[Kerf]

About 30 months ago I bought a Buck knife and after about a year the liner lock kept getting harder and harder to release. Finally, I returned it and they sent me a newer model of the same knife. Year and a half later it also started having issues with the liner lock, i.e. it gradually started to not lock the blades open. So, I returned it and asked for an exchange, having lost faith in the design of the other knife. I requested an exchange for their Vantage Avid model. Man! Am I impressed? You betcha’!

I really like this knife. Sandvik Steel, nice deep drop point blade, hefty handle with a good feel, Dymondwood handle material. Also, it has the one hand opening feature, which I like, but wasn’t aware of before receiving the knife. I just wonder how many cutters I’ll wear out checkering that Dymondwood, or if it’s even possible to? I’ll find out.




http://www.buckknives.com/index.cfm?event=product.detail&ProductID=3652

Just wanted to let everyone know about the Outstanding Service from Buck Knives.

kerf

[conwict]

Cool, service is as important as anything else with knives.

[ArfinGreebly]

Interesting knife.

I would be pleased if you would give us a field report on it after you've had a chance to put it through its paces.

[PRM]

Buck also has a great custom shop where you can design your own with certain models. Sometime back I bought a Custom Buck 110 off of Ebay that had beautiful Elk antler handles. The blade had been aggressively buffed by the owner and I was a little disappointed - although he did offer my money back. I contacted Buck and for $10.00 they put a new blade in it and paid return postage. The lady I talked to at Buck Knives, told me when you buy a Buck, you have it for life. Great customer service and they stand behind their products.

In the end I have a very beautiful, like new, one of a kind knife.

[Kerf]

Not too sure about a field report, but I'll see what I can come up with.

The part that concerns me is how easy it'll be to put an edge back on the blade once it gets alot of use. That blade has a huge hollow grind and a very thin cutting edge. On the other hand, I know from experience, Sandvik steel holds an edge well and is fairly easy to sharpen. It's marked on the blade "13c26". I hope it's the same steel they use in their saw blades. Think I'll do a little research on the internet and find out about that particular steel.

Early in my career as a woodworker, I vowed never to buy a tool I couldn't sharpen. What good are a bunch of dull tools laying around the shop?


PRM - That's a neat story with a happy ending. I'd really like to see a photo of that knife, if you would be so kind. My camera broke and I had to use my scanner to get my photo up. That's the reason for the blurriness.

kerf

[bikerdoc]

It's marked on the blade "13c26". I hope it's the same steel they use in their saw blades. Think I'll do a little research on the internet and find out about that particular steel.


for a detailed review of all steels go to www.cutleryscience.com/reviews/blade_materials.html

You got yourself a winner!

[conwict]

A thin blade means easier sharpening.

[ArfinGreebly]

Also note, Buck has more recently (like a couple of years ago) changed the bevel angle to something they call "Advanced Edge 2x," which is a more acute angle than in years past.

You will want to pay attention to that when it's time to re-sharpen.

Somewhere, I have a printed sheet that they give away at the factory that gives the actual angle. It really ought to be a PDF on their site, but they've not gotten around to that evidently.

You can discover the actual angle using a felt pen and a little care.

Take a felt pen and color only the sharpened bevel, then using a shallow shim and a very fine stone and a very gentle touch, dress the edge (did I mention gently?), changing the angle until you are removing the felt pen and nothing else. That's your angle.

I will call the factory today and see if I can get the actual bevel angle.

You are, of course, free to change the angle to suit your preferences but, for myself, I try to stay with their factory settings. After all, they've spent a lot of time and money figuring it out, and I don't imagine I'm smarter than they are.


EDIT TO ADD:
Okay, I just got off the phone with Buck's customer service (warranty) department. The "Advanced Edge 2x" sharpening angle is 15° (fifteen degrees) on each side -- a total angle of 30° across both sides.

[Kerf]

I did a little research (thanks to bikerdoc, et al.) on the steel used in that blade, the 13c26 they call it, and it seems its used for razor blades and surgical scalpels. Kershaw uses it in some of the knife blades.

Also, stuck a micrometer on the cutting edge of the blade and it came out to about 10/1000ths. I guess I'm more used to a thicker edge on my blades. Just hope it doesn't chip out on me. As someone mentioned, thin blades should sharpen easier.

Probably the worst service (some would say abuse) I put my knives to is opening bags of ready mix cement. I always notice my blades especially dull after about a dozen or so of those. I have a small cement job coming up and I'll give you my impressions/opinion.

All for now...

kerf

[ArfinGreebly]

Well, I hope you're happy now.

