The two new Buck Alpha knives, the Alpha Hunter and Alpha Scout, are serious EDC contenders.

Back in November 2022, my wife and I spent a day visiting the Buck Knives factory and headquarters in Post Falls, Idaho. We took a tour of the facility and met several of the company’s employees. One of the best parts of the visit was the sneak peek at the models it was going to unveil at SHOT Show.

Here, you can see how the spine on the Alpha Scout (right) has a slight dip compared to the Alpha Hunter

We handled several different knives during that presentation, and I was immediately drawn to the new Alpha models, the Hunter and the Scout. While big knives certainly have their place, personally I’m much more interested in EDC blades, all other things being equal. The Alpha Hunter and Alpha Scout really stood out in that regard.

It took nearly four months to finally get them in hand. They were definitely worth the wait.

UPDATED DESIGN

Ken Vitale is the product manager for Buck Knives. I asked him about the design of the Alpha models.

“We chose S35VN for the full-tang blade due to its ability to maintain a sharp edge, so there’s no stopping to sharpen the blade until the task at hand is complete,” he said. “Plus, there’s the added bonus of the great corrosion resistance this steel provides.”

Richlite is a durable material made from recycled paper and resin. Similar to Micarta, it’ll last the life of the knife and then some.

He mentioned that the Alpha Hunter is actually an updated design of a previous model. Buck went with a thinner profile and provided a textured grip. The overall result is a knife that’s ideal for field use as well as being a great option for EDC.

Here you can see the difference in color and style between the Richlite (top) and the DymaLux walnut

The knifemaker also produced the Alpha Scout, which is identical to the Hunter, just a bit smaller.

As Vitale said, “The Scout has all the options of its big brother in a smaller, more packable option.”

FRESH OUT OF THE BOX

These models are available in two handle materials, brown and cream Richlite and a dark brown walnut Dymalux. I decided to get the Alpha Hunter in the Richlite and the Alpha Scout in the walnut to better showcase the differences between the two options.

These Alpha models are well-designed for outdoor use. Both knives have removable scales for easy cleaning. Along the spine are two sections of jimping, one at about the midpoint of the blade and the other beginning where the handle meets the blade. The forward section is particularly useful for indexing when you are doing detail work.

Both knives have generous finger choils.

“The forward blade jimping is there to provide the user with an area for their thumb and index finger to bite into, ensuring positive control and the ability to choke up on the knife while processing game,” Vitale said.

The Scout also has a slight dip in the spine between those jimping sections, fitting the thumb perfectly. The scales are textured throughout to provide a positive grip, even in cold or wet conditions.

It is difficult to see, but if you look at the edge directly below the word Buck, that’s where there was a tiny bit of flat spot on the blade.

Both knives are curved from tip to end in a gentle arc. The drop-point profile is perfect for processing game and performing other knife chores. At the same time, that curve makes for a very comfortable knife to hold and use.

Even the sheaths were designed for outdoor use. The retaining snaps are placed such that they won’t snag on brush as you move through the forest. This helps ensure your new blades make it to your destination with you. The sheaths are made of dark brown leather and are molded to fit the knives. You might be able to squeeze a 2-inch-wide belt through the loops, but one with a smaller width would be easier. That said, the Scout is small enough to pocket carry if you wear cargo pants or something with similarly baggy pockets.

The scallops on either side of the handle make for a comfortable pinch grip.

Both knives were very sharp right out of the box. However, I did notice that there was about a ¾-inch stretch on the Hunter’s edge that was apparently missed on the last pass on grinder belt. Just a bit of time with a strop will fix it, but it was surprising enough to be worth mentioning. I’ve owned several Buck knives over the years, and this was the first time I’d ever encountered something like that. Speaking of sharpening, the knives are equipped with large choils to make it easier to sharpen the entire length of the edge.

Lanyard holes round out the package. Personally, I’m not a lanyard person, but I know plenty of people who are fond of them. I do like the fact that the lanyard attachment point is part of an extended tang rather than drilled through the end of the handle scales. This makes it more comfortable all around.

STYLISH, FUNCTIONAL EDC

One of the key aspects of a knife, perhaps the most important of all, is control. Can I do what I want with the knife without it being clumsy, awkward, or difficult? At the end of the day, that’s what it all boils down to, I feel. Control means efficiency, as well as safety.

“The Hunter is an ideal outdoors knife…The Scout, while adept with those sorts of chores, suits me as more of a true EDC knife.”

The snaps on the sheaths are rotated to the side rather than being right up front. This helps prevent them from snagging on underbrush as you move through a forest.

Both sheaths are formed around the knives.

The Alpha Hunter and Scout both have control in spades. The handles lock solidly in your grip. With each knife, the jimping on the spine and the back of the handle, plus the generous finger choil, indexing the knife in your hand is easy, no matter what the conditions might be.

“The Alpha Hunter and Scout both have control in spades. The handles lock solidly in your grip.”

To give an idea of size, here is the Alpha Scout (top) and the Alpha Hunter (bottom) compared to the ubiquitous Buck 110 Folding Hunter.

I haven’t owned many other knives that have this sort of scallop design on the scales made specifically for a pinch grip. Alex Harrison with Night Watch Knives is the only other maker I know of who routinely does this style. I’ll admit that I wasn’t keen on this sort of handle at first, but after handling a few from him as well as these from Buck, it has grown on me quite a bit. I don’t know that I’d want it on a larger knife, but it is great for smaller ones like these.

Both the Hunter (shown) and the Scout have two sections of jimping.

The blade on the Alpha Scout might be small, but it punches well above its weight class in usefulness.

In playing around with both knives, I found I really like the forward jimping on the spines. It gives a bit of extra purchase when you’re doing fine, detailed cuts.

Lanyard holes are present and part of a slightly extended tang.

I see the Hunter and the Scout having slightly different roles, though with plenty of overlap. The Hunter is an ideal outdoors knife, perfect for anything you’ll need while out in the field, from processing game to prepping food in camp. The Scout, while adept with those sorts of chores, suits me as more of a true EDC knife. It is compact, but punches well above its weight class. In other words, the Hunter is sort of a field EDC and the Scout fits everywhere else.

 

A CHOICE OF DURABLE HANDLE MATERIALS

The Alpha Hunter and Alpha Scout are available in two different handle materials. Richlite consists of paper and wood pulp that’s been infused with resin. It is billed as a sustainable material as the paper is recycled and the pulp comes from trees that were harvested responsibly. The end result is rather similar to Micarta in workability and use.

DymaLux is made from layers of birch wood that’s been dyed, then infused with phenolic resin. In this particular case, it has been dyed a dark walnut brown. In addition to knife handles, this material is commonly used for pool cues and pistol grips.

Both options are long-lasting, exceptionally durable, and look great.

SPECS

Model: Buck Alpha Hunter
Overall Length: 8.125 inches
Blade Length: 3.625 inches
Steel: S35VN
Weight: 4.59 ounces
Sheath: Leather
MSRP: $214.99
Model: Buck Alpha Scout
Overall Length: 6.625 inches
Blade Length: 2.875 inches
Steel: S35VN
Weight: 2.79 ounces
Sheath: Leather

MSRP: $189.99

SOURCES

Buck Knives

BuckKnives.com

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