My first new Buck in easily 20yrs Short Nighthawk 655

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Oct 21, 2010
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So I got my first new Buck in over 20yrs.

655 Short Nighthawk, with the plain, blasted finish blade. I was looking for a down the middle abuser for hiking around with and after driving myself completely nuts for quite a while, I stumbled on this model searching the forum here.

I'd gotten myself down to a BK2 or a Mora Force and both were pushing the outer edges of what I wanted if I just got one or the other. The 655 seemed in the middle of the two to me.

For the massive sum of a whole $35 (this knife is discontinued but there are a few still kicking around on Amazon)...I am beyond pleased. Sheath is crappy though...biggest bitch is that there is no retention at all aside from the thumb strap...I hate that.

Handle for me is very useful, utilitarian. I have large hands and find it to be very comfortable where many knives' handles are too small. Grip changes are easy to flip over to a reverse grip. In hand, the balance feels good. I do wish it had a lanyard hole.

Blade is very very stout, more blade strength than I will demand out of a knife any time soon. I'm mostly a casual day hiker that likes to play with gadgets. This thing is plenty strong enough for poking and prodding and light digging into logs here and there.

Factory edge was coarse but quite sharp, though as is a theme with cheaper knives the bevels are pretty well mismatched. I won't bother reprofiling this right away I don't think. I also just got my first strop and after a few dozen swipes a side with green compound, the factory edge is now rather evilly sharp. I'll save a reprofile for when the blade really needs the stones.

I think this was a good choice for me and I'm surprised they don't still make this. I like the shorter blade for my uses, makes it easier to carry it out of sight in my pack in an area that doesn't exactly encourage open carry of fixed blades.

It's also a perfect excuse for me to try making my own Kydex sheath since I hate the stock one so much. Something I could use for IWB would be perfect.

There are many like it, but this one is mine.....though it may not mind a Vanguard (the Alaskan Guide was a close second) as a brother eventually heh.

buck_655.jpg
 
Congrats on coming back to Buck! I think you will be happy with it!
Nice review. I agree with the sheath thoughts (it is pretty basic- it does work however), but for the money, could you really expect to get a molle sheath with the knife? Also the nighthawk is not discontinued, you just bought a buildout version without serrations, and black oxide blade. They are still listed on Bucks website IIRC. I like that unserrated short nighthawk, shes a tank alright!
You may want to look into that Alaskan Guide Vanguard too. Its a great knife!! ;)
 
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Yeah totally agree re: price vs sheath, it's just particularly bad.

If the retaining strap were around the guard I'd like it better than all the way up on the end.

I can't belt carry this around here, not as intended so if I stuck this IWB to conceal it and the top snap popped or slipped off it leaves zero retention, no grab at all. Sticking it inside my waistband makes popping the snap at the top or slipping it off more likely I *think* at least. Just makes me nervous with a relatively heavy blade that I now have so sharp....I don't want it slipping out accidentally at all now heh.

It would likely be good enough if carried the way it should be, if not a bit rattly. Easily fixed and will be fixed, particularly as cheap as the knife was, I'll make or buy something.

They do still show short+serrations+black on the site, but it's unavailable now. I'm glad I got the version I wanted.
 
Funny, I bought a short nighthawk about 1-1/2 years ago and that was my first buck in about 15 years. Used it on a hog hunt and it did quite well. Blade was a bit thick though, but the size and blade profile is great. The handle is extremely comfortable and grippy to hold. I just wish mine didn't have serrations.
 
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