EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Got a confession to make this week. I don’t have any new EDC gear to showcase this time around.
So let’s try something a little different. I dug into my storage area and came up with a couple of pieces of “forgotten gear” that are actually really cool, but for some reason, I don’t carry them as much as I should.
First off, let’s take a look at the Buck 102 “Woodsman.” This is a fixed-blade hunting knife that has a classic look and feel to it.
This might be the most expensive knife that I paid for out of my own pocket (I got a Finch Halo in a giveaway). It was one of the first knives I purchased when I rediscovered my love for pocket knives about two years ago but I haven’t really carried it that much.
Buck 102 “Woodsman” with a Fenix EO5R flashlight displayed on a Junkin Genius hank with a camping theme. Photo by Dave Burge/KTSM
For probably over a year, it has been stored away in a storage trunk in my home office area.
Don’t get me wrong: It is a gorgeous knife and definitely gives every appearance that it would be super useful.
But the Woodsman is a true hunting and camping knife. After spending nearly a decade covering the Army at a previous job, camping lost its appeal after spending so many days out in the field covering and reporting on our nation’s finest.
The Woodsman comes in three different versions. Of course, I got the cheapest, most affordable one — the one with black phenolic (a type of hard resin) handles. It is currently listed at $74.99 on the Buck website.
I bought it at Cabela’s and I remember paying a little bit less than that. If memory serves, I think I paid around $70 or $72 for it.
At that price, I just haven’t felt right about using it around the house or yard. And as a fixed blade that 7 3/4 inches long including handle, it’s not the most inconspicuous daily carry around. (The Woodsman is considerably smaller than some of Buck’s other fixed-blades like the 119 or the 117 “Brahma.”)
So it has become my version of a “safe queen,” safely tucked away where I know exactly where it is but it is not getting any use.
The Buck 102 also comes in a cocobolo version (listed at $94.99 on the Buck website) and a O.D. (olive drab) green micarta version ($149.99 on the Buck website).
If you shop online at Smoky Mountain Knife Works, Chicago Knife Works or Atlantic Knife, you can probably find it cheaper. And of course, there is so much competition for knife customers, there are always sales that pop up.
Here is what Buck says about the 102:
“The classic 102 Woodsman is a true hunting knife, designed with a fine clip blade perfect for fish and small game. Features include full tang construction, a finger guard integrated into the blade, thumb grip ridges, and a deep choil. Overall length: 7 3/4″ (19.7 cm). Includes a genuine, leather sheath. Imported sheath.”
Oh, that reminds me. It does come with a super nice leather sheath that fits the knife perfectly.
One reviewer on the Buck website compared it to a fixed-blade version of the classic Buck 110 folding hunting knife. Another person said they carried a Buck 102 while serving during the Vietnam War.
Like I said, it’s a beautiful knife, but in an urban environment, I find very few opportunities to carry mine. If you are into hunting, fishing and camping, it can make a perfect “bird and trout” knife.
Onto the second piece of forgotten gear, my Fenix EO5R flashlight. It is a really nice keychain-sized light that is rechargeable.
According to the Fenix website, it has a max distance of 210 feet or 64 meters and has 400 lumens of power.
It is less than 2 3/4 inches long and just over a half-inch thick. It also weighs less than an ounce, according to the Fenix website.
It adds up to being a perfect everyday carry flashlight.
I just find myself using nearly a dozen Olight flashlights that I own instead of it.
One thing about my Fenix. It can turn on easily in your pocket and when it comes time to use it, the rechargeable battery has run down.
I also find its “user interface” (how you operate the light) to be a little cumbersome and not as easy to use as my Olights. But it is a fantastic light, especially for the price (about $30 off the Fenix website).
I got mine in green and threw on a green paracord zip pull to make it easier to find in my pocket.
Here are a couple links if you are interested in either of these two pieces of gear.
Fenix EO5R Keychain Flashlight
Here are some YouTube channels on EDC that I find informative and fun.
NOTE: Dave Burge is a web producer and digital reporter with KTSM.com. All gear mentioned or reviewed in his column has been paid for out of his own pocket, unless otherwise noted. He can be reached at dburge@ktsm.com.
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