The evolving Bucklite

M

MG_Saldivar

Joined
Feb 5, 2005
Messages
857
I searched some of the old Blade Forums threads over the last few months regarding Bucklite, my favorite folding knife, so I know all about the original 422 and 426, and I carry one of the newest versions as my EDC due to its handy belt clip.

My question is, why exactly did the Bucklite evolve into its current form?

That's not meant to be provocative, simply an expression of curiousity. I'm sure sales figures and market research, etc., were factors, but since I happen to have observed the Bucklite closely over time (an olive green 422 with 'matching' OD camo belt sheath was my first 'adult' knife when I turned 18 and left home to go to college), I wonder why the Bucklite has seen so much change compared to, say, the 110, which is mostly unchanged from its inception (at least cosmetically; I know the blade geometry has improved). Buck seems to drop products that peter out (e.g., 560) or otherwise don't seem to be as successful, but the Bucklite persists.

PS - My dream knife is the current Bucklite's grip (including pocket clip) with the 'classic' Bucklite 422's blade, which I believe is the same clip point used on Ranger 112's. Y'all can dream of the super-custom 110's from the Buck shop; I'll keep my Bucklite! ;)
 
No idea on the Bucklite evolution, but I'm a big fan too. I carried one (422OD) on a 21-day desert survival program while in college - good combination of lightweight with a 'real' sized blade, and easily in a college student's budget. I lost that original knife, naturally, but bought another just like it.

-Bob
 
According to "The History of Buck Knives" by Tom Ables, the Buck-Lites came about as part of a series of lighter weight and more affordable knives that was originally proposed in the late 70's, but tabled until the 1980's, taking advantage of a new high-tech synthetic material developed by General Electric called "vallox". They were still in production at the time the book was written, so I'm not sure when they were discotinued.

I have my first 426 coming today off ebay, but I did give my nephew a 422 for xmass, and was very impressed by it.
 
I have long been under the impressive that the first Bucklites were made by Imperial. Here's a catalog copy of the Imperial. I have a few, in the came sheaths, not bad.
 
Last Confederate, I really like the 426 -- I owned one at one time that I subsequently gave as a gift. Congrats on finding one; they are getting more rare with every passing year.

Texas Toothpick, I have owned of the Imperial 'lite' knives -- they used to be available for less than $12, maybe even less than $10 at Wal-Mart. I, too, was impressed by the fit and finish, but the blade (though of decent QUALITY) seemed less sturdy than the 112 blade on the 422. The 112 blade was thicker all along the spine, including the clip point, while the Imperial lite had a swedge (at least the model I owned had a swedge -- I don't want to overgeneralize).

I like my new Bucklite that I carry everday (444, I believe), but the drop-point on the current Bucklites just doesn't have the character of the clip-point on the older knives!

I wonder if the current Bucklite blade is 'recycled' from another model, as the 422 blade was 'recycled' from the 112?
 
My feeling is that the original 422 just copied the 112 in a modern material, like someone could have said "Hey the 112 is a great knife and there's this new material that would make great handles, let's make a 112 with it and call it the Bucklite", though I don't now if there was a 112 with finger grooves then.

It was only natural as time passed that designers would take advantage of the possibility of molding the handle for better ergonomics, shape, texture, etc. and with the success in sales to come out with a smaller model.

I still have my original 422 from sometime in the mid 80´s if I remember correctly, modified by adding a thumbstud (a brass screw pinned into a slot on the spine), it's a fine knife though I'll say that I liked my old 112 better.

I'll add that I really like the low hanging Velcro topped 422 belt pouch, I wish they'd made more pouches like that one.

Luis
 
it is not that well jknown but the orgional 426 that is the same size handle as the 110 came out with a drop point blade - not a clip as the 110 has... the 426 was soon changed to the same blade as the 110 but stamped witht eh 426 number... some of the later 426 came out with a blade stamped 110 also!!

Joe - do you have any knolage of how many of the 426 had the drop point ? additionaly i have 'heard' that a few of the drop point 426 blades some how made it into a few of the 110 brass handles jest like the 50 blade in the 112 ....
 
There was a fantastic, incredibly well-written article on the BuckLite family of knives in the March 2005 issue of the Buck Collector's Club newsletter. I know, because I wrote it. :)

Seriously, though, the BuckLite had nothing to do with any other knife makers, and was a Buck project from the beginning. I too miss the clip point blade of the early 422s and 426s, although the 424s did have a drop point, seeing as they were based on the 501, just as the 422 was based on the 112 and the 426 was a reduced-weight, Valox version (essentially) of the 110, as suggested above.

I find the current (3rd) generation of Bucklites to be entirely un-interesting, personally, but I have close to 80 or so of the first and second generation.

-Steve
 
I have a 422 that I got about 11 years ago now, since the 110 I was carrying was too much for my "dress" belt. I always liked the 3" blade of the Ranger so I was happy to find the 422 had the 3" clip blade as well. The sheath I have is the nylon foldover snap type. I see that the Bucklite today comes with only a belt clip, I prefer the sheath. Overall, I really like the Bucklite and it has performed well in everyday use all these years.
 
Since I wrote it for the BCC, I don't really know what the issues are around potentially re-posting it on the web. It should be on the BCC web page as a PDF download (As a part of the March newsletter. It should be up there. They have practically every one since the club was formed). I guess I own it, having written it, but I'd also like to see the club grow, so maybe it's better used as a (however small) enticement for membership.

-Steve
 
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