All About Pocket Knives

Got a new buck 119 in the mail. Passed up the 120 and the smaller ones, figured this would be the right size for a week expedition in southern Ohio. Hope I didn't make a mistake by not getting the case hunter fixed blade instead, I'll post some pics and we'll see how I did! You guys have any input on the 119 vs case fixed blades?

Other than being rock solid and holding a great edge through extended use, easy cleanup of the phenolic handle and stainless steel blades, and sleek appearance, there's really not a lot to love about that Buck 119 except the affordable price and the fact that it is an American made product................




Phil

love the 119 classic hunter, enjoy it

Good Choice!!!! I have always used my 119 over any fixed blade Case had to offer. Case makes a nice knife and chances are you will make money when you sell it but my 119 has never failed me in the field. It's nothing fancy just a hard working American made tool.
wazu013

I also opted for the Buck 119 over the 120 felt more useable for hunting but I defineatly like my Schrade158ot better

i like the angles of the 158 but for my use a gut hook isn't practical. I got these to go with the 119 on the trip. Don't know how the Summit folder is gonna be, but the 480 looks solid.






the summit was "designed" as a climber's knife. Why on earth would a climber need a corkscrew? I thought they took champagne to the top of Everest, not wine What I do like about the Summit is the studs on everything instead of regular pulls !

Is the Summit made in USA? I always climb with a bottle of vino

Yeah the summit is made in USA, but the 480 isn't. I didn't realize it wasn't until after i Bid on it but it looks pretty decent for what I paid for it!

I got the summit for under 10 with shippin on Ebay. It's MSP is like 50 but they sell it for 29 on some online stores. Ebay looks like best bet for that. I was the only bidder

finally got the 119. being a machinist, i look at things carefully, but it wouldn't take a machinist to see that buck messed up on this knife. the blood groove has OBVIOUS tooling marks. the overall fit and finish of the knife and sheath is A+, except for the blood groove. Really disappointing to hear so many great things about these knives and then have the first one I buy come up short. At least its gonna be a user!

Anyone else here with a 119 have tooling marks in their blood groove?

users spend money too looks like a china send it back,I wouldn't stand for that

If it annoys you, send it back, but . . .

. . . if you got it from a general outfitter (Cabela's for example), send it back to Buck. Get a tracking number, follow the tracking number, follow up with an email to make sure they got it, then make sure you get a replacement back in a reasonable amount of time.

. . . if you got it from a real-live-sho'-nuff knife dealer, send it back to them, explain why you are returning it, and let them deal with Buck.

Pretty much the same things we should be doing anytime there's a problem with a knife.

Jim

All 3 of my 119's are like this,i am a machinist as well.Yours look like tool marks to me but mine look like they are rough from drop forging.

The top knife is a 2007 Buck General 120 and the bottom one is a 1999 Buck 119. The 119 has what I would call normal unpolished stainless steel striations while the 120 has machine marks. Do they bother me? Not really.

it's definitely like your 120. weird Buck would let this kinda stuff happen on their knives.

I think as a machinist, you can understand the economics of it. The time and effort to polish out that fuller would have increased the cost of the knife and at the same time added nothing to the function. Not a good business decision when American makers are struggling to stay afloat. Even some of the mega-buck Randalls occasionally have some small finish issues if you look closely enough. For less than $50 you got a heck of a knife and a mighty fine user that will stand up to just about anything you throw at it. Plus, it will last the rest of your life if well taken care of.

IMO, good choice.

I see Buck knives as good affordable tools, and I think they were made more for that purpose than as works of art. As Jerry said, machine marks in the fuller have no effect on the knife's performance...the part of the fuller that serves the function is the part that has been removed. By today's standards, 119s are a inexpensive, functional knife that has stood the test of time. Buck could probably polish up the fullers and still keep the price low if they have them made in China. I'd rather they keep them here.