[emilianoksa]

I bought one of these 7.5" fixed blade knives about five years ago, when I was working in Saudi Arabia, to keep by my bed.

It wouldn't have been much use against a bearded loon with an AK47, but it was better than nothing.

I know these weren't expensive knives (discontinued now, I think) but it was made in America, and Buck have always had a very good reputation in the lower price range.

It's never been used, and is in mint condition. Now that I'm relocating from Britain to Peru, I wondered if it would be worth taking as a general hunting and outdoor knife.

How solid and reliable are these knives?

[hso]

A 7" blade is pretty big for general hunting.

What part of Peru?

[emilianoksa]

Probably based in Lima. My wife is Peruvian, and I used to live there.

I'd really like to live in Cajamarca in the northern Andes, and that may be a possibility.

If the Buck General is too for hunting, what was it's primary use intended to be?

Defensive?

Thanks for the reply, by the way.

[b.thomas]

your probably thinking of the buck special which is still made at least in the 6" version. I've owned a special six incher for years and its a fine knife for most hunting/camping/outdoor stuff. Use to be the 6" blade was the standard for a outdoor-hunting blade but these days something like a 4" seems to be the blade of choice.:D

[ArfinGreebly]

The Buck General is the model 120.

It's the next size up from the Buck 119 (Special).

They're both hunting knives, though the 120 is larger.

I have seen them both in the display case at the Buck factory here.

The Buck 120 General is a whole lot of knife. Well made. Certainly suitable for hunting. It's large without being obscene.

A little large for my personal tastes, but then I'm kind of a wuss.

In your shoes? I'd keep it.

[rcmodel]

Be aware both the 119 & 120 went through a bad spell a few years ago.

There was a cost cutting attempt to cast the guard directly onto the blade tang, instead of the three piece sandwich guard Buck has always used.

The end result was glass-hard tangs that allowed the blade to break off the handle without the slightest provocation.

I think it lasted two or three years before broken blades forced them back to doing it the old way.

I have broken three of them with a hammer blow when attempting to break off the black plastic to get a handle off for custom work.

rcmodel