Name: Buck 285 Bantam BLW Lockback Folding Knife 3.125" Satin Plain Drop Point Blade, Black Thermoplastic Handles
Brand: Buck Knives
SKU: BU285
Price: 24.95 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.28 (25 reviews)

Austin Texas Buddy
Austin, Tx

May 27, 2025

Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Ease of Opening, Handle Feel, Handle Material, Lock Ease of Use, Lock Type, Overall Quality, Pocket Clip, Weight

Cons: None

My new EDC

It's just what I expected. Light, durable, great locking mechanism, good shape and size, good price, made in the USA, and it came sharp. I have another in.my cart.

Bob
SC

May 12, 2025

Pros: Handle Feel, Lock Type, Pocket Clip, Weight

Cons: None

Made in merica

Being made in the usa is the biggest reason for this purchase. I've always regarded buck as a high quality knife.Finding out in 2009 buck moved production of the bantam out of China and to Idaho made this purchase a "no brainer ". Also can't beat the price.

Myles
Essex, Ontario

Apr 15, 2011

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

One Of My Best Knives

I can't believe that out of all the knives I have, this $15 Buck knife is the one I use the most. I've paid a lot for some of my other knives and this one beats most of them. It came super sharp, I have yet to sharpen it once. It cuts through just about anything, has a super sturdy blade, and a great lock. It is easy to open, not hard. I definitely recommend anyone to buy this knife, even if just for a backup. Totally worth the $15, great product.

Rich
VA

Feb 25, 2017

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Good knife

A good EDC knife for those of us who use a cane. Opens easily with the thumbstud, locks up tight and closes easily with the mid lock back. It cut cardboard and phone book paper right out of the box. This knife proves US companies can produce a quality, inexpensive knife. Buck scores a home run with this for me. Excellent one hand operation.

Cheryl
Texas

Dec 05, 2016

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Overall Quality

Cons: None

A bought this knife to replace one exactly like it that my husband had for years. This was the perfect knife in husbands opinion.

David T
Blatrsvillr, Georgia

Oct 20, 2016

Pros: Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Lock Ease of Use

Buck Folding

very good knife for the price

Steve T
Kentucky

Aug 24, 2015

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Buck Bantam BLW

This was a birthday gift for great nephew's 12th birthday and he was thrilled. The knife is solid, sharp and appears durable with a quality high impact resistant handle. An excellent beginner's blade or daily use implement.

Santa
SEMO

Jul 09, 2018

Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Satisfied Customer

Knife Center - quick shipment, great sale price, Buck made in USA with forever warranty. Good quality for the price. Good Christmas presents to grandkids.

Austin Texas Buddy
Austin, Tx

May 27, 2025

Pros: Blade Material, Blade Sharpness, Ease of Opening, Handle Feel, Handle Material, Lock Ease of Use, Lock Type, Overall Quality, Pocket Clip, Weight

Cons: None

My new EDC

It's just what I expected. Light, durable, great locking mechanism, good shape and size, good price, made in the USA, and it came sharp. I have another in.my cart.

Dan
Brooklyn, Ny

Mar 12, 2012

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Great EDC Knife

Lightweight, easy to carry. Grippy handle. Feels great in the hand. Opening & closing is smooth. Beautiful blade, comes sharp, very sturdy. Good for every day use. Made in USA!

Bill
Colorado Front Range

Dec 31, 2016

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Buck Bantam BLW Folding Knife

I wanted a good quality, well-made knife - that was made in the US Carry along hiking in the Colorado mountains This is a great knife! Thumb button assist open - opens easily, blade locks, very comfortable handle Great price and oh yeah, did I mention - MADE IN THE US!!! Has everything I was looking for in my knife Happy trails friends! Bill

Sharp Blade
Michigan

Jan 11, 2022

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Sharpens Grate, (Shaving sharp)

I sharpen Hundreds if not thousands of knives in my life. I make the Block knife sharpener. I sharpen knives for free all over the county. Mostly at gun and knife shows. I have to say the Buck Bantam takes a edge like no other knife. I have sharpen them quit offend at shows where I demonstrate my sharpeners at.. I sharpen some of the best knives ever made in these shows and this is truly one of the best knives made for everyday carrying and made for heavy duty cutting. If your looking for a everyday work knife, this is a great knife to carry. For I not only sharpen lots of these Bantam Buck knives, I put one up in my collection of knives. Review From Paul Block inventor of the Block knife sharpener.

Eric
Louisiana

Oct 10, 2014

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

I bought these as a gift for my crew members offshore. They all liked the size, weight, and overall feel of the knives. The shipping was surprisingly fast, and the quality upon arrival was as good as expected. Definitely recommend KC and this knife for an all around working blade.

