Very nice general purpose knife (#105 wood/brass), sturdy, great value and US made! I already have Buck Vanguard (4" skinning, rubber grip) and 119 Special (6", black phenolic grip) knives. First off, this is very well built, solid and well executed. Very surprising for a US made knife of this quality to be in this price range. I can't think of any US competitor that builds as nice of a knife as Buck for anywhere near this price. So you get way more quality than fair to expect at this price. Second, I really like the wood grip versus the black phenolic resin, especially in this smaller knife, because it gives it more weight and perfect balance. And it looks great. The blade was pretty sharp out of the box and touched up easily or a final edge with a extra fine diamond "stone" and honing steel. Buck steel is darn good for production knives: shapes reasonably easy, holds an edge, and is tough. Another fine example of the well earned American outdoor tradition of Buck knives.
The 105 Pathfinder has a 5" long blade that has a somewhat narrow belly, but sturdy blade thickness. Compared to specialized skinning knives or larger models it looks narrow but it is actually plenty for skinning, gutting game and as a general purpose camp knife. Some knives have gotten so thick in the blade that they are not much use for anything other than battoning firewood! While the 105 blade is plenty thick enough to use for prying and digging in wood or bone, it is still thin enough for slicing food for the pot or pan. Also great for carving wood, shaving sticks for fire making, cutting rope/cords. This is now my general purpose hiking/camping knife. My dad got me the 119 for an elk hunting trip that never happened, so based his experience with elk the 105 Pathfinder may be on the small size for very large game like elk and moose and black bear. But the 119 is a bit big though probably liable for deer size game but definitely not for fish or small game. This 105 Pathfinder is much more versatile for most anything else. The handle is a little on the small size for my large hands, but still fine. It would be perfect for smaller hands.
Overall, the 105 Pathfinder is about the perfect all-around size and style for most outdoor activities. And the brass/wood model is a great weight and balance. I much prefer it to the black and silver versions. The sheath is also very good quality. While it holds the knife very securely it is not fast access. I much prefer a pouch type sheath that is fast and easy to use yet encloses most of the knife securely on the belt. When I am holding something with my left hand and need to quickly slice it, and do that repeatedly during a task, the snap closure becomes a bother. The Buck sheath puts the snap on the back side of the wrap around collar rather than the face of it. This makes it much less likely to snag and come undone but slows down access.
The other great value knives out there I like are Cold Steel and Morakniv. Cold Steel knives are well made, but usually in Taiwan and usually not pretty, sometimes on the ugly side. But they are great value and well made. Morakniv is from Sweden and makes outstanding general purpose knives in the 2"-4" range often around $12, including plastic grips and sheath. The Morakniv carbon and stainless steels are fantastic quality for under $100 knives let alone under $15!! They also come from the factory very sharp. For the fishing box, or to throw into the camp kitchen box I like the Morakniv Companion. But for a day outdoors the 105 Pathfinder is now my go to belt knife. I don't know how Buck can sell such great knives at this price point but I am darn glad they still do. One of the great American traditions and values still going strong.
| Recommended Uses For Product | Hunting |
|---|---|
| Brand | Buck Knives |
| Special Feature | Full Tang |
| Age Range (Description) | Adult |
| Included Components | Sheath |
| Handle Material | Phenolic |
| Color | Black/Silver |
| Blade Material | High Carbon Stainless Steel |
| Style | Buck |
| Blade Length | 5 Inches |
| Product Care Instructions | Hand Wash Only |
| Hand Orientation | Ambidextrous |
| Item Weight | 4.3 Ounces |
| Blade Shape | Clip Point |
| Blade Edge | Hollow |
| Is Cordless? | Yes |
| Item Length | 9.1 Inches |
| Manufacturer | Buck Knives |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 10.2 x 2.76 x 1.85 inches |
| Package Weight | 0.22 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 6 x 1 x 1 inches |
| Brand Name | Buck Knives |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Part Number | 0105BKS |
| Model Year | 2017 |
| Size | 9.1 inch |
| Sport Type | Hunting |
