Nighthawk handle

A

Aeneas

Joined
Dec 24, 2001
Messages
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This weekend I saw 2 Nighthawks at an outdoors store. One had the 2-tone (olive and black) handle and came with a sheath. The other had an all-black handle but did not come with a sheath. If you go on the Buck web site, the Nighthawk is shown with the all-black handle. But all of the e-tailers that I have checked show only the 2-tone handle.

I have also read somewhere (probably here) that the Nighthawk originally came with a thicker blade, but people complained, so the blade was thinned down.

I like the feel of the knife and it seems to be a lot of bang for the buck, but I don't like the 2-tone handle. So can someone please tell me, what is the deal with the two different handles? Is one older and one newer? Is one with the thicker blade and one with the thinner? Is it possible to get a Nighthawk with the thinner blade and the all-black handle? Is there an e-tailer that sells that configuration?

Please help - Joe, anyone?

TIA
 
The Black handled 'hawk is the older model with the tu-tone being
added for sales reasons. The black is still used on the tanto blade
model.

As to the blade........
The blade is a 6 1/2" LONG 1/4" thick clip design that was Buck's
entry in to the Navy seal knife competition they didn't win. The edge
of the early production pieces is what was to thick at first . Mine was
one of those. I sent it back to Buck and it came back razor sharp &
ready to go. Buck got the sharpening process under control for later
pieces. Besides, after awhile your sharpening will put your edge on
your knife.

A Codura sheath with a plastic liner should accompany all 'hawks.
The only differance should be the sewn in logo old to new.

Would I recommend buying a 'hawk? You bet!! I can't tell you how
much use I've got from mine doing things that no knife should endure.
It also has save me a bundle in knives that I "think" I want to buy. Most
don't make it when compared to the 'hawk. If I had just one knife to take
on a trip into the unknow it would be the Nighthawk of all the many, many
kinves I own.

Buy one.........You won't be sorry.
 
Good answer!
We left the edge thicker on the early ones, thinking folks would use them more for heavy duty use such as chopping and digging. We found out most people wanted something closer the the edge on a 119 Special so we made the change.
Hope this helps,
 
I got a Nighthawk not long ago and feel very comfortable with it.
When i took it out of the box I smiled, I knew I had found a new friend..

It's not a question of buying or not, it is a question of how many..
 
Do all of the black-handled nighthawks have the thicker edge, or do some of them have the thinner edge?
 
Aenaes, It depends on WHEN the knife was made. Early production
thicker edge, later production thinner edge.

I can tell you it does not make any differance what edge you get. None at
all. If you don't like the edge Buck will fix it or you can do what I did for
awhile and sharpen it myself.

When my 'hawk was new ( and thick edged) Iwas out in the woods that
day using it to hack down saplings to use for tinder and hot dog sticks.
Never even noticed the edge. Heck , I've dug roots with mine, punched
holes in barrels and cut steel banding off pallets with my 'hawk and it
comes back for more. Sure I have to sharpen it more ,but, I use the dickens
out of this knife. I suppose I could break it ,but, I don't want to work THAT
hard at anything.

Don't worry what edge you get. Buy one and put your own edge on your new
'hawk and be proud if it. You'll own one tough S.O.B. of a knife. For what
a new 'hawk cost you'll be getting an excellent bargain. Go ahead .....Take the
plunge. .....you won't be sorry.
 
I have a pair of black thick-bladed Nighthawks, and those are two of MY favorite fixed-blade knives! Low price, high quality.

...HOWEVER, I'd SURE like to see a larger version of the Nighthawk, perhaps with an 8 or 9 inch blade. Now, THAT would be a knife!.:).
 
OK, I'm convinced! Thanks for the replies. Now, does anyone have a NIB black-handled Nighthawk for sale?
 
Aeneas, Boy! You must really NOT like the tu-tone handled "hawk!!

If you really must have a plain clip blade BLACK handled 'hawk look
at e-bay for one. All the current clip blade production is tu-tone.

I will mention this one small point that you may not have thought of,
the tu-tone would be easier to see if dropped in poor light where black
would be alot harder to find.
 
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