Few knife makers produce the varied selection of cutting tools Buck Knives offers. They range from camp axes and folding saws to pruning and utility shears. Did I mention knives? Folding and fixed-blade sheath models are available for almost every purpose, including hunting, skinning, camping, law enforcement and self-defense. I purchased my first Buck knife – a 5-inch Pathfinder® – more than 30 years ago, and it was the first of many. That all-purpose hunting knife is still in the line, as is the classic Folding Hunter® I added to my collection later.

Every time I visit the annual SHOT (Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade) Show, I drop by the Buck booth to see the company’s latest cutlery. This year two unusual knives caught my eye. Each was made in collaboration with mountaineer Peter Whittaker.

The Model 777 Lumina sports   a 3-inch, one-hand-opening, drop-point, partially serrated 420HC steel blade keen enough to cleanly shave hair from my forearm. Folded into its hand-filling translucent nylon handle, the knife measures 43/8 inches and weighs in at 3.6 ounces. The stainless steel frame incorporates the same exaggerated lanyard loop featured in other Whittaker designs.

The Metro LED is a compact, oval-shaped pocket knife only 2 3/8 inches in length when closed. Weight is a barely there 1 1/2 ounces. The miniature blade extends 1 1/4 inches from the colorful (mine is red) nylon handle and could come in handy for opening small packages or other light-duty chores. Again, the handle sports a lanyard loop that could allow the knife to double as a key chain. The best description for this little knife is “cute.”

Both the Lumina and Metro knives share one unusual – but useful – feature: integral 5mm LED (Light-Emitting Diode) flashlights. Powered by a pair of compact, 3-volt CR-2032 lithium batteries, the Lumina light can be operated in four different modes: high beam, medium beam, low beam and intermittent flashing. Each mode is activated by pressing a switch on the left side of the handle. This is an “up-close-and-personal” light. Even on high beam, it has a useful illumination range of maybe 15 feet. At its lowest intensity, the light could help find a darkened keyhole. After five minutes of continuous use, the light automatically shuts off to conserve batteries.

The Lilliputian Metro LED is powered by two, 3-volt CR-1616 batteries and offers a single lighting mode. This light shuts off after three minutes.

According to Buck Knives, “LEDs are water resistant and have no moving or burning parts, so they are not prone to breakage.” Average lifetime of these little lights is said to be 100,000 hours, and they’re supposed to be more durable than flashlight bulbs.

Both knives also feature Buck’s Edge2x™ technology, which means the blades are sharper out of the box, remain sharp longer, and are easier to resharpen than conventional blades.

The Model 777 Lumina has a suggested retail price of $55, while the Model 758 Metro lists for $27. I like both of these eye-catching, dual-use pocketknives.

See them at your Buck Knife dealer, or contact Buck Knives, Dept. HL, 660 S. Lochsa Street, Post Falls ID 83854; telephone toll-free: 1-800-326-2825; or visit online at: www.buckknives.com.