A few days ago I ran across that knife (Buck 346, Vantage Avid) at a local shoppe (Black Sheep Sporting Goods).
107652

It was on the shelf beside the Buck 345. They are the same size and pattern. The differences are 1) the #345 has a black glass/nylon handle while the #346 has their new Dymondwood handle; 2) the #345 blade is 420HC while the #346 blade is 13C26 Sandvik, with Bos heat treat.

This is the Buck 345 (Vantage Select):
107650 -- 107649


The other one in that line, the Buck 347 (Vantage Pro), has a blade of S30V (Bos treated) and a handle of G-10.
107653 -- 107654


Something about the blade shape rang a bell . . . and then I remembered it.

Last year at one of Buck's sale-and-signing gigs, I spoke briefly with Chuck Buck. Lying on the table by his arm was a Mayo design I didn't recognize. He handed it to me and let me fondle it, flip it open/closed, test the edge. I was impressed. It was the Mayo TNT, with titanium handles. Pricey piece of work.
107651

The new Vantage line of knives has that same blade.

The Vantage Pro uses the same steel.

And the knife is a fraction of the cost.

And so . . .

. . . this evening . . .

. . . on the way home . . .

. . . I stopped at Black Sheep . . .

. . . and picked up the Vantage Avid.

. . . Burma Shave. :D

Black Sheep price: $24.95 (the Select in 420HC is $21.95). Really not in the budget, but I had a little help from someone sympathetic to my looming birthday. :)

I went through a couple before I found one whose blade was well-centered.

The edge is superb. High hollow grind.

Used it to make dinner.

Moved it into EDC rotation starting tonight.

And it's your fault. I hope you're happy.

[renegade1alpha]

I've always been impressed with Buck knives. I especially like the little "sermon" they add with all of their knives.

[williamd]

Since many Bucks (like Schrade and others) are now made in China :barf: they may be getting more returns! I hope so!

[ArfinGreebly]

Since many Bucks (like Schrade and others) are now made in China :barf: they may be getting more returns! I hope so!

I do believe that, if you do just a little research, you will find that the bulk of Buck knives are still made in Idaho, USA.

If you do a little more research, you will find that -- according to Buck employees -- they are moving their entire production back to the states over the next several months.

And, though I could be wrong here, it is my impression that one of the main reasons for moving their overseas production back to the USA is the PERCEPTION by people who draw conclusions from isolated fragments of information that "all or most" of Buck's production "is now in China."

It isn't true today, and it hasn't ever been true.

The majority of Buck's production continues to be done right here.

[Hansli]

Had a few Buck knives in the past but I became tempted by the siren of 'Luxus' style knives. They are better than the solid, understated Buck, of course. They cost more, which made them undeniably better. I bought a Vantage Pro a few months ago thinking "S30V for 43 bucks, why not?". A Sebenza it is not, but 2 cost me 86 bucks and if one breaks, I'll have the other til Buck sends it back. Of all the knives I own, this is the best value in a knife I have; I'm sorry I sold this fine company short during my snob years. Too soon old, too late smart. get one, you'll be surprised.

[sidheshooter]

To back Arfin up, Buck is well known for being proud of its domestic production.

Today's paper where I live had an article in the business section mentioning how Buck stood with the industry against the whole customs/assisted opener debacle, even when they actually stood to gain a leg up on the competition, since they import so little product.

FWIW.

[JTW Jr.]

Last year at one of Buck's sale-and-signing gigs, I spoke briefly with Chuck Buck. Lying on the table by his arm was a Mayo design I didn't recognize. He handed it to me and let me fondle it, flip it open/closed, test the edge. I was impressed. It was the Mayo TNT, with titanium handles. Pricey piece of work.

The new Vantage line of knives has that same blade.

The Vantage Pro uses the same steel.

If you meant the Vantage pro uses the same steel as the ti scaled Mayo collab , the Mayo Collab Ti scaled TNT uses S30v , the aluminum handle ( Northshore Model ) uses 420 HC steel.

[ArfinGreebly]

If you meant the Vantage pro uses the same steel as the ti scaled Mayo collab , the Mayo Collab Ti scaled TNT uses S30v , the aluminum handle ( Northshore Model ) uses 420 HC steel.

Actually, I wasn't referring to the steel. I was referring to the blade's shape.

They may not, in fact, be identical. I haven't had them both in my hands at the same time. They are, however, similar enough that I could mistake one for the other.

[Mike U.]

Something told opening this thread could be expensive.

Kerf, that replacement is one helluva nice looking knife. Now, I have to have one. I wonder if Walmart sells them?

Arfin, If I may ask, how much did you pay for the 347 with the S30V blade? (My favorite using knife steel.)

