First Look: Buck Knives 293 Inertia EDC Knife

Buck Knives, long known for its lineup of hunting and outdoor blades, expanded its product selection into compact, daily carry tools perfect for tackling everyday scenarios with ease. One of Buck Knives' 2018 introductions is the 293 Inertia, designed as a lightweight, easy-to-use folder.

The Buck Knives 293 Inertia knife is part of the company's assisted-opening lineup and features a 3.125-inch blade measuring 0.12 inch wide that's constructed from 420HC stainless steel. This steel is the company's standard selection for use in everyday-carry blades, thanks to a blend of unique properties that mimic the wear resistance of high-carbon alloy steel and the anti-corrosion properties of chromium stainless-steel.

The blade steel on the Buck Knives 293 Inertia knife is heat-treated and hardened to provide a perfect balance between edge retention and ease of resharpening, having a Rockwell hardness rating of Rc 58. The blade is shaped into a full-bellied drop-point profile, giving it the ability to stand up to heavy-duty use as a general-purpose tool. In addition to the enhanced versatility and strength of this particular knife design, the gentle sloping tip enables it to be used as a skinning knife, lowering the chance of accidental puncture wounds during the process.

When deployed, the Inertia knife is secured into position via an internal frame lock machined from stainless steel. The frame is surrounded by a handle made from nylon, featuring several relief cuts that provide ledges and contours for added grip. One-handed opening is facilitated through a machined thumb hole, and the assisted-open mechanism allows the blade to fold open and lock into place with minimal effort.

Each Buck Knives 293 Inertia knife includes a stainless-steel pocket clip oriented for tip-up carry. The total weight of the product is 3.8 ounces, and each knife is completely made in the USA. The suggested retail price on the Inertia is $60.