The Best Buck Pocket Knives For EDC

While Buck Knives, Inc. was officially founded in 1961, this now-iconic company has origins dating back nearly six decades earlier to 1902. Deeply rooted in a tradition of innovation, Buck now stands as an undisputed leader in the knife space. As such, we felt it appropriate to carve out some time to shine a light on this company and take a deep dive into its history and what makes it unique, along with our picks for the best Buck knives for everyday carry currently win production. 

The story of Buck Knives is one of ingenuity, grit, and innovation — and one that’s told over four generations of the same family. It all started with a young, 13-year-old Hoyt Buck, who began apprenticing as a blacksmith in Kansas as a teenager. After only a few months of apprenticing, Hoyt became convinced that there was a better way to temper steel that would allow it to better retain an edge. With access to a massive amount of worn-out and discarded file blades to use as his raw material, Hoyt began experimenting with different tempering processes and heat treatments. 

This eventually lead to Hoyt discovering that by making sure the temperature of a blade was consistent across its entire construction just prior to quenching, dead spots in the blade could be eliminated — an absolute game-changer in the knife industry. Using his revolutionary tempering and heat-treating process, Hoyt started producing his own knives by hand, which quickly gained a large following, including with American soldiers during World War II. After WW2’s conclusion, these soldiers returned home with an even greater proclivity for Hoyt’s blades.

In 1908 Hoyt met Daisy Louise Green — a young and wealthy Seattle socialite whose father did not approve of her relationship with Buck. Nonetheless, the two married the following year, and then had their first child — Alfred Charles Buck — the year after. Fast forward to 1945, and Hoyt and Daisy would end up moving in with a now-adult Alfred in San Diego where, after more than 40 years of making knives, Hoyt would partner with his firstborn to found H.H. Buck and Son. For the next four years, Hoyt crafted 25 knives every week, though in 1949 he would sadly pass away, leaving the company to Al — who by this time had his own son, Chuck, who too had gotten involved in the multi-generational family business.  

In 1961, everything changed. Up until that point HHB&S had operated as a small, boutique, custom knifemaker, though that year Al incorporated Buck Knives, Inc. at which time production was massively ramped up. A few short years later in 1964, Al introduced the world to what’s unequivocally the brand’s most iconic knife to date, the Buck 110 Folding Hunter. The massive success of the 110 would forever change the trajectory of the business, and would cement Buck Knives as a key player in the segment — a position the brand still maintains today. 

While Al ran things, his son Chuck slowly rose through the ranks of the company before eventually reaching the position of President and CEO. Continuing the family tradition, Chuck’s son CJ had grown up working at the company, and in 1999 the keys to the kingdom were passed down to CJ. Though he continued to serve as a chairman on the company’s board, Chuck too would sadly pass away in 2015. This essentially brings us to today. 

A major part of Buck’s identity is rooted in its more than century-long history. And while it’s true that Buck is best known for classic heritage models like the 110 Folding Hunter, innovation has also played a key role in shaping its image and identity. Balancing a spirit of both history and innovation, Buck continues to craft its classically-styled knives with the same impressive levels of craftsmanship that made it popular with soldiers during WW2. Combining both these pieces of its identity, Buck also makes a great many of its old-school models using the original designs, though bringing them to life with modern materials — as well as reconfiguring modern versions of age-old classics, such as the automatic version of the 110. 

Buck’s catalog isn’t merely limited to its retro reproductions and vintage-inspired knives, however, as it’s also become a major player in the modern everyday carry knife segment. As an outfit that prides itself on its innovation, it’s frankly unsurprising that Buck has managed to deliver a myriad of modern EDC models that push the edge-tool envelop just as much today as Hoyt’s original knives did more than a century ago. Buck’s more eminent contemporary EDC knives include its popular Sprint blades, its automatic Deploy series, its Spitfire lineup, and its Paradigm models, just to name a few. 

Whether classically styled or modern, all of the knives that Buck makes today still benefit from sophisticated tempering and heat-treating processes that help to ensure high-performance, high-quality blades that do an excellent job of holding their edge. What’s more, since 1902, Buck still produces the vast majority of its knives right here in America and stands behind these products with a generous lifetime warranty — the latter of which no doubt speaks volumes about the craftsmanship and longevity of its knives. With one foot planted firmly in tradition and the other standing squarely in more modern times, Buck has developed a unique identity in the knife space that’s only made all the more idiosyncratic by the brand’s commitment to quality. 

The Best Buck Pocket Knives For EDC

Buck Nobleman

Best Value Knife: When a gentleman leaves his domicile, he should be prepared for any circumstance to befall him. That means a quality EDC knife that’s not overbearing. Made out of 440A steel and using a traditional drop point blade, the Nobleman is coated in titanium for a less reflective look that is still as dashing and debonair as the knife itself. The handle is stainless steel with a carbon fiber print, giving it a respectable look that also avoids inflating the price. One side of the grip is rubberized so you can choose how you grab it.

