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Is Buck still considered among the better non-custom factory made fixed blade hunting knives? Something along lines of a 105. Is quality any better with older Bucks or is current production as good. Opinions appreciated. Want to stay under $100. Thx.

yes quality of the old buck knives was much better

Could you help with dates of best production to look for? Pre 19??. Thx

Even back then their blades were made from 420C stainless steel, heat treated very hard to make up for the lack of carbon in comparison to 44C. Never cared for them really.

Other suggestions?

I have a bunch of Bucks. Their blade steel was 440C up until 1986. Then they switched to 425M and stayed with it through 1993. In 94 they switched to 420HC. Any of them are darn good factory knives that are hard to beat for the price. I like the 420HC blades of todays knives just fine. Extremely easy to put a scary sharp razor edge on them and they'll hold it reasonably long. The old 440C blades are harder to sharpen but hold an edge maybe 20% longer IME. The 425M blades are so close to the 420HC that it's hard to tell much difference but I'd say the 420HC holds an edge a hair better. There are many special edition Bucks out there now with better quality steel. The 105 is available now with S30V blade steel and red micarta handle for about 115.00 if you do a google search you should find it.

Thanks for the good info.

I have a bunch of them as well and feel like they give good service, especially for the price. I like the ergos, weight, and styling of the fixed blade line, and they are very hard to beat at the prices you can get them for.

You can also get some made of 5160 and D2.

Their custom shop will let you choose S30V on some models

I think that they are the among the best of the department store knives. 420HC is considered "low end" steel today but I have read on knife nut forums that Buck heat treats 420 better than anyone else. I tend to agree. I will give you a real world example of how mine performed that surprised me a little. Last season, I killed two doe whitetails in one evening. My 110 was nice and sharp when I started on them, it would cleanly slice newspaper which is sort of my litmus test for sharpness, and it would shave. Anyway, I dressed, skinned and quartered both animals with the knife which included cutting through the sternum but I cut the feet and heads off with a saw.....never have taken the time to learn the trick about cutting legs off at the joint with a knife. After the first deer, the knife would still still attempt to shave arm hair....sort of dragging on it, but certainly no longer "popping it". After the second deer, it was in need of some TLC as it was getting dull enough to be noticeable but it was certainly still cutting. That is not bad for a knife that can be had at wally world for $40

Before I went out again, probably 8 to 10 minutes on my Arkansas stones and the knife ready to go....and that was taking some pains about the process. As Blackheart said, they are very easy to re-sharpen with most any kind of abrasive which I like. So, I really don't see how you go wrong for the price point and lifetime warranty, considering what some knives cost these days. Also, for $100ish you should be able to find one with higher end steel if you want to go that route.

I have three purchased around 1970 and they are tough to sharpen. A diamond stone helps.

Edgeholding is somewhat balanced between wear resistance, chipping, or rolling.

Buck tries to balance those with price. And does a great job.
Not counting their better steel knives, they will dull a little faster than some customs.
Is that a big deal, not for me. I can do everything I need to a deer or elk without needing to sharpen.
Moose might change things. But, I could resharpen in minutes, something you probably cant do with super-steels.

If your buddies are higher end equipment snobs, Buck will leave you in the rear. But probably not scorned. (Unless they are pricks)
If they are good ol' boys, one of the prettier Bucks will make you top dog.

We use Case, Buck, old Scharade, mostly. Have some Spyderco, don't even mention it to most, they don't know it. And they would think me a snob/fool.
It all works!

Go to the Buck Custom Shop and build your own knife choosing the materials you want.

Stag 110 with nickel bolsters and BG42 steel...


Buffalo 110 with nickel bolsters and BG42 steel...

Get a Buck Vanguard, if you want a better steel get the Alaskan S30V.

I prefer the older Bucks pre 80’

Cabelas has several Alaskan Guide series Buck knives that are available in S30v for a little either side of $100. I have one, but honestly it is not near the knife a Benchmade my wife got for me with the same blade metal is. Not even close. I'm not sure Buck has gotten the S30v quite figured out yet. You might consider a Cold Steel (check out the Pendleton Hunter) or Morakniv. The Bucks with 420HC aren't bad for the price, but there are options which might meet your needs a little more closely. Our Buck 119 used to be our main go to deer skinning and processing knife. Now it has taken a back seat to the Benchmade. Got a couple new ones we're looking forward to trying this fall.

The 420HC...

Is S30V that much better?

There has probably been millions of deer and other big game animals cut up with Buck knives, they'll work just fine. Some may hold an edge longer but they'll be harder to sharpen, there's always a trade off.