BACKWOODS HOODLUM
Ron Hood’s collaboration with Buck Knives has created a heavy-duty trail knife for the ultimate woodsmaster!
There is an often-quoted platitude among lovers of large blades that “a big knife can always be counted on to do a little knife’s job, but the reverse is never true.” Having first met Ron Hood around 20 years ago and having seen all his “Woodsmaster” videos, I know for a fact that he was always a firm believer in that truism. He certainly put his faith in magnum-sized blades and put his personal blessings on a number of different models from various knife companies over the years. Readers may remember that we reviewed one of the limited edition TOPS Knives/Hood “Hoodlums” in the November 2010 issue of Tactical Knives. Then, a little less than a year ago, I heard Ron had joined with Buck Knives to create a production adaptation of the same blade, the Buck/Hood Hoodlum.
Buck’s Big Knife
At a hair over 10 inches in blade length, depending on where you measure from, I would have to say this is the largest standard model Buck Knives has ever offered. Another interesting point is that the blade is 5160 carbon spring steel, an alloy many will consider a much better choice for a chopping tool than some of the more brittle stainless alloys. The overall length of the knife is 15.5 inches, and its weight is a surprisingly light 14.6 ounces or 22 ounces in the sheath. Its handle is black linen Micarta and each knife comes in an ambidextrous nylon sheath set up for either belt or MOLLE carry.
One advantage of the dropped handle on the Hoodlum is to line the point up with your arm for its full thrusting potential in a hand-to-hand fight.
To make the sheath even more versatile, there is an accessory pouch on the front that can hold sharpening equipment, a spare folder, fire starting items or a small survival kit, depending on your needs. The knife is made at Buck’s Post Falls, Idaho, plant in the good old U.S.A. Suggested retail runs $230, but I have already seen deep discounts on that price.
Though I wish it fit the blade a little tighter, I certainly appreciated the fact that the knife sheath was ambidextrous. If I were carrying this knife in the field, that front pocket would probably contain a diamond pad sharpener.
September 24th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
RIP Ron Hood…he was a good guy.