What happened to the Kalinga 419s?

I ould like to apologize for the frankness of my previous post. I just get defensive of these knives because they represent the work of some of our most talented craftsmen and women. I've been outon the line and watched these being built, and I wish everyone could see how much hand work and shaping that goes into making the Kalinga Pro folders and fixed blades (and the 110 for that matter).

If you get the chance to handle one and you don't think they're worth what the cost, let us know. Our factory employees are working hard to make these more than justify the price. Thanks again for your interest!
 
It's all good jimmer_5, and refreshing to hear how a Buck employee supports his co-workers and the fine work they perform. We need alot more of this in America. I'm surprised these S30V Kalingas are priced as low as they are, and are offered as a regular stock item.
 
jimmer_5 -- no need to apologize, I thought your post was to the point and honest. We need more Americans that care about thier products and are not afraid to speak the truth.

woody
 
jimmer_5 said:
It is not my intention to offend anyone, so please don't take what I'm about to say as such. I just want to give a little perspective here.

In my opinion, Buck heavily underpriced this knife. Now, no customer wants to hear that, but you have to look at what you're getting for your money. A 4" S30V blade, a hand shaped brass and rosewood handle frame, a full grain real leather sheath, and a warrantee that allows you to break this knife, send it back to Buck, and have it replaced.

Realistically, the MSRP on this knife should have been over $200, not $160. It's pretty rare these days that ANYTHING sells for full MSRP. As a result, many companies will set their MSRP high to keep their product from being undervalued by retailers. Take a look at what most other knives with S30V and high end materials sell for and you'll see that $150 and UP is pretty common. Take the Benchmade Mini Rukus - which, by the way is a fine knife. This knife bolts together with pretty much NO hand shaping, has an S30V blade, and the MSRP is $220!! The Mini-Rukus regularly sells for $150 -$160 new.

I could throw out more examples, but the point is that if the Kalinga Pro is being sold for full MSRP, either the demand is high, or Buck grossly underpriced it.

Again, please let me stress, I am not tryng to offend anyone - I am a knife geek myself, and I love a great bargain as much as anyone. If you can find a Kalinga Pro for $100, BUY IT!! :D That's a terrific price! But please, don't undervalue it by saying it's not worth $160.

The 110 sells at Wal Mart for $26, but it really shouldn't. And I defy anyone to find another $26 hand-built American made knife. Talk about an under-valued product! In today's market the 110 should sell for $45-$60 without skipping a beat. Take a look at what a Case knife will cost you.

In any case, I hope you guys enjoy the Kalinga Pro, and I encourage you all to get one for the best price you can find - that's exactly what I do. Just realize that you're getting a knife that is worth far more than $110. I understand that not everyone has $150 to spend on a knife, but just remember that when the Kalinga Pro was designed, we set out to build a Cadillac, not a Geo Metro.
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Please let me qualify my last post, I in no way mean that the price the bidder paid not worth the Kalinga he won in the auction. I have a Benchmade Ruckus and a S.O.G. Tomcat 3 and paid a lot more for those knives then for my Kalinga and to be honest I like the Kalinga's fit, finish and looks much more then the other two. My only thought (and most likely poorly expressed) was that I have seen the Kalinga in many different on line dealers for much less then what the E-bidder paid for his. I have always tried to research whatever I buy to find the best deal I can. If I could not have found a better price then what the E-bidder did I would not have hesitated to buy it but I did. I just think that the average person can usually do better then what Ebay auctions end up getting for the products they sell and I trust an established dealer more then many of the sellers on Ebay. Th MSRP that Buck has set of $150.00 is a bargain in itself but if I can find one cheaper I'm going for it. I'm not cheap, just hopefully a little smarter.

Jimmer you had it backwards, you buillt a Cadillac at the price of a Geo. I love this knife.
 
NY Marksman - I can agree with that - I always encourage people to go out and find the best deal they can get. I'm always glad to hear that people found good deals on a knife. It sounds like we're two of a kind in this regard - I always shop around to find the best price on things. For me, finding a good deal is at least haf the fun! :D
 
NY Marksman said:
I just got this one today from KnifeCenter.com
The weight and balance feels great and the fit and finish are superb. I had always considered Bucks to be an average run of the mill knife but this Kalinga Pro has proven that it will take it's place as my favorite knife which has made my S.O.G. Tomcat III and Benchmade Ruckus very jealous.
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I had this one on pre-order back in June from there. After a few months waiting I finally gave up. Kept watching their what's new page and never did see it. Then after seeing those pictures I looked at the Bucks and there it was! One left! Called and snagged that beauty. Wow I like pretty knives and this is a sure cure for the black G-10 blahs.
What is the lockup like and what's the liners made out of? I wanted this knife from the moment I laid eyes on it. And the way it looks in it's handsome sheath is the icing on the cake.
 
jill jackson said:
I had this one on pre-order back in June from there. After a few months waiting I finally gave up. Kept watching their what's new page and never did see it. Then after seeing those pictures I looked at the Bucks and there it was! One left! Called and snagged that beauty. Wow I like pretty knives and this is a sure cure for the black G-10 blahs.
What is the lockup like and what's the liners made out of? I wanted this knife from the moment I laid eyes on it. And the way it looks in it's handsome sheath is the icing on the cake.
Click to expand...


The lockup is rock soid with no blade play at all. There is a very reassuring click when the lock engages. The liners are Highly polished solid brass and they are a tad over 1/16th of an inch thick each. The quality of this knife is superb and it has a heft and feel that makes it a joy to hold. The rosewood scales are beautiful and give it a warm but serious look. Of all my different knives this one is at the top of my list.

By the way if you got yours from the knifecenter then you got the last one, they only had two when I called to order mine last week.
 
