Video Overview

Max LVL EDC takes a deep look at Buck Knives’ latest lineup, arguing that the legendary American brand has made a significant leap forward with its newest releases. From the slim, modernized 110 and 112 Slim Elite models to the newer 700, 791, and 698 platforms, Buck is updating its classic DNA for the modern EDC carrier. If you’ve ever written off Buck as a brand living on nostalgia, this video will make you reconsider. Max LVL EDC is one of the most thorough knife and multitool reviewers on YouTube — follow the channel at maxlvledc.com.

Items and/or Gear Mentioned in the Video

• Buck 110 Slim Elite – Purchase on Amazon
• Buck 112 Slim Elite – Purchase on Amazon
• Buck 791 Folding Knife – Purchase on Amazon
• Buck 700 Folding Knife – Purchase on Amazon
• Buck 698 Folding Knife – Purchase on Amazon
• Buck Alpha Series Folding Knives – Purchase on Amazon

The Buck 110 and 112 Slim Elite are the flagship redesigns — taking Buck’s iconic lockback silhouettes and shaving down the profiles for modern EDC use. The Alpha Series and the 791 and 698 models represent newer directions for the brand beyond its legacy designs.

Editor’s Insight

Buck Knives has been making folding knives in the United States since 1902, and the Buck 110 is arguably the most recognizable folding knife in American history. For decades it was the knife your father carried, and his father before that — a heavy, brass-bolstered lockback that defined what a folding knife could be. The problem, from a modern EDC perspective, is that the original 110 is thick, heavy, and slow to deploy. It’s a great knife from another era.

The Slim Elite redesigns change that calculus entirely. By reducing the blade thickness, thinning the handles, and refining the lockback mechanism, Buck has produced versions of the 110 and 112 that carry and use like modern knives while retaining the visual heritage that makes them instantly recognizable. This is a genuinely difficult design problem to solve — you can’t just make a knife thinner without compromising either the blade geometry or the handle feel — and the fact that Buck has done it well suggests serious engineering investment.

The 110’s 3.75-inch blade in the Slim Elite version gives you meaningful cutting utility without the bulk of the original. The 112’s shorter 3-inch blade makes it a more discreet daily carry for environments where a larger blade would raise eyebrows. Both models use Buck’s updated steel choices, which represent another area where the brand has leveled up — the old 420HC that defined Buck’s value tier has been supplemented with higher-performance options.

The Buck 791 and 700 represent the brand pushing beyond its lockback heritage. These are more modern platform designs with flipper openers and liner or frame locks — the mechanism that most of today’s EDC knives use. For buyers who want Buck’s American manufacturing and brand heritage without the traditional lockback aesthetic, these models are the answer.

The 698 is another interesting entry — a slimmer, more refined design that sits between the classic aesthetic and the fully modern platform. It suggests Buck is thinking carefully about the spectrum of buyers it wants to reach, from the nostalgic 110 loyalist to the person who wants a modern EDC knife from an American manufacturer.

The Alpha Series is perhaps the most ambitious move: an entry-level lineup that aims to give buyers quality Buck construction at accessible price points. Expanding your buyer base without diluting the brand is a tightrope walk, but Buck’s manufacturing history gives it credibility that a newcomer couldn’t claim.

Max LVL EDC has been covering Buck Knives for years and understands the context that makes these releases significant. His channel is dedicated to practical gear evaluation — not hype, not affiliate-first content, but genuine assessment of whether a tool does its job. His read that Buck is “not messing around” with this lineup carries weight coming from someone who has handled most of what the category offers.

For EDC carriers evaluating their knife, the Buck Slim Elite lineup is worth serious consideration. You get American heritage, proven lockback reliability, and a form factor that now fits comfortably in a modern pocket. That’s a combination that wasn’t available even five years ago.

Closing Remarks

Buck Knives is making a compelling case for its place in the modern EDC market with the Slim Elite redesigns and its expanding lineup. Whether you’re a longtime Buck loyalist or a first-time buyer, this video from Max LVL EDC is worth watching before you decide. What knife are you carrying right now? Let us know in the comments. Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links — purchases made through our links support the site at no additional cost to you.