Buck Alpha Hunter

Buck makes an extensive range of knives, from tiny pocket knives, to big heavy hunting knives, and the Alpha Hunter sits pretty much in the middle, at just over 8” long. The handle and blade each account for about 50% of the total length, and knives with these proportions have a great balance and feel in your hand. Supplied in Buck’s new presentation-style box, the knife looks great and feels like a proper tool for the outdoors.

The blade

The 3⅝” long drop-point blade is made of S35VN steel, a very tough metal with excellent edge retention qualities that make it ideal for knife making. The very high-ground blade shape means that it moves through material extremely efficiently, without any bunching, and at 3.5mm thick on the spine, it is extremely strong and rigid. The drop point shape means that you can do detailed work and the knife makes a really good wood carving tool.

The grip

The handle is Walnut Dymalux, a combination of natural wood veneers laminated together and infused with resin, and the scales are a very good fit on the full tang of the knife, with no gaps or open joints. Dymalux is an ideal material for knife handles because it has the look and feel of wood, but the resilience and durability of resin. It is a strong material used in a variety of applications, including pistol grips, and the gentle curve on the handle combined with the generous length make it a nice fit in the hand. The deep front finger groove provides an effective front quillon and the handle shape and texture ensure a comfortable fit with great grip.

Deep and wide-cut jimping on two areas of the spine, one above the front portion of the handle and one above the middle of the blade, allow you to put a lot of pressure through the knife when using different holds, without your grip slipping.

At the back of the knife is a good-sized lanyard hole, and it also comes with a quality brown leather sheath with a press-stud fastening strap to hold the knife securely in place. The leather is decent, the seams are double-stitched and, although basic, the sheath does its job and keeps the knife safe.

Conclusion

This is a really nice mid-sized knife and its chunky proportions and full-tang construction make for a very strong and practical tool. The materials have been selected for the best combination of durability and sharpness, and the blade certainly stands up to some hard use without needing any attention. Weighing approximately 4.5 oz, it comes razor sharp and ready to use straight out of the box. A word of warning – when I say sharp, it is ‘handle with care’ sharp!
Buck Knives are not cheap, but they’re well made, very well presented, and will last a lifetime, representing a good-value long-term investment.