This is a great value knife.
The Buck 721 Slimline is an exclusive made for Walmart (of all stores). It's based on the Buck Spitfire with a different handle and blade shape. I really like this knife. I carry traditional knives exclusively but this has found it's way in my rotation, so that's saying something. Pretty much everything on this knife seems, if not just right, at least really, really good. Take all the goodness together, and this knife makes me happy and, perhaps more importantly, doesn't annoy me much. I hate annoying knives and I like this one.
Caveats
This is an inexpensive EDC folder. Let's establish that right here at the outset. If you're looking for super steels or a folding pry bar, you should pass on the Slimline and this post. If you're looking for a high-value competitor to knives like the ESEE (designed) Zancudo, Ontario Rat 2 or Dozier Folding Hunter, then this is a knife to consider.
The Blade
The blade is sort of a bulbous spear point. I love it. I use my EDC knives for food a lot and this knife passes the peanut butter test thanks to the generous shape in the front. The shape is really excellent. Like pretty much all Bucks, the blade is hollow ground. It would be awesome beyond words if somebody sent CJ Buck an Opinel so he could see the light and order that this knife be made with a convex grind. I'm dreaming, obviously. But really, Buck should at least put a full flat grind on an EDC knife like this.
The top of the blade has a large thumb ramp. The gimping is non-offensive, but I suspect that a long whittling session could cause me to file the ramp down flat. On the other hand, the blade has a decent choil, allowing you to choke up on the blade.
The steel is Buck's BOS heat treated 420HC. This and Sandvik 12C27 are among my favorite EDC steels. Obviously, if you want a more carbide rich steel, you should look for something other than a knife in this price range.
The Frame
The frame is made from brushed aluminum. One of the nicest touches is the front "bolster" which is a nice homage to the Buck 112, which is simply the most beautiful knife made. I think it's a great design touch. The Spitfire's handle more closely mimics the lines of the 112 and is prettier while the Slimline's handle has a noticeable bulge. It's not as elegant but it fills my XL hands much better. The combination of the 112 style finger guard and thumb ramp combined with the large choil on the blade make it easy and natural to move back and forth from a regular cutting hold to a choked up hold.
The frame is thin so a pinch hold and draw cuts are both comfortable. The thin profile and light weight make it very easy to pocket carry (my preference) with the clip removed. The frame has some gimping on the side edges by the thumb position and on the butt end where your two small fingers wrap and they really work offering grip without being too aggressive.
Like the Buck Ecolite I once owned, the inner edges of the blade well are a bit sharp and they hang up on my skin as I move around on the grip. It would be nice if Buck would smooth out that edge. The fit and finish of the handle isn't perfect either. The scales and the spacer near the butt end aren't perfectly aligned leaving an obvious ridge. But again, this is a $20 knife.
Lock-up and Deployment
I'm not a huge fan of "Spydie" holes and thumbstuds but this one actually works for me. The blade deploys easily and reliably. This is my first mid-lock and it's noticeably easier to close the knife one handed. The lock-up is solid... Enough. There is just the tiniest bit of vertical play. I wish Buck could figure out how to get rid of this. I understand that it's common among lock backs, but still, it's buggy.
The Brand
When I carry a knife, I'm aware that I carry the brand as well. When I opened the package, I found the traditional "message from the Buck family" which reads, in part
There are two things that come to my mind. First, the issue of religion is often handled offensively and rarely with dignity. Regardless of one's thoughts on religion, Buck is to be credited for being authentic without out being offensive. Second, they link their corporate response to the their moral framework. Pretty gutsy and more appealing to me than a CEO stabbing car hoods and pig carcasses.
Summary
I have nicer knives but I prefer to carry lower cost, high-value knives. I'm hard on my knives and don't like worrying about beating them up or loosing them. I'll be buying more of these Slimlines, both as users and as gifts.
The Buck 721 Slimline is an exclusive made for Walmart (of all stores). It's based on the Buck Spitfire with a different handle and blade shape. I really like this knife. I carry traditional knives exclusively but this has found it's way in my rotation, so that's saying something. Pretty much everything on this knife seems, if not just right, at least really, really good. Take all the goodness together, and this knife makes me happy and, perhaps more importantly, doesn't annoy me much. I hate annoying knives and I like this one.
Caveats
This is an inexpensive EDC folder. Let's establish that right here at the outset. If you're looking for super steels or a folding pry bar, you should pass on the Slimline and this post. If you're looking for a high-value competitor to knives like the ESEE (designed) Zancudo, Ontario Rat 2 or Dozier Folding Hunter, then this is a knife to consider.
The Blade
The blade is sort of a bulbous spear point. I love it. I use my EDC knives for food a lot and this knife passes the peanut butter test thanks to the generous shape in the front. The shape is really excellent. Like pretty much all Bucks, the blade is hollow ground. It would be awesome beyond words if somebody sent CJ Buck an Opinel so he could see the light and order that this knife be made with a convex grind. I'm dreaming, obviously. But really, Buck should at least put a full flat grind on an EDC knife like this.
The top of the blade has a large thumb ramp. The gimping is non-offensive, but I suspect that a long whittling session could cause me to file the ramp down flat. On the other hand, the blade has a decent choil, allowing you to choke up on the blade.
The steel is Buck's BOS heat treated 420HC. This and Sandvik 12C27 are among my favorite EDC steels. Obviously, if you want a more carbide rich steel, you should look for something other than a knife in this price range.
The Frame
The frame is made from brushed aluminum. One of the nicest touches is the front "bolster" which is a nice homage to the Buck 112, which is simply the most beautiful knife made. I think it's a great design touch. The Spitfire's handle more closely mimics the lines of the 112 and is prettier while the Slimline's handle has a noticeable bulge. It's not as elegant but it fills my XL hands much better. The combination of the 112 style finger guard and thumb ramp combined with the large choil on the blade make it easy and natural to move back and forth from a regular cutting hold to a choked up hold.
The frame is thin so a pinch hold and draw cuts are both comfortable. The thin profile and light weight make it very easy to pocket carry (my preference) with the clip removed. The frame has some gimping on the side edges by the thumb position and on the butt end where your two small fingers wrap and they really work offering grip without being too aggressive.
Like the Buck Ecolite I once owned, the inner edges of the blade well are a bit sharp and they hang up on my skin as I move around on the grip. It would be nice if Buck would smooth out that edge. The fit and finish of the handle isn't perfect either. The scales and the spacer near the butt end aren't perfectly aligned leaving an obvious ridge. But again, this is a $20 knife.
Lock-up and Deployment
I'm not a huge fan of "Spydie" holes and thumbstuds but this one actually works for me. The blade deploys easily and reliably. This is my first mid-lock and it's noticeably easier to close the knife one handed. The lock-up is solid... Enough. There is just the tiniest bit of vertical play. I wish Buck could figure out how to get rid of this. I understand that it's common among lock backs, but still, it's buggy.
The Brand
When I carry a knife, I'm aware that I carry the brand as well. When I opened the package, I found the traditional "message from the Buck family" which reads, in part
There are two things that come to my mind. First, the issue of religion is often handled offensively and rarely with dignity. Regardless of one's thoughts on religion, Buck is to be credited for being authentic without out being offensive. Second, they link their corporate response to the their moral framework. Pretty gutsy and more appealing to me than a CEO stabbing car hoods and pig carcasses.
Summary
I have nicer knives but I prefer to carry lower cost, high-value knives. I'm hard on my knives and don't like worrying about beating them up or loosing them. I'll be buying more of these Slimlines, both as users and as gifts.
