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So maybe this is a good place to ask this question. So this knife comes in these 3 flavors of steel and as you said budget, upgraded, and premium. But there is a big difference between the budget and the upgrades when it comes to price. It's not like there is less steel in the 420 version. Does magnacut and s35vn really cost that much more to produce or are we paying a desirability tax? I realize two are powdered steels so sure there is that. But when you have the same basic handles, sheaths, etc but the price changes by over $100 does 1% of, name your element, really make the price go up that much? It just feels like they should be a little closer. This has nothing to do with Buck because everyone does it but I just don't understand how the upgraded steel gets such an upgraded price.
That is a great question. I have some contacts in the industry and here is what I know. There are many factors. one depending on quantity purchased but usually magnaCut is about a 1/3 more expensive then say cpm-3V. Second will be the time it takes to heat treat the metal. Some metals can be heat treated a lot faster, and the process is really streamlined some take longer. Third is grinding and sharpening as an example 420 HC is very easy to put a factory edge on it meaning less time per blade in the sharpeners hand and more blades can be sharpened on a belt before the belt needs to be replaced. Fourth is handle materials how costly are the different handle materials not much but there is a factor there and how easy are they to either work or mold or shape? And finally use sheath what does it cost to have a nylon sheath zone quickly versus a leather sheath to be cut out and sewn versus a kydex sheath to be molded printed and shaped. This would be a great topic to do a video on so I might very soon but it honestly comes down to time is money and totally talking on my butt but let’s just say Buck can make one of the 420 HC models every five minutes and magna cut version every 20 minutes. Plus the extra amount of material cost and going through belts faster to put the edges on and so on. And finally, there’s probably a little bit of desirability, but that’s the last thing.
@@gideonstactical Well said Aaron !!!!! And I'd extrapolate that into one's own maintenance once you've got the thing, ........... or perhaps several more to deal with ; ) Cheers Duke.
The blade shapes and steel choices for Buck's Alpha series are spot on. Same with the handle material. I even like the look of these knives. Where they blew it for me is on the shape of the handle. It's just too skinny for me to get a comfortable grip. I'd pick up the small Scout model in S35VN if it just had a fuller handle. It would made for an awesome pocket carry EDC.
Agreed - that “weirdness in the middle” makes it a jack of all trades in my settings. I have both the Scout en Guide version of the Elite series. They are (too) expensive, dealing an uppercut around 260EUR a piece and there’s definitely room for improvement (factory edge, subtle rattle in the kydex, no dangler option and strange choice of jimping for the Guide), but they are carefree daily users and the thin profile makes for a great EDC (esp. Scout). I’m hoping for 3rd party aftermarket scales for the Guide so I can switch profiles depending on the needs and limitations. Thanks for the review!
I like the look of this knife and get a little Al Mar vibe.. I do wish companies would make a more pronounced finger guard/quillon, either double or single. It would really help if your hands were bloody or wet or cold. I've got a Blackjack Skinner with a more pronounced finger guard that is an excellent design, and really makes an excellent grip.
Have the SOG Pillar, and I love it. Am interested in the buck, but I agree the scale should cover the finger slot for comfort. Constant use with the finger riding on the steel seems like it might create some finger wear. But the blade geometry on the buck is beautiful. If I go to a buck I think I will go magnacut.
The budget version has me curious. 420hc from Bucks doesn't bother me. I've been beating my 110 to death at work since 2017 and I may finally have to send it in for a sharpening next spring.
As always, great video. In this design and after a lot of RUclipss and reading, I went with the Bradford Guardian 4.2 in Magnacut. Fantastic ergonomics and the size is effective for EDC. My main use cases are stripping bark from walking sticks and basic wood carving. The Bradford is too rounded to be good against sharpening steel. I have a different bush-crafting knife
I don't like that permanent finger choil. I have a bradford with it and just don't like it. I have their G 5.5 and that one is probably one of my most favorite knife I've ever had.
