Underrated Cutlery Brands ?

Most of bucks target market are hunters, outdoorsmen and guys who want a decent knife in their pocket. New designs with high end materials would be great but wouldn't appeal as much to them.
 
Sosa said:
Most of bucks target market are hunters, outdoorsmen and guys who want a decent knife in their pocket. New designs with high end materials would be great but wouldn't appeal as much to them.
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Yup. Buck IS an entry-level knife company. They've pretty much concentrated on making affordable, broadly available pocket knives since their inception. Honestly, I absolutely love the 830 Marksman and I think it's as good as anything at that price point, but that knife is outside of Buck's wheelhouse. Their identity rests with, and always has rested with, hunters, fisherman and outdoorsmen, not knife knuts, particularly the EDC crowd. I would love to see Buck push into that market, but I doubt it will happen and, from a brand identity standpoint, it honestly probably shouldn't happen. Buck keeps on keeping on, and a whole lot of folks that use their knives a heck of a lot still carry a Buck day in and day out. Hard to argue with that.
 
Sosa said:
Most of bucks target market are hunters, outdoorsmen and guys who want a decent knife in their pocket. New designs with high end materials would be great but wouldn't appeal as much to them.
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And the fact remains that a knife is a simple cutting tool. Many...most people could care less about the latest innovations and steel formulations when all they need to do is cut something. In many cases we knife knuts spend more time talking about the Big New Thing in cutlery designs and blade steels than we do actually cutting stuff.
 
I agree, for the most part, about the stasis in the Buck line. However, there are exceptions. Like the Buck Vantage Pro -- a fantastic flipper folder with S30V blade and G10 handle and worth every penny with a street price around $70. It's one of my favorite folders.
 
strategy9 said:
I believe the lack of respect for Buck today is somewhat warranted when you look at the big picture, they are after all, for all intents and purposes, thriving as basically the exact same knife they were 30-40 years ago... Not that they're a "bad" knife by any means, but in relativity, where they were a great knife in the 70's and even 80's, the game changed; great companies like ZT, Spyderco, Benchmade, raised the bar and took the reigns as the US production companies to beat, and Buck is now "just a Buck"... Entry level 420hc by the lion's share coupled with low end Chinese outsourcing (for an iconic American brand), and limited high end offerings, together leaves much to be desired from a legendary brand. I wish Buck had a full line of offerings the ZT/BM range, with spot on fit and finish, but the reality is, from a purely product standpoint, materials and fit and finish, they are more akin to a mere top tier entry level knife these days.
IMO, while enytry level and affordable 420hc is a staple for them, and should be, they should put more emphasis on expanding their Avid and Pro lines to offer "better" steel options, as well as expand their custom shop, across more models, allowing more Buck fans to build the Buck they want, for a price of course; also do a nice carbon line of fixed blades, (not 5160, maybe a2), and introduce a true premium line, Buck "antler" series or something, doing 3v fixed blades and more CPM/CTS variety folders... If Buck made the offerings on par with Spydie/BM/ZT/BRK and so forth, at comparable prices, they'd certainly get attention, and if the product quality was on point, theyd "earn" more respect amongst today's players in today's knife game... Right now though, they're a solid knife, okay for what they are, but they're being carried heavily by sheer legacy status, without all that much to stay at the top of today's production market. IMO.

Kizlyar Supreme is one I think is under rated after the 2 ive purchased.
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I don't exactly agree with all of this.
Honestly modern tactical knives aren't everything, and just because a knife doesn't use the higher end materials and modern tactical styles doesn't make it entry level. (For the average guy bucks 420hc is perfectly adequate )
Also as it stands right now as far as I know the only Chinese bucks are the slipjoints.
I know that their knives may not be 200$ quality, but calling them entry level implies that they're for beginners while the expensive one aren't.( there will always be something better )
If someone likes simple non tactical knives ( but maybe still a little modernness ) that are easy to sharpen, then buck may be the top of the line for them.
It all just depends on what you like.
 
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Hickory n steel said:
I don't exactly agree with all of this.
Honestly modern tactical knives aren't everything, and just because a knife doesn't use the higher end materials and modern tactical styles doesn't make it entry level. (For the average guy bucks 420hc is perfectly adequate )
Also as it stands right now as far as I know the only Chinese bucks are the slipjoints.
I know that their knives may not be 200$ quality, but calling them entry level implies that they're for beginners while the expensive one aren't.( there will always be something better )
If someone likes simple non tactical knives ( but maybe still a little modernness ) that are easy to sharpen, then buck may be the top of the line for them.
It all just depends on what you like.
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Fair point. I don't know if strategy9 meant it the same way I did, and I don't presume to speak for him, but when I said Buck was entry-level I more meant they were intended to have a low bar for people to get a Buck product into their pocket, as they're quite affordable and widely available both of which are good things. I've seen Les Stroud with a Buck 119 on his hip a few times, and I don't think anyone can accuse him of being a beginner. ;)
 
Getting this thread back on track, my vote for most underrated knife company would be KaBar.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Honestly modern tactical knives aren't everything, and just because a knife doesn't use the higher end materials and modern tactical styles doesn't make it entry level. (For the average guy bucks 420hc is perfectly adequate.)
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I guess Great Eastern (GEC) and Queen traditional knives are entry level too? Just two companies that fill a different niche in the market and Buck is one of them as well. Honestly I was never a Buck fan. When the 110 was hugely popular, I got a Schrade. But I did buy a Cabelas Buck 192 in S30V which is quite a nice knife, especially for hunting and I recommend it.

