Buck Nighthawk Quality

M

murph50

Joined
Jul 18, 2006
Messages
3
Hi all
I'm new here--just found this forum yesterday--very impressive.
I have been looking for a good solid all around fixed blade for quite awhile. Many have reccomended the Buck 119--so I picked one up today.
While checking knives in a store last week I saw the Buck Nighthawk. Looked impressive and sturdy. Some folks on another forum said this knife was ok. I went through this forum today and found some real mixed reviews on this knife.
At any rate --I bought one today also. The knife seems to be ok but the sheath is like the kind you would get with a cheapo blade. Is the quality of this knife in direct proportion to the sheath it comes with? If this knife is good quality why is the sheath such a POS?
I paid $46 for this knife and at this point I'm thinking of taking it back and getting something else. Basically--what I'm asking --is this knife worth it? Do I need to go out and buy a good sheath to protect my investment or should I just get something else?
BTW the 119 is real nice and the sheath is great.
What's the deal here?
Thanks
Jack
 
Welcome murph. I have both and use the 119 for a knife, while the nighthawk I use for cave and mine exploration more poke, pry and things I would never do to my 119. Blade is very thick at the edge, I have sent mine back to Buck for re profiling and seems better. As for the sheath it is part of the reason I bought it, we get real muddy underground, just rinse and in to the washer. Try that with leather. Stockdog
 
hello Murph, i have a nighthawk that i keep in my car trunk/BOB.. i think it's a great knive and i had to pay aroun $70 for it (i'm in Panama).

I have the same opinion as you about the sheath. I am considering one sheath sold at the blackhawk website, it's kind of expensive, but looks great.. it has a pocket for a victorinox/leatherman multitool.

I have taken my nighthawk camping and hiking, haven't received much use (yet), but i would'nt mind using it to chop/baton, etc.

About the sheath: the times i have gone hiking with it, it has taken a lot of mud, water, rain, etc. in the car, it collides with some metal stuff i have in a box in the trunk, so the nylon gets a lot of abuse.. i don't mind, since it's a cheap nylon sheath.. but i think i would be more concerned if it was a really nice leather sheath.

I have also noticed some individuals that sell kydex sheaths on the internet, you can ask them to make you a cool kydex sheath for your Nighhawk.

About the mixed reviews found on the internet: remember, i am not a navy seal, nor a swat member, nor special forces, nor a firefighter, etc. I use the knive to cut things, and it works great at that.

Hope my comments helped you.
 
Not my typical forum, but I saw this thread on the main page, and I actually have this knife, so I thought I'd comment on it.

Buck Nighthawk was the first knife I bought(back in 96 I believe, but I'll have to check the blade to be sure) and being the first knife, it's been abused like crazy.

That poor Nighthawk has endured chopping wood, pvc pipe, large gourds, and pretty much anything I could get my hands on to cut(I was young and stupid, now I'm just stupid;) ) I cut wires with it, pried with it, tried to learn how to throw it and get it to actually stick(didn't work well) dropped it on concrete, and pretty much anything you could possibly imagine.

Did it dull? Of course it did. Did it chip or break? Nothing more than minor chipping. Nylon sheath is still going strong after ten years, and the coating still looks relatively good(considering what it's been through). It's been resharpened countless times(once or twice with a file when I didn't know how to sharpen).

Short answer, it's a great knife, especially for the price. Great value. Keep it and use for a while, you'll see.

Here's a pic of mine, just for fun.

100_0109.jpg


Welcome to the forum.:thumbup:
 
the nighthawk is a very good knife but the sheath is poo. when i get another one I think i'm going to look up NORMARK on this forum and get him to make a kydex sheath for it. the nighthawk is pretty tough. later,ahgar
 
I have both the Nighthawk and the 119. I actually prefer the Nighthawk out in the field. Both knives use 420HC. The 119 sheath being leather is nicer. The Nighthawk is easier to hold and the blade is quite thick. I keep the 119 for show and the Nighthawk for work.

As I understand it Buck made a proto-type for the Navy Seals, but another company got the bid, so Buck decided to bring out the knife for the consumer after they had already made it.
 
murph50 said:
....at this point I'm thinking of taking it back and getting something else. Basically--what I'm asking --is this knife worth it?
Click to expand...

The Nighthawk's an inexpensive, no-nonsense field/utility knife. Takes a good edge, holds it reasonably well in my experience and re-sharpens easily for me in the field. Don't let the "steel snobs" here stampede you into taking it back. You can get a lemon now and then in any knife, and largely you get what you pay for. But for the money it cost you, the Nighthawk gives good service and should for years to come.
 
Hello!
I have 119 and nighthawk.
119 is great for hunting and cleaning game! Love the leather sheath.
The nighthawk is a great knife for the money! I would almost say indectructible!!! The nylon sheath is PERFECT for the application it is designed for! It really isnt made to look pretty. Durability and usefullness! See what the leather sheath looks like when used as a outdoors survival knife.
I lOVE MY NYLON CORDURA SHEATHS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I cant think of any better tactical/survival blade for the money!
 
