I must say, I was rather intrigued with this knife when I saw it. The question is, is it a worthy knock off? #harborfreight #bowieknife To review or purchase www.harborfreight.com/6-in-bo...
I've been thinking of buying one of those Gordons to keep in my vehicle. Your review brought out the only weakness and that's the tip. You can re-profile that tip pretty easily. I'll wait for the coupon on line maybe. Thanks for your video.
@@411Outdoors Well I received the 25% off coupon so I'm heading to the local Harbor Freight to pick one of these up. Total with discount and State sales tax should come out to $20.07 out the door.
Thanks for the video. I will keep my Vietnam Era USMC Ka-Bar that I bought, in the PX, 50 years ago. It has been with me in over a dozen different countries & never failed me.
Yes Sir! they were mostly made for 1095 tool steel. The 95 means .95 percent which is enough carbon to obtain a fully hardened blade. And a strong one. . 420 Stainless has only 15 to .40 carbon content which is far too low to really become hard enough to be abrasion enough to hold a decent edge. Buck uses 420 Hc which has slightly higher carbon content but only slightly upping it to .55% which is a little more than half of the carbon content required for good edge retention and only reaching a Rockwell hardness of apx. 55. Edge retention starts to be somewhat decent it blades at 57+ and that is still LOW! I will not make a knife under 61-62 HRc and some well over that. Years ago Buck used 440-c which by todays standards is hold hat and is mostly unused today. Yet it had a carbon content of 1.0 which is vastly superior to their 420Hc. It is however cheaper and easier on machinery. Sadly, Buck charges for premium steel while using bottom of the barrel very poor performing steel. After years of doing so, they are now being forced to use higher grades of steel such as s35V and s20V. and really shot the prices up! KnifeMaker/Retired after over 47+ years in the Craft
Sharpen the tip now and it will be stronger like using a pencil all the way down to an eraser 😂. Nice knife to do the dirty work first. Once again good and honest review ❤
My father had that Buck knife since i was a kid back in the 60s n 70s. I got it after he passed in 1998 then lossed it! Unless it's in house or garage and misplaced. Video brings back memories
The Buck 119 tip will bend as well when prying. However, both baton just fine from what I have seen (personal experience is only with the Buck 119) and function just fine as a field blade. Of course the 119 used to be $40-50 CAD not long ago as well!
@@411Outdoors it is good and I haven't bent mine at all but it is very fine. Traditionally khukuri have soft tips by design and we see that in a lot of Chinese blades as well for some reason. I am not entirely certain why the Nepalese did it (we also don't see it on all Nepalese khukuri) but I haven't had any issues hard using khukuri for many years.
A couple thing to be aware of on this knife. The heat treat is very inconsistent like most cheap china knives. I have a couple of these and one has been a beast holding up very well. The other has been exchanged a few times due to poor heat treatment and the blade bending(not just the tip). The weakness of the tip is partly due to the hollow ground bevels and the steep upsweep. If you pry you both twist and flex so it will snap. If it bends then it’s a bad heat treat and the whole blade will bend if you chop or baton. The guard is only glued in place and the handle plastic is weak so if you hit the guard in any way or use the pommel and glance the pinky guard the handle will crack or shatter. Handle shape varies quite a bit and can have sharp edges at the guard and pommel, but the pommel is pinned and easily removed to replace the grip or sand and reshape it. I plan on doing a stacked leather grip on one. The Bowie blade is IMO one of the most fun blade types to throw and these do throw great. Thinning out the grip by up to 1/8 from the guard through the palm swell helps make it more comfortable and better balanced
ATTENTION: I regret doing the tip test on this review it was not necessary. That’s how I used to do all of my reviews. I only review a knife for its designed capability now.
You have it w pretty nice, honest review. I haven’t had any reason to try with a field knife in forever and anymore can’t think of a reason to start. I’d actually be inclined to grind a new point on that blade. Again nice review.
I do not buy knives or other products from Communist China (when a choice is available), but we all have to make our choices. I understand that you review budget knives and your approach to this subject is fair. Good knife review too.
Your tip will bend on a Buck as well, 7Cr17MOV is technically a slightly better steel than 420HC in my opinion that is if they got the heat treat correct. 420HC has .43 to .54% carbon content the 7Cr17Mov has .75% which is better everyone that knows about steel knows you want more carbon as "carbon cuts". However the problem I have with the 7Cr is they add a little too much silicon even though they added the Vanadium and the Moly. And also for the 7Cr I don't trust their heat treatments so in closing the Buck 119's would be my choice as I would trust the steel even though it's slightly lower carbon the heat treatments will be solid and so I think the edge retention would still last longer on the Buck's 420HC. So for more knife knowledge and sharpening tips be sure to visit my page as I've been using knives since I was 10 back in 1973.