D. Nelson
Wisconsin

Apr 17, 2015

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Economic EDC

The blade came sharp and free of issues. It is a cheap EDC that you aren't scared to use and abuse. It sharpens up well and performs admirably for its price point. Opens fairly easily, decent build quality and the clip is just right. Its a Buck, USA made and a great all around EDC. 20$ is the cherry on top.

Freechina Fighter
hong kong

May 29, 2017

Pros: Weight, Pocket Clip

Cons: Handle Feel

good value for money

A good folding knife, value for money. for sure it's great for daily use and a tool for practise before acquiring a high price one.

Perry D.
Schenectady, NY

Feb 29, 2012

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material

Cons: None

Buck Bantam BLW Folding 3-1/8" Blade

Everyday use knife, with a price that you wouldn't cry over if you lost the knife. Will not get a lot of use, so the simple rivets should last without breaking from friction. Have not had it long enough to know how well the blade holds up to the environments,

Kurt
GA

Jun 30, 2021

Pros: Ease of Opening, Overall Quality

Cons: None

Great for the money

I have carried this knife for over 8 years and use it daily, opening boxes, pruning in the garden, yardwork, whittling etc and it still locks up tight. The only "bad" thing is the blade is a little wobbly now, and the thumbstud has gotten a bit loose, I need to take it to an anvil and tighten it up. Since I use it frequently, I do have to sharpen it every month or so, typically a sharpening steel and occasionally an Arkansas hard stone. I'm upgrading to a higher quality steel knife due to my usage, but for most people this is a great budget EDC blade that is Made in the USA!

Roy
Thomasville, Georgia

Feb 24, 2016

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Great Value

We purchased these and had them personalized as "Thank You gifts for our VIP customers locally, American Made, Quality brand and perfect gift for general use. We will be doing more of this using this knife.

Olivér
Hungary

Mar 20, 2014

Pros: Weight, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Great Quality/Price ratio !

A nice little knife for an affordable price. The blade is sharp and easy to sharpen, made from non-corrosive metal. The grip is plastic, lightweight and does not look cheap! The blade is good for everyday carry, and work duties or self defense too. Overall I am pleased especially for this price!!!

Sam S
blairsville, pa

Oct 31, 2011

Pros: Weight, Ease of Opening, Handle Material, Pocket Clip, Blade Material, Overall Quality, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

great knife

for the money you can't beat it. light enough to carry easily yet big enough to do damn near anything.

Brian
Nevada

Jan 29, 2017

Pros: Weight, Blade Sharpness

Cons: None

Decent but could be better

My only complaint is that when opening the knife the spring makes it tough to get past a spot where it is about 20 degrees open. Can't flick it open because of that. It's designed that way so pretty sure it won't break in and get better.

Jc Denton
Earth

Jan 26, 2011

Pros: Weight, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Handle Material

Solid but Shoddy

The Buck Bantam BLW is a decent knife, but it needs improvement. While the blade lockup is very sturdy, the blade is pinned so tight that the knife is difficult to open with one hand. Also, the blade is so un-centered while closed that the side of the blade lightly touches the inside of the handle. The handle is molded plastic, and it feels cheap but comfortable. All hardware is pins except for the pocket clip, so no adjustments can be made. The clip is so tight that it cannot be used without supplying great effort to pry it open. The pocket clip only mounts for tip-down, right-side carry. I removed the pocket clip and put the knife out in the garage. The knife cuts very well, but the hardware is all overtightened.

Clarence
South Carolina

Mar 23, 2017

Pros: Weight, Blade Sharpness

Cons: Handle Feel, Handle Material

American made plastic

The blade was sharp but the plastic handle was very flimsy you can squeeze the opening closed. A low price alternative to the over priced other brands. I may buy another Buck knife but not sure.

Anarchrox
Australia

Oct 29, 2017

Pros: Weight, Pocket Clip, Overall Quality

Cons: None

Good for the price.

The is fairly sturdy and the locking mechanism holds well every time. I'm not a fan of shallow false edge grinds which it came with as it will not take a wicked edge despite being a good steel for the price. Visually a pleasing knife especially with the woodland camo on the handle scales which is what mine came with. My one-handed opening is extremely stiff, so much so that I don't open it with one hand as it has snapped back closed and cut my fingers before although this may be an intentional modification due to the laws on one-handed opening knives in my country. Not a bad knife for the price but don't expect a really good edge without a lot of work to change the edge profile.

Ferris
Colorado

Jul 13, 2015

Pros: Weight, Pocket Clip

Cons: Handle Material

Not Happy, Knife was dull

I wanted to buy this knife for working on a ranch, and as an every day carry. From the first opening the package I could tell I wasn't going to be satisfied. It looked like who ever packed the knife ripped a paper back and half-heartedly rolled the knife's box into the shipping box. The knife itself was dull and had several imperfections or dings on the blade. Buck promises that it's ready to use sharp out of the box but the knife I received could not cut paper like videos on the internet I've seen. I am upset with my experience with Knife Center.