Great review Aaron , spot on 👍. Buck does some Weird stuff imo , they make some great designs but end up screwing them up somehow 🤦♂️ , that handle design is a big no no for Me , it looks thin and that steel choil with the half scale , I don't get it 🤷♂️ but Im not Military so Im sure some guys will like that just not Me .... 👍 🖖
I bought my 663 S35VN as my go to hunting knife. I like it. Buck, shame on you for your uneven grinds! On most of your knives. Its like you just do not care, and a reason I buy less of your knives.😮
just an idea, im in the military. 1ID 299th BSB. In the field I definitely prefer something less expensive and more maintainable in the field. I have two fixed blades I go to when im out working in the field. Gerber Downwind, super inexpensive well made and easy to maintain + corrosion resistant, and Buck 104 Compadre, 5160 spring steel with a coating and super easy to maintain, have never had to do more than ceramic even when ive nicked metal or rock. Edit: buck also has a dedicated knife as a combat knife, called the ground combat. this alpha series was 100% built for hunting. Big differences between the two.
Well, for camping, the Ursus all day long. Again if you’re wanting some more aggressive applications, potentially the Ursus does not have a lot of good traction points for stabbing or aggressive slashing.
I don't like the handle. It looks like it was shrunk on the tang. The choil sticking down looks like a hot spot. Otherwise, I like the shape of the blade.
I don't know if they were more capable but they were definitely very cool blades. I don't know why Buck discontinued them. I wish I bought another one.
@@demo2952 too bad. They could have raised the price point, I think people would still buy it. As a matter of fact, the knife in this review costs nearly double the price of the GCK.
The feeling I've always (past 5-10yrs😂) gotten from Buck Knives is: you should buy our knife because...🤔...because we're Buck Knives, that's why. There are so many great choices in knives available for much lower prices, I feel zero need to buy a Buck knife.
Too expensive. Sorry but there’s absolutely zero way to justify a knife costing $200. If Glock can manufacture the finest handgun in the world and retail it for $450 bucks than these knife companies should be able to make a high quality steel knife for less than $100. Modern polymer semi automatic handguns are made of high quality materials, can withstand the pressures of firing thousands of rounds and manage not to get a spec of rust on them ever and have moving parts not to mention the engineering cost.
The Bos heat treated 420HC will be a pretty high quality knife for less than $100. I'm still waiting to see this fabled finest handgun in the world made by Glock. They are OK at best.
@@isaacs_knives_and_knowledge I know you are not familiar with carrying a pistol, if you were you would know that guns that are not made from “foreign made plastic” are too heavy. I know you’ll respond with some bullshit lie about carrying a 1911.
I don’t believe in a combat knife, any sharp edge is a combat knife imho. The stabbyness of the knife makes little difference in my opinion and I’d rather have a bushcraft knife that can field dress game and make fire/shelter etc than the pointy break the tip type but that’s jmo, doesn’t make me right.
G'day mate, well just about any sharp edge, or blunt object for that matter, can do for a weapon, but fair enough, I get what you mean ; ) Personally, I'm a strong advocate of pairing a primary and secondary blade on the trail for versatility i.e. a big fella for grunt, and a smaller fella for finer tasks, and admittedly I do always take a folding saw as well. A bit extra weight is well worth it IMO, and on the belt .... "seems" way less ; ) Though within "pairing" one needs to be able to take on the role of the other in a pinch. So yep, with ya, too small/fine/pointy can be a distinct negative for a secondary blade. I s'pose it comes down to what is "too" pointy/fragile. Yeah lotta variables, but as a general rule, I reckon the secondary needs to baton at least 3-4 in. timber without fear, with and across the grain. I test all cutting tools at least to that extent, usually more ; ) on the toughest Aussie hardwood I can find, (Redgum is baseline, not the hardest in the world, but certainly up there), main thing is ................. at home, before taking any out in the sticks. Cheers Duke.
