New Buck owner checking in....

C

Captain Mark

Joined
Jan 24, 2007
Messages
62
Howdy from the Lone Star State.

I have been driving myself insane lately trying to decide which survival/tactical fixed blade knife to buy. I am a firefighter and Arson Investigator in the Dallas area, and I have been needing a big stout knife. I have been looking at all makes from Buck to Fallkniven. I went to Gander Mountain to look at their lineup. Almost bought the Ka-bar, but ended up leaving. I went to the Wal-Mart across the street and saw the Buck Nighthawk. It was exactly what I was looking for...and I bought it for $38 bucks! After a few days of abuse, I have a new favorite knife! I swear this thing is indestructible! I used it all day today digging out an arson crime scene. When I got home, I started hacking down a cedar tree on the back of my place. Once I got it down, I used the knife to strip the bark off. By the time it got dark, the knife was filthy! It had nasty black crap all over it from the fire scene, then the cedar sap was stuck all over it. I had to get a bucket of soapy water and brush to get it clean.

Not crazy about the sheath, but for $38 bucks...no problem. If I was marooned on an island with only one knife, I would have no problems using this one.

Buck, you have a new fan!:thumbup:
 
Welcome to Bladeforums.com Captain Mark!!! :D Please take a moment or two to visit our benefactors, Buck Knives http://www.buckknives.com/ and One Stop Knife Shop http://www.onestopknifeshop.com/ (Kevin owns this Forum!) ;)

Buck has a very interesting Virtual Plant Tour at http://www.buckknives.com/plant_tour.php , a guide to Tang Stamp Codes at http://www.buckknives.com/collectors_vintage.php , you can also order a Custom-Built Buck Knive at http://www.buckknives.com/custom_knife_shoppe.php , and there is a brief introduction to the Buck Collectors Club at http://www.buckknives.com/collectors_club.php . The Buck Collectors Club commissions special and unique versions of Buck knives for member sales only, so you might want to consider joining to gain access to some of these truly awesome knives!!! :)
 
Thanks for the welcome bro'

I will definitely be checking out all the links you gave me. I am passing the Nighthawk around at the fire and police stations. Everyone is digging it. Expect sales to go up!:D
 
You know, I think I am dissing the sheath prematurely. I've only had this thing a few days. I'll give it a few months and see how it holds up. Plus, if it gets really dirty, it will be easy too wash.

It's good to know there are sheath makers here, just in case.
 
If I had to choose ONE knife to be stranded with Mary Ann on an island with...it would be my Buck Strider. OR, would it be my NightHawk?
OH WAIT!!! I DON'T HAVE THAT ANYMORE. It was traded and now I have to get another one. I got a GREAT deal and the 650 found a great new home but I still miss my Nighthawk.
No foolin' Captain Mark...probably ten minutes before I read your post I was looking at my aftermarket sheath my NightHawk used to bunk in. I got all poodle eyed.
My task for tonight is to get a replacement.

You made a great choice.
Welcome aboard Captain Mark.
Over and Out...
Private Driveway.
.
 
Captain Mark said:
You know, I think I am dissing the sheath prematurely. I've only had this thing a few days. I'll give it a few months and see how it holds up. Plus, if it gets really dirty, it will be easy too wash.

It's good to know there are sheath makers here, just in case.
Click to expand...

Don't be kind. It blows. :barf:

Under moderate use it won't last a few months...esp in your line of work...making chili and all that barbeque at the station house. ;) (Just your ration of goofin'...)


Anyway, the loop will fail.

Get one of these in black: http://www.lapolicegear.com/spcomash.html
I use the small pocket for a stone or a small bottle of Tabasco (no foolin')...perfect for those chili cookin' days :)
Disregard what may appear to be a stun gun...it's a big pager. :rolleyes:
.
102050565-M.jpg
 
Welcome Capt!!!! Sounds like you are already addicted!!!!

Is that the Short Night Hawk or the long one?

I forget the numbers as to which is what....

Well Duh... wonder why I don't go to http://www.buckknives.com/ and check it out lol.... :thumbup:

I wonder why I don't have a nighthawk, or a 124, or a 120, or an 881, or 882, or 880, or......:o :p
 
Buckaholic said:
Don't be kind. It blows. :barf:

Under moderate use it won't last a few months...esp in your line of work...making chili and all that barbeque at the station house. ;) (Just your ration of goofin'...)


Anyway, the loop will fail.

Get one of these in black: http://www.lapolicegear.com/spcomash.html
I use the small pocket for a stone or a small bottle of Tabasco (no foolin')...perfect for those chili cookin' days :)
Disregard what may appear to be a stun gun...it's a big pager. :rolleyes:
.
102050565-M.jpg
Click to expand...



That is EXACTLY what I want! Thanks for the heads up bro'

It will be mine!
 
Captain Mark said:
PackRat, it's one of the long ones.

