Range series

Culprit99 said:
I swapped blades between the Range Pro and Elite tonight to continue giving Magnacut a try.

Can you imagine a canvas or burlap Micarta Range and Mini with 420HC clip point blades? Talk about a winner!

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Nice job. I’d never have tried that myself - I don’t do well with itty-bitty springs. I invented a few new cuss words just changing the scales on my Hogue Deka. The cool thing is, you still have two very nice knives - 154CM is no slouch by any stretch. I’m impressed. Everything still works nice-nice on both knives?
 
Danny Linguini said:
Nice job. I’d never have tried that myself - I don’t do well with itty-bitty springs. I invented a few new cuss words just changing the scales on my Hogue Deka. The cool thing is, you still have two very nice knives - 154CM is no slouch by any stretch. I’m impressed. Everything still works nice-nice on both knives?
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Thank you - I enjoy tinkering with things to see how they work. Yes, both knives function like new. I think Crossbar lock knives are easier to re-assemble than most slipjoints or lockbacks - and definitely easier than the coil springs on the Inertia and Paradigm Shift.

I can always swap them back later, if I want. I like the CM154, too. I’ve had no problems with it at all.
 
justsaymo said:
Here's my 3 week review.
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Thank you for posting this. I wasn’t familiar with your videos before. I’ve watched a few of them and enjoy them.

Here’s a thought: several folks have been waffling between the Range Pro or Elite due to handle preference and not knowing if the aluminum of the Elite would be too slick for their liking, or not. The Elite is also thinner since it doesn’t have the subtle palm swell of the Pro version.

I bought an Elite used on the exchange and swapped the Magnacut blade into my Pro since I like those handles better and I still wanted to try the Magnacut (my first).

If I loan you the Elite that’s now wearing the CM-154 blade, will you make a Dude Carving video to evaluate the aluminum handle of the Elite vs the Glass Filled Nylon of the Pro? I think a lot of folks would appreciate your evaluation and comparison.

Let me know here if you’re up for it, and I’ll message you on Facebook for your mailing address since we can’t message each other here.
 
Culprit99 said:
Thank you for posting this. I wasn’t familiar with your videos before. I’ve watched a few of them and enjoy them.

Here’s a thought: several folks have been waffling between the Range Pro or Elite due to handle preference and not knowing if the aluminum of the Elite would be too slick for their liking, or not. The Elite is also thinner since it doesn’t have the subtle palm swell of the Pro version.

I bought an Elite used on the exchange and swapped the Magnacut blade into my Pro since I like those handles better and I still wanted to try the Magnacut (my first).

If I loan you the Elite that’s now wearing the CM-154 blade, will you make a Dude Carving video to evaluate the aluminum handle of the Elite vs the Glass Filled Nylon of the Pro? I think a lot of folks would appreciate your evaluation and comparison.

Let me know here if you’re up for it, and I’ll message you on Facebook for your mailing address since we can’t message each other here.
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I'd be willing to explore this further. I'm Kirby-Creek Carver on FB

A few notes:
-I have not yet held a Range Elite. I chose the Pro because I'm NOT a fan of aluminum handles (so far anyway). I would try to be objective, but that is my bias.
-If we go forward with this project I would prefer for you to put the pocket clip on opposite of the way Buck ships them. I don't like a pocket clip gnawing into my palm for three hours while I carve a Dude and I don't want to risk buggering up your screws or threading on YOUR knife.
-It needs to be sharp. Buck does a good job but the edge is a bit coarser than I prefer for carving. I can get it done with that if the edge is pretty fresh. I could refine the details with my own knife if needed.

There was an earlier comment about the thickness as it relates to the Vantage. I have EDC'd the 845 Vantage force for more than a decade and had another Vantage before that. I like it a lot. I had the same thickness concern about the Range. I've been using/carrying the Range Pro for more than a month now I won't be going back to the Vantage. The Range Pro is equal to, maybe even better than the Vantage Pro when it comes to comfort and the texture is THE best I've ever come across. Being able to sit down and carve comfortably for 3 hours with such a thin knife is unusual and not something I expected using the Range Pro. It is also much more rigid than I expected, especially compared to other similarly constructed knives. The Range Pro is Great in my opinion.

I have a number of knives in MagnaCut that I really like too, and it's probably my favorite of the 'super steels.' That being said I don't miss not having it on the Range Pro. The 154CM gets it done. I have sharpened it three times, not so much that it needed it, rather I wanted a fresh edge for a carving and/or because I was going into the woods for a few days and wanted to start at 100%.

The Range Pro won't replace my 110/112 for hunting, carving or general outdoor activities. Where the Range Pro excells is it's portability - slim and lightweight - and its general purpose capabilities. Not my first choice for quartering an Elk but I'm confident it could get the job done. Not my first choice for carving but it'll do that too.

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justsaymo said:
I'd be willing to explore this further. I'm Kirby-Creek Carver on FB

A few notes:
-I have not yet held a Range Elite. I chose the Pro because I'm NOT a fan of aluminum handles (so far anyway). I would try to be objective, but that is my bias.
-If we go forward with this project I would prefer for you to put the pocket clip on opposite of the way Buck ships them. I don't like a pocket clip gnawing into my palm for three hours while I carve a Dude and I don't want to risk buggering up your screws or threading on YOUR knife.
-It needs to be sharp. Buck does a good job but the edge is a bit coarser than I prefer for carving. I can get it done with that if the edge is pretty fresh. I could refine the details with my own knife if needed.

