Buck Paradigm: "Looks Can Kill" by Nutnfancy

Polished blue/black G10 handles make the Buck Paradigm 337 a class act. With its lack of traction and multi-step deployment, this is probably not the best tactical blade. But its good looks, high quality, US manufacture, and fun action makes excel as a collectible or utility carry blade. In the Paradigm you will find the unique bolster activated "Shift Mechanism" and lock with assisted opening. Rotate the bolster ccw and flip the tang to get the blade out. Once practiced, it is fast. I just wouldn't want to do it under stress. Those heavy duty stainless bolsters (stippled from casting) and the lack of any milling in the liners makes the knife heavy: 5.0 oz. For me that's too stout as an EDC blade and I will usually opt for a smaller blade in that role anyhow. But this handsome blade with its premium S30V blade steel and Paul Bos heat treat is a serious cutter, proven in some hard core cardboard tests I conducted. The drop point blade, arriving sharp out of box, showed good wear and toughness in these cutting AND stabbing tests (and blade tip shows excellent strength). The hollow ground S30V blade did not however provide miraculous edge holding capabilities as some indicate that the steel possesses. Re-sharpening came easy enough and the fine grained S30V steel shows a WICKED edge now (shown). It remains an excellent steel that shows Lockup is excellent out of box; some looseing occurred after cardboard stabbing tests but tightened back up with adjustment. Durability of the blade steel and overall mechanism looks to be outstanding. Blade centering on this pillar constructed folder, sometimes the nemesis of the Vantage/Paradigm series, is perfect. The polished deep carry reversible pocket clip is near perfection; I did remove and put more "bend" in it for better retention against the polished G10 handle scales. The Paradigm is thin in the pocket and has good ergos overall (lacking jimping, ramps, and traction scales makes it a looker but less tractionable). As of 2011, the good looking Buck Paradigm with its polished liners and handle scales is available as the "Avid" with 13C26 Sandvik steel and this "Pro" model in CPM S30V. Value is good but not tremendous in the line but keep in mind these blades are 100% American made and support an American work force in Post Falls, Idaho. The Paradigm may not be a serious tactical blade but it's a serious collectible that will bring a pride of ownership and even some entertainment as your buddies try to figure out how to open this innovative knife. .//////////////////////////////////////Nutnfancy Likability Scale: 7.5 out of 10