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The Buck 250 Saunter Slip Joint Knife is Fun, Practical and Temporary
The Buck 250 Saunter is a limited release slip joint knife. Buck says it will only manufacture this knife in 2022. Once those knives sell out there will be no more. From a collectors standpoint this is kind of cool, but I have been so impressed with this knife that I feel bad for the slip joint fans that will not be able to get one down the road.
The fit and finish of the Saunter is impressive, the color changing handle is fun, and the blade design is practical. It really is an instant classic type knife. Too bad it is temporary. It could be argued that the price is a bit steep, but I think it is priced about right considering it is American made with a good steel and a carbon fiber handle. I don’t have any real complaints about this knife, but I was annoyed by the ridiculously tight black leather pocket pouch that shipped with it. It is pretty much unusable.
The Buck Saunter’s carbon fiber handle appears to change color in different types of light. When the sun hits, it splashes of warm color appear, but in the shade it is a fairly flat gray. There is no half stop on the Buck Saunter. It does have a pretty strong back spring though. I would guess this slip joint has a pull rating of A7 or A8. It is certainly not nail breaking strong, but there is noticeable resistance.The Saunter is a relatively small knife, but the wide handle is easy to grip, and the heavy chamfering helps make it a comfortable knife to hold. The Saunter design is quite a bit different the the classic looking slip joints of their past. The thick handle, the drop point blade, and the lanyard hole are all a welcome change. Hopefully Buck will come out with future slip joints that incorporate these design elements.The Saunter’s blade bites. It is a hungry little devil with a full flat grind that arrives sharp, and it makes short work of wood or carboard challenges. The S35VN blade holds its edge extremely well, so it is a good choice for anyone who is not a big fan of sharpening.The Saunter looks pretty, but it is more capable from a working standpoint than most other slip joints we have tested.The torx screws on the rear of the Saunter’s handle are T6 size, and they are recessed. The liner of the Saunter is fairly thick which shows that Buck was more interested in durability than keeping the knife’s weight down. That is understandable considering the Saunter’s price point and the fact that it will not be replaceable in a year or two.The S35VN blade of the Saunter offers great corrosion resistance, but I won’t make a habit of submerging it in creeks.The marbled carbon fiber handle of the Saunter has a modern look, but the knife looks right at home in the field.The Saunter makes a decent food prep knife for picnic snacks.The marbled carbon fiber handle really pops in the sunlight.The Saunter is a photogenic little bastard. I was fairly tough on the Saunter over the course of this review, and it held up well. I had no pivot issues or problems with corrosion. However, I will probably take it apart and clean it soon.I hope to see more modern slip joint designs from Buck in the near future. This is one of my favorite slip joints of all time, and I applaud Buck for their willingness to take a risk with something different.
Ben started a twenty year commercial photography career after a blurry stint in the navy. He spent a lot of time losing and breaking knives and other EDC gear on location shoots before starting Nothing But Knives. He has reviewed and tested hundreds of both outdoor and kitchen knives over the course of the last six years, and he was mostly sober while testing and reviewing.
