• The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
    Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
    Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.

  • Today marks the 24th anniversary of 9/11. I pray that this nation does not forget the loss of lives from this horrible event. Yesterday conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was murdered, and I worry about what is to come. Please love one another and your family in these trying times - Spark

What do the 119 fans think of the 120??

kyhunt

kyhunt

Basic Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2007
Messages
4,154
I see alot of 119 fans. Going to be getting one soon myself. While looking I seen that Cabela's had the 120. How do you folks like the 120? Is it as nice as the 119??? Or is it a little too big? How is the balance on it?
 
I figure if you're gonna have a knife that's too big to use, why not go with the General.....it's even bigger and more visually impressive than the Special.

A few years ago I was hunting deer with my cousin and we got an urgent call from another friend who had just started hunting. He and his son had shot a big buck and when faced with the task of separating it from its guts......they realized they hadn't a clue how to do it.

So, we went to the rescue. When we got there the guy says, "You can use my knife," and proudly pulled out a spanking new 119.

I said, "Wait just a minute, Col. Bowie.....that's a mighty large piece of hardware you got there.....and, as old as I am, I might get winded trying to use that thing."

Now I used to use a 110 to gut deer, but at that time was carrying a four-inch Browning folder because I liked the drop point.........BUT, just to jerk him around a little, I pulled out my spare (which was in the vest pocket of my hunting coat) a 444 Bucklite with a blade just a hair under three inches, and proceeded to gut the deer out.

I did use my the saw blade on my Leatherman to cut the pelvic bone and rip the chest cavity up to the throat (he wasn't having it mounted) but used the little 444 for everything else.

He was amazed. I told him we were saving his 119 just in case we were attacked by a really big bear.

I was just playfully giving him a rough time, of course, but also showing him that a small knife could do a lot. Truth is, the really big knives are limited in their practical application these days.

On the other hand.......they feel real good on the hip, and......hey, you never know just when a big bear might come along.

:)
 
Rocinante said:
.... Truth is, the really big knives are limited in their practical application these days.
...
:)
Click to expand...

I TOTALLY agree. I can't think of a single time where I really needed anything more than my 110.

Well, one exception...last Turkey Day I carved the bird with a 120. Probably could've used a 110 though ;)

The 120 does beat the 110 at marshmallow roasting however.
 
Hmmmm.....yup, carving a turkey really IS something that the 120 can do well......you just have to remember to clean it up good after killing the big bear with it.

Other than that.......can't think of much--we don't get trapped at the Alamo so much anymore.

:D
 
I geuss I should of been more specific. I have a S30V Vanguard I use for hunting. I was considering the 119 or 120 for a multipurpose camp knife/ slash whatever knife. I held a 119 today for first time. I really do like the way they feel. I actually like the handle on it better than the vanguard.
 
kyhunt said:
I geuss I should of been more specific. I have a S30V Vanguard I use for hunting. I was considering the 119 or 120 for a multipurpose camp knife/ slash whatever knife. I held a 119 today for first time. I really do like the way the feel.
Click to expand...


I don't know much, but my opinion is stick with the Vanguard :D
Its a great knife, not too small for camp chores either! I had a few 120's, they are huge (IMHO)
The 119 is a good compromise!
 
It all depends.

If we're talking about the survival type of camping where you cut your own wood and maybe build a few conveniences (I assume that must be part of this question) the best way is to have a good four inch knife (drop point?) and a camp ax (not a hatchet, but something about 18-19 inches in length--I think Buck only makes a hatchet) and a good saw.

If one knife has to do everything, a 120 can do most anything, but it's WAY easier to have the RIGHT tool for the jobs involved.

Along that line of reasoning......I will still have the 120 on my belt when camping.......still waiting for that damn bear that never shows up--because it's my favorite and it feels good to have that big knife riding close.

:)

I have never owned a Vanguard.....I hear they are not full tang and I have a thing about that.
 
Rocinante said:
If one knife has to do everything, a 120 can do most anything, but it's WAY easier to have the RIGHT tool for the jobs involved.

Along that line of reasoning......I will still have the 120 on my belt when camping.......still waiting for that damn bear that never shows up--because it's my favorite and it feels good to have that big knife riding close.
Click to expand...

