Buck Unveils New for 2018 Knives

Buck has just unveiled most of their new for 2018 offerings. Products joining the catalog will include new 110 Folding Hunter line extensions, a vast array of Open Season series hunting knives, and new EDC options.

While this sizable reveal offers plenty for Buck fans to chew on ahead of SHOT Show next month, the company tells us there may still be more surprises to come.

110 Folding Hunter Line Extensions
Buck gave their most famous model plenty of attention in 2017 with the 101 fixed blade variant and the Dealers’ Choice Award-winning 110 Auto. But when it comes to offering more 110 Folding Hunter choices, it looks like they were just getting warmed up. Three new variations will join the Folding Hunter fleet in 2018.

The new 110 Folding Hunter LT should impress anybody who found the original 110’s 7.2 oz. too much to carry. Carrying the same classic lines and Bos heat treat 420HC steel but in a lightweight injection-molded chassis, the LT tips the scales at a stunning 2.1 oz.- a weight reduction of over 300%. It also keeps the price down with an MSRP under $40.

On the premium side of things, a pair of upscaled releases aims to impress those who demand the best. The 110 Folding Hunter Pro and 110 Auto Elite swap out the standard Dymondwood scales and brass bolsters for G-10 and nickel silver accouterments. Buck also stepped up the blade steel with the implementation of S30V on both models.

Open Season and BuckLite Max II
11 new Open Season series knives reset the expectations for this product line, which Buck says it will push as a flagship for hunters and outdoorsmen.

The renovated Open Season series divides its blades into two categories. There will be an ‘Avid’ division with 420HC and wood scales, and a premium ‘Pro’ division with OD green Micarta scales, S35VN steel, and leather sheaths. Among the more specialized tools in the Open Season series like boning and gut hook knives, the Moose Skinner fixed blade and Folding Skinner will perform as more general-use items.

Three new BuckLite Max II fixed blades bring US-made, full-tang construction to a price point well below $50. In addition to the task-specific gut hook model, Buck is bringing out large and small options in a classic hunting-style drop point. These sequels to the original BuckLite Max knives will come with a handle redesign, too.

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New EDC Blades
Buck returns to the assisted-opening market with a new version of their Inertia flipper. Like the 110 LT, the Inertia reimagines an existing Buck design with a lighter weight injection-mold handle. The new material implementation may put this simple but effective design into more pockets.

The Alumni takes a visual cue from the 110 but shrinks it down to an ultra-EDC-friendly size. Among a lot of new models emphasizing nylon handles, the simple, small lock back folder sticks out with an aluminum frame.

In 2017 the Rival series earned attention and accolades for its budget-friendly performance. The Rival III and Rival SS join the lineup as the largest and smallest options for the model, respectively.

Knife featured in image: Buck Knives Inertia