What is "it" about Buck knives for you?

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sharkattacksw

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In one of my other posts I mentioned that I've really been liking my Buck knives. I have some knives from other makes (a few Spyderco and Benchmade), but to me, there's something about a Buck that's USA made that the others don't give me. Maybe it's the nostalgia factor (my first "real" pocketknife was a 501), the traditional lockback style, the familiar clip point blade; I'm not sure. Whatever it is, there's something about Bucks that make me enjoy the hobby of collecting and using knives more than my other knives. The Spyderco knives I have are great knives, as is my Benchmade 943. But if I had to pick just one company to only buy knives from, I'm almost (99%) certain it'd be Buck.

But as to my original question, if I had to answer it for myself, I'd say it's the nostalgia factor that makes me enjoy my Buck knives.

So what draws you to Buck knives?
 
American made at the lower price points.

been getting higher understandably..but for a long time you could grab a 110 or 119 made in America for so much cheaper than any other American brand it wasnt funny......

add to that proper heat treat, family owned, traditional models still being made and hard not to like a Buck knife.
 
Nostalga.
First knife I carried as a teenager hunting whitetail deer.
Buck 110 and a buck 116.
American made, and affordable.
Its the Harley Davidson of Knives.

I like Spyderco and Benchmade for sure, and they rule the modern high tech folder market, high quality knives. They are market leaders, like the Ford 150. Buck’s niche is fixed blades and classic folders and newer hunt and camp knives ( for example, the Compadre 104 is a really nice knife, I like it a lot.)

They own the nostagla playing card and old school stuff which appeals to many people. Who would not want a brand new 1965 mustang? Da…the Buck 110….virtually unchanged for 55 years.

Put it this way, I knew a guy who owned a busy Firearms store, high end stuff, best of the best rifles and top end scopes.
When he personally went deer hunting he took an old pre 64 winchester 30-30 94 lever iron sights. He had access to anything he wanted…that is what he choose..

I asked why…he said,,Nostalga and tradition…..the Winchester 94 just feels right in your hands while walking the woods.
The same is true for wearing a BUCK knife on your belt. Its a trusted old friend.
 
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zippo123 said:
Nostalga.
First knife I carried as a teenager hunting whitetail deer.
Buck 110 and a buck 116.
American made, and affordable.
Its the Harley Davidson of Knives.

I like Spyderco, Benchmade for sure, and they rule the modern folder market, high quality knives.

Put it this way, I knew a guy who owned a busy Firearms store, high end stuff, best of the best rifles and top end scopes.
When he personally went deer hunting he took an old pre 64 winchester 30-30 94 lever iron sights. He had access to anything he wanted…that is what he choose..

I asked why…he said,,Nostalga and tradition…..the Winchester 94 just feels right in your hands while walking the woods.
The same is true for wearing a BUCK knife on your belt. Its an old friend.
Click to expand...
I completely get that. I don't hunt anymore, but when I did, I loved taking my pre '64 Model 70 (.30-06) over anything else I had.
 
For me as a user they are NOT pretty-boy knives they are the benchmark of the workingmans knife,the are derived from family business with good quality and ethics.MY first was in 1975 when my Journeyman told me to buy quality and ya know something he was right.I still use it 46 years latter along with my Klein tools wish my first truck lasted this long lol..
 
Re: the Buck 110

o Cutting performance
o How the handle fits my hand while actually using it (a lot of knives feel great . . . until you actually use them a lot)
o Iconic appearance
o Cutting performance
o American made
o Did I mention cutting performance?

To me, the Buck 110 is the 1911A1 of folding knives. Heavy, old, and outperforms the competition when it counts.
 
From my earliest memories I wanted to hunt and fish. When I was in Jr High/High School I would go into the library and look through Sports Afield and Outdoor Life mags read the articles and see the Buck ad with the blade being hammered through a bolt. I wanted/needed one of those knives.
It wasn't until after college and I was in the army that I finally was able to buy one at the PX, the 118, '69-70. Knowing the history of the family, the way they ran their business and the quality of the product made me a life long customer...over and over and over again 😁
 
pjsjr said:
From my earliest memories I wanted to hunt and fish. When I was in Jr High/High School I would go into the library and look through Sports Afield and Outdoor Life mags read the articles and see the Buck ad with the blade being hammered through a bolt. I wanted/needed one of those knives.
It wasn't until after college and I was in the army that I finally was able to buy one at the PX, the 118, '69-70. Knowing the history of the family, the way they ran their business and the quality of the product made me a life long customer...over and over and over again 😁
Click to expand...

I have similar memories of wanting a Buck 110. When I was in high school, I settled for a Schrade LB7 because it was what I could afford. It was a very good knife in its own right, but not really a substitute for a 110. I also I had a Sears/Craftsman 110 clone (made by Camillus) that helped me get through those years until a real Buck 110 found its way home!
 
Can't really add to what's been said above... there's just something intrinsic to a Buck 110 or a 119 that's hard to explain, why one gets the feeling that you do when you pick one up and hold it in your hand. Maybe it's the spirit of Hoyt Buck reaching through the ages to say "Welcome to my family".
 
The 112 was my first nice knife (my tale is in the 112 story thread). Previously I had a Camillus TL-29 (good knife) and odds/ends such as a Kamp King scout pattern knife (functional, served its intended purpose). When I received the 112 as a teenager, I was a Buck fan right then.

In summary:
- Craftsmanship
- Durability
- Functionality
- Design
- Made in the USA
- Faith
 
Interesting question. I can't really put my finger on it, but there's something. I would call it depth, a history with substance. A 110 or a 112 just feel familiar to me.

This thread needs pictures.
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It wasn’t until 1989 that I found out how good Buck knives are. My first was a gift from a salesman a 301 stockman. I was impressed that it kept an edge a lot longer than other pocket knives I’d had and it was just a solid work knife . A few weeks later I bought a 110 Damascus stag and that knife went with me on many hunts and we got a lot of deer over the years. I don't use it as much now , I’m kinda sentimental about it and want to pass it on to my kids.

I still have both of those knives and they are still as good and useful as when new. I think the main reason I liked them so well was they worked so well and I didn’t have to worry if they could handle tough work. The looks are just a bonus that comes with a well made and well designed knife.
 
Before my Brother David took me to the Blade Show in 2006 ANY brand knife was not on my radar..even tho the only pocket knive I used regularly for years was a 503 Prince till my wife snapped off the blade opening a can of peas. After meeting all the folks in the BCCI and Joe Houser (maybe CJ or Chuck on that trip?) I was impressed by how nice every one was and of course all the different knives. But what drew me first was the people.
I was astonished that the head of a major corporation was actually involved and loved the folks who brought Bucks and collected them. A example of that was when my Brother Charlie went around 2011 Chuck spent almost a half hour talking to just him and signed the knives he bought for his sons. Without any exception every one I met connected to Buck and the BCCI was friendly and welcoming.
The knives ARE quality tools of course but the people are too! The fact that Buck is a Christian led company made a difference to me too. Plus Buck has the absolute best warranty and customer service that I know of is a factor in why I respect and admire them. The company down thru the years has really supported the folks who collect them in more ways than I even know. But the main reason I like Buck is the people connected with the company and the collectors and friends I've made and met.
 
Bastler said:
Interesting question. I can't really put my finger on it, but there's something. I would call it depth, a history with substance. A 110 or a 112 just feel familiar to me.

This thread needs pictures.
6bYcswhl.jpg
Click to expand...
Agree. Same here, it’s heavy, clipless but just feels so right in hand. Can’t really explain it 😊
 
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