Looking back I wish I would’nt have done the tip test on this because these are not made for that. I do that on certain bush craft knife test. For this it wasn’t needed
Picked one of these beauties up today. I’m a woman who works in a welding shop at night and a few of the guys in the shop are quite shady. I plan to wear it on my belt mainly as a deterrent but also as a last resort for a worst case scenario. Might take it out in the woods when I go hunting as well
You can use the Harbor Freight Knock Off as a self defense knife in an emergency situation rather than using it as a camping or survival knife. Thats what I do.
I have several good bucks and benchmades. I use them in serious situations and formal. ( if I am in a suit, I have a benchmade infidel on me ) I have a bunch of cheaper blades for EDC - Almost as good, but if lost its under 100 bucks not over 300
yep dual guard bowies usually not made to stab wood more of a butcher/defense knife, is there any quick home fix for bent tips so you can hammer it back to flatten it? or it requires some expert heating etc
Back in the 70s my pops had the actual Buck, wasn't worth beans, the tang only goes mid way through the handle, he stuck it in a log and the bakelite handle broke, tang was a stick tang and only 2" long, even as a kid I determined it was a garbage knife.
Thanks my friend! In someways I feel like I should’ve have Idone a tip test on this just because I don’t think it was designed for it to begin with. I did feel it bent pretty easily, but based on the way it’s built I wasn’t shocked
Interesting, as I had no idea the original Buck 119 was costing that much now. I have one from the 90s. I might have paid $19 for it, and it still serves me well. I have other knives, but the classics never go out of style.
You can use the Harbor Freight Knock Off as a self defense knife in an emergency situation rather than using it as a camping or survival knife. Thats what I do.
The Buck 119 isn't a particularly strong knife to begin with, so any shortcuts incorporated into a copy are not going to end well. The 119 is overpriced for what you get - I have one only because it was found laying on the ground trailside.
An awesome,insightful real deal test review, good job! I think as a Personal Safety Device against a Bear or with Boar attack, this knife would probably be adequate, what say you?
If that were my knife with the broken tip instead of exchanging it for another one with an equally weak tip I was just re-profile the tip of that one be fairly sure that the tips I'm not going to repeat that because it would be blunter and thicker when I finished with it but it would still have a good tip
The Kershaw 'OSO' is a good knife and I ground off a broken tip of one and sold it cheap. the buyer didn't care that 1/16" was missing from the tip and I sharpened it well and he had a very good spring assisted Kershaw EDC knife.
I feel like I really did the knife injustice by testing the tip knowing that most wouldn’t use the tip for anything like that. I was caught up in a typical Bushcraft test routine.
I received a “real thing” fora birthday present several years ago. Just by carrying it around in the sheath-no use- the handle became loose. I returned it for another one. Same thing. The blade is basically stubbed into the grip, not full tang. Sorry Buck, no more soup for you. For as old & American as you are, no quarter. On to other brands.
I enjoy your reviews, there honest and unbiased. However I would have liked to have seen you tip test the Buck, it would have failed too. The Gordon throws better than the Buck and holds edge just as good. For all practical uses there dead even. The Gordons even a tad longer. From a money perspective you get an equal knife for less money. If you can get over being made in china and not having a brand name so to speak the Gordons a much better buy. Just my opinion.
Good review. How ever neither knife is designed for that type of use. I've had a 119 since 1970 and have used it for it's intended purpose. Hunting. Field dressing and skinning.
@@411Outdoors Sure it was needed brother because you are testing. Of course the tip of a Buck would have broke instead of bending because the high carbon steel is a bit more brittle. I believe you gave a great review.
I've got a serious question. Who uses a deer knife to chop and split wood ? I own a Buck 119 Special for 35 years and never used it like that. I understand a torture test but be realistic. Cut meat. Rub the blade off of bone. Things like that. It's a hunting knife not a survival machete.
I personally would not use this knife for anything else other than what you described but out on RU-vid you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t with testing. Some folks can’t afford multiple knives so I try to keep them in mind too. Thanks for your feedback
Can't Everything be Destroyed? Isn't that what a hatchet or ax is for? A saw would be more Silent in the woods. Isn't the handle slippery on the Buck, why don't they incorporate a rubber handle
I seen these knives at harbor freight I didn't buy one because didn't notice the type of steel it was made out of And with certain that it was probably 420 stainless Which is not really a good steal just saying
I bought my Buck 119 back in 1994 for $29 bucks. In 1996 I saw the same knife in Frankfurt Germany for $100. When I got home I found 119’s still selling for $29 bucks, so I bought one for my dad. Now my son owns that knife. Someday he’ll own two.
