Buck Vanguard a decent camping knife?

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Xipe

Joined
Aug 10, 2007
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I've just started to appreciate 'the art of knives' (and it's going to get expensive, I fear) and am buying my first "proper" knife to complement my Mora's (I'm swedish, it's the very definition of a knife to me and the only kind of knife I've ever been around).

According to a swedish website with a fellow that seems very knowledgable, the Buck Vanguard and the Spyderco Bill Moran are both excellent "all-round", everyday knives, and so I am thinking going for the Vanguard for the aesthetics and the guard, everything else being more or less equal.

In your experience will it work for what I intend it to do? General camping utility, probably rinsing fish, taking out birds and small prey (hare, roe deer)?
 
Xipe said:
I've just started to appreciate 'the art of knives' (and it's going to get expensive, I fear) and am buying my first "proper" knife to complement my Mora's (I'm swedish, it's the very definition of a knife to me and the only kind of knife I've ever been around).


The Fallkniven F1 is an excellent wilderness knife and I assume it is a good value in Sweden. It was my choice to step up from a mora.

The Buck Vanguard will certainly work and give you many years good service. The Benchmade Rant is a near identical knife and a good value. I like the Bark River designs for wilderness production knives too.
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One of my friends swears by Fällkniven F1 (although, he suffers from a Fällkniven fetish and will probably soon buy their MC1 mine knife just to complete his collection), but it really doesn't do it for me when I look at it [insert Mora joke here] or wield it. I guess I want a aesthetic knife that still is very practical, has the same utility and just feels "good" holding.

And thanks for the reassuring input, I think I'll start with the Vanguard then.

Regarding good value, the Buck is pretty pricey here, around $130 (which is roughly the same as Fällkniven F1).
 
If the price is the same I would defintly go with the fallkniven.I was wanting the fallkinieven,but went with the Cold steel knife.take a look at them to,I love there knives,with Carbon blades.but there not made by Camillus anymore so I dont know about the Quality.The Bucks are good but the Fallkniven is a step up I think.
 
Both are great knives. I had the F1 by Fallkniven, and the vanguard in S30V steel, sold by Cabellas - The alaskan Guide Model. I used both for over a year of camping / hunting. The one I reached for most often, and still have, is the Buck Vanguard. The main reasons were, much more comfortable grip, and the thinner blade. It was more comfortable and sliced better. But no matter which you choose, they are both great knives.
Dave.
 
I have Both the Vanguard and F1--my preference in feel and shape is the Vanguard, but the convex grind on the F1 wins out. F1 for me.
 
okbohn said:
the convex grind on the F1 wins out. F1 for me.
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I'm a total newbie on grinding, and I'm not trying to champion the Vanguard; but from what I've read convex grinds require alot more knowledge and work when grinding, so wouldn't that be a downside to a knife that you use heavily?

http://home.nycap.rr.com/sosak/convex.htm

After reading that I really want to stay away from convex grinds at least until I'm decent at V-grinds. Or am I exaggerating the skill and work needed in performing good grinds yourself?
 
I have three Vanguards with three different types of blade materials. This is my favorite knife for camping and hunting here in the Rocky Mountains. The game here tends to be large, from large deer up to elk. I like the Vanguard for medium to large game. I have found it inconvenient for small game. If I want to work on fish, birds or rabbits I particularly want a finer point. If I didn't expect to hunt large game I would get a knife that was finer. For my area my backup is a folding knife for the small stuff.

http://www.deer-elk-hunting.com/


On the other hand a longer blade is handy for a camp knife. Often that gets used for food preparation and a 4" blade is a nice length. I would suggest looking at a Buck Woodsman as being a little better for fish, birds and small game. It is still a little oversized for birds. http://www.buckknives.com/catalog/detail/232/222

I would guess that it is inconvenient for you to order from US dealers, but AG Russell's Bird and Trout knife might work great for your needs: http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_...s/a_g_russell_bird_trout_with_vg10_blade.html

I would suggest getting one with the VG10 alloy blade.
 
I have a Buck Vanguard 692 and it has served me well over the past year. I am impressed with the Benchmade Fixed Blade Griptillian 151. I used it in place of the Vanguard on the last couple of camping trips and it slices better and holds an edge better than the 692. But it also cost about $30 more.

P.S. If Bear Grylls used the Vangard it is doomed as he is considered lower than whale poop on this website.:D
 
I find convex edges easier to maintain. I am not sure which would be easier on the initial grind, but I know convex is no big deal on the user side.
 
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