Buck Stockman

Best Multi-Blade Knife: First debuting in 1966, the Buck Stockman was a classically-styled knife that come loaded with a trio of differently-shaped and sized modified clip point, spey, and sheepsfoot blades, each meant for taking on different outdoor and hunting tasks. Offered with woodgrain or top-shelf Burlwood scales — both of which come paired with nickel silver bolsters — the Stockman has been recreated with more modern 420J2 steel. Just like the original model from ’66, the modern Stockman reissue is devoid of any pocket clip or fasteners, and was designed to simply be carried in its user’s pocket. 

Buck Spitfire

Best Value Knife: Just 3 oz in heft, this is a lot of bloody-minded cutting ability for such a small blade. Reminiscent of SpyderCo’s knives, the Spitfire is part of Buck’s rebirth. It’s leaner, lighter, and more vicious than the workaday pocket pieces that one expects from the giant. It uses the same 420HC as many Bucks, but when put into an anodized aluminum handle, trimmed down for concealment, and given an aggressive drop-point, it becomes something far less friendly. The Spitfire stands up admirably when compared with knives many times more expensive, and has greater longevity than many of its peers.

Buck 110 Folding Hunter

Best Classic Knife: If you don’t own one of these, then we aren’t sure why you’re reading this list. The 110 was Al’s vision, and the 420HC steel legend that put Buck on the cultural map. Often imitated, never duplicated, the 110 has the same brass bolsters as always, paired with a Dymondwood handle, and Buck’s Forever warranty. A belt sheath of genuine leather gives you a place to stash this everyday, or you can slide it into your pocket for a little easy-going, old school action. It might not be fast, but Buck wrote the book on long-lasting. As mentioned earlier, Buck also makes an automatic version of its thoroughly iconic 110 Folder, as well as a slimmer 112 model that’s also a stellar choice for everyday carry. 

Buck Vantage Select Large

Best Neo-Retro Knife: The Vantage Select comes in your choice of large or slightly less large. No matter which path you take, you’ll be treated to a glass-reinforced nylon handle, an ovular finger hole for quick flipping, and a reversible stainless steel clip for carrying it tip-up or tip-down. Easy to open with one hand, the TM locking mechanism works with steel liners in the handle to reduce weight but increase safety, so the razor-sharp 420HC blade doesn’t come crashing down on your digits. The knife is constructed around an injection-molded nylon handle overlaid with CNC-machined Dymalux Redwood inlays. 

Buck Budgie

Best Compact Knife: The Buck Budgie is a compact American-made everyday carry knife that punches well above its weight thanks to a compact yet utilitarian blade mated to a rugged, ultra-sturdy steel frame-locking handle sporting a G-10 scale on its show side. Spanning 5.25” overall, the Budgie’s 2.00” blade is composed of CPM S35VN steel that benefits from Buck’s proprietary heat treating process — plus comes backed by the brand’s lifetime warranty. The attention to detail on the Budgie is also objectively impressive, with subtle but important elements such as studs and drilled-out holes that massively bolster traction, a red accent backspacer fitted with a lanyard hole, and a stainless steel pocket clip with a cutout of Buck’s classic anvil logo. 

Buck 838 Deploy Auto Blackout Pro

Best Auto Knife: From EDC enthusiasts to law enforcement to active military personnel, Buck Knives’ Deploy Series or automatic knives perfectly exemplifies the brand’s ability to craft modern, top-shelf blades just as well as it does old-school 110-style items. Constructed around a Cerakoted aluminum handle, the Buck 838 Deploy Auto Blackout Pro is an incredibly versatile knife that boasts rugged materials backed by a stellar build quality. In addition to a completely blacked-out, monochrome finish, the Blackout Pro-spec of the 838 Deploy Auto also features an upgraded CPM S35VN blade — a major step up over the standard model’s 154CM construction — that uses Buck’s special heat treating process. And, in typical Buck fashion, this 838 variant is made in America and backed by the brand’s lifetime warranty. 

Buck 843 Sprint Ops

Best Premium Knife: Just as conducive to tactical use as it is everyday carry applications, the Buck 843 Sprint Ops is a fantastic knife with an ergonomic Micarta handle and a workhorse of a 3.00” CPM S30V blade that clocks in at 0.12” thick. For its more discerning customers, however, Buck has proved that it can go toe-to-toe with more premium outfits in the space — like Spyderco and Benchmade — with this top-shelf version of the 843 Sprint Ops that sees its Micarta and S30V constructions jettisoned in favor of more high-end forged carbon fiber and equally-premium CPM S45VN steel that’s been hit with Buck’s patented Paul Bos heat treatment process. And, as you’d expect from a top-shelf knife from Buck, the 843 Sprint Ops is handcrafted in America and is protected by Buck’s lifetime warranty.

The Best Gerber Pocket Knives For EDC

Want to learn more about another iconic American knife maker? Then be sure to check out our guide to the best Gerber knives for a deep dive into the Portland-based bladesmith where we explore its history, what makes it special, and its best EDC blades currently on the market.