Cornucopia of New Products to Debut @ Shot Show 2013, article

Fired up about the 420HC filet knives too!!
Hope they do a Baitcutter in the new series as well!
 
you said hooligan twice BG42. Don't you think you're getting a little ridiculous. The names must not be keeping too many buyers away as they keep expanding the line. But to each his own.
 
mbjannusch said:
The fact is that consumers do pay attention to names,
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Yup. Agreed on this in a big way.

and I bet there is a hand full of people out there that won't buy the product because it has a stupid name.
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Yup. Agreed again.

But, I wager that there will be an even bigger group of people who will buy these knives primarily based on the name (and looks).

There was a great show on TV years ago about a European (French, mebbee?) car designer who was influential in the design of many US SUVs like the Hummer H2 and cars like the PT Cruiser. His point was that Americans are afraid and they want cars that project the message, "Don't mess with me or I'll hurt you." He described at something like dangerous on the outside and safe and comforting on the inside.

I think this survivalist/prepper movement is similar. People are scared. The message they want to send is, "Don't mess me, I got me a Punk."
 
pinnah said:
My sense is that the survivalist market is somewhere between the (real) tactical crowd (military, cops) and the bushcrafter crowd. Just a hunch. And judging by the tenor and tone on the survival sub forum here, I strongly suspect the names of these knives will lead to more sales.
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I agree with you on above.
#1 Market = (Military/Police)
#2 Market = Prepper's (survivalist is an old school name)
#3 Market = (Outdoorsmen/Bushcrafter's)

I like large blades for buchcraft and camping and have many. I have many more tactical folders for EDC. That is just me:D The British Gurkhas that I did combat missions all carried large Kukri knives, but did not carry pistols. I carried a light weight knife and handgun as backup. Weight to all Soldiers is a major issue.;)
 
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pinnah said:
Yup. Agreed on this in a big way.



Yup. Agreed again.

But, I wager that there will be an even bigger group of people who will buy these knives primarily based on the name (and looks).

There was a great show on TV years ago about a European (French, mebbee?) car designer who was influential in the design of many US SUVs like the Hummer H2 and cars like the PT Cruiser. His point was that Americans are afraid and they want cars that project the message, "Don't mess with me or I'll hurt you." He described at something like dangerous on the outside and safe and comforting on the inside.

I think this survivalist/prepper movement is similar. People are scared. The message they want to send is, "Don't mess me, I got me a Punk."
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Ya I tyr like hell to stay out of the way of those PT Cruisers, those some bad dudes:rolleyes:
 
I think "Thug" is a terrible name for a knife. We have plenty of them in Oakland that kill each other on average of 1 every 3 days. I'm not a religious man, but I do like the religious message I get with every Buck knife. I don't think naming your knife "Thug" really jives with that message.
 
With all the violence in the world, school shootings and movie theater masacures the last thing people would want to think about is a knife named the THUG, HOODLUM, PUNK, or the REAPER. Its a bad Public Relation move and Buck knives should know better.
 
dogstar said:
I think "Thug" is a terrible name for a knife. We have plenty of them in Oakland that kill each other on average of 1 every 3 days. I'm not a religious man, but I do like the religious message I get with every Buck knife. I don't think naming your knife "Thug" really jives with that message.
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:thumbup:
 
sliderfisherman said:
you said hooligan twice BG42. Don't you think you're getting a little ridiculous. The names must not be keeping too many buyers away as they keep expanding the line. But to each his own.
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Me ridiculous?

Well......I'm not the one naming knives punk and hoodlum......or buying them.

;)
 
Thug and Reaper may not be the best names for a knife and certainly aren't what I would call a "traditional" Buck model name but at least they aren't marketing the new "Buck Momma's Boy Bushcrafter". If the design and execution are top notch, the materials are to my liking and it fits my needs I can and will overlook some things.
 
Didn't Ron Hood name his first knife the "Hoodlum?" Yes he did and Buck probably didn't get a choice on that knife's name.

