The Buck Range Pro…a step into the future for a classic brand.
Today we are talking about the Buck 791 Range Pro.
The Buck model 791 Range Pro is a USA made crossbar lock knife with a 3 3/8” drop point blade made of 154CM steel. Utilizing contoured and textured scales made of glass filled nylon the Range Pro can be had in black, grey, or green. The tip up deep carry pocket clip can be reversed for either left or right handed carry. The knife weighs in at 2.9oz. You get all of this for $129.99.
In addition to this model Buck makes the 791 Range Elite which upgrades the steel to Magnacut and includes aluminum handles instead of the glass filled nylon. This one also comes with a nice colorized thumb stud that I would have liked to see carry over to the Range Pro. The price for the Elite increases to $224.99 however.
Ergonomics make all the difference.
The Range Pro isn’t reinventing the wheel. We see the 3” blade crossbar lock knife coming out from vendors all the time these days. While its not new in the knife world it is new for Buck and they have taken some steps to make their offering stand out from the rest.
First up is the spine of the grip. While most knives in this category leave an open back with barrel spacers or use a separate backspacer the Range Pro scales push into the center and connect to form a very comfortable and solid area that keeps out gunk while offering an additional grip surface. During heavy usage this added to the comfort level and helped prevent hot spots along the rear of the knife.
Second is the scales themselves. Being made of glass filled nylon allowed Buck to contour them for added comfort and fit in the hand. The pattern molded into the scales gives you a great texture without being sharp or unpleasant.
Last but not least is the jimping along the spine of the blade. The grooves are spaced well, chunky enough to get good control, and rounded making them easy to use without chewing up your thumb. The range of the jimping from the rear of the blade up past the thumb stud gives you a number of options for how you can hold the knife and still take advantage of this.
Buck heritage shines through on this one.
Buck reached back into their previous lineup to take what worked and carry it forward into the Range series. Side by side you can see the handle shape having taken inspiration from the Vantage series and this is a good thing. The Vantage is a very comfortable knife and keeping that shape makes the Range instantly familiar to anyone who has ever owned one. It also ensures the classic aesthetic is there helping ensure the lineage from the previous line of products.
The 154CM blade has Buck’s BOS heat treatment which is well known across the industry for its high quality. Additionally you get the Buck Forever warranty which adds to the peace of mind that comes from buying the Range Pro. Where the heritage gives way to modern design is in the introduction of a crossbar lock. This is Buck’s first crossbar and it is a well executed one. The lock up is solid, the movement is smooth, and the access to the lock is that sweet spot between proud and accessible.
The Range Pro feels like a Buck from the moment you pick it up. If you have been a long time fan of the brand then you can instantly appreciate the thought and engineering that went into this design to make that happen.
Is the Buck Range Pro the knife for you?
Maybe. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the two areas I feel like Buck didn’t hit the mark. One is on the price. Compared to the Range Pro you can find comparable USA made knives like the Hogue Deka which use Magnacut steel for around $15 more. If you want Magnacut on the Buck you are looking at $70 more than that. It leaves Buck missing that Goldilocks opportunity as the Range Pro wont appeal to those who want the latest and greatest steel and those looking at the Elite will see a lot of competition at a lower price. I like 154CM personally so that wasn’t a significant issues for me but its come up in discussions with others and may be a reason you look elsewhere.
Next is the choice to use washers over bearings. Plenty of people prefer washers but for this knife I find it makes the action sluggish. It was stiff out of the box and ever after a good cleaning and lubrication along with the testing it hasn’t smoothed out much. The blade can be flicked open but it takes intent. It wont drop shut no matter how much tuning I do without resulting in significant blade play. My gut tells me this will work itself out over time but if you are used to a knife on bearings this may feel disappointing to you.
Those two complaints aside I really do like this one and it will be staying in the collection and rotation. Its a good feeling knife, its an excellent representation of where Buck is taking the brand, and overall I believe the value is there. As I mentioned before…there are plenty of 3 inch crossbar lock knives out there to choose from but, in my opinion, the Buck 791 Range Pro should be in that discussion when you go to make that decision.
Should you wish to purchase a Range Pro of your own they can be found on Buck’s site linked below along with most other knife retailers.
https://www.buckknives.com/product/791-range-pro/
I hope you enjoyed this review of the Buck 791 Range Pro. Thanks as always for being here and enjoy your EDC!