Buck's first factory switchblade

I've mentioned that I handled a prototype at Blade and chatted with CJ for a bit about it. The size and style was excellent for daily carry, the quality looked to be that of a good modern aluminum alloy body coil spring automatic, the fit and finish was as you'd expect from Buck, nice. Overall it looked like it would be a very strong competitor in the modern switchblade market. Price point wasn't discussed, but the knife was still being "tweaked".

I happened to be up at SMKW this week and I always have to stop by the new switchblade counter and SURPRISE they'd just gotten the first shipment of the new Buck 898 Impact auto so I was able to handle the production version of what I'd played with only a few weeks before in Atlanta.

Home run! Matter of fact, Buck knocked it out of the park on their first at-bat. The action was crisp. The lockup was solid. The blade was well ground S30V. The safety was smooth on and off. The knife neither wanted to "helicopter" out of your hand on opening nor was it "limp". Even more impressive was that everything except the coil spring was made by Buck (even the screws). Very nice.

MSRP is $220, but I was told the price at SMKW was $150! Very very nice! The 50 knives they had should be gone already.

I think it will be a big success for CJ and the company.

CJ is very proud of the fact they do all the work themselves in their Idaho factory. That's dedication to quality to make your own screws.

We talked about the springs, but they're buying quality springs so they don't have any real reason to make their own.

I can't even find one!

If I go up to SMKW today I'll take a picture and post it.

Hah! Found a vid https://youtu.be/ltGdVXiNjqI?t=161

Good find!

If anyone asks why there's a hole in the blade just look at the assisted opener and manual versions of the knife. They cleverly kept costs down by not changing the blades any more than required.

Here's CJ Buck engraver signing knives today! His son Jason and mom Lori (wife of Chuck Buck, RIP) were there and each knife was passed down so all 3 generations of the Buck family signed.

I got the 989 I picked up signed.

hrsaylor,

Switchblade counter is by the side entrance. All the 989s were over at the Buck counter on the main floor. If a clerk didn't direct you to the switchblade counter when you asked about switchblade they were poorly trained.

Blade HQ and other Internet dealers have them.