What's up with the "utility holes" on the new Nighthawks?

T

TKM

Joined
Nov 3, 2010
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252
Hi guys!

Well, recenty, I lost my old Buck Nighthawk (650) and I've been looking to replace it with another Nighthawk model.

Initally, I thought I'd wait a couple months and order one of the new ones (I knew they were coming in all-black with a better sheath), however, I just found out about those utility holes on top of the blade. Those are just awful looking, not to mention useless in the outdoors.

I know the knife is tactical-intended and the holes are supposed to be used to bend wire and as oxigen bottle wrenches, but seriously, does anyone find them useful? And most important, don't they weaken the structure of blade???

http://www.buckknives.com/index.cfm?event=product.detail&productID=3928

What do you think?
 
I see that "wire bending" in the description on Buck's website, but I still don't see how those holes, will work for any wire that is attached at both ends to something, like a fence wire??? How would you get the wire in the holes unless it's already loose on one end???

Has Buck put out any thing in print saying their for oxygen bottle valves either?? (EDIT:found it in the 2011 catalog)
 
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What's up with the holes?

My guess is that it's cheap to make holes in blades and some people will think they look cool and buy the knife.

Me, I'd buy an old 440C 120 before I'd buy a new knife with holes.

:D
 
It is a TOPS/Buck Nighthawk. TOPS puts that dot-dash-dot hole pattern on their products.
 
Bear Claw Chris Lappe said:
I see that "wire bending" in the description on Buck's website, but I still don't see how those holes, will work for any wire that is attached at both ends to something, like a fence wire??? How would you get the wire in the holes unless it's already loose on one end???
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Exactly! How do they even work???

So do you guys also think those holes are just for the looks?

I know TOPS puts those in their blades but never heard of anyone using them.
 
Its a mall ninja thing TOPS does to most of their idiotic product line. Unfortunately Buck added the holes and now call the Nighthawk a collaboration with TOPS. I did two combat tours in Iraq as an Infantryman, totalling 25 months, and spent a lot of time in the field over my 24 years in the Army and never needed my knife to turn on or off an oxygen bottle or break wire. As far as that goes, I only saw one TOPS knife in Iraq, and it was not with a SF operator, but a civilian truck driver. Its a poor decision IMO by Buck to allign their products with this wanna-be knife company. CJ, if you want Buck to still play in the tactical market stay with the solid designs you already have or collaborate with someone with a proven track record of solid designs that real military operators use.
 
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Colt6731 said:
Its a mall ninja thing TOPS does to most of their idiotic product line. Unfortunately Buck added the holes and now call the Nighthawk a collaboration with TOPS. I did two combat tours in Iraq as an Infantryman, totalling 25 months, and spent a lot of time in the field over my 24 years in the Army and never needed my knife to turn on or off an oxygen bottle or break wire. As far as that goes, I only saw one TOPS knife in Iraq, and it was not with a SF operator, but a civilian truck driver. Its a poor decision IMO by Buck to allign their products with this wanna-be knife company. CJ, if you want Buck to still play in the tactical market stay with the solid designs you already have or collaborate with someone with a proven track record of solid designs that real military operators use.
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I'm not and never have been in the military, but from what I've seen, those types of knives appeal mostly to the "pretenders" and "wanna-be" buyers (not all, but most). I'm sure that far more of them end up in a mall setting and worn or carried as a fashon statement than in a combat setting.

As a military man and someone who would really know, what designs would appeal to a true military operator.:thumbup:
 
I spend a lot of time mending barbed wire fence,5 hours yesterday.Just this morning a horse got a foot tangled in hog wire that was laying in the pasture.LMAO,I'd love to watch someone from Tops use that knife to cut fence wire( especially if it's wrapped around a 1200 pound horses leg).:eek:
 
Plumberdv said:
what designs would appeal to a true military operator.:thumbup:
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Steve Dick had it right when he said combat duty is like an extended camping trip. In my experience, a basic no frills knife with decent steel (not neccessarily a premium steel), comfortable yet secure handle, a utility blade shape, and durable MOLLE compatible sheath would fullfill most if not all military use requirements. Fixed blade knives that I personally saw being used in Iraq were mostly of the production combat/utility style such as the Cold Steel SRK (VERY popular), Kabar Marine Combat Knife (also VERY popular), Gerber LMF, and the Buck Nighthawk. I did see quite a few Striders and Chris Reeve folders and fixed blades being carried and used. Popular folders were the issued Gerber EZ-out (black sheepsfoot blade in S30V, nice knife BTW), issued BM and Gerber autos, Spyderco Endura and Delica, Buck 110, and quite a few Gerber and CRKT. Also every soldier is issued a Gerber multi tool so those are everywhere too. Most of my guys carried medium sized fixed blades such as the Kabar and SRK. We were also issued a strap cutter that had the oxygen bottle wrench on it, but of course I never used mine for that. Did'nt really see all that many SAK's, but since the Army issued a multi tool most guys did'nt need a SAK type folder. With all the gear we had to carry and pack around a big heavy knife was'nt that popular. On my last tour my unit was part of Task for 16, Joint Spec Opns Cmd-Iraq and I regulary worked with soldiers and sailors from various Army Special Forces, Ranger, and Navy SEAL teams. Never saw any of them with a TOPS knife, they mostly carried CRK and Strider fixed blades and folders or the same knives already mentioned. As far as wire cutting, we did have to do a bit of that, but we used the Gerber multi tools and issued wire cutters to do that.
 
