Bass Pro Rewards Spend

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bratch

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I have some Bass Pro rewards that I am trying to use before I forget about them and lose them. I’ve narrowed it down to the following options that are available locally, would be open to others but these are leading the pack.

Looking for opinions and feedback.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/buck-knives-woodsman-pro-fixed-blade-knife-with-sheath
Upgraded steel and handle, seems like the opinions are it’s worth the extra money over the base 420. I’d use this as a bird and trout knife. This one is probably in the lead.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/Buck-BuckLite-MAX-II-Fixed-Blade-Knife

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/buck-bantam-285-blw-drop-point-folder-lockback-knife

2 for 1 deal on cheaper Made in USA options. No specific need for these other than economic users. Orange folder would probably get some field carry due to visibility.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/cabelas-alaskan
-guide-series-xxx-knife-by-buck-knives-100815873

I’ve wanted a Vanguard for years. I like the upgraded steel but am not as crazy about the blade coating.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/knives-of-alaska-bush-camp-knife

Just a solid general purpose knife.
 
I have the the Bucklite max - large and small.

It's a USA made budget knife with Buck 420 and BOS heat treatment.

It's nothing to be proud of but it's alright for what it is... a versatile knock about work knife.


It is lightweight. The handle is grippy. Not particularly comfy but not uncomfortable either. Always able to get a good grip no matter how I hold it. The jumping on the spine is good and not sharp on the finger. The bevel grinding on mine isn't super consistent but it's sharp and cuts fine.

I'm avoiding coated knives in general. I do like the original vanguard but chose the Selkirk over it. Basspro Cabelas carries it too.
 
For years I've been using a 102 in 420HC with the black phenolic handle. Very handy bird, trout, small game and bigger game knife. I would like to get one with another steel when I wear this one out; might be awhile.
 
bratch said:
I have some Bass Pro rewards that I am trying to use before I forget about them and lose them. I’ve narrowed it down to the following options that are available locally, would be open to others but these are leading the pack.

Looking for opinions and feedback.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/buck-knives-woodsman-pro-fixed-blade-knife-with-sheath
Upgraded steel and handle, seems like the opinions are it’s worth the extra money over the base 420. I’d use this as a bird and trout knife. This one is probably in the lead.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/Buck-BuckLite-MAX-II-Fixed-Blade-Knife

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/buck-bantam-285-blw-drop-point-folder-lockback-knife

2 for 1 deal on cheaper Made in USA options. No specific need for these other than economic users. Orange folder would probably get some field carry due to visibility.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/cabelas-alaskan
-guide-series-xxx-knife-by-buck-knives-100815873

I’ve wanted a Vanguard for years. I like the upgraded steel but am not as crazy about the blade coating.

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/knives-of-alaska-bush-camp-knife

Just a solid general purpose knife.
Click to expand...

I've got a KOA Jaeger. Really good smallish knife for any kind of fine work. Don't really like the velcro on the sheath closure but other than that, I'm happy. Knife has taken and kept a very very sharp edge. Knives of Alaska: Jaeger - Suregrip
 
My vote goes to the Buck Vanguard. Not crazy about the black blade either but not a deal breaker to me.
 
I'll be honest, I'm in the same boat. Last time I went into Cabela's I inquired about ordering a SA XDm Elite compact model in 10mm. This is a common line of guns of course, and Cabela's carries SA products. They wouldn't even entertain the notion of ordering me one. "We just aren't doing custom orders." It was ridiculous in my opinion. They carry the XDm line of pistols. How is this a custom order?

So I'm mad at Cabela's/Bass Pro and will likely ditch their stupid credit card.

That leaves me with $500+ in points I may burn on fun stuff.

The only knives that that vendor carries that interest me are Zero Tolerance, and their choices are very limited, and Benchmade, which I feel are overpriced for what you get. An Osborne in D2 for $250? Get the hell out of here..... S90V for $300? Meh....

Of the ones listed I like the Vangaurd shape best, but as others have noted, I hate the blade coating and printing. I prefer my blades to be uncoated, or DLC coated in a finish I like with minimal printing. No images that look like they belong on a $20 off brand sweatshirt.

