ABN,
Thanks for the support. I have beating this drum for the past few years. I sometimes feel like it's falling on deaf ears, so thanks again. I think that the biggest factor is really just a matter of marketing. Most folks these days feel the need for a high powered, stealthy, tactical fighter/combat knife. I know for a fact that on ANY given day in the U.S. there are probably tens times the occurances that call for the necessity of a diminutive little slipjoint versus a TAC knife like described above but, the fact of the matter is that the "squeakiest wheel", so to speak, are the guys wanting the TAC's. Believe it or not my granddad lived to a ripe old age of almost 84 years old and he carried a measly stockman every day and it pretty much did everything he ever needed to do. Go figure. I don't know how people ever survived before the big knives were in vogue.
Anyway, Please everyone who is in agreement sound off. Buck knives is a business first and foremost. They need to know that slipjoints are not just a line completer they are a very viable and necessary piece of cutlery, not to mention history. I have seen their offering seemingly slip EVERY year. It sadens me greatly. It seems odd to me that CASE knives grows stonger every year and the largest majority of their knives are slipjoints. And I assure you that they are using way lower grades of steel than Buck. The greatest thing they have going for them is the scale options. To coin a phrase,
"IF YOU MAKE IT WE WILL BUY IT".
I don't mean to hammer on Buck, I just don't think they believe me when I say that people truly want these kind of knives. Buck Knives is long been my favorite Brand. I like the offerings that they have with respect to design, fit, and quality. They just don't seem to want to compete with some of the last few U.S. knife makers in the arena of sliphoints. I think that Case, Queen, and Camillus are the last vessels of U.S. made slipjoints that offer any kind of variety. Ther may be one or two other that slip my mind right now but you get the idea. It's a shame that us "Old Timers" have to resort to finding a custom maker if we want a hot rod slipjoint. Now if Buck were to re-introduce the 700 series or even use the 300 series as a venue and offer a few of the patterns in say BG-42 or ATS-34, and use Bone, Elk, or Stag scales, Well then I ask you, who could compete? I'll answer it for you.
NO ONE ! I don't think Buck even makes a Trapper pattern anymore. Oddly enough that is one of Case's biggest sellers. Why you may ask, 'cause Buck doesn't make one.
Now the same would be said for anyone willing to open this type of line. I just happen to Like Buck most and would like to see them be the beneficiary of such a turn around in the pocket knife industry at this time in history.
I'll get off of my soapbox now. I promise I'm not trying to shoot any heat seeking missles. Having said all of that I will say this.
Joe, CJ, Chuck, If any of you is listening:
P L E A S E, P L E A S E, P L E A S E 
