buck alpha hunter

fish4life · Sep 28, 2006

what's the opinion on the alpha? I'm looking for a new folder and this one looks and feels quite nice .... the ATS steel sounds good too

Didn't find much info on the forum, search seems to be down or something :S

I'm just not sold on the rosewood handle, how about you boys?

gixxer · Sep 28, 2006

The ATS blade steel is nice...

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...&parentType=index&indexId=cat20891&hasJS=true

But s30v is better!! You did not mention if the one you were looking at has the gut hook or not.

If you dont like the rosewood, there is this one. It has 154CPM steel(just as nice as ATS), and camo rubber scales.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...&parentType=index&indexId=cat20891&hasJS=true

I had purchased an alpha hunter fixed blade cause @ the time, I thought the folder was fairly heavy for its size. But, that was a long time ago (gave the knife to pops anyway). I was spoiled by carrying a superlight Spyderco folder for the longest time.

Buckaholic · Sep 28, 2006

Alpha folders?
I like 'em but still prefer the 110...maybe just 'cuz I've always seemed to have a 110 through the years.
And now I like the 112FG I've been toting for months now after listening to Mike rave about his. But 110, is still the overall sentimental favorite.

One of the guys will post the link where there was some discussion on the handles I'm sure.

Here are mine, all standard issue steel:

jb4570 · Sep 28, 2006

Hi Fish4life,

Welcome to the Buck forum

. I like the Alpha folders. They are smooth as butter to open

. I'll have one on my side Deer hunting this year. I do like the looks of the Rosewood. But, mine is a 279 with walnut scales. Just like the bottom one that goose has.

Gixxer forgot to push the new Cableas AG series with SV30 steel and Sambar Stag handles. This would be my choice if I were you.

jb4570

Buckaholic · Sep 28, 2006

Hey John (or anyone else that may know)...

When did the 279 stop using walnut and move to rubber?

wh4f · Sep 28, 2006

jb4570 said:
Hi Fish4life,

Welcome to the Buck forum . I like the Alpha folders. They are smooth as butter to open . I'll have one on my side Deer hunting this year. I do like the looks of the Rosewood. But, mine is a 279 with walnut scales. Just like the bottom one that goose has.

jb4570

Not only are they smooth they are easy to clean after use. You can rinse them straight through. VERY solid knife. I love mine!

Jack Foresman · Sep 28, 2006

Buck discontinues the Walnut handles in 2005 when they came out with the Dorados. They have always had the rubber handles. The camo handles came out for mid year 2006.
Hope this helps.
Jack Foresman

wh4f · Sep 28, 2006

Buckaholic said:
Hey John (or anyone else that may know)...

When did the 279 stop using walnut and move to rubber?

I believe this year is the last year for the walnut??? Maybe 2005 ?
I just bought one NIB with 2006 box but 2005 stamp

I believe the rosewood and rubber are the 2 options now. I may be wrong though

110 Dave · Sep 28, 2006

i like mine. rubber grips non slip! heffty heffty!
strong lock good hard user heavy blade
will work in to almost a wridts flick open!
bit heavy for edc
for hunting great!

Pack Rat · Sep 28, 2006

fish4life said:
what's the opinion on the alpha? I'm
I'm just not sold on the rosewood handle, how about you boys?

There are or were rubber grips on the Buck website that you can swap out the rosewood. I picked up a pair off ebay for about same money. Wasn't much 7 - 8 $$ or so..

Don't forget... on either of the Alphas, leather or nylon, sheath they can be carried horizontal or vertical on your belt.

I believe that somewhere in some alpha thread, too many moons ago, I compared the weight to a 110. I tried using the alpha past hunting season and just didn't like the heavier weight over the 110.
the ATS34 did fine tho... See if the Buck website still has the weights listed.

The Alphas are some kinda smooooth opening and closing.

Buckaholic · Sep 28, 2006

Thanks Jim and Jack...
Was just wondering about when walnut was stopped on the 279 as standard issue. The Buck site shows the 279 with rubber.
Kind Regards...

fish4life · Sep 28, 2006

Thanks for all the quick replies

I am looking at the model without a gut hook and the reason i'm "not sold" on the rosewood handle is because i do a fair amount of fishing so the handle will probably see a lot of water.

