2010 SHOT- Buck Booth

[Grant Lamontagne]

While our appointment to visit the Buck Booth wasn't technically for a few days yet, we did manage to accidentally meet with them this morning before getting to Victorinox.  This was really good as we got to look at some new knives and tools first hand.



The Paklite Guthooks were the first tools to catch my attention, as I thought they might appeal to the one piece tool crowd here.  While they aren't multitools since they really only have one function, I still thought they were worth a look!



The stainless model retails for $25, while the BO version is $30.  While these are designed to be guthooks, I can also see them serving well as rescue type tools, although they are targeted at hunters as they are packaged with hunting knives as well as being sold individually.



The FDX cutter is a collaboration between Buck and TOPS Knives and features an oxygen wrench in addition to the cutter and a kydex sheath.  It comes in at an MSRP of $55.



One interesting thing we found out about Buck today is that they are actively moving most of their production back to the USA.  This is great news on so many different levels, and I am very pleased to see that they are taking the initiative to make a move like this in such a competitive marketplace.  Kudos to Buck, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds.

Def

[Freudian Frog]

Awesome what they're doing.

I think my Raker Ring Tool serves the purpose for now, though...
Might get one anyway... hmm.

[PyroJames]

They look pretty nice.  I can't wait to see what else Buck has at the show. 

[Viking]

I really like the looks of that FDX Cutter.

[Benner]

I really like the looks of that FDX Cutter.

+1.  Nice looking tool.

[gafftapegreenia]

BACK to the USA? Nice.

[Sazabi]

That just leaves me wondering if the newly-back-in-the-US knives will be of the same quality as their international works... I remember someone stating their foreign-made knives were not only cheaper, but of better quality, than the US models. :/

[GraysonK]

That just leaves me wondering if the newly-back-in-the-US knives will be of the same quality as their international works... I remember someone stating their foreign-made knives were not only cheaper, but of better quality, than the US models. :/

[nuphoria]

I don't like 'em!

Well, I don't like anything much that looks like that to be honest, so these are no different 

Perhaps I have never got the point of such items - any care to extol the virtues for me?

[Sazabi]

That just leaves me wondering if the newly-back-in-the-US knives will be of the same quality as their international works... I remember someone stating their foreign-made knives were not only cheaper, but of better quality, than the US models. :/

What, Kelly? XD  I'd rather have quality, personally, but best of both worlds would be more US jobs right now, and even better quality. >.>

[J-sews]

The changes at Buck seem to be across the board, and all for the good as far as we were concerned. At a time when other makers like SOG have moved virtually all of their manufacturing to Asia, Buck has adopted an aggressive program of moving knife manufacturing back to the USA. The primary reason, we are told, is to better manage and maintain the high standards that have come to be associated with the Buck brand.


Another important change at Buck is the recent and widespread use of Sandvik steels in many of their knife blades. According to their testing, the Sandvik steels showed better corrosion resistance and increased ductility over prior steel grades. And we heard similar encoraging news about handle materials, etc.

Definitely some good news going on at Buck right now!

[Magnus]

That just leaves me wondering if the newly-back-in-the-US knives will be of the same quality as their international works... I remember someone stating their foreign-made knives were not only cheaper, but of better quality, than the US models. :/

they will probably be at least twice as expensive, with no distinguishable positive difference....

If, the quality somehow increases, then it will be worth the inevitable price increase, however I just can't see it, especially on what is essentially a stamped piece of steel like these are.

but I guess only time will tell.

[Tsquare]

They did not mention anything about any new multitools in the forseeable future did they?

[J-sews]

They did not mention anything about any new multitools in the forseeable future did they?

No upcoming new tools were mentioned. Buck told us for the time being they will continue to anchor their multitool line with the X-tract family (X-tract, FIN, LED, and Essential) which are made in China while the shift back to more US-made knives is going on.

[BIG-TARGET]

What's tthe ETA on the FDX?

[Sazabi]

What's tthe ETA on the FDX?

>.>

IDK the ETA on the FDX.  Sorry, just had to say it. XD