There was an earlier comment about the thickness as it relates to the Vantage. I have EDC'd the 845 Vantage force for more than a decade and had another Vantage before that. I like it a lot. I had the same thickness concern about the Range. I've been using/carrying the Range Pro for more than a month now I won't be going back to the Vantage. The Range Pro is equal to, maybe even better than the Vantage Pro when it comes to comfort and the texture is THE best I've ever come across. Being able to sit down and carve comfortably for 3 hours with such a thin knife is unusual and not something I expected using the Range Pro. It is also much more rigid than I expected, especially compared to other similarly constructed knives. The Range Pro is Great in my opinion.

I have a number of knives in MagnaCut that I really like too, and it's probably my favorite of the 'super steels.' That being said I don't miss not having it on the Range Pro. The 154CM gets it done. I have sharpened it three times, not so much that it needed it, rather I wanted a fresh edge for a carving and/or because I was going into the woods for a few days and wanted to start at 100%.

The Range Pro won't replace my 110/112 for hunting, carving or general outdoor activities. Where the Range Pro excells is it's portability - slim and lightweight - and its general purpose capabilities. Not my first choice for quartering an Elk but I'm confident it could get the job done. Not my first choice for carving but it'll do that too.
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Sounds like a plan - let’s do it! I’ll message you on Facebook and get the knife in the mail to you this week for you to carve a Dude and give us your video feedback. I think a lot of folks will appreciate that.

I’m in the same boat as you - that’s why I bought this Range Elite used: I’ve never liked aluminum handles but I wanted to give them a fair shake.

I’m a lefty, so the clip is already on the side you prefer.

I’ll mail it to you sharp, but if our definitions of sharp are different, you won’t hurt my feelings. Feel free to sharpen and treat the knife as you would your own.

I saw in one of your videos that you like the pivot a little tighter than drop shut loose. I’ll send it to you that way, but again, feel free to adjust it as it were your own.

Facebook message incoming…
 
Culprit99 said:
Sounds like a plan - let’s do it! I’ll message you on Facebook and get the knife in the mail to you this week for you to carve a Dude and give us your video feedback. I think a lot of folks will appreciate that.

I’m in the same boat as you - that’s why I bought this Range Elite used: I’ve never liked aluminum handles but I wanted to give them a fair shake.

I’m a lefty, so the clip is already on the side you prefer.

I’ll mail it to you sharp, but if our definitions of sharp are different, you won’t hurt my feelings. Feel free to sharpen and treat the knife as you would your own.

I saw in one of your videos that you like the pivot a little tighter than drop shut loose. I’ll send it to you that way, but again, feel free to adjust it as it were your own.

Facebook message incoming…
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Should be a fun collaboration. I hope it will result in a good Dude that I can send back to you with the knife.
 
I picked up a pro. I'm a greater fan of 154CM than I am of Magnacut. I toyed with the idea of getting both and swapping blades, but I dont try to hard these days.
I gave my orange wharncliffe Deploy a break.
I like the grippy handle, the thinner than I'm used to blade stock, and of course the steel. Ive not put too many miles on it yet, but so far, so good. I think Id like to see a micarta or G10 handle option. I may have to get my tools out and whip something up.
 
Found a Range Pro on the bay that the user claimed they "carried a few times, decided I didn't like it." ... for $90 ... From the detailed pictures in the listing, I saw no signs of wear or use and it will come with the original box.

So watch for them .. the, "tried it, didn't like it", ones are beginning to show up for sale.
 
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Pleasant surprise for me, went into the Mast General Store (Winston-Salem location) on my way home from Lake Norman this past Thursday. Mast has a nice knife counter and they had all three colors of the Range Pro in both sizes for sale. I got a chance to handle them and I like the Range Pro in the larger size. I didn’t buy a Range on this trip, I had received a very nice retirement gift from a fellow sales rep the night before at my retirement dinner; a WESN-USA in S35VN with blade assist opening in a very close color (OD Green). Such a nice gift deserves to be carried awhile before getting another nice knife. On my way up to Durham yesterday I stopped into Bass Pro in Cary (another teammate gifted me a BPS gift card) - to my surprise new 420HC Buck Vantage knives in both sizes were in stock with July and August 2025 package dates. Maybe the Vantage is still going to be available in the big box outdoor stores.
 
Old Hunter said:
Pleasant surprise for me, went into the Mast General Store (Winston-Salem location) on my way home from Lake Norman this past Thursday. Mast has a nice knife counter and they had all three colors of the Range Pro in both sizes for sale. I got a chance to handle them and I like the Range Pro in the larger size. I didn’t buy a Range on this trip, I had received a very nice retirement gift from a fellow sales rep the night before at my retirement dinner; a WESN-USA in S35VN with blade assist opening in a very close color (OD Green). Such a nice gift deserves to be carried awhile before getting another nice knife. On my way up to Durham yesterday I stopped into Bass Pro in Cary (another teammate gifted me a BPS gift card) - to my surprise new 420HC Buck Vantage knives in both sizes were in stock with July and August 2025 package dates. Maybe the Vantage is still going to be available in the big box outdoor stores.
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Congratulations on your retirement!
 
Culprit99 Culprit99
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Your 791 Elite with the 154 mod worked well. It arrived sharp and made easy work of the seasoned Willow.

The two 791 Range knives feel like different knives to me. The Elite has a heft and quality about it, visually and functionally. It was comfortable and natural to use in a variety of grips - NO hot spots, NOT slippery. I'm not a fan of metal handled knives but I had no issues with this one.

The first thing I noticed about the Pro was the texture = Excellent. In hand it is very comfortable and its lightweight surprised me.

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Both knives impress me. Easy ambidextrous operation. Quality general purpose blade shape. Solid lockup. VERY smooth. Of the two the Pro is still my preference and is as perfect an EDC knife as I'm aware of - easy to carry, big enough to get the job done, high quality and reliable.

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