Thanks everyone for your responses
Yea I think the Nighthawk will be a keeper.
To put things in perspective a little--I just spent more money putting a half tank of gas in my truck than I spent on this knife.
Thanks again
 
what's the price per gallon over there?


Panama: 3.50 per gallon (and it's too expensive and it's increasing)
 
I paid $2.93 per gallon for mid octane gas. My main truck is a 1 ton Dodge maxi van with a 35 gallon tank. If I let it get near empty it costs more to fill it than I spent on my first car. Way to depressing so I always fill up when it's half empty.
 
I hate the Nighthawk. I hate it so much I now have five variations! I don't think the sheath is all that bad. For the price you can't go wrong with this workhorse!
 
smcfalls13 said:
Not my typical forum, but I saw this thread on the main page, and I actually have this knife, so I thought I'd comment on it.

Buck Nighthawk was the first knife I bought(back in 96 I believe, but I'll have to check the blade to be sure) and being the first knife, it's been abused like crazy.

That poor Nighthawk has endured chopping wood, pvc pipe, large gourds, and pretty much anything I could get my hands on to cut(I was young and stupid, now I'm just stupid;) ) I cut wires with it, pried with it, tried to learn how to throw it and get it to actually stick(didn't work well) dropped it on concrete, and pretty much anything you could possibly imagine.

Did it dull? Of course it did. Did it chip or break? Nothing more than minor chipping. Nylon sheath is still going strong after ten years, and the coating still looks relatively good(considering what it's been through). It's been resharpened countless times(once or twice with a file when I didn't know how to sharpen).

Short answer, it's a great knife, especially for the price. Great value. Keep it and use for a while, you'll see.

Here's a pic of mine, just for fun.

100_0109.jpg


Welcome to the forum.:thumbup:
Click to expand...
Great post SMCFALLS13...
That is a nice looking knife. Think I'll get one.
Your mom must've really been pissed about you stabbing the furniture as a kid though ;)
Goose.
BCCI 1190
LSMFT
 
Buckaholic said:
Great post SMCFALLS13...
That is a nice looking knife. Think I'll get one.
Your mom must've really been pissed about you stabbing the furniture as a kid though ;)
Click to expand...

You know it's funny, she never noticed;)
 
Buckaholic said:
Great post SMCFALLS13...
That is a nice looking knife. Think I'll get one.
Your mom must've really been pissed about you stabbing the furniture as a kid though ;)
Goose.
BCCI 1190
LSMFT
Click to expand...
Came in the mail today. B650-OD-0 Box Date: 12/12/05. Idaho tang stamp.

It is a much knicer knife than I thought it would be. Pleasantly surprised.
Tossed on the sheath. I usually don't care for the nylon sheaths...the belt loops are usually cheaply sewn to the main sheath body. But the Nighthawk sheath seems better made in that desigin area. Again, pleasantly surprised.

Been carrying around a 890-OX Buck Strider for about a month now...including two weeks straight on a road trip. So I will post a comparison of the two later on in another thread.

Anyway, thanks to all for convincing me to get what I believe is gonna be a regular EDC for me.
 
Buckaholic said:
Anyway, thanks to all for convincing me to get what I believe is gonna be a regular EDC for me.
Click to expand...

Poverty(like Misery) loves company:p

We just convince you to buy stuff so you'll be poor like the rest of us. Though with the price of the Nighthawk, poverty won't be coming any time soon:thumbup:
 
smcfalls13 said:
Poverty(like Misery) loves company:p

We just convince you to buy stuff so you'll be poor like the rest of us. Though with the price of the Nighthawk, poverty won't be coming any time soon:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Hey SMCFALLS13, you are right. I know I have spent too much on this or that knife from time to time on the Bay or retail ( :barf: ).

The Nighthawk is a different story. There has never been a second where I thought I paid too much for what it is worth. Quite the opposite. It's a true value. Wish I could find a tanto one :(

The only problem I have with the Nighthawk since I got it, is deciding to carry it or the stun gun. Can't do both...I'd need a BatMan utility belt.
 
Buckaholic said:
Hey SMCFALLS13, you are right. I know I have spent too much on this or that knife from time to time on the Bay or retail ( :barf: ).

The Nighthawk is a different story. There has never been a second where I thought I paid too much for what it is worth. Quite the opposite. It's a true value. Wish I could find a tanto one :(

The only problem I have with the Nighthawk since I got it, is deciding to carry it or the stun gun. Can't do both...I'd need a BatMan utility belt.
Click to expand...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Buck-Knife-Nigh...ryZ73523QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Goose, ask and you shall receive!!!!!!!! You are right on with the nighthawk being a great value also!!!! A++++++++++ :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top