I have a Case XX “2 fin” that I got from my dad that is very similar to the Buck 119. Blade is slightly thinner, and geared a bit more to filleting fish I think.
Not a great filleter. Too thick a spine. You could fillet with it, but there are far better tools for that. Those were hunting knives, but more geared toward fish and bird. Basically, smaller game.
I sometimes swap out the buck for a Solingen Germany, Sheriff Knife. It's another hunter:
The blade is thin, light and lightening fast. Razor sharp. I have, in fact, shaved with it before in a pinch. Still tough as hell though. Great steel. The thin blade and drop tip "penetrate" places where a heaver blade is work to do the same thing. Mine is "vintage". Got it from my wife's grandfather, who was a paratroop in WWII. Dropped behind lines on D-Day and his platoon held "Pegasus Bridge". He bought the knife in Germany afterwards and brought it home post WWII. There's more than one story in that steel.....his and mine.
The other knife I swap in from time to time is my jump knife:
Usually called a "Russell Knife" by our troops. Russell because that the name of the manufacturer. Used as a "jump Knife" because of the sheath postive slosure. It was also used by the Navy and they listed it as a "boat knife", although the sailors also called it "the Russell". The russell knife was replaced as standard trooper carry by a bolt knife many years ago now, I just refused to switch when they did and my Russell went into retirement when I did. Doesn't look like much more than a steak knife, but it's one tough blade. Thick spine. For general all around use. Everything from digging in the dirt to opening metal cans to other more..."offensive"...uses.
I carry them now because I carried them all operationally. I know them and they've proven themselves to me many times. They just feel right hanging off my webbing belt when hiking or just "out and about".
williamsknife.com