Jimmer_5, I concur with what Scoot and Woody said above. Good to see you type so well about the Buck Team.

I understand what NY Marksman is saying. I see peeps buy stuff on auctions that they can get for less if they knew where to go. They don't know what they don't know.

As for the current S30V Kalinga knives from Buck.
WHAT A DEAL!

For less than $35 more than I paid for my 110AG and Kaala (both S30V) you can get a beautiful 408 Fixed. For about $20 more, I have a 419 Folder on the way.

Click the pic:


Not to say that either the 110AG or Kaala are priced too high...as I doubt anyone would dispute their price to value ratio, it is just amazing to me that you can get either of the new S30V Kalinga knives for the price they are going for.

In addition to the premium components, amazingly flawless workmanship in the two fixed 408's I have and I would expect no less in the 419 that is coming my way.

Outstanding job Buck.

Thanks!
 
The 419 is an amazing knife and an even more amazing value.

Mine hasn't left my sight since it arrived Friday.

All of that heavy, gleaming brass and wood look fantastic.
 
Beautiful knife and well down photos. Thank you kindly.

It would be interesting to see the liner lock and the spine sides of the knife.

oregon
 
oregon said:
Beautiful knife and well down photos. Thank you kindly.

It would be interesting to see the liner lock and the spine sides of the knife.

oregon
Click to expand...

Here's the liner lock side open.
Buckliners1.jpg

and closed.
Buckliners2.jpg
 
BUCK CUSTOM !!!!!!!! Picture it with black horn,file work,red paper,nickle silver......Oversized stag as/is would be verrrrrrrry nice too!! Can the 419 dethrone the.........110.........
 
Thank you NY Marksman, you are a gentleman and a scholar, for the pics.

As a kid the Buck 110 was the knife to aspire to. A real breakthru with the locking blade and robust construction.

Now, today, that same feeling is back. Love it when I am pleasantly surprised by an old friend. Really pleased to see such beauty in the old neighborhood.

Congratulations Buck.

oregon
 
Well, I think I located one of these lovelies......I'll find out for sure tomorrow.

Buck should give some of you guys commissions the way you sell the product......I had heard of these but never considered getting one......until this thread.
 
My 419 arrived a few days ago while I was still at the ranch hunting.

Wife knew by the address that it was a knife and sharing most of my enthusiasm about Buck Knives, she opened it.

If you can imagine sitting in a deer stand, listening to a wife go on and on about it, was almost more than I could stand. Talk about heaven, watching a couple of young buck deer 50 yards out butting heads and playing and the wife describing a new Buck knife.

She went on and on and on. But her descriptions were no match for actually seeing it when I got home.

Jimmer,, it truly is a work of art, and the folks on the line did a good job on this one.

My wife is still amazed that I am actually going to use this one next trip and next deer.

It already lives in a newer cordura model 276 vertical/horizontal sheath that one of my 110/112 Transistion knives came in. The older 276 sheath on the Alpha Hunter is right at 3/8 inch shorter and will not snap. So those of you that have the older Alpha 276 sheath, may have difficulity.

Will the 419 become my next evolution from a 110. Maybe. They weigh the same, as close as my scale will weigh, they both fit my hand equally as well, but the thumb rest on the 419 has that advantage.

One hand opening/closing is easier on the 419. The wider blade on the 419 might be a disadvantage.

The test will be in the field, hopefully soon

Oh yeah,,,they really were rubbing and butting heads. Just wouldn't turn my way for a better pic.

Kepping them fresh on the hoof....
 
Did an FeeBay search for Kalinga 419 this morning and up popped 9 of them for under $100. Finally snagged me one of these. Was beginning to think they were gone again until after Xmas and looking into getting a Chinook 3 instead...but Buck's 4-Ever Warranty kept me holding out.
 
Thinking you will be happy about snagging one of these F3Beam. :)

When I first saw pics of the folding Kalinga, I thought it was just a fancied out Alpha folder.
It's not.

I agree with all that you stated regarding the 419 Larry Mouse.
The shape of the knife is better in the palm than the Alpha. There is a real choil. Larger thumbstud. Clip blade design.

The two things I wish this folder (419) and the fixed (408) had was the cuts on the top of the blade to keep your thumb from sliding and a lanyard hole.

The sheath is "ok". Big plus if it had a horizontal option. I am using my Alpha sheath (mine fits) for horizontal. But the snap on that sheath has always popped open easily and that doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy.

While initially overwhelmed with the form, fit, and function of this beauty, I am not yet 100% convinced that it will replace my 110 EDC rotation. Will give it a few weeks and see how it goes.

Jimmer_5...I would be interested in hearing from you about the post production problems that were being experienced with the new Kalinga knives.
Thanks...
Goose.


Click the pic:
 
Buckaholic said:
When I first saw pics of the folding Kalinga, I thought it was just a fancied out Alpha folder.
It's not.


The shape of the Kalinga is better in the palm than the Alpha. There is a real choil. Larger thumbstud. Clip blade design.

The sheath is "ok". Big plus if it had a horizontal option.
Click to expand...


These were my thoughts also! I was hesitant on buying a pair especially for the money involved, but I tried out the 420HC camo versions first. I love them. Goose, your pics, and NY Marksmans pics sold me on the brass and S30V versions. I have mine coming direct from Larry O. These have got to be one of the best bargains in the knife industry at this time!

I do wish the sheath was horizontal carry also... but my replacement alpha sheaths also fit! (the Kalinga sheath carries very well, barely noticeable really!!)




 
I talked to David Yellowhorse yesterday and he has already worked his art on one! I bet he can really do something nice with a 419. I sure do wish the Buck Custom shop would add more models...The 419 is a natural! I will have to get one....SOON !
 
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