@@eyeofthetiger4184 I live in upstate New York and I have hardwood here as well (not as hard as red gum) and it puts a beating on my edges. I agree with you on the pairing. I prefer my silky saws, 4”-5” bushcraft blade, SAK and an Izula. I have nothing against fighting knives but I think they are best suited for military use. Cheers 🍻 mate 🇦🇺 🇺🇸
@@richroc7 Fair enough mate, main thing is, glad to hear you've got options. The one tool philosophy aint a good one IMO. Thats ok, whatever your hardest wood is, test them on that; i.e. that's gonna be the worst you'll encounter locally out bush. Yep I'm a Silky fan too, mind you, the ol' Laplander still gets a gig. The Izula rings a bell, ...... without looking it up, a relatively small utility blade from memory ? I do like to carry a SAK occasionally, mainly for carving by campfire, I do the Ranger 78, 1. biggest there is to my knowledge, I've got L to XL hands and 2. best multitool saw I've found, (though should be locking), + a decent awl. Hava a good one. Cheers Duke.
@@eyeofthetiger4184 agree mate XL hands myself and tbh I just got the 78 a few months ago and I love it but I still lug around the Swiss Champ for the extra tools. I have no qualms about the Laplander but my wife will shoot me if I buy another saw (if I get another it’ll be the Laplander 😆). I just found out about another saw that uses replaceable sawzall blades made by Warder and it’s around the same price at $35 USD on amazon. I definitely believe in bringing multiple blades with me outdoors in case one is damaged or whatever and ofc some tools are better suited for certain situations and tasks. Cheers 🍻 👊🏼
G'day Aaron, fair to say, a "bushcrafter" is generally considered a fairly stout scandi, somewhere in the 4-6 in. range, and thats fine, I have a few myself, all good. However, I reckon many "tactical" jobs are better again as bushcrafters. Yep, the Pillar, (great to see S35 on that one btw), or Steel Will's 102, 800 and 900 as examples of what I have. So, I do like the design concept of this one, but yeah they dropped the ball on ergos by the looks. Which I find very strange from Buck, the classic 119 and 110 are in my top few egros for a fixie and foldie respectively. Dig the steel/sheath options and would have been tempted ....... but for a bit more handle scale ; ( Yeah, you could make your own, especially since they're bolt on jobs, though that's something I reserve to make a budget fella good. Cheers Duke.
Buck is a rip off. Their prices are nuts. Finish on a lot of knives is as bad as BM. What's up with exposed tangs. It hurts with hard use. Buck all show and no go
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why did they not have the handle fully follow the blade shape. that exposed portion makes no sense.
So maybe this is a good place to ask this question. So this knife comes in these 3 flavors of steel and as you said budget, upgraded, and premium. But there is a big difference between the budget and the upgrades when it comes to price. It's not like there is less steel in the 420 version. Does magnacut and s35vn really cost that much more to produce or are we paying a desirability tax? I realize two are powdered steels so sure there is that. But when you have the same basic handles, sheaths, etc but the price changes by over $100 does 1% of, name your element, really make the price go up that much? It just feels like they should be a little closer. This has nothing to do with Buck because everyone does it but I just don't understand how the upgraded steel gets such an upgraded price.
That is a great question. I have some contacts in the industry and here is what I know. There are many factors.
one depending on quantity purchased but usually magnaCut is about a 1/3 more expensive then say cpm-3V.
Second will be the time it takes to heat treat the metal. Some metals can be heat treated a lot faster, and the process is really streamlined some take longer.
Third is grinding and sharpening as an example 420 HC is very easy to put a factory edge on it meaning less time per blade in the sharpeners hand and more blades can be sharpened on a belt before the belt needs to be replaced.
Fourth is handle materials how costly are the different handle materials not much but there is a factor there and how easy are they to either work or mold or shape?
And finally use sheath what does it cost to have a nylon sheath zone quickly versus a leather sheath to be cut out and sewn versus a kydex sheath to be molded printed and shaped.
