Is the Nighthawk extinct?

[Jeff O]

Will we ever see the Nighthawk again? One of my favorite Bucks of all time is the 655 short Nighthawk and I was sad to see it disappear.

To me, the weak point has always been the sheath. The early sheaths were too little and the latter sheaths were waaay too much. A 119 style leather sheath would be perfect or a simple kydex rig would be adequate.

I know 420HC is essentially as tough as 3V and it's a great steel but 3V would make for a truly awesome blade.

While I dream about a 3V 655 with leather, let's see some Nighthawks.

 

[Barman1]

650 is my favorite. Indestructible.
I'm in agreement, would be nice to see a comeback.

 

[Jeff O]

I had a 650; awesome knife. I gave it to a buddy who promptly lost it.

 

[BuckShack]

I lost my 650 in the woods, first year model too. I loved that knife. I tried a 655 serrated but finally had to replace the 650.

These are both discontinued. Good thing I got a picture.

 

[Jeff O]

View attachment 2512986

 

[JLRubicon]

I kind of like them too.

 

[wonderboy1377s]

Joe Houser 655

 

[Midnight Rider]

Now we know why these are scarce. J JLRubicon has them all .
Here's a couple that I found.

 

[Jeff of the North]

 

[Tecate]

A few custom Nighthawks:
650 Nighthawk (TOPS) with Elk Antler
650 Nighthawk with Brown Micarta/Brass
655 Nighthawk with Stacked Leather Micarta

 

[Tecate]

I kind of think the GCK series knives would be a replacement for the Nighthawk series, but then again they no longer have the GCK series available.

651 Nighthawk "Pig Sticker" Bubinga wood Houser custom pictured with the OEM variant. I would love if they brought this one back....again.

 

[Jeff O]

I'm still kicking myself for not getting the pig sticker.

 

[Buck Knives Inc.]

We have a small quantity of 651 blades left that we have some ideas for. They will small runs though.

 

[Jeff O]

We have a small quantity of 651 blades left that we have some ideas for. They will small runs though.

Dibs!

 

[iball]

651 in Magnacut when?

 

[Jeff O]

651 in Magnacut when?

That's not how you spell 3V

In all seriousness though, how well would Magnacut hold up in a Nighthawk? I figured it was better suited for small-ish knives with edge retention required over toughness. Is it tough 'enough'? I mean, I'd have no intentions of abusing it but it's nice to know I could. I have no first hand experience with Magnacut yet.

I'd still buy one in Magnacut, though.

 

[JLRubicon]

Now we know why these are scarce. J JLRubicon has them all .

I think I may have added one since that picture.

 

[Jeff O]

Deleted

 

[iball]

That's not how you spell 3V

In all seriousness though, how well would Magnacut hold up in a Nighthawk? I figured it was better suited for small-ish knives with edge retention required over toughness. Is it tough 'enough'? I mean, I'd have no intentions of abusing it but it's nice to know I could. I have no first hand experience with Magnacut yet.

I'd still buy one in Magnacut, though.

All those words just to say "Make it in Magnacut!"
How strange...

 

[Jeff O]

All those words just to say "Make it in Magnacut!"
How strange...

Lol fair enough. Dr. Thomas lists 420HC and 3V at 9 on the toughness chart. Magnacut at 7. That's good enough I suppose.

...but for the 2 point loss in toughness, Magnacut only gains a half a point in edge retention over 3V