All About Pocket Knives

I have been slowly accumulating different variations of the 100 series of fixed blade Buck Knives - the traditional hunter's and outdoorsman's Buck Knife (and,at least in my mind, what a fixed blade knife should look like). It has been awhile since I had them out together, Saturday afternoon was overcast with some bright light, good for pictures, so I started hauling them outside. Here are some of my Buck knives in different pairings. OH

The first Buck fixed blade I ever owned was this standard, black handled Buck 105 Pathfinder; bought it when I was a Second Lieutenant stationed at APG MD - it was my field knife for much of my ARNG career. It is paired with a newer Buck 105, a special run with a bone handle, exclusive to Bass Pro Shops.

Next up is the Buck 118 Personal, my favorite deer hunters knife. I have variations that were made with the three standard production steels Buck has used over the last 55 or more years, 440C, 425MOD, and 420HC, as well as the latest SFO steel, 5160. I still need one made of D-2 and I think there is another SFO that was made in S30V. OH

I have read that the Buck 119 Special has long been Buck's best selling fixed blade knife. You can see why by looking at the lines - it is visually perfect - it just looks right. Whether it looks cool, tough, or wicked is in the mind of the beholder but the cool factor is undeniable. OH

The Buck 120 General sports the longest blade of any of the 100 series knives, it is essentially an elongated Buck 119. The Stag handled version was a short run by Buck in 1981. OH

The Buck 124 Frontiersman is the heaviest bladed knife in the 100 series, but not the longest (that distinction belongs to the 120). The earlier handles are a little more rounded than the current ones, which feel slightly blocky in the hand. The difference is subtle, but obvious when the knives are handled. This knife just oozes cool - it's the knife Crocodile Dundee probably wished he owned! OH

These two Buck's are paired together because they are rather specialized; the Buck 116 Caper is designed to aid the hunter in caping a hide - removing it from around the deer's head, eyes, and antlers - a delicate job when preserving a hide for the taxidermist. The Buck 103 Skinner is built to do just what the name implies, it's the perfect knife for skinning a game animal without puncturing the hide - this one was a gift from Philco here at AAPK several years ago - one of the nicest gestures I've received - it's my only Buck 103. OH

I paired these two because they both have fish cleaning inherent in the designs. The Buck 102 Woodsman is based on the vintage Bird & Trout knives made by many old US knife makers in the past. It would make a good freshwater fishing knife - but all I've ever used it for have been ducks - it is a perfect duck breasting knife. The older Buck 121 Fisherman (like this one) has a thin and flexible blade for filleting bigger fish - like Wahoo and Tuna. I've used it to breast a wild turkey too - the flexibility of the thin blade helps when working down from the breastbone and trying to get all the meat. OH

OH you are the guy that Bud was describing in his knife addiction video. Awesome display of Bucks.

I have one more 100 series knife, the Buck 113 Ranger. I don't consider it a member of the same family as the rest of the 100 series; the handle is too different. It is like a cross between the 112 Ranger lockback and a fixed blade knife. I like the looks of it, but find the grip to be too small for comfort when skinning deer and the blade a little short and wide to use for butchering. I leave it in my turkey bag as a back-up knife to my Buck 112 Ranger lockback. OH

That concludes my tour of my 100 series collection. I guess you could say I like them - but I also use them when hunting - except for the big ones - they are good woods knives but a little big for whitetail - if I ever shoot a moose or an elk I'll give them a run. OH

Greg, not sure what video I'm in - don't ever recall getting an acting call! Thanks, I really find I like the Buck fixed blades more and more - sort of been narrowing my knife collecting focus recently. OH

I'm sorry, it wasn't a video it was a list. The ten symptoms of knife addiction. Those Bucks really are spellbounding. Clean, classic lines and all of yours loo so perfect even the one you used for so long. Outstanding!

It was a lot of fun looking at your nice collection, OH.
Thanks for the show.

Thank you FRJ! Well, you got me on that Greg; I've definitely got a knife collection drive that can be hard to control at times (like most of the regulars at AAPK). As to my knives being in such good shape; first, I won't buy an abused knife. I've always used what I own as needed, but I'm careful with my stuff (guns, hand tools, knives, etc.) and try to not put unnecessary wear on stuff nor ever abuse them (knife as a pry bar, etc.) That said, I've recently discovered what ultra fine grades of sand paper will do to restore a blade of the heavier scratches (JerryD and Dogg have let me know where to find it and what grits to use). Careful camera angles will help blade imperfections disappear in a photo as well. Of course some of those knives are unused too. OH

Wow!! Those are some really nice Bucks!! That got me thinking about my own Buck 102 Woodsman I bought back the late 70's. I'll have to dig that out and take a look.

Thanks for sharing OH!!

_________
Mike

nice show OH

OH thank you for taking the time post pictures of your Buck 100's and for including the narrative about the knives. I am grateful to see the beautiful knives and learn something, too. These are classic knives that are appealing to look at and I'm sure fit for purpose.

Thanks again gents for the compliments - my pleasure in showing off! OH

OH,
I concur with the others, here. Great collection of 100 series Bucks!
I enjoyed reading your commentary, as well. Now, I feel just a bit more educated for my next pawn shop quest... A stag handled example, you say? Hmmmm.
Thanks for sharing!
-Bill