Buck Hartsook

Review by Phil
Elmore

Buck Knives‘
Hartsook is a diminutive fixed blade packaged with a simple plastic
sheath. Designed for neck or possibly keychain carry, the little
Hartsook is primarily a low-profile tactical backup knife, but it could
function perfectly well as a small utility blade or even a backup field
knife for fine work. Its specifications are as follows:

Blade Length: 1.88 inches
Blade Steel: S30V with Black Oxide Coating
Overall Length: 4.25 inches
Sheath Material: Molded Nylon
Weight: 0.5 ounces

The little knife is extremely thin.
At half an ounce, you’ll barely know it’s there, in or out of the
Nylon sheath. The sheath has loops large enough for paracord
(though if you go hanging a simple, knotted paracord strap around your
neck, you’re taking the risk of choking yourself).

The blade fits snugly inside the
sheath with just the tiniest amount of rattle (which is caused mostly by
the weight of the paracord lanyard hanging from the handle). Drawing it
with one hand is just a little awkward, because you have to push the
sheath away from the handle in order to make the plastic knob on the
sheath clear the hole in the handle where the two mate. When
reinserting the knife, I found I usually pushed the handle past this
retention knob and had to back the handle off to get it seated properly.

The Hartsook’s cutting edge is ground
on both sides and had a nice working edge out of the box. It penetrates
well because it is so thin, and it slices decently thanks to its curve
and taper.

In my large hands, the paracord
lanyard formed a handle extension of sorts. The contours of the
handle locked the little knife into my mitt without difficulty, while
the grooves cut into the handle and spine improved handling and
traction. The forward set of grooves is the natural purchase point for
the thumb, while the rear grooves just help the knife stay in the hand.

This is the sort of little knife that anyone can own, carry, and
conceal. It’s accesssible to all knife buyers. I have to admit
that there’s a certain elegance in its simplicity. Its form
follows its function and is no more or less than required. >>

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Buck Hartsook

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