New Tops/Buck 650 Nighthawk

D

Drover

Joined
Dec 12, 2010
Messages
135
Just saw the new Tops/Buck 650 Nighthawk in the new for 2011 someone posted. Would love to hear a few thoughts from those who know about this knife. Although touted as a "combat" knife how do you think it would do next to the long admired 119 for general camping/hunting/survival stuff? Expound on the blade geometry if you can in the above uses or is it really designed for combat use mostly. Thanks
 
Well the new knife is just the old 650 with a couple tacky blade holes and a new sheath. The 650 has a thicker blade grind and IMO does not slice as well as the hollow ground 119. However, the 650 has a stronger point than the 119. As far as being a "combat" knife, the 650 lacks a number of attributes required of a knife designed as a combative blade, as does the 119. It is however a decent utility knife, and as I've personally found out, combat duty is a 12 month camping trip with lousy food, little sleep, and no campfires with some intense excitement thrown in. At the orriginal price point the 650 was a great value but I'm not so sure with the new model.
 
Colt6731 said:
I've personally found out, combat duty is a 12 month camping trip with lousy food, little sleep, and no campfires with some intense excitement thrown in.
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Well said!

I have never owned a Nighthawk but I do like them. I'm with Colt though, what did Tops bring to the table besides some useless holes in the blade? I am curious as to the new price, may be time to find and old model unless the new sheath justifies a price increase.
 
KC has a pic of the sheath on their site. The key word to search with is "BU0650BKSTP".

The sheath is a "Heavy-duty nylon, M.O.L.L.E. compatible with front carry pouch."

The holes, dot dash dot, in the blade are an oxygen wrench according to the description KC shows.
 
oregon said:
The holes, dot dash dot, in the blade are an oxygen wrench according to the description KC shows.
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24 years in the Army and multiple combat tours and deployments and I have never needed an oxygen wrench. BTW, the Army issues a strap cutter with a built in oxggen bottle wrench, did'nt need it to open any oxygen containers either. Strap cutter worked good though.
 
Must be for REALLY old guys.

I'm awful old and I don't think I'm gonna need oxygen for quite a few years.

I spose I could buy one just to be ready.

Couldn't I just get a little wrench for the oxygen?

I might go fer one a them Hoodlum knives instead.
 
My nephew has an old 650 that he tortures and throws at trees, the knife appears to be somewhat bulletproof. I would love to find one some day.
 
I can just picture myself whipping out that sucker in the lobby of a nice hotel, hospital waiting room or anywhere public to turn on an oxygen bottle! :eek:

My wife used O2 for several years and the regulator had a bottle wrench attached to it.
 
Plumberdv said:
I can just picture myself whipping out that sucker in the lobby of a nice hotel, hospital waiting room or anywhere public to turn on an oxygen bottle! :eek:

My wife used O2 for several years and the regulator had a bottle wrench attached to it.
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Yep,after taking care of my Son and Father,the tanks always come with a wrench.
 
Thats got to be the dumbest idea for a tool on a knife that I have ever heard. I'll keep the three old one I have and maybe they will be worth something by the time I need an O2 bottle.
 
i own one of the previous variants and was content with what was "at the time" the current model. though BUCK may state that the holes in the blade serve a purpose i think they will ultimately compromise the integrity of the blade and are mainly aesthetic.
 
ohen cepel said:
Well said!

I have never owned a Nighthawk but I do like them. I'm with Colt though, what did Tops bring to the table besides some useless holes in the blade? I am curious as to the new price, may be time to find and old model unless the new sheath justifies a price increase.
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As far as the price increase, you answered your question. Tops has their name on it now so they get a cut of the profit, hence the price increase.

I've owned 2 of the older models and love them.
 
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