😂 George the animal Steele, legend. I wouldn't advise chowing down on some turnbuckle tho. Some of your comments make me laugh bro. A smile is worth more than gold these days. Thanks man. Would love to see some squirrel hunt and prep for the pot. 🤞
Actually searched more videos and PBKG bent his 119 tip also. Its a hunting knife. I will go for the Harbor Freight version for sure. Bang for buck over name. Cant go wrong for the price. The only concern as a hunter I may have if you are cutting up game how will the tip hold up to bone. I do use my tip to split a chicken breast plate.
@@411Outdoors Thank you very much for the info. Yes, my brother learned to use the knife himself. By bringing German bearings from the petrochemical industry to beat them into knives.
I would jump on a buck 119 if it wasn't hollow ground and made of a better steel 420HC just isn't good enough to warrant a $100+ price tag no matter the company
hey guys, don't be afraid of chinese knives in general. I own two. ihave an old timer brand that has been a much better knife than the american made one, stainless blades that are easy to sharpen and holds an edge well too. I also have an off brand fixed blade that the blade runs all the way to the butt, with a delrin handle. this has also been excellent!
I just watched your test,on the harbor freight knife, but, in my opinion, who would do that ,to any knife. I have skinned many of deer,with mine, took it to Iraq, I don't get it freind. Anyway, enjoying your videos.
Thanks my friend🙂 I just did that for those who would complain if I didn’t push it a little further. It’s absolutely fine for the basics of skinning or slicing
We stopped shopping at Harbor Freight when every tool we have purchased there have had problems. Example, drill bits that are warped and dull. Screwdrivers that here while turning a screw normally. We've had enough of having to either throw away garbage tools that came from Harbor Freight or dealing with returning them to the store.
With this video , I was kinda damned if I did or didn’t. Had I not tested it the way i would’ve someone wouldve complained. Testing it the way I did led to complaint. It’s really just a slicing blade and personally I wouldn’t use it for hard task. Had I needed it for a hard task, the blade did not stand so therefore I returned it. I didn’t ask for another. I just got my money back. It really was weak steel
No worse than making a knock-off of the original Buck knife in China and selling it for 20 bucks here. Pretty soon we'll all have tool boxes full of cheap broken junk knives, and Buck will be something you look up on Wikipedia to learn about what a great company it was in the past...
That's why they have a generous return policy. They know it's gonna break, and most people will just throw it away because it's cheap and not worth the trouble to return. There is enough profit in Chinese products to eat the returns and STILL have plenty left over. If you don't return the broken stuff, you're the one being taken advantage of!
You can use the Harbor Freight Knock Off as a self defense knife in an emergency situation rather than using it as a camping or survival knife. Thats what I do.
If you're going to beat on that knife like that and your buck knife too you might as well buy the cheap ones too because you're going to ruin that buck like beating on it with a board
If this video wasn’t getting so many views, I’d probably delete it to not have to answer this question so many times. It’s not your fault though for asking. I was caught up in the trap of doing the same old same ole RU-vid review. I no longer test knives be on their use anymore and the tip test was unnecessary.
Interesting video and not a bad looking knife. However, I was turned off right off the bat when I saw that plastic packing it comes in. I HATE those hard plastic packaging. I know it's an inexpensive knife and they won't put out a lot of dollars on packaging. Still...they could have done a little better. Anyway, good job on the video.
KNIFE STEEL: I have wasted money on Buck Knives, and Other Types Throughout the years. You get the idea, " Oh this is gonna be a great hunting knife, ect, ect. " That knock off is Junk, A Buck Knife is sorta decent basic steel. I now use a 75 dollar Kellam Finnland made, CARBON STEEL, Knife, with Scandi grind edge and will never look back again. Great Carbon Steel , is just that. Old Grandmother's knew that for years; Carbon steel Kitchen Knives. Get a Mora, a Kellam, or other Swedish, Finnland carbon steel knife be done with it.
@@411Outdoors I've seen a lot of his characters, and he does the lip thing, the eye thing, and he could easily put on a bald cap and play ya. lol But yeah certainly in the eyes.Well maybe no so much anymore, he's old.
Harbor Freight has a 20% of the product restocking fee now why don't you demonstrate on how that buck knife will do that shit without any damage it won't
Chinese high Chrome with Molybdenum and Vanadium. I remember cheap knock-offs of Buck knives at Flea Markets back in the 1980s. This is a step above those in quality. It's cheap Stainless, yes, but it's better than nothing when you really need it. That broken tip, turn it into a flat screwdriver. The material is thicker and stronger now in that area. Shape it like you want it to look, you know, customize it. The knife isn't really that bad, it's just that better ones exist if you want to pry things open with a thin pointed blade in an aggressive manner. lol All in all, if you use it properly and wisely, maintaining the edge correctly, it'll last a lifetime. Just don't expect it to hold an edge as long as the real deal Buck. Their alloys are different.