This would be a great topic to do a video on so I might very soon but it honestly comes down to time is money and totally talking on my butt but let’s just say Buck can make one of the 420 HC models every five minutes and magna cut version every 20 minutes. Plus the extra amount of material cost and going through belts faster to put the edges on and so on. And finally, there’s probably a little bit of desirability, but that’s the last thing.
Bottom price could be import built.
NitroV , or 14C28N, would be a better choice for the medium grade version.
@@gideonstactical Well said Aaron !!!!! And I'd extrapolate that into one's own maintenance once you've got the thing, ........... or perhaps several more to deal with ; ) Cheers Duke.
The blade shapes and steel choices for Buck's Alpha series are spot on. Same with the handle material. I even like the look of these knives. Where they blew it for me is on the shape of the handle. It's just too skinny for me to get a comfortable grip. I'd pick up the small Scout model in S35VN if it just had a fuller handle. It would made for an awesome pocket carry EDC.
Agreed - that “weirdness in the middle” makes it a jack of all trades in my settings. I have both the Scout en Guide version of the Elite series. They are (too) expensive, dealing an uppercut around 260EUR a piece and there’s definitely room for improvement (factory edge, subtle rattle in the kydex, no dangler option and strange choice of jimping for the Guide), but they are carefree daily users and the thin profile makes for a great EDC (esp. Scout). I’m hoping for 3rd party aftermarket scales for the Guide so I can switch profiles depending on the needs and limitations. Thanks for the review!
I bought mine a couple of months ago. I absolutely love it.
Great video, Aaron.
Awesome! Thank you!
I like all my combat fighting knives with a handgaurd.
I like it. Been waiting for this review for a long time now.
Looks like an updated Kershaw skyline.
I like the look of this knife and get a little Al Mar vibe.. I do wish companies would make a more pronounced finger guard/quillon, either double or single. It would really help if your hands were bloody or wet or cold. I've got a Blackjack Skinner with a more pronounced finger guard that is an excellent design, and really makes an excellent grip.
Have the SOG Pillar, and I love it. Am interested in the buck, but I agree the scale should cover the finger slot for comfort. Constant use with the finger riding on the steel seems like it might create some finger wear. But the blade geometry on the buck is beautiful. If I go to a buck I think I will go magnacut.
I’d love to see you test out the svord 18th century trade knife. It’s affordable, thin and convex.
The budget version has me curious. 420hc from Bucks doesn't bother me. I've been beating my 110 to death at work since 2017 and I may finally have to send it in for a sharpening next spring.
As always, great video. In this design and after a lot of RUclipss and reading, I went with the Bradford Guardian 4.2 in Magnacut. Fantastic ergonomics and the size is effective for EDC. My main use cases are stripping bark from walking sticks and basic wood carving. The Bradford is too rounded to be good against sharpening steel. I have a different bush-crafting knife
Nice design.
Nice design. I do have the SOG pillar and I think the sheath is underrated.
It sure is!
You had me at "How the butt kinda feels" ROFL. Sorry, I'm watching this on a Monday morning and I need coffee...
The better version for me is the Tur from Fox Knives.
Buck must have sharpened that knife with eyes closed technique
That's a fighter. 🙂
I don't like that permanent finger choil. I have a bradford with it and just don't like it. I have their G 5.5 and that one is probably one of my most favorite knife I've ever had.
Great review Aaron , spot on 👍. Buck does some Weird stuff imo , they make some great designs but end up screwing them up somehow 🤦♂️ , that handle design is a big no no for Me , it looks thin and that steel choil with the half scale , I don't get it 🤷♂️ but Im not Military so Im sure some guys will like that just not Me .... 👍 🖖
I bought my 663 S35VN as my go to hunting knife. I like it. Buck, shame on you for your uneven grinds! On most of your knives. Its like you just do not care, and a reason I buy less of your knives.😮
Jarosz turok like blade with tapered grip.
I own the Pillar!
Awesome!!
Is it 100% USA made?
