Kershaw Buck Commander Green Antelope Hunter II Knife and Zip It Combo Pack Review

When it comes to quality knives, you know that you can rely on Kershaw. This is because they have award-winning technologies and advanced materials as well as solid sounding blade lockups. You know that when you have a Kershaw in hand, it is not going to let you down.

Kershaw was founded in 1974 to design and manufacture tools that knife users would be proud to own, carry, and use. This has meant that every Kershaw knife must be of the highest quality. Whether it’s a hardworking pocketknife, a hunting knife, or a special collectors’ edition, Kershaw always chooses appropriate, high-quality materials and is dedicated to intensive craftsmanship. Along with extremely tight tolerances and state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques, this ensures that Kershaw knives provide a lifetime of performance.

Kershaw also has a commitment to innovation and has pioneered the use of many of the technologies and advanced materials that are now the standard in the knife industry. Kershaw says, “Our SpeedSafe assisted opening knives were first-to-market. We introduced the concept of knives with interchangeable blades in our Blade Traders. Recently, our Composite Blade technology, which combines two steels into one blade, gives knife users the best of both worlds by enabling us to use steel known for edge retention on the edge and steel known for strength on the spine. And we will keep on innovating, bringing new and better technologies and materials to today’s knife making industry and knife-using public.”

Kershaw Knives is a brand of Kai USA Ltd, a member of the Kai Group. For over 100 years, Kai has been Japan’s premier blade producer. Kai takes an innovative approach to product development based on the close coordination of research and development, production, marketing, and distribution functions. While many of Kershaw’s quality products are made in Kershaw’s 55,000 sq. ft. facility in Tualatin, Oregon (just south of Portland), they also draw on Kai’s resources to provide the very best for the customer.

Today we will be discussing the Kershaw Buck Commander Green Antelope Hunting knife as well as the Zip It.

 

The Blade:

The blade on this hunting knife is made out of 8Cr13MoV steel. You may have heard that 8Cr13MoV stainless is basically the equivalent of AUS8A. And it’s true. For everyday use, even a serious “knife knut” would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between a well-made 8Cr13MoV blade and a well-made AUS8A blade. Nevertheless, there are slight differences in the steel formula. While most other components are relatively equal, 8Cr13MoV has slightly more carbon for hardness and wear resistance and slightly less nickel. The key to blade performance for both of these steels is manufacturing quality. That’s where Kershaw’s expertise comes in. Kershaw precision heat-treats 8Cr13MoV steel to bring out its best high-performance characteristics: the ability to take and hold an edge, strength, and hardness. Kershaw says, “8Cr13MoV is top-of-the-line Chinese steel and, we believe, offers our customers an excellent value.” This steel has been hardened to a HRC level of 57–59.

The blade has been finished with a satin finish. This finish is created by repeatedly sanding the blade in one direction with an increasing level of a fine abrasive. The fine abrasive that is most often used is a sandpaper. The satin finish is used to show off the bevels of the blade, while also showcasing the liens of the knife and reducing its reflective glare. As a key, the finer the abrasive and the more even the lines; the cleaner the satin finish blade is going to look. While the satin finish is going to look classy on this knife, it is a lower quality knife, so it is not going to give you the cleanest satin finish that you have ever found. The satin finish is one of the most common and most traditional blade finishes that you are going to find on the market. This is a perfect blade finish for a classy hunting knife such as this one.

The blade has been carved into a drop point blade shape, which is the perfect blade shape for a hunting knife. This is an all-purpose knife that can stand up to almost anything. The shape of the knife is formed by having the back edge of the knife run straight from the handle to the tip of the knife in a slow curved manner, which creates a lowered point. It is this lowered point that provides more control and adds strength to the tip. It is also because the point on a drop point blade is easily controlled that makes it such a popular shape on a hunting knife. This helps you avoid accidentally nicking internal organs or ruining the meat. Drop point blades also sport a very large belly, which makes slicing a breeze. This large belly is going to help you skin your game with ease. The drop point blade does have one major disadvantage: because of its broad tip it is going to be less suitable for piercing than the clip point blade shape would be. You do need to remember that it is that same broad tip that gives the drop point blades their characteristic strength.

 

The Handle:

The handle on this knife is made out of a molded co-polymer which is a rubber like plastic. This is not the highest quality handle material that you are going to come across, because the rubber is going to break down after a while. That being said, it is going to offer you much more texture than any other material is going to offer you. This comes in handy with a hunting knife because you know that the job is going to get messy and you are going to want a material that can get wet without losing its grip. This material is also not going to corrode, which is a benefit that many hunters can enjoy. Lastly, the material is easy to maintain and clean because it is not going to absorb any of the fluids that it comes in contact with.

