Buck Tactical Neck Knives

[Big Smitty]

Anyone familiar with the two knives? Looking for comments/insight on quality, functionality, blade quality and sheath quality, utility and funtionality.

Model 151
Buck/Mayo Kaala™
Ultra-smooth, slim profile, fixed-blade knife. This Tom Mayo design is light, fast and agile. It features top quality S30V steel with lightening holes. The sheath is molded nylon with lanyard hole sized for parachute chord. Comes with 30" stainless steel chain.

Category End Use: Tactical
Blade Steel: S30V
Length Overall: 6 3/4" (17.1 cm)
Blade Length: 3 1/8" (7.9 cm)
Blade Shape: Drop point
Blade Thickness: 1/8" (.3 cm)
Weight: 1.9 oz. (54 g)
Handle Material: S30V steel
Carry System: Molded nylon sheath with chain
Knife Type: Fixed-Blade
Collaborator: Tom Mayo
Catalog #: 5996

Price: $ 100.00

Model 860BK
Buck/Hartsook Ultralite
The Buck/Hartsook Neck Knife is an ultra-slim, compact, fixed-blade knife for wearing primarily around the neck. It is made in the U.S.A. of high quality, black oxide coated, S30V stainless steel and comes with a slimline sheath. Small, light-weight and convenient, this type of knife is popular with the Tactical market, but it's a great cross-over product that appealls to a variety of people for many uses - fly fishing, hunting, backpacking as well as personal carry. It's skeletal shape and talon blade are specifically designed for nimble cutting and quick access, making it well suited for Law Enforcement, Military and other activities

Category End Use: Tactical/survival-military, law enforcement, search & rescue
Blade Steel: S30V
Length Overall: 4 1/4" (10.8 cm.)
Blade Length: 1 7/8" (4.8 cm.)
Blade Shape: Talon
Weight: .5 oz. (14.8 g.)
Handle Material: S30V Steel with Black Oxide coating
Carry System: Reinforced Molded Nylon
Color: Black
Knife Type: None
Collaborator: Doug Hartsook
Catalog #: 5900

Price: $ 35.00

 

[proguide]

I have a Hartsook. It is a VERY well made little knife. I wrapped the handle with paracord to give a little more purchase when holding. Sharp,Bos treatment and A Doug Hartsook design. An excellent pedigree if I say so myself. Small but useful. I wear it under my uniform / over the vest and that seems to work for me. For $22 at any on-line store, buy several and stash them around the house/car.

 

[neeman]

Do a search on Hartsook.

A sharp little knife, with all the safety aspects being a fixed blade.
Fits anywhere, even in your wallet.
S30V is not the easiest to sharpen.
If you are into it, rebevel the blade.
The sheath gets loose, and needs tightening with a couple turns of electrical tape.
A short lanyard to fit on your pinky helps to hold the knife as a contra and is much easier to control such a small knife.

Mine sits in my day pouch minding it own business, till I need it.
Then it is around my neck ready for instant use.

Tactical, with a 2" blade???
Sure, it does not get in the way when I make a quick exit.

A well designed knife and a good buy.

 

[CL01]

I've never owned or handled the Buck/Mayo neck knife, but dimensionally it seems a bit long for a neck knife. I have owned the Buck/Hartsook. It is well built & sharp, but was too small for me.

I much prefer my Spyderco SPOT (VG-10 with micarta model). At 4 3/4" & a finger hole, I find it better to control. The blade's shorter, but the nice part of sub 2" fixed blades is that many states that don't allow concealed FBs will allow sub 2" concealed (CA., for example, allows sub 2" autos & FBs concealed).

 

[Incidentalist]

I have both.

I really like the Hartsook. It's super small, but extremely useful for it's size. Good control for a 2 finger grip and the lanyard gives a little extra to hold onto. I highly recommend one.

The Kaala is decent, but I don't like it as much. There are several rather easy modifacations that would make this knife far more useful IMO. It's not the most comfortable to hold and could really stand some jimping along the spine and rounding the corners would also help.

That said, it's a decent enough knife for the money (close to $70 at many online dealers). Although, I don't know if I would have bought it if Mr. Mayo's name wasn't on it.

For a similarly sized knife, I'd recommend a Benchmade Activator.

 

[jaislandboy]

Do a search on Hartsook.

A sharp little knife, with all the safety aspects being a fixed blade.
Fits anywhere, even in your wallet.
S30V is not the easiest to sharpen.
If you are into it, rebevel the blade.
The sheath gets loose, and needs tightening with a couple turns of electrical tape.
A short lanyard to fit on your pinky helps to hold the knife as a contra and is much easier to control such a small knife.

Mine sits in my day pouch minding it own business, till I need it.
Then it is around my neck ready for instant use.

Tactical, with a 2" blade???
Sure, it does not get in the way when I make a quick exit.

A well designed knife and a good buy.

+1
great review.... :thumbup:

 

[Big Smitty]

Guys thanks for the feedback. If anyone has additional input, keep it coming. Thanks again!

 

[HoB]

The Kaala is decent, but I don't like it as much. There are several rather easy modifacations that would make this knife far more useful IMO. It's not the most comfortable to hold and could really stand some jimping along the spine and rounding the corners would also help.

I completely agree. Personally, I very much like the size and shape of the Kaala. Pretty much ideal for me. The sheath system is pretty clever, too. I was a bit suspicious at first but after having worn it for a month continuously, I must admit that someone was thinking when designing it. It turned out very reliable. The weak point is the execution: It is basically a shive that is cleanly stamped out of a sheet of steel (well, I know it wasn't stamped, but laser cut, but it looks that way). The corners should have been rounded or at least beveled. I took a diamond stone to it and smoothed it with sandpaper afterwards. Some jimping for the tumb would have been nice. But what bothers me most, though, is that the four holes are completely unfinished. They are laser cut and fairly unevenly. They still have the residue from the laser cut and are round only in approximation. For $70 (that is the third of the price of the Buck Mayo TNT, but without Ti handle, no folding mechanics, no lock) I would have expected it to be finished much better. In fact I would have expected the same finish as the Buck TNT and it is a far cry from it. It really looks like one of Spyderco's Mules.

But, again shape and size are really nice, very functional (it is btw. exactly the same size as a Byrd Meadowlark) and it carries well IMHO. I am not sure, but my impression is that the S30V is run a tad harder than other S30V blades that I have. And it seems to hold an edge very well. The factory grind was a welcome surprise on mine as well. It needed a touch up, but the edge grind was just over 12 degrees on one side and around 15 deg on the other with just under 0.020" behind the edge which is refreshingly thin and most appropriate for a knife of this type (yes, I could have been even thinner in my opinion, but measured against what I expect to see right from the factory, this is pretty darn good).