you looked over some of the custom handmade knives in the For Sale by Maker forum section? This looks like a perfect all-around outdoor knife:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/920539-Drop-Point-Utility-Lg-EDC-in-blue-G10-SPF!!!
bluedpspecialprofile004.jpg

The quality is excellent, the price is an absolute bargain, and the bright handles are perfect for Arkansas deep woods hiking and camping. This knife is sold but I'm sure if you contact Rick Hargis he'd make you one.

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I think all of the knives you've mentioned so far are good choices. It's really just a matter of selecting the one that 'talks' to you.
 
Barbwire68 said:
I would not buy Cold Steel if it was the only knife on the planet. Not only is their product sub-par but they make it overseas for really cheap and then sell it here really hi. They pass no savings on to use like other knife makers do. If AG Russell makes a knife overseas then when he sells it here in the states he sells it at a price that reflects his savings as it should be. Cold Steel is like a vacuum cleaner company. They are selling you an average product at extremely hi prices. In my opinion only suckers buy Cold Steel. Especially when there are so many great American and European made knife companies who make a better knife at the same price or better.

Thanks for answering my post and for your sugestion but no thanks to Cold Steel.
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If you say so man. I've handled a Master Hunter before and was pretty pleased with it, but thats besides the point. I was just looking for something that suited what you wanted for a price similar to what you suggested.

Me myself? My go to knife is the Ontario Pilot Survival Knife I got as a gift from a buddy. Takes a bit of work to thin out the edge to where it cuts well, but after doing so I find it's an amazing little knife! My only gripe is that I can't do much with it in salt water (I like to snorkel and am getting into spear fishing, if there's anywhere bad to need a knife and not have one its underwater).
 
I just want to throw out one more idea, since you mentioned AG Russell. In your other topic I put up a picture of the AG Russell Hunters Scalpel. Honestly it's a bit too small for tasks you have in mind such as preparing food regularly. There is a larger model, the Bird and Trout. I love the hard locking sheath for safety and loss-prevention. The knife is super-lightweight and one of the best all-purpose blade designs on the market. And it's available in four different blade steels ranging in price from $30-$45.
 
O, your the one who showed me the Marbel and the Queens Cutlery.
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Yeah, they seemed to be along the lines of what you were originally looking for - classic and traditional outdoor style.

Yes, the picture of the Hunters Scalpel was shown next to a quarter. It's a great knife for hiking, distance backpacking, motorcycling, bicycling, etc. but a bit small for "camp life" or regular kitchen work.

More backpackers and hikers carry Swiss Army Knives than anything else. I can't see using one for regular food prep though for hygiene reasons.
 
I like the Master Hunter in Carbon V, especially the tapered tang. That knife was always easy to sharpen, even in the field. It is a tough piece of equipment and a good choice. My stainless Master Hunter is not tapered and seems to have a more rigid blade, certainly it is thicker than the Carbon V variety. Both are good knives, but I gravitate towards the Carbon V most of the time when I venture into the field for hunting.

I would snag the Buck 119 (to answer your question) over the Queen Cutlery light hunter. I like the price point of the Buck and the handle has always been one of my favorite choices for extended use. I like the classic lines of the Buck 119. I have some bone handled knives by Queen that are dear to my heart but they are more towards the kitchen knife spectrum with ultra thin blades. I know very few people who are unhappy with the Buck 119, it is just a good, general purpose knife that works well for a huge majority of people. I don't like the new sheaths though...I'll take an older leather sheath with the flap any day of the week or a custom creation by Paul Long.
 
I think Queens are made better than Buck, and the steel has better edge retention(tho, it is harder to sharpen). With the Buck you get a bigger blade, a great warranty and customer service, and a classic knife. Overall I think the Queen is a better knife so I would get that and a set of diamond sharpeners.
 
Barbwire68 said:
I will have to go with diamond to sharpen D2 wont I? Will regular stones work at all? I was just sharpening my knife and wondering about that.
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It will. It'll just take long. D2 is pretty damn wear resistant, so it resists sharpening also.
 
As much as I love Buck knives ( especially their fixed blades ) I never could warm up to the 119 special it's just a bit to long for me and the super pointy tip is just begging to snap off. I feel the Buck 103 skinner is a much better general use outdoors and field dressing knife.
 
Barbwire68 said:
In my opinion only suckers buy Cold Steel.
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I have used and recommended Cold Steel knives for a long time and I'm a biter :)

It would be great if American (or European) factory made knives really were better in terms of durability, quality of fit and finish, etc. than the Taiwan, Japan, knives of Cold Steel and other companies but it's not usually the case. Buck is a living off the past company. They stayed in business because Papa and Grandpa said they were the best so then Joe Bob buys Buck also. Of course Buck, Schrade, Gerber, Case, etc. were way better than the Pakistani and Chinese junk that was the alternatives back then but they don't have insight when it comes to factories and products today.

Buck is set up to thrive off of this by not spending much money in R&D since the only knives that do well for them are older designs or dirt cheap Chinese models contracted to get in all the Walmart stores and in sight of folks who don't know jack but remembered what Papa or Grandpa said.

Really wish what you said was true though, it would be great to get a newly designed Buck or Case with better ergonomics, more durable materials, fit and finish, etc. for the same price as a $40 Voyager or $60 SRK.
 
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