SHOT Day 3: More New Blades from Buck

Yesterday we covered the new Alpha fixed blades from Buck; but those outdoors knives were just the tip of the new for 2023 iceberg. The Idaho titan has bolstered its catalog in a big way, bringing a Legacy Collection model into the main line, reviving an old fixed blade series, and crafting an entirely new affordable EDC knife.

Saunter inducted into Main Line

If the Saunter looks a little familiar, that’s because we first saw it last year. It released as part of the 2022 Legacy Collection, a handful of designs that were (at the time) produced only for the duration of that calendar year. Now the Saunter has had its materials revised for a general, ongoing production release, swapping the carbon fiber scales and S35VN steel for Micarta scales and 154CM. Furthermore, in addition to the original Saunter drop point blade, there’s a clip blade model as well [see feature image].

Brahma 117

Here’s another one that you’ve seen before, under a different guise. The Brahma is a variant of Buck’s classic 119; in its prior form it had a standard issue military look, with a stacked leather handle a la the KA-BAR USMC knife. Now it’s coming into the main line with civilian attire: either a standard model with 420HC steel and black phenolic handle, or a Pro flavor with S35VN and Micarta handle.

Paklite 2.0 Family

The Paklite series, Buck’s entry level lineup of skeletonized outdoors knives, returns this year in a heavily revised form. The series consists of the 630, the smallest knife, the larger 631 and 635 models, and the Processor, a specialized meat cutter. All models come in a Field flavor with a GFN micro-scale and 420HC steel, or a Pro configuration with a Micarta micro-scale and S35VN blade.

Hiline XL

The Hiline model, another member of the class of 2022, gets a younger, albeit bigger, brother for 2023. The Hiline XL has a blade length of 3.75 inches but keeps the heavy-browed cleaver blade shape, D2 steel, and frame lock mechanism we saw on the original.

739 Infusion

Okay, here’s a brand new model, no previous heritage. The Infusion is a mid-size everyday carry folder, with a 3.25-inch flipper clip point blade made from 7Cr steel. A liner lock, you can get it with either G-10 scales or aluminum ones; both materials come in several colors too.

There’s also a suite of 2023 Legacy Collection models which includes some pretty exciting stuff; look for those in a separate article, coming soon.

Knife in Featured Image: Buck Saunter


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