[ArfinGreebly]

Mike U.
Arfin, If I may ask, how much did you pay for the 347 with the S30V blade? (My favorite using knife steel.)

Actually, I got the 346, in 13C26 Sandvik (w/Bos):
And so . . .

. . . this evening . . .

. . . on the way home . . .

. . . I stopped at Black Sheep . . .

. . . and picked up the Vantage Avid.

. . . Burma Shave. :D

They didn't have a 347 on the shelf.

If they had actually had one in stock, I reckon it would have cost me between $40 and $45.

Online pricing? Knife Center: $48.00; Not-Your-Mamas-Knives: $44.00; Knives Plus: $49.00; Knife Supply Company: $53.00; Best Knives: $49.00; Cutlery Shoppe: $39.75; Blade HQ: $51.00; Reliks: $75.00 ( :eek: ); Blade Matrix: $47.00 (all prices rounded up to next whole dollar).

[Mike U.]

Sorry, I misread your post.:o

Thank you, sir! I see a new Buck or two in my future.:)

[williamd]

Have purcahsed seveal brand name knives the last couple of years and found they were bargains because they were made in China. Got what I paid for. Good for use aroiund the farm for those jobs I will not use my good knives for!:) Did not mean to imply that all Buck, or any other brand, were entirely China-made. But, some are 'cause I own some! US knives ... looks at Moore Knives made in Matador, TX. Quality!

[johnrosewell]

what is the best and cheap knife??

[JTW Jr.]

Best and Cheap ? Define cheap..... cheap to some is $7 , to others $35 , and yet others $ 50.

[williamd]

Look at Moore Knives of Matador, TX. Very good and made in US.

I heard Buck is bringing all manufacturing back to US. They need to!

[76shuvlinoff]

an elf told me there's a good ol Buck 110 somewhere under that tree ....

[sheepdog]

...moving production back to the US....I went to a hardware store last Christmas time and every Buck in the case was made in China...kinda like the flag fadin' (that's where I got my "isolated fragments of information")...really disappointing and I didn't buy any...reckon I'll go back and look this year....

...according to the factory, only 25% of their knives are made in China so that they have some inexpensive ones for "the box stores"...and when we go to their website, and look at "view the details" there is an American Flag on the page for the ones made here...that'll help us sort it all out...

[ArfinGreebly]

Buck Knives changed their manufacturing model some time ago, using something called "Lean Initiatives" or "Lean Enterprise" techniques. They didn't just dabble, they dived in at the deep end. It's the same manufacturing philosophy as that used by Toyota.

There's a pretty decent article here (http://www.maskell.com/lean_accounting/subpages/lean_accounting/buck_knives_case.html) that describes what they've done.

There's one quote from that article that I found particularly telling:
Using theories and methods learned from Maskell, Hubbard documented that handles that were being manufactured in China at $6 a handle would cost $2 a handle to make at the Post Falls plant.

That's huge.

They've been able to bring the Buck Vantage series to market for about half what I thought they should have cost. From the pricing, I figured they were another import. Nope. They're from the new generation of production that allows Buck to compete with the Chinese imports and still make them right here in Idaho.

Gotta love that.

[ricebasher302]

Good! Bring it all home!

[Creature]

I do believe that, if you do just a little research, you will find that the bulk of Buck knives are still made in Idaho, USA.

Chairman Chuck T. Buck and son C. J. (president and CEO) head up the company that began in 1902 in a lean-to adjacent to a San Diego garage. In 2005 the knife maker moved to Idaho where it operates a four-and-a-half acre factory in which hundreds of styles of Buck knives are made. Buck Knives is taking steps to regain the Made in the USA stamp for all of its products, after outsourcing some of its production to Asia.

http://www.answers.com/topic/buck-knives-inc

[telkontar]

My Buck 110 is 33 years old this Christmas. Still love it, even if it's not EDC.

[mannac]

I love my little Buck 525. I carry it daily and use it all the time :D.

[Deltaboy]

I got myself a classic 110 for my 44th Birthday!

[76shuvlinoff]

Got a 110 for Christmas. I don't hunt but I've wanted a 110 since I was a teenager. I'll be 50 in March, I've acquired a pile of knives and now I have a 110. Not expensive, not an edc but fills a void for me.

[Black Toe Knives]

Just got my Buck Rush CPM154 back today. I bought it used and it had been modify. No problem sent it along with 10.00 back to factory. They sent it back as good as new. Even after the repairs. It cost me the total of 54.00 for my 80.00 CPM154 Rush. It only took them two weeks. Another happy customer.