The Selkirk is Buck’s nominal entry into the world of categorical survival knives, and while it is far from the only Buck Knife that you would be glad to be carrying if you got lost in the woods, it still puts up some good stats (specs?) when it comes down to it.
So here are some things you’ll definitely love about this Buck survival knife.
The Flat Grind
Most Buck knives are made with a hollow grind. While this is great for processing game, a hollow grind is less than optimal for working with wood as it tends to dive in and cut too deep. It also produces a relatively fragile edge that tends to roll and chip when struck.
The Selkirk features a full flat grind which is perfect for slicing, carving, and even splitting and batoning, among other camp chores.
The Heft
This is a heavy Buck survival knife and you won’t feel guilty about batoning or striking it. It weighs 7.6oz – almost a full half a pound – and let us tell you, it feels heavier than that.
The Square Spine
The Buck Selkirk has a squared-off spine that is so well done it’s nearly sharp. This is great because it has a lot of applications around camp – for instance, scraping fine wood shavings off of a dry log for use as tinder, or fleshing a hide.
The spine also throws sparks off a ferro rod like a rain shower – and the Selkirk comes with one, too.
The Sheath
The injection-molded nylon sheath is another big selling point of this Buck survival knife. It’s extremely durable, it drains, and it’s water and chemical-resistant.
The sheath also offers excellent retention and really good versatility. It can be rigged for tip-up and tip-down carry, and even horizontally for scout carry or cross-draw.
The sheath even features holes around the perimeter that can be used to store spare cordage or used for the purpose of lashing the sheath to a pack or belt.
The Contours of the Micarta Handle Scales
If you look at the Selkirk in its side profile – for instance, through the packaging – it looks like it’s made with one seriously uncomfortable handle with terrible ergonomics.
But once you take it out and handle it, you’ll realize that the scales are laterally compressed and graciously rounded, with a gentle swell in the middle to fill the grip and slight swells at the front and back to help prevent slipping.
It’s very comfortable, very dense, feels extremely tough, and, being made from Micarta, is effectively bombproof.
The Steel
This is made with – you guessed it – Buck’s signature steel, 420HC. It’s also made in China, unlike many of the “better” Buck knives; but all the same, it’s done well and features a good heat treatment.
And, who cares that this is a budget steel when it offers such excellent performance and ease of resharpening? That’s what matters in a survival knife, anyway, not to mention the fact that getting 420HC to rust is no cakewalk.
The Squared-Off Pommel
The Selkirk also features a squared-off pommel that can be used as a striking tool – it can be used as an improvised hammer, to drive tent stakes, and even to crack nuts or shellfish – making this knife truly versatile.
And that’s what a survival knife is all about.
The Price
Finally, if there’s one more thing you’ll love about this Buck survival knife, it’s the price. At under $70, it’s an absolute steal compared even to budget survival knives like ESEE knives or the OKC RAT series of fixed blades. And it’s corrosion-resistant, unlike the bulk of their 1095 steel knives.
So, where can you get one? At White Mountain Knives. They carry this Buck survival knife and a million and one other top choices, all at great prices, and shipping in the U.S. is free.
