Impressive new knife

Plumberdv

Plumberdv

Joined
Sep 26, 2008
Messages
8,160
I'm not easily impressed anymore, but the minute I took this one out of the box, I was a bit wowed. This Gamut 460 is really a cool item. I don't care for the partial serrations that much, but I can live with that because of the other good features and the great feel of the knife.

It's a lock back (mid) and it locks up tight as a bank vault. I've been used to many of the "plastic" handled knives having just a tiny bit of blade movement when locked open, but not this one! Not one bit of perceptable wiggle in any direction. It's also shaving sharp and the edge grinds (each side) are a mirror image of each other, no weird grinds here. It opens easily using the thumb stud and has an adjustable pivot screw. In fact, it appears to be held together with screws so that it can be taken apart.

I'm going to order a few more so I can give them to my fishing buddies.

Gamut460a_zps50c5be7f.jpg


Gamut460b_zpsa851ff9b.jpg


Gamut460c_zpse94ab06c.jpg


Gamut460and110_zps4c52f295.jpg
 
Nice knife and I love the ability to sheath the knife. Great little find... The sheath looks well built
 
The thumb stud is not going to be liked for filleting.
 
st8yd said:
The thumb stud is not going to be liked for filleting.
Click to expand...

Well, I would imagine you wouldn't use it for filleting, gutting maybe and general fishing jobs but the serration would make a mess of a fish fillet pretty quickly. It could be used to cut bait, fishing line, rope or a hundred of other fishing related chores.
 
mbjannusch said:
It could be used to cut bait, fishing line, rope or a hundred of other fishing related chores.
Click to expand...

My first reaction in seeing it was that it was a cross between a fillet knife (the tip of the blade, handle shape) and a boating/PFD knife (partial serrated edge, thumb stud).

Maybe the combination will make a good general purpose boating knife?
 
It just occured to me that while the Gamut 460 has been discontinued after about two years of production, it appears to have been reincarnated as the Versa 222. Buck changed the blade steel to 420HC and coated it. That may just make it even better, especially for use around salt water. I do like the orange version better but that's just me.

I can see some blade shape differences and the thumbstud seems to have been relocated a bit, but it sure is close. I'll know more in a few days when the Versa I just ordered gets here and I can compare them side by side.

Versa222_zps51553374.jpg
 
As much as I try to put the country of manufacture out of the way and judge the knives for what they are, I still have a stigma with the made in china issue. I have several off shore Buck knives and like most of them, I just wish they were made in the US. I can't fall in love with a knife made in China.
 
mbjannusch said:
As much as I try to put the country of manufacture out of the way and judge the knives for what they are, I still have a stigma with the made in china issue. I have several off shore Buck knives and like most of them, I just wish they were made in the US. I can't fall in love with a knife made in China.
Click to expand...

While I do agree with you, it was made to Bucks specs, so the only technical difference if it were made here vs there would be cost and I'm guessing there would be a substantial difference. Which to a few wouldn't matter but to the majority it probably would.

This goes along with a comment I made in another thread. We don't buy something or fuss because it's to expensive then the company does what it has too to lower cost (send production offshore) we then fuss because it's not made in the U.S.
 
Dave,

On the strength of your impression of this knife I ordered a new Versa. I have the fixed blade bait knife and really like it. I'm sure I'll be pleased with this one. It'll go in the tackle boxes for ...as Matt said... boat duty.
 
st8yd said:
While I do agree with you, it was made to Bucks specs, so the only technical difference if it were made here vs there would be cost and I'm guessing there would be a substantial difference. Which to a few wouldn't matter but to the majority it probably would.

This goes along with a comment I made in another thread. We don't buy something or fuss because it's to expensive then the company does what it has too to lower cost (send production offshore) we then fuss because it's not made in the U.S.
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong, it won't stop me from getting one, but i'll wait to see it the someone else gets me one first.:D
 
Flatlander1963 said:
Dave,On the strength of your impression of this knife I ordered a new Versa. I have the fixed blade bait knife and really like it. I'm sure I'll be pleased with this one. It'll go in the tackle boxes for ...as Matt said... boat duty.
Click to expand...

:eek: Well, I hope that you like the Versa as much as I like the Gamut. I'll feel bad if you don't. I also have the bait knife and like it a lot myself. Based on the one's that I have, I may just go ahead and get the whole series. They seem to be a good value and very well made. :thumbup:
 
I've got the silver creek fillet and the bait knife. I like'm, the color and the feel of the handle. But I have a cheap Normark Rapala plastic handle that works much better.
 
Nothing wrong with the Rapala's, I've had and used them for years. I just prefer to buy a Buck product these days.
 
Me too, I actually don't like the typical wood handle rapala. I just had a hard time justifying the Buck when I had a couple rapallas and several american angler $5 knives that performed really well. So well that I have one in the truck, one in the boat, one in the hunt pack, one in the knife bag, one in the kitchen knife drawer and 3-4 more on the shelf as back up. I don't know about you but it seems everytime it comes time to replace something I really like it's no longer available, I was concerned it might happen with these.
 
MB you've got quite a collection of fillet knives and it sounds like you fish alot. Which Buck is your favorite fillet knife in the 6" range that gets used?
 
st8yd said:
MB you've got quite a collection of fillet knives and it sounds like you fish allot. Which Buck is your favorite fillet knife in the 6" range that gets used?
Click to expand...

I do fish allot, and have a decent fillet knife collection. The cheapo rapallas are great knives and being under $10 or so is why Bucks fillet knives are off shore and have historically discontinued. The lakeMate is a great fillet knife and it's what I generally use for filleting. I've tried every Buck fillet made and all work well. Their problem is the overall cost of their product. Why spend $20-30 on a knife that you can get for a third that performs just as well if not better. I'm looking forward to the ClearWater series to come out this year. I will probably pick up all 4 to use and a set to hide away. Like I said historically they get discontinued.
 
The Silver creek seems to have to much belly and the blade is thicker making it less flexible. I have been trying to get used to it. I just finineshed processing some deer the other day, as you probably know a good fillet knife usuall makes a good boneing knife. I started out with the siver creek and it wasn't long before I had to get the rapala out.

Some of the Bucks I've seen posted on here look like they have a decent shaped blade, but they have a big ole gaudy handle which I don't care for.

I've been contemplating shaping the silver creeek blade to match the rapala.
 
st8yd said:
The Silver creek seems to have to much belly and the blade is thicker making it less flexible. I have been trying to get used to it. I just finineshed processing some deer the other day, as you probably know a good fillet knife usuall makes a good boneing knife. I started out with the siver creek and it wasn't long before I had to get the rapala out.

Some of the Bucks I've seen posted on here look like they have a decent shaped blade, but they have a big ole gaudy handle which I don't care for.

I've been contemplating shaping the silver creeek blade to match the rapala.
Click to expand...

Ok, so what are you actually wanting here? A filet knife or one to process deer with? :confused:

Buck also makes a nice boning knife or two if that's what you're after. No need to modify a fishing knife to make one.
 
My primary use is fishing, and would like a buck that worked and felt as good as the rapala I have.

What I was also saying is that a good fillet knife works as good or better as the russel boning knives I've used.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top