Buck knives

udtjim

udtjim

Joined
Sep 4, 2007
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I have been looking at two Buck knives to be used mostly for deer and elk hunting seasons. I really like the Vanguard and the Alpha Hunter. Any opinions or up/down side of one over the other? I will probably stay with the 420HC steel.
 
I haven't heard any negative about the either one of them, personally I like the looks of the Vanguard better.
 
I have both and the Vanguard wins IMO. The handle is much more comfortable than the exposed edges of the alpha tang and it just plain feels better in my hand. I like the blade shape and size better too. The only thing I don't like on the Vanguard is the extended ricasso, I just don't see the rationale behind that. I would prefer the edge to end closer to my hand. The Alpha may be stronger overall with a thicker blade and full width tang, but that's not a consideration to me in this case. The Vanguard is plenty strong for anything I will need.
 
I like the Alpha because I almost never carry a fixed blade hunting. I have owned a Vangaurd and I never really warmed up to it.

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:)
 
Cabelas has been offering some free shipping of late. I'd be tempted to try the Alaskan Guide, as I have friends who are hunters and they rave about the better steel. I love the Vanguard, but I only have the polished wood handles. I understand a lot of people don't like the rubber grips.

AlaskanVanguard_1.jpg
 
I have a vanguard and my buddy has a skinner, I would really look close at the skinner, it is great. The vanguard is nice, but most of what I need a hunting knife to do is skinning (at least in camp). The blade on the skinner is pretty good.
 
I had one of the original Vanguards and sold it on eBay. It was the rubber handle version. It never really wow'd me, but I did use it once to gut and skin a big old boar I shot. I had to sharpen it several times in the process, which irritated me. All in all, it was a decent knife.
 
I still have my old Vanguard with the rubber handle. It's been through several deer over the years with much success. I'm not a big fan of the steel in it, but it works!
 
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