For overall package, in that list, the Woodsman is my preference based on utility and blade steel. I like the micarta handle also, but the proportions on it are a little odd. It's close to my Buck 119, with a smaller blade. Overall I liek the proportions of the 119 better, but a knife that size is only useful if it's usefull to you. I tend to carry smaller knives.
 
Just got back from getting the Woodsman Pro.

After looking and handling I felt like it had the opportunity to get used before next fall where the Vanguard would sit around until next deer season.

The Vanguard felt really nice in the hand. I’ll probably keep an eye on Bucks website for a flash run with better steel. If nothing pops up by fall I’ll probably bite the bullet and get the Cabelas version.

I didn’t have them get the Bush Camp out of the case. It was bigger than anticipated and probably fell closer to the ESEE and Beckers I already had.
 
bratch said:
Just got back from getting the Woodsman Pro.

After looking and handling I felt like it had the opportunity to get used before next fall where the Vanguard would sit around until next deer season.

The Vanguard felt really nice in the hand. I’ll probably keep an eye on Bucks website for a flash run with better steel. If nothing pops up by fall I’ll probably bite the bullet and get the Cabelas version.

I didn’t have them get the Bush Camp out of the case. It was bigger than anticipated and probably fell closer to the ESEE and Beckers I already had.
Click to expand...
Sounds good to me man.
 
SteadyD said:
Pics and thoughts requested!
Click to expand...

Good:
It came with the basic black leather Buck sheath which isn’t a bad thing. I like the blade size and profile, it should fill a nice role under the bigger blades like a Vanguard. The blade came with a good factory edge it easily took hair off my hand and cut pages in the Midway flyer.

Bad:
The micarta grip is slicker than I expected, it feels similar to the basic phenolic handle. I would prefer that the handle was just a little longer and had a bit more girth. My hand eats almost all of the available handle length and it feels a little loose in the hand. I’m not envisioning hard use so I don’t think it’s a big problem but just a little more handle would make it feel locked in.

Overall very pleased from my initial living room review.



2-BC2-C2-F2-231-F-41-C6-A9-D9-825306228933.jpg
B7-FA6382-1165-4925-96-C9-543-BCACE5-F09.jpg
54-ED066-F-C793-458-A-A1-F9-A1-AFD03-BC784.jpg
5-C96-C987-8-A06-4397-9-BEC-C7-A3-BA75-ABEC.jpg
EBA6-A958-1-CF5-438-C-A06-C-A102232-F946-F.jpg
 
That is an attractive knife, but it reminds me that Buck fixies were creatures of the postwar age of aluminum. The special and general (119 and 120 if memory serves) had combat knife profiles, alloy hilt and butt, and pheatureless phenolic handles in a crazily squarish cross section. They could have made them to nestle comfortably in the hand, but settled for a blocky shape that had changed little 75 years later, when I finally picked up the anniversary 119 for $44.

They are an institution, like Mag-Lites, that was impressively robust but failed to take advantage of improved technologies, changing opportunities to reach new users, and meeting user needs. Remember when their trademark was the blade being hammered through the bolt? Wasn't it telling that they had to caution purchasers not to hammer through bolts? To their credit, they are now trying new materials and designs.
 
bratch said:
Good:
It came with the basic black leather Buck sheath which isn’t a bad thing. I like the blade size and profile, it should fill a nice role under the bigger blades like a Vanguard. The blade came with a good factory edge it easily took hair off my hand and cut pages in the Midway flyer.

Bad:
The micarta grip is slicker than I expected, it feels similar to the basic phenolic handle. I would prefer that the handle was just a little longer and had a bit more girth. My hand eats almost all of the available handle length and it feels a little loose in the hand. I’m not envisioning hard use so I don’t think it’s a big problem but just a little more handle would make it feel locked in.

Overall very pleased from my initial living room review.



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Click to expand...
That is beautiful. Love the micarta, and the S35VN is a big boost.
 
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