Buck Knives - Do You Need One?

There is probably not an outdoors enthusiast who has not heard of Buck Knives. One doesn’t have to be a hunter to have a need for a quality knife. Everyone from surfers to joggers should be carrying a quality knife where it is legal to do so, and for most folks who think of getting their first knife or giving one away as a gift, they think Buck Knives first.

The company has been around a long time. Great grandpa probably owned a Buck knife. They have a long standing reputation for producing good hunting knives for those on a budget. Many of the knives available from Buck are now imports that are made in other countries. This should not be a surprise since many knife manufacturers produce knives that are now manufactured in other countries. Quality can vary greatly with imported knives and it depends on the specifications set forth by the company having the knives made. A ten dollar knife is a ten dollar knife. Do not expect superior quality from a knife sold at a low price point.

Typically for standard use by civilians for day to day cutting tasks a knife at 40 dollars or higher will be sufficient. Hunting knives of reasonable quality approach the 80 to 100 dollar range for a good knife. Price is not the final judging point of what is and what isn’t a good knife, but knives for tactical use that could be self-defense to survival to hunting uses usually are over a hundred dollars.

Knife prices can approach the ridiculous when they include features such as gold inlay or handles crafted from exotic woods or other substances. These types of features are never a benefit on a knife that may be used to save a life whether that saving is through cutting a seatbelt or from using the knife as a weapon. For a knife that will be used day in and day out for all cutting tasks durability and edge retention should be paramount. Most day to day knives are made of stainless steel that resists corrosion even when the owner is neglectful of their care.

Buck Knives like other manufacturers has knives for all kinds of different purposes at all price ranges. The fact of whether or not a Buck knife is made in the U.S.A. is fully disclosed by the company. All of the knives manufactured in the United States will be pricier than the foreign import models. Manufacturing in the U.S. is more costly. Other countries can do it cheaper but not necessarily better. Many production technologies are readily available to U.S. companies that might not be found in some foreign manufacturing facilities. Typically labor is more highly trained and compensated in the U.S. as well.

Buck Knives continue their long tradition of making a line of superb quality U.S. manufactured knives, but the price is higher. Consumers can opt for an import that is still considered a great knife designed by the Buck company for a lower price because it was made and put together overseas. It comes down to a matter of need and budget. A knife may never be relied on to do more than open an occasional box arriving through the mail or to slice open envelopes containing utility bills and the ever present junk mail. A 30 or 40 dollar knife would last several lifetimes for such use. If there is a need to have a knife that is designed specifically for rough use and needs to be relied on by people who could find themselves in a serious jam on a moment’s notice, it is a good idea to stick with a good U.S. made Buck knife.

When deciding on whether or not a Buck knife is really needed or not, consider what it will be used for first. Then consider how well the knife will be cared for. Consider whether or not there may be a tendency to use the knife in an abusive manner such as using it as a screwdriver or mini pry bar. Everyone should own and carry at least a little pocket knife where it is legal to do so, but a pricier special use knife may not be necessary. If it is, be sure to always go for quality.