Not sure
just an idea, im in the military. 1ID 299th BSB. In the field I definitely prefer something less expensive and more maintainable in the field. I have two fixed blades I go to when im out working in the field. Gerber Downwind, super inexpensive well made and easy to maintain + corrosion resistant, and Buck 104 Compadre, 5160 spring steel with a coating and super easy to maintain, have never had to do more than ceramic even when ive nicked metal or rock.
Edit: buck also has a dedicated knife as a combat knife, called the ground combat. this alpha series was 100% built for hunting. Big differences between the two.
Thanks for the feedback
Im a huge Buck fan guy...but, not sure about this one.
Seems expensive
The 420hc version interests me. The nylon sheath is a problem . Buck should ditch the nylon sheath and use a molded sheath, doesn't have to be kydex.
Yeah, I think if they did a kayak sheath with the 420 HC at around the same price or molded polymer those would sell like hotcakes
This or the white river Ursus 45?
Well, for camping, the Ursus all day long. Again if you’re wanting some more aggressive applications, potentially the Ursus does not have a lot of good traction points for stabbing or aggressive slashing.
@@gideonstactical thx for ur input. The fit and finish on the ursus is 10/10. The buck seems to be around 6/10.
I don't like the handle. It looks like it was shrunk on the tang. The choil sticking down looks like a hot spot. Otherwise, I like the shape of the blade.
Oh, and leather sheaths for all... Buck 420 isn't terrible for the money. I'd always want a leather sheath regardless of the steel used in the blade.
The handle is actually deceptively comfortable
No, the 891 and 893 GCK knives (now discontinued) are way more battle capable .
I don't know if they were more capable but they were definitely very cool blades. I don't know why Buck discontinued them. I wish I bought another one.
@@erwannq because the grinds were too difficult on the old machinery.
@@demo2952 the blade grind? It's just a saber grind, I don't see the problem.
@@erwannq It was a big ask for the price point. Buck specializes in hollow grinds, not saber grinds
@@demo2952 too bad. They could have raised the price point, I think people would still buy it. As a matter of fact, the knife in this review costs nearly double the price of the GCK.
As you said, the big cutout from the scale is ... not good or optimal and needs to changed in the next version. Same reason i wouldn't buy it.
I do like the Alpha series, they all look very useful. Thanks for the video.
Glad you like them!
I have the Pilar for years. Underestimated knife. I would try this Buck in 420HC and put my own edge on it. Thanks for the video.
The feeling I've always (past 5-10yrs😂) gotten from Buck Knives is: you should buy our knife because...🤔...because we're Buck Knives, that's why.
There are so many great choices in knives available for much lower prices, I feel zero need to buy a Buck knife.
Too expensive. Sorry but there’s absolutely zero way to justify a knife costing $200. If Glock can manufacture the finest handgun in the world and retail it for $450 bucks than these knife companies should be able to make a high quality steel knife for less than $100. Modern polymer semi automatic handguns are made of high quality materials, can withstand the pressures of firing thousands of rounds and manage not to get a spec of rust on them ever and have moving parts not to mention the engineering cost.
Tell me you don’t know anything about knives without telling me you don’t know anything about knives.
The Bos heat treated 420HC will be a pretty high quality knife for less than $100. I'm still waiting to see this fabled finest handgun in the world made by Glock. They are OK at best.
Lol Glocks foreign made plastic
@@rando27enco tell me you have a felony and can’t buy a gun and so you buy expensive knives without telling me you have a felony and can’t buy a gun
@@isaacs_knives_and_knowledge I know you are not familiar with carrying a pistol, if you were you would know that guns that are not made from “foreign made plastic” are too heavy. I know you’ll respond with some bullshit lie about carrying a 1911.
I don’t believe in a combat knife, any sharp edge is a combat knife imho. The stabbyness of the knife makes little difference in my opinion and I’d rather have a bushcraft knife that can field dress game and make fire/shelter etc than the pointy break the tip type but that’s jmo, doesn’t make me right.
G'day mate, well just about any sharp edge, or blunt object for that matter, can do for a weapon, but fair enough, I get what you mean ; )
Personally, I'm a strong advocate of pairing a primary and secondary blade on the trail for versatility i.e. a big fella for grunt, and a smaller fella for finer tasks, and admittedly I do always take a folding saw as well.