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Colt6731 said:
Its a mall ninja thing TOPS does to most of their idiotic product line. Unfortunately Buck added the holes and now call the Nighthawk a collaboration with TOPS. I did two combat tours in Iraq as an Infantryman, totalling 25 months, and spent a lot of time in the field over my 24 years in the Army and never needed my knife to turn on or off an oxygen bottle or break wire. As far as that goes, I only saw one TOPS knife in Iraq, and it was not with a SF operator, but a civilian truck driver. Its a poor decision IMO by Buck to allign their products with this wanna-be knife company. CJ, if you want Buck to still play in the tactical market stay with the solid designs you already have or collaborate with someone with a proven track record of solid designs that real military operators use.
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I guess I will play devils advocate and borrow a quote from another thread, thanks Gordon!
Flatlander1963 said:
The priority is to keep the club financially solvent. In the end, that's good for all of us.
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I think this quote can apply to Buck also. If they feel that their collaborations can help sell knives, I am all for it. Whether or not someone feels as though the end user is an :rolleyes:"operator" or "mall ninja" is little to no difference to most people. Buck makes knives to sell. From what I have seen, a few people just dont like Buck collaborating with "tactical" named companies. Strider... Hoods...TOPS.... To each his own. I guess I have a "tactical nighthawk" I must be an operator.... :yawn:

I myself prefer the heavier duty knives for hunting and such, it has nothing to do with mall ninjas :D I sure as hell aint hitting the woods with a Buck Metro....


Carry on :D
 
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Colt6731 said:
Steve Dick had it right when he said combat duty is like an extended camping trip. In my experience, a basic no frills knife with decent steel (not neccessarily a premium steel), comfortable yet secure handle, a utility blade shape, and durable MOLLE compatible sheath would fullfill most if not all military use requirements.
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Amen. While many of the knives you saw were those available in the PX, they share a utility background The venerable Marine Combat itself was adapted from the Marbles Ideal, an early heavy-duty field knife.

Despite the recent use on a Somali pirate, knives are not often used as weapons in modern military life. Combat knife means combat zone knife.
 
I built fence for a couple summers while in college. No knife for bending wire, but I did carry a good pair of fenceman's pliers.
 

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postfallsidaho said:
From what I have seen, a few people just dont like Buck collaborating with "tactical" named companies. Strider... Hoods...TOPS.... To each his own. I guess I have a "tactical nighthawk" I must be an operator....
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I'm not against Buck doing collabortions with makers with recognized superior designs. I really liked both the Strider and Simonich collaborations. If my Raven Legacy had a 5-5.5" blade it would be an almost perfect combatives blade and the SB 888 is one of the best tactical utility designs I've used (I have 2 of them) along with the limited build out StriderHawks (have 2 of them also). My main problem, and its my problem not Bucks, is that TOPS' has a reputation of over the top marketing, average workmanship, average materials, questionable designs, with premium prices. I wish Buck would collaborate with Reeves, Dozier, Harsey, Breeden, or JK knives. Now those would be some tight tactical designs.
 
Colt6731 said:
My main problem, and its my problem not Bucks, is that TOPS' has a reputation of over the top marketing, average workmanship, average materials, questionable designs, with premium prices.
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A Buck knife forum is not a good place for airing your dislike of another knife manufacturer.

TOPS marketing is not unusual, its workmanship is solid, its materials are common to many good knives, its designs are so varied that different tastes are well accounted for, and we all would like to pay less and get more.

Don't let it bother you, but please don't turn this thread into an unnecessary rant against an honest business.
 
Colt6731 said:
I'm not against Buck doing collabortions with makers with recognized superior designs. I really liked both the Strider and Simonich collaborations. If my Raven Legacy had a 5-5.5" blade it would be an almost perfect combatives blade and the SB 888 is one of the best tactical utility designs I've used (I have 2 of them) along with the limited build out StriderHawks (have 2 of them also). I wish Buck would collaborate with Reeves, Dozier, Harsey, Breeden, or JK knives. Now those would be some tight tactical designs.
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I agree with this 100%. I love the Strider Bucks, and a JK knives collaboration would be sweet,

BUT.....

In my previous post (:D)... Bucks leadership must see sales in their collaborations, and if they make money we all can enjoy our own little "niche" knives. I myself never used the holes (and I honestly can't ever see a use for them :confused:) on my CSAR-t but I love to use the knife itself. I can look past a few "minor" details and enjoy it for what its worth.
I think the new nighthawk knife is great, just for the sheath factor, its hands down better than the previous offering. I can get past the blade holes. I don't consider myself a "wannabe" or an "operator" or even a "mall ninja", even though I wear military surplus mickey mouse boots when hunting :D

;)
 
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I sent a CSAR to a retired Navy SEAL friend and he loved it. I think the TOP's ARE top and I am VERY happy to see these two GREAT IDAHO manufactures together... The TOP's guys are great from what I understand. I am going to send him a new 655 and I need one for my rig.
 
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