A look at Buck's Mr. Crappie 6 in Slab Shaver, a new offering from Buck Knives and Mr. Crappie, Wally Marshall.

First impressions: 

Yes the Mr Crappie Slab Shaver is made in China. If that is a deal breaker for you, then stop reading and spend an extra $10 on the USA made Mr Crappie Slab Slinger.   (Slab Shaver, 420J2 steel, made in Japan.  Slab Slinger, 420HC steel, made in the USA)

The Blade: 

Buck describes the blade as a flexible trailing point. The flex compares well to those of Martiinni and is probably better than that on my Ontario and Chicago Cutlery fillet knives.  Iit has a slight upswept design.  Some anglers may find the blade a tad too wide.  However, I feel it should do great on pan fish.  

The Handle:

The grip on the knife feels extremely comfortable and conforms well to my hand. The hole at the end of the full tang construction allows for a lanyard for the wrist or the attachment of flotation device. The black and yellow contrasting colors make the knife not only visible but quite attractive. It is also easy to grip even with wet, slimy hands or when wearing gloves. The five inch grip is so much more comfortable than the typical four inch grip on so many fillet knives.

The Scabbard:

The black scabbard is also well thought out. My only complaint is the belt loop  lacks a snap for easy removal from a belt. However, the thumb rest release make removing the knife from the scabbard not easy but extremely safe. The knife also snaps into the scabbard securely.

End of the day:

I received the knife as a Christmas gift.  Had I bought it myself I would have probably gone for the Slab Slinger which is essentially the Buck Clearwater 6 inch fillet knife. 

I've been looking for a fillet knife with some decent flex to the blade for some time and this one seems to meet my needs. The knife came razor sharp. I've tested it on paper, tomatoes, raw chicken and cooked ham.  I haven’t ’t had the chance filletcrappie or other pan fish but considering its other cutting abilities I'm fairly certain it will do just fine.  As always the results will vary based on the personal preference and style of the user, but for me, the knife just feels good in the hand and that is half the battle!

Buck used 420J2 stainless for this knife. This is means that if you're doing a lot of filleting you will also be doing a lot more sharpening. If you're a week-end angler that is more prone to catch and release and only occasionally keep and fillet your catch then this knife will probably be more than adequate for fish cleaning chores. If you process 20+ fish every time you go fishing and you fish all the time, then I'd say spend the extra $10 and get the Slab Slinger.

Also if you must buy a USA made knife and you're a Buck fan, go for the Mr. Crappie Slab Slinger or their Clearwater line of knives. Buck tries to make knives for people with all levels of income and because of this, some of their production is done off-shore in China. Despite this, Buck strives to produce quality products and they have done so with this knife.

Specs

Name:  Mr. Crappie Slab Shaver
Brand:  Buck
Country of Manufacture:  China
Pattern:  0233-YWS
Blade Steel:  420J2 Stainless Steel
Length, overall:  11.25 in. [18.6 cm]
Length, blade:  6 in. [ 15.3 cm]
Blade Style:    flexible trailing point fillet
Handle:   Black/Yellow Nylon/Rubber -tactile feel
Tang:  Full
Lanyard hole:  Yes
Sheath:  Molded plastic w/ drain slots and closed belt loop.