A bit extra weight is well worth it IMO, and on the belt .... "seems" way less ; )
Though within "pairing" one needs to be able to take on the role of the other in a pinch. So yep, with ya, too small/fine/pointy can be a distinct negative for a secondary blade. I s'pose it comes down to what is "too" pointy/fragile. Yeah lotta variables, but as a general rule, I reckon the secondary needs to baton at least 3-4 in. timber without fear, with and across the grain. I test all cutting tools at least to that extent, usually more ; ) on the toughest Aussie hardwood I can find, (Redgum is baseline, not the hardest in the world, but certainly up there), main thing is ................. at home, before taking any out in the sticks. Cheers Duke.
@@eyeofthetiger4184 I live in upstate New York and I have hardwood here as well (not as hard as red gum) and it puts a beating on my edges. I agree with you on the pairing. I prefer my silky saws, 4”-5” bushcraft blade, SAK and an Izula. I have nothing against fighting knives but I think they are best suited for military use. Cheers 🍻 mate 🇦🇺 🇺🇸
@@richroc7 Fair enough mate, main thing is, glad to hear you've got options. The one tool philosophy aint a good one IMO.
Thats ok, whatever your hardest wood is, test them on that; i.e. that's gonna be the worst you'll encounter locally out bush.
Yep I'm a Silky fan too, mind you, the ol' Laplander still gets a gig.
The Izula rings a bell, ...... without looking it up, a relatively small utility blade from memory ?
I do like to carry a SAK occasionally, mainly for carving by campfire, I do the Ranger 78,
1. biggest there is to my knowledge, I've got L to XL hands and
2. best multitool saw I've found, (though should be locking), + a decent awl.
Hava a good one. Cheers Duke.
@@eyeofthetiger4184 agree mate XL hands myself and tbh I just got the 78 a few months ago and I love it but I still lug around the Swiss Champ for the extra tools. I have no qualms about the Laplander but my wife will shoot me if I buy another saw (if I get another it’ll be the Laplander 😆). I just found out about another saw that uses replaceable sawzall blades made by Warder and it’s around the same price at $35 USD on amazon. I definitely believe in bringing multiple blades with me outdoors in case one is damaged or whatever and ofc some tools are better suited for certain situations and tasks. Cheers 🍻 👊🏼
@@richroc7 Lets not get you shot mate ; ) btw, do you carry a sharprner of some description ?
Buck for the win !! Nice tool.
I think the white river ursus line is a great comparison
It’s a hunting knife case closed . If your going on deployment and need a reliable fixed blade get a Strongarm and don’t look back .
Just buy a Mora Robust for $15
I've been the fence about this Buck since it came out.
G'day Aaron, fair to say, a "bushcrafter" is generally considered a fairly stout scandi, somewhere in the 4-6 in. range, and thats fine, I have a few myself, all good.
However, I reckon many "tactical" jobs are better again as bushcrafters. Yep, the Pillar, (great to see S35 on that one btw), or Steel Will's 102, 800 and 900 as examples of what I have.
So, I do like the design concept of this one, but yeah they dropped the ball on ergos by the looks. Which I find very strange from Buck, the classic 119 and 110 are in my top few egros for a fixie and foldie respectively.
Dig the steel/sheath options and would have been tempted ....... but for a bit more handle scale ; (
Yeah, you could make your own, especially since they're bolt on jobs, though that's something I reserve to make a budget fella good.
Cheers Duke.
Buck is a rip off. Their prices are nuts. Finish on a lot of knives is as bad as BM. What's up with exposed tangs. It hurts with hard use. Buck all show and no go
not worth the money too expensive
Way to expansive for what you getting 😅 ESEE or Tops are better choises with that amount of money
Dumb design with the scales.
Generic. Looks like every other knife. Forge your own knives, you will respect yourself in the morning.
Forge On!!!