Awhile back, I got a 2-dot Buck 112. Just love, love, love the lack of nail nick. Ditto with my less used 482.
I find junk doesn't get gunked up in it and the knives are just as easy to open.
Sitflyer, I hope I'm not overstating this but I think you just created a prototype of what Buck should consider as being the new "Buck Knife" - that is, a real centerpiece to their line.
My recent trip to my local Bass Pro Shop really convinced me of this. As much as I love traditional Buck lockbacks, it's clear to me now that the "traditional" thing is moving to internet sales to service the small but loyal niche of traditionalists (I consider myself to be one). I think the larger retail market doesn't want to pay the price of more expensive traditional materials, doesn't want the weight of traditional materials and doesn't want to carry an old-fashioned relic.
On the other hand, as nice of a knife as the Vantage or Bantam are (and they are), they are largely indistinguishable from the raft of other tactical folders out there. When I stood back and beheld the large selection of tacticals in the BPS display case, it took some work to say, oh, those are the Kershaws and those are the Bucks.
Your drop point Ecolite Ranger though is unmistakably a Buck frame. That basic format screams Buck lock back. You could remove the Buck logo from the handle, put it in a display case and very easily pick it out as a Buck.
"Buck knife" has for a long time meant a wood and brass lockback, regardless of the manufacturer. That is, or more correctly was, to Bucks advantage. But now the market doesn't want wood and brass. They want modern and light. I say you've just put together the modern reinterpretation of the Buck knife for the next generation.
Suggestion.... make another one and send it to Joe to carry and show around for a month or so. Buck should be putting that knife into every retail outlet at the $35 price point, $25 on discount. I'd bet they'd even be able to drive up sales of the traditionals at a higher margin if they did this.
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. Great job
