Buck 119 Review Of A 31 Year Old Knife
This Buck 119 review is of my 31-year-old knife. The Buck 119 is a cult classic hunters/outdoors knife. It is one of the best mid-range knives on the market.
I got this knife from my father for my birthday. It is engraved and for the first couple of years, it was so precious to me that I didn’t use it at all. I sharpened it, oiled the sheath, and just enjoyed owning it. But when my dad took me out hunting and we put the knife to the test. This baby shined. And it quickly became my go-to knife for everything outdoorsy.
It is surprisingly nimble to use for delicate tasks while being sturdy enough for my camping needs. I have dressed big game, and small game, cleaned fish, camp prepped, set traps, and used the Buck to feather stick.
Buck 119 History
Hoyt Buck started his knife-making career as an apprentice to a Kansas blacksmith, in 1902 he handmade his first knife from an old metal file.
And in 1942 after 40 years of perfecting his craft. Hoyt Buck came up with the Buck 119 fixed-blade hunting knife. But it wasn’t until WW2 that Buck knives became all the rage.
[If you want to know how old your Buck Knife is Click on How Old Is My Knife?
Through the years Buck has supplied men and boys with the most important outdoor tool. A good reliable knife. Their two most iconic knives are the Buck 119 fixed blade knife and their 110 Folding Hunter Pocket Knife. Both are classics that even in today’s world where there is a plethora of knives on the market. These two models are still popular and as relevant today as they were 40 years ago.
Buck 119 Specifications
Blade: 420HC Stainless Steel with a satin finish
Shape: Clip point tip
Hardness: Rockwell RC 58
Length: Blade Length 6”
Total Length: Length from tip to pommel 10 1/2”
Blade Thickness: 0.175”
Weight: 7.5 ounces
Handle material: phenolic
Pommel and guard: Aluminum
Sheath: Leather
Knife made in the USA
The sheath is genuine leather (imported)
Suitable for outdoor use such as camping, hunting, bushcraft, fishing, etc.
It comes with Bucks Forever Warranty.
Buck 119 Review
The Buck was designed before bush crafting became popular. This means that the Buck 119 is not designed for batoning or wood carving. It is primarily designed as an outdoor knife. It is not a specialized knife, it is not a fileting knife, skinning knife, or a wood carving knife. it is a versatile knife that was designed to be able to handle the most common tasks that a person in the outdoors would require of a knife.
Dressing Game
The tip of the 119 does great at piercing games hides and skinning. The fine clip-point tip gives a lot of control when dressing game. Although not as strong as a drop point, it can be used to drill holes in leather or wood.
I have used the Buck 119 to carve wood to set simple traps, skin game, and gut fish. To build makeshift shelters, carve feather sticks, and prep food while camping.
First Impression Of The Buck 119
Aesthetics
It looks great, has a bowie knife design, and has a classy leather sheath. Nice satin blade with black handle and silver pommel and guard. Not only is this knife utilitarian but also beautiful. The fit and finish are as usual with any product made by Buck TOP grade.
Ergonomics
When I first got my Buck, I expected the knife to be slippery when wet, but I was pleasantly surprised to be that is not the case. Even though the phenolic handle is smooth. The ergonomics of the handle, the pommel shape, and the blade guard make this knife safe to use when wet or bloody.
As for the guard, well for those who are used to choking up on a blade, the guard makes that impossible. There is a small choil on the blade, but sadly it is too small to be used. My guess is it is there for ease of sharpening and was never intended to be used as a finger choil.
Leather Sheath
The sheath is amazing, for a knife of this price, the sheath is exceptional. I was very lucky as I got the older model sheath. Which in my opinion is better and more solidly built than the newer model. But the newer model sheath is pretty danged good too.
Knife Edge
The knife edge out of the box is above average. It holds an edge well (I did not need to touch up the blade while dressing a wild boar). After the boar was dressed, the meat was portioned amongst us. I touched up the blade with a small Arkansas stone, it only took a few minutes and the blade was as good as new.
Yes, it is a 420HC steel, but somehow, it performs much better. I have heard this is due to the heat treatment. Whatever the reason. The steel performs much better than other brand 420HC steel knives I have tested.
Conclusion:
This Buck 119 review is of a knife that I have owned for 31 years. It has served me well, even though I now use another knife for bushcrafting. This is still my go-to knife for when I go hunting or fishing.
For decades the 119 has been carried by hunters and those venturing outdoors, the design has barely changed over the years. Which makes sense as the design is perfect for its intended use.
It is a knife designed for outdoorsmen. Durable, holds an edge relatively well, and yet is easy to sharpen. Nimble in the hands, long enough to butcher large game. And yet short enough to be able to dress birds and filet fish.
If you are looking for a classic American-made outdoors and hunting knife. Then The Buck 119 is the knife.
Buck 119 For Bushcrafting
This is NOT a chopper or a bushcraft knife, bushcraft knives are designed for cutting wood and batoning. Although I have used it as a survival knife in the past and carved wood, whittled, and even chopped with it. That was long before I had ever heard of bushcrafting and bought a bushcraft knife. If you are looking for a bushcraft knife, then I recommend having a look at a Mora or Esee. Both of these are designed more for bushcrafting than hunting.
