Home / Outdoors / Knives & Multi-Tools

A Beloved American Heritage EDC Brand Surprise Drops an Affordable Workhorse Knife

Technically, Buck has launched two knives, but they’re extremely similar in their materials, mechanisms and even formats.

Two Buck folding knives with black blades, one with a black handle and the other with a tan handle, on a gray surface.Buck
Add Gear Patrol as a Preferred Source on Google

By Sean Tirman

Published

·

If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

Buck is best known for its traditional, heritage knife and tool designs. After all, it’s one of the most significant knife brands in American history, responsible for arguably the most iconic folding knife of all time: the 110 Folding Hunter.

However, that doesn’t mean the brand is stuck in the past. Recently, Buck has illustrated its prowess in the realm of contemporary folding knives, as well.

And it has just added another pair to its catalog in the form of the Buck 698 Ferrox and Buck 700 Nomad, both of which have a combination of fan-favorite materials, features and EDC styling. And did I mention that they’re incredibly affordable? Well, they are …

Two Buck folding knives with black blades, one with a black textured handle and the other with a tan smooth handle, on a gray surface.
While their silhouettes vary somewhat, it’s safe to call these sister knives, as they share many similar features and materials.
Buck

Two of a kind

While these knives are not variations of a single model, they do share many elements in common. More specifically, their materials, mechanisms and functional features are pretty in sync.

For starters, both knives feature 3.25-inch black oxide D2 steel blades, though the Nomad is drop-point while the Ferrox is reverse tanto. Similarly, both have thumb studs for manual deployment.

Black folding knife with partially open blade and red accents on a gray background.
Both knives feature thumb stud deployments, crossbar locks, reversible pocket clips and lanyard attachment points.
Buck

On the other side of the knife, the similarities are, well, similar. The knives both have aluminum handle scales, albeit shaped slightly differently and boasting different machining for a slightly different grip.

They also both get fan-favorite crossbar locks, lanyard attachment points toward their butts and reversible pocket clips. In fact, they’re both completely ambidextrous, making them friendly to lefties and righties alike.

Folding knife with a partially open silver blade marked "D2" and a light blue textured handle with a silver clip and bronze accents.
Both the Ferrox and Nomad have blades made from D2 steel, a classic, hard-working, affordable fan-favorite.
Buck

Making the cut

With so many similarities, you might be wondering how you’re supposed to pick between the two. Their colorways might help … if only a little.

Both knives are available in two similar colorways: black and bronze. That said, the black versions have a bit of variation. The Ferrox is completely blacked out, while the Nomad has red highlights on the thumb studs, lock and lanyard hole.

However, they also both have a third colorway, distinct from one another. For this third colorway, the Ferrox gets a silver handle to match with its black blade, while the Nomad’s is probably the most distinct of all, matching blue handle scales to bronze details and a silver blade.

Closed folding knife with a copper-colored textured handle and black blade marked "BUCK" on a black fabric background.
Both knives feature aluminum handle scales with some machined texture for added grip.
Buck

All of that said, these really come down to personal style preference more than anything, particularly functional. In fact, even their prices are exactly the same, making it a practical toss-up beyond their colorways.

To be brief, you really can’t go wrong with either (or both) of these knives. They’re well-built, reliable, durable and perhaps best of all, highly affordable.

Four Buck folding knives with black blades and textured handles in tan and black colors, arranged on a brown surface.
Both knives come in black and bronze colorways, and each has its own unique third colorway.
Buck

Availability and pricing

Both the Buck 698 Ferrox and the Buck 700 Nomad are now available on the brand’s site for $80 apiece in three colors each.

About the Author: Sean Tirman is an associate editor at Gear Patrol who specializes in EDC, cannabis and outdoor gear.

Stay Sharp

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.

add as a preferred source on google
, , ,