I like Buck knives, but have a queston

[Sniper X]

I have owned Buck knives since I was about 9. I have never had a bad experience with one and all I have owned have been grerat. I have been looking to replace both my Special, and Pathfinder and in lookiing see they are very cheap at WalMart but there is one thing I noticed that is weird but logical. The model called the Special, whihc is Bucks best seller of al time in a fxed blade, is $34.00 at WM, at Sportsmans it is $59.00. I looked at both and there is NO difference but when you look in the box, the one at WM has a nylon sheath, the one at Sportsmans has a nice black leather sheath. I prefer the leather sheath so bought a model 105 (Pathfinder) at Sportsmans for $45.00 OTD. Amyone else know of Bucks selling with a nylon sheath anywhere else but WM because even Bucks website only shows the leather sheaths for the traditional fixed baldes and the folding hunter and Ranger series.

 

[griz]

Just a guess, maybe the maker switched over and WM, having the biggest distribution, got the new ones first?

 

[hso]

To stoop to WalMart's level some of the manufacturers make packages that only are sold to WallyWorld.

 

[Sniper X]

Tha's what I'm thinking HSO, in order to make the price point WM is willing to pay and then resell for they went to a cheaper to produce nylon sheath....the black and brown leather ones are still very well made.

 

[kart racer]

Bass pro has a buck alpha dorado #270 with rosewood handles,supposedly the 271's came with the rosewood and different steel.Makes me wonder if buck hasn't made a bunch different combos for different places.

The alpha dorado at bass pro is on sale for 29.99,I went ahead and bought one just to see at that price.

 

[hso]

A manufacturer will produce a version for a customer if the customer will commit to enoug pieces. Could be 200 pieces for a simple change, less expensive sheath, to 2,000 pieces for a significant change, different handle or blade material. Regardless, if you want to purchase 2,000 Buck 110s with tiger maple scales they'll be happy to run them up for you.

 

[LaP]

Gander Mountain usually has a good selection of Buck knives. Online, try SmokyMountainKnifeWorks.com (great prices and lots of knives)

 

[dogloose]

I have dealt with Wal-Mart at the vendor level. They are very tough when negotiating deals... but for small companies (maybe big companies too!) they are a King-Maker! It is very likely that Buck negotiated that pricing with the change in the sheath for a large order... and from Wal-Mart's perspective they got the lowest price in town.

 

[Sniper X]

Indeed because at WalMArt the Special is $34.95 with the nylon sheath, and at Sportsmans with a leather sheath it is almost 55. I'd much rather have the leather sheath. Sportsmans has the cocobolo version, with brass hilt and pommel and a brown sheath for $72.95 so I may go for that one since it is very nice, but than again I'd hate to scrape that beauty up!

 

[innerpiece]

Intersting thread!
Ive only had one Buck knife.. was the Buck Mentor, handled quite well!

Im a bit more of a Gerber and CRKT fan personally..

it appears Wallyworld has a 'semi-unique' method of appearing to be the best buy on about everything..lol

ip

 

[Sniper X]

Wal Mart knives, Buck in this case

So I had a thread asking about Buck Knives not comming with a leather sheath at Wal Mart but comming with one everywhere else. I went to WM today and bought the Special for two reasons. I need a nice size sheath knife to leave in my camping / hunting trailer and the price of a Special at only $34.80 at WM is too darn good to poss up. It did only come with a nylon sheath, and while well made, not nice like the leather ones. I had looked at the same knife at Sportsmans and when I looked at it found it to have the leather sheath, but be about 25 dollars more expensive than the same knife at WM. The mysterey was solved when I see the model number on the one at Wal Mart is 119 WM, which makes me beleive it is solely for Wal MArt and to keep cost down they only offer it with a nylon sheath. The model number is exactly the same save for the WM at the end of the nomenclature anywhere else I have seen it with a leather sheath. In fact, I have yet to see it anywhere with a nylon sheath except Wallyworld. This knife has a special place in my heart, no pun intended, because it was my first sheath knife I bought with my own money when I was ten. I had had an old Marbles which My Grandpa had givin to me but it was lost in a lake when I was almost ten. I had that special until I went in the Army in 1978 so that was 10 years. Allways missed it.

 

[hso]

Check if the steel used is different. $25 is a lot of difference for a sheath that costs Buck far less than $25.

 

[Sniper X]

It is identical, I looked at both side by side and the hilt marks are even the same. I think Buck only uses one type steel for all their sheath knives anyway don't they? I may be wrong but I even think Buck only uses one alloy for ALL their original designs. This Special looks identical in every way to my original one I bought in 1968 or so.

 

[Sniper X]

So I bought the one at WM. It is a model 119-WM...guess why!?!