Tried and True Buck119 for survival

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Wildone39

Joined
Dec 17, 2007
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I have alot of knives in my collection that i would consider good survival knives. Including a Kbar, pilots survival knife and TAK. All are great knives in there own rights but the one knife i find myself always going to and taking to the woods is my good old Buck119. I know I know it is not 1095 and it doesnt have the prying ability that others do, but its always comfortable to wear and stays sharp and is easy to sharpen. I feel safe with it and i have really fixed up the sheath for survival. I bought a leather sheath from Buck for only 10.00 and then I took a bike tire tube and cut to size and wrapped around it. Now I have a Buck knife, firestarter, and blade sharpener that looks like an ink pen but is actually a sharpener. So now im gonna wrap some para cord around all of it so Ill have that to use if needed. Not much weight and comfortable to wear and I have the basics to survival in a pinch. So if you guys have any Ideas that I can do more to it, let me know. Oh and whatever the situation, I always have a Victorinox Rucksack knife on Paracord around my neck. Even if im at church its with me. You never know when times get bad real quick. I learned that in the Army.
 
Well, its the preferred knife of 'survivorman' Les Stroud so you're in good company there.
 
It sound like you made a good choice and you are confident in using it too. That's what really matters. It looks like you have a good setup so far with both of them. The only thing I would add is maybe some braided fishing line of some sort and maybe a couple of hooks. It takes up little room and it's very strong. Just make sure you tape down the ends so it doesn't unravel on you and then put the 550 cord on.
 
nothing wrong with that.....Around here you won't find too may people who'll criticize your knife selection...Personally I'd feel better with the rucksack than the buck if I had to choose...but hey if you can have both...even better.
 
I really like my 119 it is a great user knife and gets as sharp as they come. Having a small taste of supersteels, I've come to appreciate the ones that are easier to sharpen. Buck's 420HC is a great combination of ease of shapening, sufficient edge holding ability and great stain resistance. From there I go with carbon.
 
The Special was the first fixed blade I ever purchased. I got mine when I was about 14 (I paid $27). I have had it for close to 16 years. Great knife. I have more expensive knives with far greater steel, but if you can only get a few knives locally always grab the 119.
I just used it the other day when I was out hiking and my brother got tangled in some wait-a-minutes. Out came the Special, and *snick* *snick* he was free.
Funny thing, I dropped it several years ago tip first onto a concrete floor. Scratched the tip a might but didn't bend nor break it. How reliable is that!
 
i have a Case knife that is very similar to the buck 119, but i ground it into a scandi grind becuase that is my preferred edge grind on most knives.

a good knife that is not too heavy and is plenty reliable for nearly anything.
 
You might consider bath tub chain to replace the para cord for around your neck, just for safety reasons. Solid choices with the knives though.
 
Glad you found something you like.:thumbup:

But, I couldn't have had a more dissimilar experience. My first fixed blade was a Buck 102(smaller version of 119) that my ex-step dad gave me. That was the sharpest it has ever been. Once it got dull, I have never been able to resharpen it, I still have it to this day, and is dull as a butter knife. Maybe I'm just not patient enough now that I've discovered carbon steel? Even after I took it to the grinder to reprofile it, still can't get it satisfactory. I also hate the handle, it is cold in the hand, and slippery when wet, I suppose that's why it has a guard.:rolleyes:

Every one has there preferences though, and I'm glad you found the knife you feel comfortable with, but as long as there are still carbon knives being made I will never buy a stainless knife again.

::rant off::
 
I don't care what knife you have, if it does what you need it to, you know how to work around its weaknesses and work with its strengths, it's a good choice.
 
I have tried it and it is not my 1# choice, I am not a fan of the swept back point, small choil, handle shape and the hollow grind.
 
I personally think that the 119 is one of the best knives for the money out there. I've had one for years.
+1 on the paracord around your neck, if you get it caught on something it can cause you real trouble. Some people prefer a chain like the bathtub chain.
What I use is paracord BUT I do not tie the end, what I do is I place each end in a small tube of heat shrink, then heat it.
The heat shrink (at least the stuff I use I have no idea about other stuff) is strong enough for everyday carry, but breaks before my neck can be damaged
 
Glad you found something you like and feel comfortable with. I have the 119C and it is a good knife, though my least used. It is not the knife I first think of as a survival knife, but if for whatever reason that's the knife I had with me when SHTF, I know it won't fail on me.
 
stingray4540 said:
Glad you found something you like.:thumbup:

But, I couldn't have had a more dissimilar experience. My first fixed blade was a Buck 102(smaller version of 119) that my ex-step dad gave me. That was the sharpest it has ever been. Once it got dull, I have never been able to resharpen it, I still have it to this day, and is dull as a butter knife. Maybe I'm just not patient enough now that I've discovered carbon steel? Even after I took it to the grinder to reprofile it, still can't get it satisfactory. I also hate the handle, it is cold in the hand, and slippery when wet, I suppose that's why it has a guard.:rolleyes:

::rant off::
Click to expand...

Stingray4540
How old is your 102? Maybe it was one of the 440C ones (if it is more than 20years old I think). I know that sometimes 440C can be a real bugger to get sharp...I have two Bucks, the 119 and the diamondback. Both respond to the sharpmaker like there is no buisness.

There are things about the 119 that I no longer like, such as the blood groove and swedge, but they are part of its classic design characteristics. For the money I think they are a hell of a buy and as said previously, the 119 can be had from most outdoor retail stores and smaller hardware stores.
 
The Buck wouldn't be my first choice( that would be my Project I) but it is my second choice! At least until I get another CRK!
 
Now I havent thought about the paracord being dangerous. Thanks for the tip on the chain. I have some dogtag chains that I could use. I would rather have the para cord just so I could use it if needed. The one thing I dont like about the para cord around my neck is that it pulls my chest hair. Ouch it hurts! Other than that, I like the security of it so I dont lose my Rucksak. I swear I love that Rucksak as much as my shotgun. It sounds crazy but its like a best freind.
 
Ill problably fix up my TAK the same way I did my Buck119 with a survival kit but I need to find a good sheath for it. The one that came with it sucks. Thats one reason I dont carry the knife. I keep it with my BOB bag. My Tak is in 1095.
 
The rucksack Is in my top 3 favorite knives of all times...I would go with that and a cheao machete and feel pretty well equipped.
 
Oh Yes! My Rucksack is one of my favorite knives in the world. I feel naked without it. I love the size, length of the blade and the saw is great. The lockblade is great. It makes the Rucksack a deffensive knife in a pinch.
 
Yep...I have 2 rucksacks and am considering getting another..(when I find a knife I like I get spares) needs a little more testing but this might be the one...(for folders)
 
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