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Buck fixed blade handles

CVamberbonehead

CVamberbonehead

Gold Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2017
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2,108
I have a question, and I figure that you fine folks in the Buck subforum are the people to ask. So, I used to have a Buck 119 that I used on a trapline and I liked the knife. The issue was that it too chunky and the handle was so square! It actually hurt to cut trap stakes because of that awful square chunk of a handle. I sold it to end the torture. lol Now I have a hankering for a smaller Buck knife that might be more practical. I want something stainless and water resistant for going fishing and rafting with summer approaching.
After I sold it, I found out about the Buck 102. My father in law has one (but lives across the country from me), and it seems like a practical knife. Its been a long time since Ive seen or held one though so I dont know if the handle is blocky like my old 119. I also like the looks of the Buck 105 (ALOT:cool::Dthats a good looking knife, and just the right size for me in theory).
My question is, would either of these knives have a chunky square handle? How do they feel in use? They look a bit square but Im wondering if the smaller handles will be more comfortable since they dont resemble a phenolic 2x4. lol In particular, the 105 worries me. How much smaller is it than a 119? I dont mind a squarish handle in a smaller knife like a trapper or other pocketknife, but a chunky square handle just cuts into my (glove size: Large) hands.:(
Im sorry for the wall of text here, but I couldnt find anything talking about the handles. Just a few knife comparisons that didnt say much about the handles. Thanks for reading all this! :)

P.S. Bonus question: How do the Buck leather sheaths hold up to water? I take good care of my leather sheaths but Ive never used one where it could get dunked like on a rafting trip. My old 119 sheath was fine, but it never got really soaked (just some rain/snow). Is that black coloring a waterproofing treatment or just dye? Help me!!!:confused:
 
The best way is to go to a B&M and handle the 102 and 105 (I have all three) The blades are thinner and shorter , will they do the job you need? That's the biggest question.
I prefer the 4" class of fixed blade and the 102 is an extension of my hand, and the 105 is slightly larger in the handle and slices brisket nicely. ( I use a filet knife for thinner slices there)
Now to the bonus round.. prob sno coat or bees wax or something else you know of will help with the water proofing. Me? I gonna find a nylon sheath of some sort .
Not much new here but I hope it's a start.
 
A 105 is relatively smaller than a 119 it should fit in your hand better. A 102 is relatively smaller than a 105. The sheaths are dyed...
 
If you felt the 119 handle was blocky, the bad news is that I don't believe the handle shape has changed much at all over the last 3/4 century.

There are other options though. I have a 118 in my hunting pack, always. The handle is slightly leaner than the 119, but generally the same shape.

Like sassafrassdogs sassafrassdogs said. Best bet is to find a shop that has them in stock and try them all out.

I'm sure one of the nice folks here will post one of the many side-by-side comparison photos here as well.
 
CVamberbonehead said:
The issue was that it too chunky and the handle was so square! It actually hurt to cut trap stakes because of that awful square chunk of a handle.
Click to expand...

I apologize for parsing your post but these are the two sentences that throw me off.

The handle of the 119 is large but it's round and smooth not square at all.

Are you sure you didn't own a 124 Frontiersman? Now the handle on that knife is chunky and square.
 
sportingspecialist said:
I apologize for parsing your post but these are the two sentences that throw me off.

The handle of the 119 is large but it's round and smooth not square at all.

Are you sure you didn't own a 124 Frontiersman? Now the handle on that knife is chunky and square.
Click to expand...
Youre fine.
No it was a 119. I picked it up because it was lost on the bottom of the Walmart knife case and they had 119s with new packaging, so they marked it down to $20. I couldnt resist. I think the 124 looks cool, but yeah that is one super blocky handle!!! :eek: Plus theyre so expensive, and I dont have safe queens so Ive never bought one.....
My 119 was square, kind of rounded on the edges yes, but it still dug into me. Especially cutting stakes, since I would lightly chop points on them and chop the edges to chamfer the end I would hammer on. It felt like holding a board and whacking it on the ground. Not pleasant. Im a wimp, so I dont want to deal with that again.:D lol
 
Yes that’s what I was thinking it was maybe a 124 which also is a full exposed tang with a slab on each side of the handle. I had to round the corners off my 124 near the guard to make it usable. All the 119 I’ve ever seen were round handles and very comfortable to use. I have a 2019 model that is so nice in the hand. You might also consider the model 117 small special that has a 4.5 inch blade. I really like the size.
 
OK. Then if your handy with a belt grinder you can modify a 119 into something that suits you better.

Like these:

131030.jpg

131032.jpg

131033.jpg
 
Rather than a belt grinder which not everyone has, can afford, or has a place to set it up, I was going to suggest modifying the handle with a file and sand paper if you didn't like it in hand.
Files are fairly inexpensive if you don't have one, can be used almost anywhere, and take up almost no room in a drawer when not in use.

If you have any in your area, check out the pawnshops. Sometimes they have good deal(s) on decent worth owning fixed blades.
I found a 119 and a Western L66 for good prices at one of them here. (still no luck finding a new or used Buck 103 locally though.)

Admittedly, I found the 119 "wrong" for my then, and current needs. Don't get me wrong. The 119 is a fine knife. I just don't need a blade that long, for one thing. I never carried or used my 119, so I traded it for a pair of broken in restored/rebuilt boots (worth roughly twice what the 119 sells for new) I "needed worse" or "needed more", whichever term you prefer, over at the local boot/shoe/saddle repair leather works shop. (sadly, the owner and only guy that worked there died unexpectedly of a heart attack or stroke last summer or fall. :( Worse, I think his was the only such shop with-in several states. The closest one may be in Texas or New Mexico now. Not a lot of help when you stuck in Idaho.)
 
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CV, Should be lots of folks to give you their opinion this weekend. There should be several, if not a bunch of knives that will fill the bill. There are several folks who hunt, camp and trap using a medium size Buck straight knife. It sounds like you need a knife but would appreciate just enough handle size to whack a piece of wood into shape. You might go to the Buck website and look over the knives that look and measure just shy of the 119. There are several. Some of you straight knife guys show some photos of you knives in action.
300Bucks
 
300Bucks said:
CV, Should be lots of folks to give you their opinion this weekend. There should be several, if not a bunch of knives that will fill the bill. There are several folks who hunt, camp and trap using a medium size Buck straight knife. It sounds like you need a knife but would appreciate just enough handle size to whack a piece of wood into shape. You might go to the Buck website and look over the knives that look and measure just shy of the 119. There are several. Some of you straight knife guys show some photos of you knives in action.
300Bucks
Click to expand...
Yes, some action shots/usage reports would be great! Those of you who have 105s or 118s (or 117s), how do they work out for you?
 
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I really like my 117. Handle size is comfortable, and blade length is useful. My OL likes to sneak it to the kitchen with her, too. The 119 is a fine knife. I own several in several steels/handle materials. They are big. Not “too big” for me, I like them just fine. But “one step down” might suit you better. :thumbsup:
 
sportingspecialist said:
OK. Then if your handy with a belt grinder you can modify a 119 into something that suits you better.

Like these:

131030.jpg

131032.jpg

131033.jpg
Click to expand...

I’ve always liked those. Thanks for sharing :thumbsup:

But what if a person isn’t that handy with the belt grinder? :p:D:rolleyes:;)
 
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