Schrade or Buck?

Y

YoYoMa

Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
112
I've narrowed my search for my survival knife down to what I can find at the local Wal Mart, which translates into one of these two knives:

1. Buck Special

2. Schrade Old Timer Trail Boss ( http://www.slegg-tools.com/140ot.html )

Can anyone tell my anything about these two knife's abilities to hold up to strenuous (sp?) wilderness use for an indefinate period of time? Anything would be appreciated.

Thanks.
 
Well, it kinda depends on what you mean by "strenuous."

I have not used the Shrade, but have had and used the Buck Special, since 1967, when my girl friend gave me one for my birthday. I've used it for gutting, skining, and quartering deer and elk. I've used it in camp for various tasks: cooking, splitting firewood for kindling using a baton, cutting rope and twine, and at times, cutting small branches around tents to keep them from rubbing the canvas. Also have used it fishing, and, other tasks which I can't remember.

Oddly enough, it's on the desk right beside me as I write, with a homemade pouch attached to it with a few survival items in it. When I head for the mountains/forests, it's ONE of the knives that is always somewhere in my gear, or on my belt.

It is not the easiest knife to sharpen, so I use an EZE-LAP Mdl. M diamond rod. But, once it's sharp, it stays that way for a long time. It fits my hand fine and I've got a lot of good use from it.

I DO NOT use the Buck Special to dig foxholes, to pry open safes, or to build a log cabin to get me through the winter so I can then use it to build a log raft to float downriver on the Yukon after Spring breakup. I have quite a few other tools for those chores.

If you take care of it with only modest attention, it'll take care of you... so long as you know what you're doing when it comes to "survival".

Other opinions may differ.

Best of luck. L.W.
 
I would go with the Buck, simply because their steel is loads better. I've had a number of stainless Schrades and was never impressed with their "Schrade+" steel. (Their carbon steel is quite good, though.)
 
I'm gona guess that the 1967 Buck Leanwolf has is
made from 440C which buck used back then. Heck
of a good steel yet today. For my 2 cents I'd
go with the buck anyway. The steel today may not
be 440c but it will do just as well.
 
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