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Should I get a 119 or a Nighthawk?

119 definitly ,I think the 119 is one of the most underrated knives made.
Cliff Stamp gave it an exellent review comparing it to the Chris Reeve Green Beret Knife. It is also an amazingly good fighter which is even better if you grind the top guard off for more grip options. The hollow grind and extreme clip could have come from a dedicated fighter. My 100th anniversary model was my first decent fixed blade and even had a really good leather sheath.

The proper technique to baton is to keep the handle higher than the blade so the force of the blow does not go through the handle. If you really want to
baton or throw your knife you should get a Scrapyard 6 .
 
Great pictures!

As you said, looks like the bottom point of the break was right in the apex of the first serration. I'm sure Joe and the people at Buck can do a microscopic scan to help detect if there was any flaws in the steel in the area of the break that may have also contributed.

Thanks for sharing your experience with us Messersmith.....Mike
 
That should be one of the strongest parts of the knife. Has to be a rare flaw in the Buck knife. I bet Joe doesn't see this often. Especially with the limited use , you haven't abused it...right?
 
These pictures are AWESOME!
I had always wanted to see what a cross section of a Buck Knife looks like.
But, by George! A NIGHTHAWK??!
I always had considered it to be one of the sturdiest fixed blades from Buck.
Guess this is a rare case of sorts.
 
Captain Mark: The abuse was batoning through a few small maple logs. Before that the only thing the knife did was cut a few pieces of rope and some cardboard.

While batoning is certainly not a recommended use for the knife, I am thinking there was some sort of flaw in the blade.
 
While my Nighthawk is en route to Post Falls, I decided to get a 119 to play with. I'll try to do a comparison when I have them both together.

Anyway when I got home with the new 119 I decided to return to the scene of the crime and take a few pics. But this time I refrained from any batoning :rolleyes:

I finally figured out how to post thumbnails! Trax, you can take me off your ignore list now :D



 
Messy...
Congrats on the 119. And yes, as Capt said, great pics!
Looking forward to your comparison review...
 
Yes, it is 420HC too. I'll reserve judgement until I have them both together but the spine appears to be about the same thickness as the Nighthawk (i.e. it's thick!)
 
you got the nylon sheath from walmart? i've got the same one and i'm not a fan of the knife. maybe if i got the leather sheath i'd like it better. i guess i'll keep it around, not like it was expensive. buck makes some great knives, i've seen some amazing 110's, but the 119 doesn't seem to be particularly good at anything without modding. too big for fine cutting, fragile point, no chopping weight, guard in the way. won't say it's a bad knife, this guy killed a bear with his. most of you've probably seen this.
 
Hi Magnum. I decided to get one with the leather sheath (paid a few more $$ for it from another store).

I can't comment much on the usefulness of the 119 until I use it more. Part of what I like about it is that it's a classic, pretty much identical to ones made 40+ years ago. I'm sure there are knives that are better at any one task or even better overall. Maybe others with more experience with the 119 can comment on this?

Thanks for posting the bear link... news to me! :eek:
 
Thanks for the pic's messy!!!! I'll second what goose said; looking forward to your comparison of the NightHawk and the 119.

jb4570
 
Knifeschmied,

you made a good puchase with the 119. I have a lot of Bowies from different manufacturers. And whe I don't use my Linder, I take the 119. That's a great knife. I can't remember a situation when I used the Special, that I wished to have another knife. Try it.

Best,
Haebbie
 
Do the Wal Mart 119's have a nylon sheath?
Click to expand...
The 119 I was looking at had the nylon sheath which was not very flattering paired with such a classic as the 119.
Click to expand...
I saw the 119 tonight at K-Mart. They included a leather sheath and I think the price was $35.

Sorry your knife broke. I suspect the serrations may have played a roll, but I bet the frozen log and 420HC steel were larger factors.

-Bob
 
Has anyone else batoned using a 420HC fixed blade
that held up time after time? Also has anyone chopped
with one? Just curious to how 420HC will hold up.
 
msiley said:
Has anyone else batoned using a 420HC fixed blade
that held up time after time? Also has anyone chopped
with one? Just curious to how 420HC will hold up.
Click to expand...
I have not whacked with a 420HC knife, but I have chopped with a 420HC 890-00X. Seems to do ok ;)
 
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