Thats why I carry a .357... :D



Rocinante said:
I have never owned a Vanguard.....I hear they are not full tang and I have a thing about that.
Click to expand...

The vanguard tang is no less full than a 120. Same principle? both models (I believe most Buck fixed blade models actually) have the grip that is epoxied over the narrower tang and then cross pinned at the pommel????
 
I didn't realize they were not full tang. I like the design of the vanguard. But that 119 sure did feel good in the hand. Hummmm. We will see. Its not like I need it. I do always carry a 110 everywhere (even to church).
 
The 119 is fine.....we need to stick with what feels good and looks good to us.

All I know about the Vanguard is that I heard it was not full tang......that may make absolutely no practical difference.

I agree it's a great-looking knife and the drop point is an excellent design.
 
Rocinante said:
The 119 is fine.....we need to stick with what feels good and looks good to us.

All I know about the Vanguard is that I heard it was not full tang......that may make absolutely no practical difference.

I agree it's a great-looking knife and the drop point is an excellent design.
Click to expand...

Please don't get me wrong I like all the 100 series Buck knives!!! IMHO you can't go wrong with any of them!! They all look good and are comfortable for use.
I am just curious what everyone defines "full tang" as???

This pic shows Bucks construction of a 119, 120 is the same type of construction. Is this full tang??



To me a true full tang would be the birch handled 124's??
Oh yeah and the 403 "Big Sky" that is posted in another thread!!

To keep this on topic, :D I use the 119 for skinning deer and putzin' around, I never used my 120 when I had it, some guys really do like it! I guess its good if you want your hand to stay a foot away from the material being cut :D
 
I would consider a true full tang like the 403 and even a case slab side. I don't know what you call these. Are these considered rat tail tangs?? When someone said the vanguard wasn't full tang I was thinking of those cheap jobs where the tang stops half way through the handle.
 
Yes, that was what I was thinking of, too.

I don't care for the knives that are basically a stamped out piece of steel with two chunks of wood screwed on.

I'd call it a no-tang.....just one big slab of steel.

To me, it's cheap and ugly looking.....I assume it is extremely cost-effective to make such a knife, but I'll never own one.

I like the older fixed-blades that showed more of a human touch and took a lot more human skill.
 
I have to agree. I have the large slab side I bought awhile back. Got a good deal on it. But it just dont have a good feel to it. Order a 403 the other day and once again it just doesnt feel good in the hand. Maybe I should just stick with my 110 and be done with it. Ok now I'm whinning.
 
I've learned that sticking with what you really like is essential (which is why I've never bought the "3-slab" design). I looked at it as a way to make the knifemaking process less labor-intensive and increase profits--and both the design and the strategy were ugly to me.

When they began to phase out the older designs (like the General, Personal, Skinner, etc.) I figured it was to gradually get rid of all the traditional knives and force us to buy the more profitable 3-slab knives.

It takes a lot of skill and hand work to build a knife like the 119 or 120, but it's quick and easy to slap two wood slabs on a steel slab and call it a knife.

Takes fewer employees and WAY fewer highly skilled employees.

Thus comes better profit.

Anyhow, sorry to have passed along that hearsay info about the Vanguard (which IS a beautiful knife).
 
You don't have to apoligize to me. I'm the one asking all the questions. I find it very educational. My experience with Buck is limited to the 110's, an old stockman I have had for 20+ years and a Colt my parents bought me in college. I bought the vanguard two seasons ago. I've only used it on small game. I missed my deer last year. I like the vanguard just which the handle was a little slimmer. I have short fat hands. The 110's fit perfectly but would like a fix blade with a smaller handle than the vanguard. I liked the feel of the 119 but have never used anything that large before. I've even considered the woodsman but once again living where I live its hard to see the knives in person. On line the blade looks kind of skinny. Ihave even considered sanding the handle on the vanguard to try to slim it down a little, but don't know how deep that stain goes or if it is laminated and a real ugly color underneath. I have always considered a knife like the 119 alot of knife but then considered how long its been around and thought well maybe I'm wrong. Then I made the mistake of holding it. My ideal knife would be a vanguard with a 119 handle. Ugly maybe, but I think it would be great.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top