Walnut Alpha Folding Hunter (model 279) on sale at Dick's Sporting Goods

[geothorn]

I was over at my local Dick's Sporting Goods last night, checking out their knife display. They have Buck Alpha Folding Hunters, model 279, with the walnut handle slabs and the black nylon sheath, marked down from $59 to $49, on "clearance."

There wasn't any ATS-34, 154CM, S30V, BG-42, or the Paul Bos flames stamped into the display model's blade, so, am I right in thinking that the blade is 420HC...?

I have three Buck Alpha Folding Hunters already, but they are the ones with the black rubber handle slabs (models 278 and 279) and the black nylon sheath. Is this walnut-handled Buck Alpha 279 the same thing, just with the walnut handle slabs...? Was walnut the original handle slab material for the model 279, and Buck has since switched to the rubber slabs for that model?

Because I already own three rubber slabbed Buck Alpha Folding Hunters with 420HC blades, I'm not certain that I necessarily want or need another, if the difference is only the handle slab material. However, if someone wants a walnut slabbed Buck model 279, my local Dick's Sporting Goods has them marked-down, and maybe yours does, too.

Sometimes/Most times, I'd rather have a new Buck Knife on my belt instead of "greenback" bucks in my wallet....

GeoThorn

 

[chickentrax]

Is this walnut-handled Buck Alpha 279 the same thing, just with the walnut handle slabs...? Was walnut the original handle slab material for the model 279, and Buck has since switched to the rubber slabs for that model?

I don't know the answer to that...but I see both styles of scales for sale on eBay, so they must be the same knife...

Sometimes/Most times, I'd rather have a new Buck Knife on my belt instead of "greenback" bucks in my wallet...

Well, you can't take either with you...but at least you can play with the Buck while you're waiting to go...

[size=-2]I recall a joke by Jay Leno that went something like..."An old man died 'unexpectedly' recently...He was penniless, homeless, and without a single possession to his name...I'd say he timed that just about right!!!"[/size]

 

[MikeSEA]

The blade on the 279 is 420HC.
I always thought of the 278 and 279 as the rubber handled versions of the 276 & 277 resin-impregnated rosewood handled knives. The 276 & 278 being the gut-hook style and the 277 & 279 being just the plain drop point. I also thought that originally the steel was ATS-34 on all versions. I also think that the Walnut was later added as an optional handle material on the 278 & 279.
But hey except for the blade being 420HC this is all just conjecture.
Mike

 

[Buckaholic]

Got a pic of a Walnut 279T the same as when it came outta the box (original handles) at http://mongoosemarv.com/buck.html

 

[newhipster]

I just talked to Buck knive about the 279T with wood handles .
They told me that the knife was made in 2003 in CA and where made for Bass PRO
and the blade material was BG42 ... Made me Happy

 

[Buckaholic]

I have two of the 279T knives. Both walnut, NIB, and neither are stamped "BG-42".

 

[Messersmith]

The blade on the 279 is 420HC.
I always thought of the 278 and 279 as the rubber handled versions of the 276 & 277 resin-impregnated rosewood handled knives. The 276 & 278 being the gut-hook style and the 277 & 279 being just the plain drop point. I also thought that originally the steel was ATS-34 on all versions. I also think that the Walnut was later added as an optional handle material on the 278 & 279.
But hey except for the blade being 420HC this is all just conjecture.
Mike

I think you are pretty much right-on Mike. The walnut 279 would be 420HC. The newer 276 & 277 models are made with 154CM instead of ATS34.