Did they decide to move forward with the line with names similar to "Hoodlum? Yes they did so it seems. Could it be that Ron named all three knives prior to his passing? Possible but I don't know. Is this third knife solely a Buck design based on Ron's prior two or did Ron prototype it too as he did with the Punk? That would be good info.

To me it's not an issue worth an online argument. This line of knives are low volume moderately expensive niche knives relative to Bucks other business lines. I believe pinnah is correct that the series as produce by Buck is targeted to Military/LE/Survivalist types who are generally young men. I don't think these names will be viewed as a negative in that crowd. If fact potentially a positive.

Me personally, I don't fit that niche and frankly don't care for the names. But give Buck credit for trying to broaden its markets to non-traditional knife enthusiasts. It is crucial for Buck to be able to sell higher end knives.

I did buy the Punk and check it out. It wasn't for me and I moved it along to another Buckeroo who was happy to have it. In the end for me at least, I buy knive's with design, form, and function that appeal to me. It never occurred to me not to buy a knife or not based on the name of it.
 
Excellent post Flat:thumbup:
I have been searching in vain for the article I read the last time this silly argument came up here, But IIRC Ron named the Hoodlum because that was a nickname he used for his students/fans? I have a Hoolum, and am not a bushcrafter, or survivalist, or prepper...I use it for when I'm doing brush work around the property. It is an excellent tool for this kind of work, and makes short work of rendering the brush into smaller piles to dry before burning. Maybe the name will put some off, maybe some will buy it for the name...I think it was a great step for Buck to intro these and appeal to a different market .Time will tell if it is popular enough to keep producing it/them...But I for one am very happy to have one of these great tools...
 
Badhammer said:
Thug and Reaper may not be the best names for a knife and certainly aren't what I would call a "traditional" Buck model name but at least they aren't marketing the new "Buck Momma's Boy Bushcrafter". If the design and execution are top notch, the materials are to my liking and it fits my needs I can and will overlook some things.
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Heh!

But then again, why not. From all appearances those guys are willing to spend good money on fixed blade knives. Why not on Bucks?

IMO, Buck could use some nudging towards some more general purpose fixed blade options. Less extreme hollow grinds. More drop point designs.

The Vantage, Alpha Hunter and Bucklite Max are all steps in that direction. Buck may be loosing sales by not reaching out (and then listening) to the bushcrafters.

Sometimes I think Buck's reliance on their hunting legacy becomes over reliance. The Alpha Hunter has many of the features liked by the bushcrafter crowd. I'd put the Bucklite Max up against the Mora any day as a general purpose fixed blade for camping. But then, I'm comfortable calling myself a hunter and many backpackers and bushcrafters aren't. Take the Boone and Crocket etching off of the orange Bucklite Max, and you have yourself a decent mid priced fixed blade with broader appeal, imo.
 
You guys all make great points. Buck needs to broaden there lines, I agree. Personally I could care less what the name is. I'm playing Devils Advocate and arguing the other side. I just thought Buck Knives, being the Christians they tout to be, made a bad PR move naming these knives. I could be that they have a contract with Hood, for the release of the line the way Hood wanted it. After a 100 years it doesn't sound like Buck Knives to come up with these names. I think the conversation has gone as far as it is going to go. I glade Pinnah and I were able to have a spirited debate, Good Job Brother.
 
Sounds like some good offerings for the new year!

The names could be better. I really like the Hoodlum and since the man's name was Hood it made some sense. The Punk, not so much; the Thug has nothing good going for it! Not a good call in my mind. I may still buy it but will never call it by that name. Didn't buy the Punk since the design just wasn't for me.
 
I like Buck knives, but not the Hoodlum and Punk names. I do not own, but like the Buck/Hood designs. I think Ron Hood named them not Buck. Ron Hood had a great sense of humor, but these are outdoor survival knives. Most of the folks I know are serious types not aged 19 going on 12.:D

Would be cool if Buck did a Hood run of both knives in just plain knives without that stuff on them?:thumbup:
 
Just subscribing to hear more about the 420 and Sandvik line of fillet knives....
 
Anyone know why BG was banned?

It is hard for me to believe that anyone from the gentlemanly Buck, mild not wild, Forum could be disruptive to such an extent.
 
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