The handle is built for a secure grip. The spine has a slow slope towards the butt of the handle. The belly features a very large finger guard in case of slippage. Then there are four deep finger grooves to provide a secure and comfortable grip on this knife. Down the length of the handle are thin grooves to provide the needed texture.

 

The Mechanism:

This is a fixed blade knife. Many people like having a folding knife because it is more discrete, easier to conceal, and easier to have with you at all times. However, there are so many big benefits to having a fixed blade knife. For starts, they are going to be bigger and stronger than a folding knife is. You can really find a fixed blade in any size, but you know that no matter which size it is, it is going to be incredibly strong. The 3.6-inch blade is large enough to get your hunting job done on most average hunting tasks.

Because they don’t have to fit inside of a handle, the blade is going to be bigger and longer. This means that you are going to be able to perform easier with this knife than you would of a smaller blade. This also means that the knife is not going to break. The blade can be thicker than it would be on a folding knife, which helps protect it against snapping if you are ever using it a little tougher.

Fixed blades are also less likely to break because there are no moving parts on a fixed blade. This means that there is no spring that can wear down or rust, no hinge that needs oiling, and no inner pieces that might break down over time. This characteristic also helps make the knife easier to maintain. The knife is going to be easier to clean because you don’t have to really get into the knife to clean it. All you have to do is wipe down the blade and handle and oil the blade occasionally.

Also, fixed blades are going to make for a superior survival tool. This means that if you are ever on a hunting trip, you will be able to use this knife for more than just hunting. Some of the tasks that you can perform are prying, digging, splitting wood, cutting things, using it as a first aid tool, using it to prepare food, as well as using the butt of the knife to hammer. Although, the butt on this knife is not going to be the best butt you’ve ever come across.

Overall, when it comes to a hunting knife, your best bet is going to be a fixed blade. It will allow you to take on more tasks and will be able to perform duties other than just hunting.

 

The Sheath:

             This knife comes with a leather sheath for storage and carrying. Leather is one of the more traditional materials that is still used to make a knife sheath. Many people view a leather sheath as rugged, tough, and strong. This material is not going to break like plastic is known to do and if the stitches happen to come loose, it is an easy fix. Not only is leather a quality material, it also looks and feels good. The older your leather sheath gets, the better it is going to look (when you properly care for it.) Also, once a leather sheath is broken in, it is going to provide a custom fit for your knife. One of the biggest advantages for a leather sheath for a hunting knife is that leather is going to be completely silent. You will be able to pull the knife out and put it back in without making a sound. This is one of the more unique characteristics that is mostly found in only leather.

Of course, leather also does have its disadvantages. Leather is not a waterproof material so if it gets wet often it can dry out the oils of the leather and crack. This cracking can also be caused by being exposed to extreme heat. You can prevent cracking if you oil your sheath from time to time. Just know that to get so many great benefits, you do have to take care of your sheath.

 

The Specs:

The knife has a blade that measures in at 3.6 inches long. The overall length of this hunting knife measures in at 8 inches even. This is one of Kershaw’s hunting knives, which means that it has been designed for the toughness, durability, and edge holding capabilities that your next hunting drip demands.

 

The Zip It:

             The Zip It gut hook is compact and lightweight. It is perfect or “unzipping” the skin without puncturing the gut sack. The Zip It handle is made out of steel with a non-slip insert. The blade on the Zip It measures in at .5 inches. The overall length of the Zip It hook is 3.75 inches long.

 

Conclusion:

When Kershaw is discussing this knife, they say, “This fixed-blade knife is just the right size for field dressing most game and makes an especially excellent deer knife—which is why the Buck Commander® Buckmen chose it as one of their go-to tools. The quality steel is designed to hold an edge longer, providing extended use without re-sharpening—even under heavy field use. You’ll also like how the Antelope Hunter II fits your hand. The finger-contoured handle let’s your hand lock into place for a solid, yet extremely comfortable grip. The co-polymer handle is grippy enough to be secure, even when wet, yet cleans up easily. This set also includes the Zipit gut hook. Compact and lightweight, the Zipit makes it easy to “unzip” the skin without danger of puncturing the gut sack and ruining the meat. Includes nylon sheath for the knife.” You can pick up this combo pack today at BladeOps.