Can you confirm that the buck knife you purchased was the 119BR? Buck Knife - Special I think i need one of those :). I encounter bears all the time.
My latest bear encounter for example..wandered into my yard then the neighbors after I ran in and got the camera.
I also just briefly visited your posting history. Talk about prescient.
Your post on July 11
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Shortly after I returned home last year's trip a report came in that a young lady doctor had been killed by a bear in a remote spot that I had camped at. Her husband valiantly tried to fight off the bear with a Swiss Army knife. He was able to retrieve his wife's body but was unable to save her life.
This year I'm going more prepared, long fixed blade knife, bear spray, air horn and bear bangers. And of course my dog who would stand up to a bear if need be.
A few springs ago, while on a hike in the bush, a bear burst out of the brush not 12 feet in front of us and tore off down the trail. Thankfully away from us. I was caught flatfooted but the dog started to run after the bear. It was with some trepidation that I commanded him to halt and was relieved when he obeyed.
My knife has 119 engraved at the base of the blade.
The 119BR looks like the same knife but with brass trimmings.
As others have pointed out a longer blade would probably be better.
One of my considerations was whether an 8 or 10 inch blade might be a bit cumbersome to carry around with me.
Not saying they would be but I opted for one that I felt I would be comfortable wearing.
Any knife is, of course, no help if you don't have it readily at hand.
It's interesting to me to look back at my trip journal
and see my last entry from the night before the incident...
"Finding it quite easy to wear knife on belt"