I am planning more abuse for it today!
Click to expand...


650 Larry.

Cpt. Mark...
You will like that sheath. The button in the bottom first feels like it gets in the way of the insertion. You just have to get it in right. It goes right in each time after you do it once and know.

Also, because of the location of the handle loop being at the bottom of the handle as opposed to the top (like the stock sheath), you may note that the handle protrudes a bit when you get up and down from bar stools and the such. Makes for interesting bar talk along the line of "is that a NightHawk or are you just happy to see me?".

It is a great sheath. Quality is impressive and worthy of the NightHawk. I especially like the split belt loop design (as seen in the above post)...keeps the system from slipping around. Ever try to do a fast extract while wondering where your knife slid to on your belt? In your line of work I would imagine that you need to know where that tool is at all times. This sheath will take care of that.

Cost almost as much as the knife so I was hesitant at first. Not one regret...it's great. And I'm guessing it'll last longer than my last two marriages combined.

Now, back to my search for a 650 :)
 
Buckaholic said:
650 Larry.



Cost almost as much as the knife so I was hesitant at first. Not one regret...it's great. And I'm guessing it'll last longer than my last two marriages combined.

Now, back to my search for a 650 :)
Click to expand...

:D

Go to the nearest WalMart and see if they have one. I promise it will be the cheapest price you will find.
 
Capt. Mark, I am a different sort of Captain. A boat capt. to be exact.
I cut rope , hose , hydrolic hose(which is steel reinforced) , plastic 5 gallon
containers. Buck is a very stout knife. And if you have any problems with it
just send it back to buck. And it will be taken care of. You have a good tool there.
 
El Capitan,

Welcome to the Buck forum!!!! Thank you for your report on the nighthawk. I've been looking at them for long time. All of the local Wally Marts in my neck of the woods no longer carry that knife.....one day...I'll get one. Please keep reporting on your real life knife test.

jb4570
 
Hello Captain and JB.

OK boys, I guess I need to clarify something. After looking at these posts, I looked at my knife a little closer. I didn't know there was a long Nighthawk and a short Nighthawk. Looks like mine mayu be the short one. On the blade I see:

A little thing that looks like the state of Idaho
655
USA

All I can say is, if the little one can wreak this kind of havoc, I can only imagine what the big one can do. I guess that's why the knife was only $38 bucks. I just went to a different Wal-Mart in fashionable North Dallas and there was a new Short Black Hawk for $39.88...something like that. So, your price may vary. Still a helluva deal in my book.

I will continue to put this knife through hell and keep you posted.:)
 
Welcome to the Buck Forum Captain Mark. The Nighthawk is on my growing list of Bucks that I NEED, so I'm glad to hear your positive review of it.

Did I read somewhere that Buck designed the Nighthawk for the next US military standard issue fixed blade, then the military chose another design?? :confused:

Anyway, cool knife. I saw one on ebay last week go for about $14 with shipping and I didn't bid! :grumpy:
 
Interesting choice and tough! But can't you leave the cedar trees alone? They're not so common and worthwhile.
 
Hello Messersmith and Willgoy.

Messersmith, yes I heard or read that the Nighthawk was designed as the next Navy Seal knife, but the Seals chose another manufacturer. So, their loss is our gain!

Willgoy, where I live, cedars are so plentiful, they are considered weeds. They grow everywhere! I have numerous large ones that I have gladly left intact. However, I have had to thin out some smaller ones for a future fencelines and so-forth. No one loves the environment and mother nature as much as me bro'. I'm using the little cedar post to hang a home made bird house. I'll have to post some pics of the wild life in my 2 acre back yard soon!
 
Captain Mark said:
Hello Captain and JB.

OK boys, I guess I need to clarify something. After looking at these posts, I looked at my knife a little closer. I didn't know there was a long Nighthawk and a short Nighthawk. Looks like mine mayu be the short one. On the blade I see:

A little thing that looks like the state of Idaho
655
USA

All I can say is, if the little one can wreak this kind of havoc, I can only imagine what the big one can do. I guess that's why the knife was only $38 bucks. I just went to a different Wal-Mart in fashionable North Dallas and there was a new Short Black Hawk for $39.88...something like that. So, your price may vary. Still a helluva deal in my book.

I will continue to put this knife through hell and keep you posted.:)
Click to expand...

That's a 2005 year of mfg model 655 (the Idaho stamp is the 2005 year stamp).
You may want to check the length of the sheaths and order the SHORTER SHEATH from the thread I posted.

Here's a pic of the 650 (4th from the top).
Immediately above it, that's the Buck Strider I wrote about.
The bottom knife is the 102 Woodsman.

The two tanto blades and the leather stack handled knife are Ka-Bar.
.
94732524-M.jpg
 
Just for ref. Here is a picture of both side by side fore comparison. The top one is a 655 with partial serration and the bottom one is a 650. Not a big difference in size. They actually use the same sheath.
 

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