I’m an enormous fan of the Buck 110 folding knife, but it surely comes with drawbacks; it’s lengthy, and it’s heavy, and knives that dimension scare folks. The Buck 112 is a bit smaller, but it surely’s nonetheless sufficient knife to lift an eyebrow in hoplophobic firm. I used to be in search of one thing smaller final winter for an EDC, however I wasn’t in search of a knife product of unique (one other technique to say “costly and hard-to-sharpen”) metal, and I needed a basic wooden deal with. Enter the Buck 55.
I needed to attempt one this 12 months, however couldn’t discover one in shops. I turned to eBay as an alternative, ordering one for $67.52 delivered, just below Buck’s $69.99 MSRP.
What It’s Made For
What I bought: A standard-looking lockback that may work as a non-frightening EDC in virtually any workplace surroundings. It can be used to pores and skin small recreation or clear a fish on the weekend. Whereas I wouldn’t carry it as my major knife for large recreation searching, it is a wonderful backup to a set blade.
Ranking: A standard knife that’s robust sufficient for severe use.
9 / 10
Blade High quality & Metal
The Buck 55 makes use of the 420HC chrome steel for the hollow-grind blade. Some fashionable customers may sneer at an older materials like this, however with their proprietary warmth remedy developed by Paul Bos, Buck’s knives nonetheless maintain their very own. The knife got here very sharp out of the field, which is sweet; the skinny blade could be troublesome to suit into many mechanical sharpening techniques. Personally, I might limit it to pull-through cutters, however I haven’t felt it essential to do something apart from a touch-up after half a 12 months of use. One benefit of 420HC metal is that touch-ups or full re-sharpenings are straightforward.
Most of that use has been day-to-day stuff like opening packages and containers, however the Buck 55 has additionally come alongside on many fishing journeys and is sharp sufficient to simply cope with any cleansing duties. Though it’s not serrated, when essential to chop by way of rope, the Buck 55 has achieved fast work in that job, too.
I’m not an enormous fan of the clip-point blade form on bigger knives; I feel it makes the consumer appear like a Jim Bowie cosplayer, with the tip unnecessarily fragile. Having stated that, the shorter Buck 55 blade means the tip’s level is much less pronounced, and I feel the form works effectively for superb work whereas nonetheless being robust sufficient for extra intensive chopping obligation.
As a result of the Buck 55’s blade size is barely 2 ⅜ inches, it’s airline-legal in Canada, the place I reside (however clearly not in TSA territory). This makes it straightforward to hold on journeys the place I don’t wish to verify a bag, a particular bonus in my guide. That implies that after I’m touring in-country for work, I can carry a real-deal conventional folder with me as an alternative of some flimsy junk.
Ranking: Not fancy-pants metal, however as much as any real-world duties because of Paul Bos’ remedy.
8 / 10
Deal with & Ergonomics
You’re getting the basic brass bolsters and ebony scales discovered on Buck’s bigger basic folders. No finger grooves lower into the deal with, as some clients like on the 110 or 112; they wouldn’t work on the 55’s smaller deal with, because it’s a bit cramped for actual property on bigger fingers like mine.
I wouldn’t wish to use this with gloves on, though it’s superb when your grip is moist. And it’s not a knife I’d wish to use with a pinch grip, though it labored for me in customary and pointed finger grips. I can’t think about why you’d wish to use it in a reverse grip, however the deal with does work effectively in that orientation should you want it.
For what it’s—a tiny-but-strong traditionally-styled knife—I feel the Buck 55’s deal with works very effectively.
Ranking: A tiny knife that’s nonetheless extremely usable.
8 / 10
Locking Mechanism & Deployment
The Buck 55 makes use of a scaled-down lockback, a smaller model of the lock seen on the Buck 110 and 112. To date, it has been extraordinarily dependable for me. The small dimension of the knife means one-handed opening is troublesome for somebody like me, with fats fingers. A nail nick theoretically makes it simpler to deploy the blade, however I’d desire a thumb stud. I count on that in some unspecified time in the future, the aftermarket will supply this, however even with that improve, I feel one-handed opening could be laborious. Not less than the two-handed opening means it really works as effectively for lefties because it does for right-handed customers.
I significantly just like the Buck 55 as a result of its lock is stronger than you possibly can normally count on in a traditional-looking knife of this dimension. On mine, there is no such thing as a play within the lock in any respect, and I might belief it greater than most lockbacks I’ve used of any dimension.
Ranking: The sturdy lockback is that this knife’s biggest function.
8 / 10
Carry & Pocket Clip
Buck sells no pocket clip or sheath for the Buck 55. I’m completely proud of no clip, however a tiny sheath would have been good; the dearth of both possibility looks as if an oversight to me.
I have a tendency to hold the knife in my denims’ change pocket, the place it disappears with no printing. With no thumb stud and a slim kind issue, it attracts from that pocket with no snags. For my part, it is likely one of the best-carrying pocket knives I’ve ever owned, at the least for really carrying it in my denims pocket versus a sheath or a clip. However the lack of a pocket clip or sheath implies that should you’re sporting slash pockets, you may lose this knife once you sit down. If you happen to’re sporting khakis or cargos that don’t have safe pockets, then possibly go away this knife at dwelling.
Ranking: If I had been solely ranking this for my jeans-pocket-carry mode, I’d give it a ten/10. It’s that good. However different customers may need extra options.
7 / 10
Match and End
The blade isn’t completely centered when closed, however that doesn’t trouble me as a result of I purchased it to be used, to not visually critique. Except for that niggle, every thing else on this knife feels high-quality; the brass and ebony deal with really feel like they’re made to final for a number of lifetimes. There have been no unpleasant machining marks, no cracks between the scales and the bolsters, no tough edges—you’re shopping for a fantastic knife right here.
Ranking: To get a nicer conventional knife, I feel you’d need to go customized.
9 / 10
Worth
Seventy bucks is some huge cash for a small, mass-produced pocket knife with no unique supplies, however I used to be keen to pay it as a result of it’s well-made, and it’s made in the usA. of metal, brass, and wooden. I might suggest it as a considerate present, possibly a very good first knife for a kid (so long as they’re accountable sufficient to maintain observe of it).
You possibly can definitely discover different knives of comparable dimension for lower than $70 MSRP; Buck’s personal lineup has some choices if you’d like a small, high quality pocketknife at a very good value. However for a miniature model of a basic American-style lockback folder, I feel you’re getting what you pay for. That’s all you possibly can ask for.
Ranking: Worth is the way you understand it. I’m proud of cash well-spent on made-in-America high quality.
8 / 10
General Ranking
Until I handle to lose it someway, the Buck 55 goes to be certainly one of my favourite EDC selections for years to come back. If I had been trying to buy a mini-lockback once more, this may be the primary one I’d contemplate buying. I might suggest it to anybody who desires a classic-looking knife with a sturdy lockback mechanism, however with out the majority (and potential authorized hassles, in some jurisdictions) of a full-sized searching folder. It received’t shock your cubicle-mates once you pull it out on the workplace, and on the weekends, once you wish to go fishing, searching, or tenting, it’s sufficient knife for any job that you need to do with a folder.
General Ranking: A helpful knife for somebody who values custom however desires a discreet carry possibility.
8 / 10
