Favorite Buck fixed blade (user)

Generalist said:
Would love to see photos of the moose and bear!
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The moose was shot by a friend (35 Whelen) in a broccoli field in Bridgeton Maine, I was with him a very large cow, we didnt have a bull permit in the lottery, The bear was shot up in the oxbow in maine 284 lb sow, By me 21 yrs ago(45-70). No phones in those days had the rug until the cellar flooded in my last house.
 
I would probably join others here in saying I used the 3V 104 a lot, except for the fact that my wife claimed it the second I unpacked it, and refuses to let me play with it. lol.
So my most used Buck out of the whole batch is a 632 Mesa, very similar to the 104. It rides in the center console for many years now and is my workhorse blade, when I camp or hunt/fish I do take a couple of extra blades, but the Mesa does the lion's share of real work.
 
texpat said:
I would probably join others here in saying I used the 3V 104 a lot, except for the fact that my wife claimed it the second I unpacked it, and refuses to let me play with it. lol.
So my most used Buck out of the whole batch is a 632 Mesa, very similar to the 104. It rides in the center console for many years now and is my workhorse blade, when I camp or hunt/fish I do take a couple of extra blades, but the Mesa does the lion's share of real work.
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The 104 is just a great size for a general purpose blade and the 3V makes it really great. I would be fairly disappointed if my wife commandeered mine! I agree with the Mesa being a good substitute. I bought one from a forum member shortly after I got my 104. I wanted to fill that hole in my collection since I missed out on it when WM was selling them. I like it with the hollow grind too. Blade shape is close to the 104 and the hollow grind without the cerakote of the OG 104 is very slicey. And it fits the 104 sheath. Mine just hasn't been used much since I have my 104.

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mill428 said:
Nice mod! That big hump on the back of an original 103 has kept me from pursuing it. But I like what you've done with that one. I like it!
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Thanks! And likewise. I wanted a Buck 914 (because I adore the Woodcraft pattern) but wasn't willing to chase one down and pay the collector price, so I improvised. Now it's a totally different knife.
 
I'm not familiar with the Buck Mesa. It is an attractive knife, appears very close to a 104.
What is the history of the Mesa ?
 
Flambeau said:
I'm not familiar with the Buck Mesa. It is an attractive knife, appears very close to a 104.
What is the history of the Mesa ?
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I don't know a ton about it other than it was, as far as I know, a Walmart exclusive. Made by Buck and sold through WM stores. It's 420HC, hollow ground, micarta scales as you said, very close to the 104 shaped blade. It wasn't expensive ($45 maybe?) but wasn't a long run. As most things WM sells it was discounted and discontinued a few years later. I think in 2017-2018ish. They are around, but are a fair bit more expensive than what you would have paid back in the day at WM. Maybe someone else that knows more can fill in the blanks. It's a great blade, but the 104 is similar and still available.
 
Yeah I got my Mesa at Walmart when they went on closeout, I walked in one day and there was one left marked at like 28 bucks IIRC, total no-brainer. The micarta is nice and grippy, even when wet. And the fat scales are perfect for me as I have larger hands.
 
I have deer, turkey, and a stocked pond but don't hunt fish anymore. I've become more of a pocket knife guy in my old age. I know this is not the feedback you are looking for but the only " fixed" blade that sees any regular use by me is the Froe. Rides around in the junk box on the back of our Kawasaki Mule. Don't like the sheath.
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Flambeau said:
I'm not familiar with the Buck Mesa. It is an attractive knife, appears very close to a 104.
What is the history of the Mesa ?
Click to expand...
There's a thread somewhere around here comparing the Mesa to the 104. I remember seeing Mesas at WM and walking by to finish whatever errand I was on. Nuts.

Edit: Found it!

Culprit99

Thread '104 Compadre vs. 632 Mesa'

104 Compadre vs. 632 Mesa. Since the Compadre is still going strong and the Mesa is discontinued, I guess we know who the winner is, but since this Mesa showed up in the mail today and is the first one I’ve held in my hands, I never realized how similar they are before.

The Compdre is still my favorite fixed blade of all time, but you can’t deny the family resemblance.

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DeSotoSky said:
I have deer, turkey, and a stocked pond but don't hunt fish anymore. I've become more of a pocket knife guy in my old age. I know this is not the feedback you are looking for but the only " fixed" blade that sees any regular use by me is the Froe. Rides around in the junk box on the back of our Kawasaki Mule. Don't like the sheath.
BzCfnGT.jpg

1Qw6ZuE.jpg
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Agreed on the great utility of the 108 and also the strange sheath. I'm not sure how to even use it effectively besides the way you have it tossed in your Mule. I actually carry mine in a Becker Machax sheath if I feel the need to strap it on. Other than that, it's a formidable woods tool.
 
FranklinG said:
There's a thread somewhere around here comparing the Mesa to the 104. I remember seeing Mesas at WM and walking by to finish whatever errand I was on. Nuts.

Edit: Found it!

Culprit99

Thread '104 Compadre vs. 632 Mesa'

104 Compadre vs. 632 Mesa. Since the Compadre is still going strong and the Mesa is discontinued, I guess we know who the winner is, but since this Mesa showed up in the mail today and is the first one I’ve held in my hands, I never realized how similar they are before.

The Compdre is still my favorite fixed blade of all time, but you can’t deny the family resemblance.

303340E4-7B2F-4D8D-9AFA-ABC26087402B.jpeg
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Excellent thread on the subject.
 
Well I didn't think about kitchen use, but now I realize the most used Buck fixed blade in our house is a little 135 Paklite that I re-purposed for a paring knife, it gets used pretty much every day, re-profiled the tip just a hair for more pointiness, it's great and I never have to worry about it rusting, it's slung around some mustard and other stuff repeatedly but there's still not a mark on it. Holds an edge better than my cheap kitchen knives too. I keep a Buck Tri-stick in the kitchen and use it when anything needs sharpening, I use the coarsest side, gives it a nice toothy edge that works really well slicing tomatoes and such.
 
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For deer hunting and general woods/outdoors carry it’s the Buck 118 for me. For cleaning fish and during turkey season I like an older Buck 121, just the right amount of flex to breast a gobbler and not waste any breast meat. For ducks I like a Buck 102, however I haven’t hunted ducks in several years now.
 
Old Hunter said:
Buck_118_Personal_Two-Line.jpg

Buck_121_-_Flounder.jpg
Buck_121_cleaning_turkey_-_2017.jpg



For deer hunting and general woods/outdoors carry it’s the Buck 118 for me. For cleaning fish and during turkey season I like an older Buck 121, just the right amount of flex to breast a gobbler and not waste any breast meat. For ducks I like a Buck 102, however I haven’t hunted ducks in several years now.
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I wondered when we would see pictures of your 118 in use. :) I must admit, I have a 118 primarily because of your many posts using this handy blade.
 
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