Buck choices

Spats McGee

Spats McGee

Joined
Jun 6, 2019
Messages
389
My first pocketknife was a Buck. It was small, something my dad undoubtedly grabbed at the local hardware store, or maybe the local Land of Rollback Prices for roughly-12-y.o. me. Unfortunately, I lost it many years ago. Having gotten back into knives, I've decided that I need another Buck. Truth be told, my life is less like Seal Team Six and more like Meal Team Six. IOW, I spend my life in an office, with occasional adventures out onto the farm or driving between towns. So the knife is not likely to see any really hard use. What it is likely to see is a lot of pocket time, envelope-opening, breaking down of boxes and sharpening (whether it needs it or not). I can probably pick out the exact knife, but I'm having a dilemma about what steel to choose. So I'd like your input on the following:

1. 420HC - I've heard and seen a lot about the legendary Bos heat treatment, and I'm very curious about it. I strongly suspect that 420HC will meet my needs.
2. S30V - I have a Spyderco Native 5 in this and I really kind of like it. It suits my needs, but I already have a knife in this. I guess I'm trying to decide if it's worth it to grab another brand's S30V for comparison's sake, or move on to a different steel.

Any other steels that I just absolutely, positively have to consider?
 
Spats McGee said:
I'm afraid I'm only familiar with one definition of "larping," and I can't imagine why I would need a real knife for Live Action Role Playing games.
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yeah that's it. now it's used as a bit of a jab toward poseur behavior. think the edc thread with pristine knives placed in rugged situations where they're not actually used, wiped down and return to a safe or display. 5160 is good stuff though, I have a 118 with it.

edit not the edc thread on this subforum but this one

EDC XIII Which knife or knives are you carrying today?

Humper Day carry Protech Strider Sng Blade Hq exclusive s45vn 2022 Bladeforums knife 👍🏻👊🏻
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420HC is much tougher. S30v stays sharp much longer. The use you describe doesn't sound like you will be using the knife as a pry bar, So I recommend S30V.

O.B.
 
DavidABQ said:
I have a pair Buck 501s; one in 420HC and a second one in S30v. The only difference in use is that I can much longer between sharpening sessions with the S30v.
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I was thinking this...only I have a 110 Slim Pro S30V and a OEM 110 420HC. I have given both a workout on cutting up boxes the S30V outlasts the 420HC.

The 501 is a great carry lock back and will handle most tasks. I carried one for many years when I taught.
 
bertl said:
Get a 303 in regular 420HC.
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Winner winner chicken dinner!

My brief affair with the 303

The 303 may be the perfect pocket knife. At 1.9 oz with three useful blade shapes, 3.3" overall length, and Buck quality, there is nothing wanting. This little powerhouse is as much at home in the woods, or at a wedding. Even though it is small enough to disappear into your pocket, the...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
I don’t mind sharpening; it’s like cleaning my guns -- it’s zen to me. I like inexpensive too. I’m perfectly happy, and don’t feel under-equipped with Buck’s 420hc. While one of my jobs doesn’t really require any cutting, in my other job and nearly all of my preferred leisure activities, a sharp, low-maintenance, reliable knife is a must. I carry a 110 with a thumb stud. I’ve cut length after length of grimy, sand-impregnated synthetic rope; cut bait; trimmed monofilament; cut down saplings; dug holes in sand, whittled and carved, and on occasion dabbled a little in the abusive arts such as light prying (a jammed round in a 9mm pistol) and scraping (battery contacts, paint spatters on metal, corrosion off metal, etc). While the 110 or 112 might be bigger or bulkier than you need, I feel like a 420hc buck would be more than sufficient. After all, though, what you prefer in a steel is different than what I, or anyone else, might. Personally, though, I can’t imagine a scenario where Buck 420hc wouldn’t serve someone well, whether you choose a slipjoint, lockback, or “modern” knife.
 
Spats McGee said:
My first knife looked an awful lot like a 303 Cadet, but I would have sworn it only had 2 blades.
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Then you probably had a 309, two blade pen knife about the size of a 303 and a very handy gentleman’s pocketknife. Discontinued now, but many made so you can find one in the exchange, online auctions, and still hanging around displays at Ace and TruValue Hardware stores if you are lucky. OH
 
Old Hunter said:
Then you probably had a 309, two blade pen knife about the size of a 303 and a very handy gentleman’s pocketknife. Discontinued now, but many made so you can find one in the exchange, online auctions, and still hanging around displays at Ace and TruValue Hardware stores if you are lucky. OH
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I searched for some images of 309s, and some other Bucks here. While the 309 is very close, I believe I had a 305.

ETA: I also just grabbed a 112 Slim Pro and a 305 Lancer (?) off The Exchange.
 
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Ya beat me to it..I was going to recommend a 112 Slim Pro Plus in S35VN. I never really thought the super steels were all that super UNTIL I tried S35VN..Stayed sharp week after week and was the sharpest knife of any kind or brand I have used. If you decide you need a backup try that steel. I will say a 501 will be a great choice for 95% of all knife tasks..
 
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