I did find it a little too heavy for a folder as well .... but it just felt so good in my hand when i looked at it at the store the other day, and as mentioned it just opens and closes so darn smooth. The 110 sure is a classic, no doubt there, but this is just a little more "massive" if you will, and i like that. I find i control a knife a lot better if it has some weight to it when it comes to skinning game, gutting fish, or just whittling by the camp fire.

so how much of an improvement am i looking at by going with S30V over the ATS34 ... i mean i want a strong durable blade of course, but i also want to be able to sharpen it

. From what i see on the Buck site the S30V seems like its far superior to the ATS but how does it comapre in terms of corrosion resistance and ease of resharpening?

JPD1998 · Sep 28, 2006

I have a Rosewood Alpha Hunter with the ATS-34 blade , I got it a few months ago at Gander Mountain. IMO it's every bit as good as folders costing twice as much. It has classic good looks while being a completely modern liner locking knife. As someone else mentioned, the open design is great for sportsmen and you can buy the rubber handles from Buck.

If you don't need higher end steel, the black handled version with the 420HC blade can be bought as low as $45.00, that's a real bargain and I bet it's also a fine knife. I have no complaints with my Buck knives in 420HC...

The 420HC Alpha I saw recently at Gander Mountain was blister packed with the cordura belt sheath, mine was in the regular Buck Box with a leather sheath.

gixxer · Sep 28, 2006

fish4life said:
so how much of an improvement am i looking at by going with S30V over the ATS34 ... i mean i want a strong durable blade of course, but i also want to be able to sharpen it . From what i see on the Buck site the S30V seems like its far superior to the ATS but how does it comapre in terms of corrosion resistance and ease of resharpening?

Well, the tradeoff is that the s30 will hold an edge longer, but it will be more difficult to sharpen. Ironically, there is an article in the OCT issue of Blade mag entitled "Why some knives are harder to sharpen than others". Basically, everybody said if you do not neglect it, and give it a few strokes about every couple times you use it, you will not have a problem with a dull knife. I let my Gerber Freeman s30v go dull(which took an EXTREMELY long time mind you), and it took a couple hours with the lansky sharpener to get a shaving edge again. I learned my lesson, and give my s30 knives a touch up after using them a couple of times. The wear resistance qualities of s30 is what is working against you, cause by sharpening the blade, you are inducing wear more or less.

110 Dave · Sep 28, 2006

fish4life said:
Thanks for all the quick replies
...because i do a fair amount of fishing so the handle will probably see a lot of water.
so how much of an improvement am i looking at by going with S30V over the ATS34 ... i mean i want a strong durable blade of course, but i also want to be able to sharpen it . From what i see on the Buck site the S30V seems like its far superior to the ATS but how does it comapre in terms of corrosion resistance and ease of resharpening?

i have only barrowed a s30v but as a user steel WOW, it is not that hard to sharpen over ats stuff. it has the best resistance to salt water corrosion in my book. s30v was designed as a blade steel from the getgo!
cpm 154 is next in line a tad easer to sharpen then the other..
IMHO :
I have a personal dis like to ats sh... not that it is not a good steel but it is
J-pan steel and tell i get comfermed that it is not imported as bulk and is a liseance only issue i dont like it... truth fully it is a good steel when bos gets done with it
like bos magic touch and it's Shisssss hot!
but bos doies that to any steel...

wh4f · Sep 28, 2006

fish4life said:
Thanks for all the quick replies

I am looking at the model without a gut hook and the reason i'm "not sold" on the rosewood handle is because i do a fair amount of fishing so the handle will probably see a lot of water.

I did find it a little too heavy for a folder as well .... but it just felt so good in my hand when i looked at it at the store the other day, and as mentioned it just opens and closes so darn smooth. The 110 sure is a classic, no doubt there, but this is just a little more "massive" if you will, and i like that. I find i control a knife a lot better if it has some weight to it when it comes to skinning game, gutting fish, or just whittling by the camp fire.

so how much of an improvement am i looking at by going with S30V over the ATS34 ... i mean i want a strong durable blade of course, but i also want to be able to sharpen it . From what i see on the Buck site the S30V seems like its far superior to the ATS but how does it comapre in terms of corrosion resistance and ease of resharpening?

The rosewood handle is also stabilized. It is not just bare rosewood, water shouldnt be a problem. I wouldnt be concerned about the ATS-34/ S30V/ 420HC. They are all good and will provide a lifetime of use. Never had a problem with any Buck Knives steel... Good luck and keep us posted!!!!!

tj schreiber · Sep 28, 2006

i removed the handles from my alpha hunter, and the back side was unfinished. i just rubbed a couple of coats of tru oil into them and let it dry. that should take care of the sealant problem. i bet you could spray it with polyurethane and it would turn out fine also.