← Comparisons
Head to head

Buck 192 Vanguard vs Spyderco Bow River

Buck 192 Vanguard runs a 4.25″ drop point blade in 420HC; Spyderco Bow River runs 4.36″ of drop point in 8Cr13MoV. The Spyderco Bow River is the lighter of the two by 2.50 oz.

01234567 in
  • Buck 192 Vanguard · Drop Point
    4.25″ blade · 0.14″ spine · 6.3 oz · ~1.22″ tall
  • Spyderco Bow River · Drop Point
    4.36″ blade · 0.108″ spine · 3.8 oz · ~1.18″ tall (derived) · family outline
Spine thickness, same scale
0.14″
0.108″
Length and spine thickness drawn to true scale from published specs. Outlines traced from makers' photos, except where marked as the shape family's.
SpecBuckBuck 192 VanguardCheck priceSpydercoSpyderco Bow RiverCheck price
Blade length4.25″4.36″
Spine thickness0.14″0.108″
Overall length8.5″8.14″
Weight6.3 oz3.8 oz
Blade shapeDrop PointDrop Point
Steel420HC8Cr13MoV
GrindHollowFull Flat
LockFixedFixed
Handle materialWalnut + BrassG-10
Country of originUSAChina
Price bandMidMid

Tinted rows are where these two differ.

The steel difference

420HC

Buck's Paul Bos heat treat is what makes this ordinary steel good. Dulls sooner than premium steels and takes ninety seconds to fix.

8Cr13MoV

The Chinese value workhorse, roughly comparable to AUS-8. Fine on a $30 knife, unremarkable anywhere else.