Buck knives

American field cutlery manufacturers Buck Knives aren’t a company to rest on their laurels and I’m now testing the three latest additions to their already comprehensive range of folding lock knives, the Lux, Apex and Trigger. All feature 420HC Stainless Steel fine-edge blades, a very strong liner lock mechanism and, as you’ll soon discover, they each have specific characteristics and features that’ll appeal to many hunters and outdoorsmen.

Lux

First up is the all-titanium coated Lux, measuring 3¾ inches in the closed position, it weighs 3.6oz and houses a 2¾ inch drop point, ‘titanium coated’ Stainless Steel blade. Dual thumbstuds afford this quite stylish knife the ease of one-handed operation. The slim handle features a removable pocket clip and you have the choice of two models – one with a ‘titanium’ finish or what is termed the ‘carbon fibre’ model. However, rather than using a real carbon fibre insert to aid grip the handle only has a ‘carbon fibre effect’ transfer, so is there purely for cosmetic reasons. Thankfully the handle feels safe in the hold due to the finger choil and from the mid-section to the rear the handle deepens to give your middle, index and little finger a larger surface area to hold onto.

 

Apex

Next up is the Apex which Buck state was designed with mountaineering in mind, but it’s certainly not so specialised that some hunters wouldn’t find it useful as well. Measuring 3¾ inches in the closed position and weighing 1.7oz this interesting folder holds a 2 5/8 inch drop point blade. I use the word ‘interesting’ due to the fact the design enables the knife to feel secure in the hold, even though the handle has been trimmed quite radically on the opposite side to the lock liner mechanism. The trimmed section I refer to (although it’s a handle plate) has a profile that still allows your fingers to make contact where they naturally would bear down on the side of a knife of this size (even if it had a full side plate). Obviously that’s in relation to people who are right-handed, but when held left-handed it feels just as secure. Grip is aided by a sensible length of ridging on the spine of the blade and again such is the design it’s ideally positioned for where your thumb naturally rests while holding the knife. One-handed opening is catered for by an elongated thumbhole and, due to it being aimed towards the previously mentioned sport, Buck have integrated a carabineer attachment at the rear of the knife for a securing to a pack or belt – there’s also a bottle opener built into the design. It has a removable stainless steel pocket clip and is available with three different side plate options, those being orange, purple and ‘real’ carbon fibre.

 

Trigger

The Trigger measures 4½ inch in the closed position, weighs 4.4oz and has a blade length of 3¼ inches, so it’s certainly the big daddy of the trio. Dual thumbstuds are used to deploy the very sturdy looking blade and it also features an anodised aluminium handle with very practical textured black synthetic insert panels set on both sides. The handle feels very secure in the hold due to the blade having a slightly raised and ridged thumb rest at the rear of the spine plus integrated into the blade is a finger guard. Of the three the Trigger is the easiest to deploy one-handed due to the handle length and has both a pocket clip and lanyard hole.

Names & SRP Prices:
Buck Lux Carbon Fibre: £59.95. Lux Titanium: £42.95
Buck Apex Carbon Fibre: £48.95.
Orange & Purple: £43.95
Buck Trigger: £43.95

CONTACT: Whitby & Co 01539 721 032 for nearest stockists, www.whitbyandco.co.uk