Victorinox swiss army knives are under rated because they are common place choices and like Buck and some of the traditional brands, they don't use a high end steel for their knives. The under-rating for Vic kind of depends on your point of view. In one sense they might be considered over rated because they don't use high end materials generally, but they are under-rated as a superior knife for the price.

Rough Rider, Colt, Byrd, the Kabar Dozier, were mentioned, but they are priced pretty much right where they ought to be, hence they are not under-rated at all.

Slip joints in general are under appreciated these days by the knife owning masses.
 
A brand that has produced some fairly high profile models, but seemingly never gets mentioned is Aitor. From their Spanish military knife to the hollow survival knives, Jungle Skinner and the elegant Caster slipjoints, its a pretty neat company. I wish I had been more aware of the brand when I was in Spain.
 
22-rimfire said:
I guess Great Eastern (GEC) and Queen traditional knives are entry level too? Just two companies that fill a different niche in the market and Buck is one of them as well. Honestly I was never a Buck fan. When the 110 was hugely popular, I got a Schrade. But I did buy a Cabelas Buck 192 in S30V which is quite a nice knife, especially for hunting and I recommend it.

Victorinox swiss army knives are under rated because they are common place choices and like Buck and some of the traditional brands, they don't use a high end steel for their knives. The under-rating for Vic kind of depends on your point of view. In one sense they might be considered over rated because they don't use high end materials generally, but they are under-rated as a superior knife for the price.

Rough Rider, Colt, Byrd, the Kabar Dozier, were mentioned, but they are priced pretty much right where they ought to be, hence they are not under-rated at all.

Slip joints in general are under appreciated these days by the knife owning masses.
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I'm sorry, but victorinox is not underrated, they are well loved and respected ( they're closer to being overrated, but absolutely aren't ) I also don't think GEC is underrated either, I think they're currently at the top of the traditional market as far as being talked about and anticipation of new offerings. Queen cutlery could be considered underrated though, as well as wenger.

Traditionals do deserve more love and respect though:thumbup:
 
Hickory n steel said:
I don't exactly agree with all of this.
Honestly modern tactical knives aren't everything, and just because a knife doesn't use the higher end materials and modern tactical styles doesn't make it entry level. (For the average guy bucks 420hc is perfectly adequate )
Also as it stands right now as far as I know the only Chinese bucks are the slipjoints.
I know that their knives may not be 200$ quality, but calling them entry level implies that they're for beginners while the expensive one aren't.( there will always be something better )
If someone likes simple non tactical knives ( but maybe still a little modernness ) that are easy to sharpen, then buck may be the top of the line for them.
It all just depends on what you like.
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By not using higher end materials, and not just the Steel but in all aspects of a build, is by definition "entry level". Not that they don't have some nicer offerings, but most of their stuff is plain vanilla.

FWIW: I never said anything about Buck going "Tactical" either. By saying i think the should make offerings on par with other premium brands, I meant on par with fit and finish and materials, not necessarily designs. I simply said I think it would do Buck well to expand their Avid and Pro lines, (simply upgrading steels and handle materials on already current models, maybe making more premium American made versions of the lower end Chinese stuffs), expand their custom shop (to include more options across already current models not currently offered in their custom shop), and releasing a carbon line in something better then the 5160 they did, like A2 (certainly could and should still be geared towards hunters and outdoorsmen).

I never meant to imply Buck should, get away from what the do, design wise, nor did I imply they should get away from their entry level 420hc stuff they've made a name for themselves doing: I actually made mention that it should remain a staple for them: but expanding upon their current offerings to include higher end offerings as well, staying true to their designs, but for the premium minded hunters and outdoorsmen, wouldn't be a bad thing for them if the fit and finish was there to match.
 
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Hickory n steel said:
I'm sorry, but victorinox is not underrated, they are well loved and respected ( they're closer to being overrated, but absolutely aren't ) I also don't think GEC is underrated either, I think they're currently at the top of the traditional market as far as being talked about and anticipation of new offerings. Queen cutlery could be considered underrated though, as well as wenger.

Traditionals do deserve more love and respect though:thumbup:
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I pretty much agree with you. But you are missing my little twist on ratings. People were saying Buck is under-rated (maybe overlooked is a better term) because they don't use super steels for the most part. Neither do the traditional makers. Of course Queen (S&M) use D2 which I like. High end steel would be 440C which is what Canal Street often used and a few of the GEC offerings. I think traditionals are very under appreciated by the majority and whether one would say that means they are over or under rated is pretty subjective.
 
Sosa said:
Opinel is certainly not underrated in these parts. From poets, farmers and sheepherders to tramps and beggars.
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I never had heard of them till I meet a man from France about 10 years ago. They have a long and honored history but in DFW Texas they are still not well known.
 
I carry a Smith & Wesson revolver and a Buck 110. The pistol is from the 60's and the knife from the 70's. Neither is cool but both are very functional.

T4

7th & 10th SF (Retired)
 
Not sure if they are underrated but Lionsteel is a great company that is not talked a lot about.
 
t4halo said:
I carry a Smith & Wesson revolver and a Buck 110. The pistol is from the 60's and the knife from the 70's. Neither is cool but both are very functional.

T4

7th & 10th SF (Retired)
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Why isn't a wheel gun and a classic American knife cool ?
 
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