Back in 2017, Buck Knives came out with the 101 Hunter, a fixed blade take on their legendary 110 Folding Hunter — which itself has become of the most influential pocket knives ever since its 1964 debut, for how it combined the strength of a fixed blade with the compact nature of a folder.
The 101 Hunter was discontinued after only a few years but has now resurfaced as a limited-edition release for Buck’s October 2025 Buck of the Month, and the new handle makes it look better than ever.
A Full-Tang Take on a Classic
When Al and Chuck Buck introduced the 110 Folding Hunter in 1964, they didn’t just create a popular knife — they redefined what a folding knife could be. That lockback mechanism gave hunters a folder they could trust with serious field work, and the brass bolsters with ebony wood scales became the visual language of American hunting knives for decades. Made in Post Falls, Idaho, the 101 takes that iconic clip point silhouette and commits to it fully with a fixed tang design, giving you the profile everyone recognizes but with the backbone for tasks where a folder just won’t cut it.
The original 101 ran 420HC steel, which is a workhorse option but nothing that’ll make knife collectors raise their eyebrows too high. But this October release swaps that out for S35VN — a powder metallurgy steel that’s become the go-to for premium folders — and pairs it with Paul Bos’s heat treatment. For a fixed blade that’ll see outdoor use, it’s a smart middle ground that’s refined enough to hold an edge through extended cutting but tough enough that you’re not babying it in the field.
Richlite Gets the Spotlight
Buck also replaced the standard ebony scales with scalloped El Dorado Richlite, and the effect is stunning. Richlite is a paper-based resin composite (essentially a refined Micarta) that’s incredibly stable across temperature swings and moisture exposure, but it’s the hypnotic visual layers in this particular variant that steal the show. The scalloped machining adds plenty of grip while also creating depth that brings out the material’s natural grooves.
Paired with a brushed nickel silver bolster instead of the traditional brass, the whole package skews more refined than rustic, even though this is a knife built for serious use. There’s a lanyard hole at the butt, and it ships with a distressed black leather sheath as well.
Spec Sheet
Model: 101 Hunter (October 2025 Buck of the Month)
Blade Steel: S35VN (Paul Bos heat treated)
Blade Shape: Clip point
Blade Length: 3.75″
Blade Thickness: 0.120″
Handle Material: Scalloped El Dorado Richlite
Weight: 4.9 oz
Sheath: Black distressed leather
Production: USA (Post Falls, Idaho)
Limited Edition: 750 pieces
Price: $175
Pricing & Availability
Priced at $175, the October 2025 Buck of the Month is limited to just 750 pieces that are still available from Buck’s website.
Recap
Buck Knives 101 Hunter Buck of the Month October 2025
Buck’s bringing back the 101 Hunter — the fixed blade version of their legendary 110 folder — as a limited October release with an S35VN steel upgrade and a scalloped Richlite handle that looks absolutely killer.
