“knife without a mark, a valueless knife”

st8yd

st8yd

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Mar 6, 2009
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“knife without a mark, a valueless knife”
I was doing some reading and when I read this statement, Buck's laser marking was the first thing I thought of. I really hate seeing buck move away from the stamped blades. My new Bucklite “Shield” from SK the laser “mark” is near half worn off and It hasn’t been carried but maybe 3-4 days and not even used much then. I have been carrying my 501 burlap micarta SK “Goodfella” used it very little and noticed last night the laser “mark on it is near half gone.

Even those with the upgraded blade will be of less value when the laser mark of the blade steel wears off, there will be no proof the blade is something other than standard.

For safe queens sure this isn’t as much of an issue, just don’t open and close it much showing it off, as that’s about all I did with these that are half gone.

In years to come these forum pages will be filled with posts asking -- I just got this knife and there are no markings on it, Who made it? What year was it made? What steel is it? Is it a fake? etc.

I have always been a big fan of Buck and more so in recent years. I wish Buck would continue to show pride in their product and insist on stamping their blades as has been done from the beginning.

I realize there are other brands that do this and the same can be said for them, but this is the Buck forum.
 
fair points and will make a good discussion.

I remember reading that Bob Loveless used an acid to etch his blade due to the stamping having an effect on grain or the steel structure or something to that effect. I'm paraphrasing......and he didnt want issues from stamping. I dont remember the exact details more so just he used an acid to etch due to stamping being an issue to the steel.

wonder if stamping upgraded steels, meaning cpm 154, s30v and on up.....is an issue more than a cost issue? dont know though.
 
Some of the new steels are too hard (not as in "difficult") to stamp (or engrave?).
I remember from the poll for blade steel on the 301 Forum knife that any of the steels "above" CPM-154 could not be stamped.

A laser etch might last longer than an acid etch, but I don't know if Buck has the machine for laser etching.
 
The BCCI damascus 347 Vantage had "Buck" acid etched and the members number and how many made lazer engraved which is deeper and will last longer
so my guess is that Buck can do lazer engraving.
I am sure with the proper equipment they can do a nice lazer engraving on even the harder steels.
 
Speaking of stamps or in this case, no stamps. Check out this Gen 5 I got years back.


DSCF0330_zpsjt5mzwkr.jpg


DSCF0332_zpsl51sihgw.jpg


DSCF0333_zpslbnl5wtx.jpg
 
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Makael said:
Cracked blades using the stamp. Hard on equipment also.
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Cracked blades surely there is a way to work with it, plenty of S30v has been stamped, I don't know about other steels, but surely there is a way to deal with it.
Hard on equip, ok so the equipment has a shorter life span, factor it in or make it better.
 
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dsutton24 said:
If you need a knife, any knife has value. Regardless of who made it.
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Of course, but if your in that position chances are your not buying a Buck anyway. I assure you I could do just fine with a utility/razor knife and a $3.00 Walmart knife. I even bought a couple 2 pc 6" fillet knives at Walmart a few months back for less than $2 per pair. In all honesty I have no "NEED" for a Buck knife.

A makers mark is about having pride in your product and wanting your customer to as well.
 
st8yd said:
A makers mark is about having pride in your product and wanting your customer to as well.
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Most of the knife buying world doesn't think like collectors do, and most knives do not end up in collections. The average guy may make a buying decision based, in part, on the name on the knife. But, once the name has worn off, the shield is lost, the tip on the master blade is gone, and the pile side scale is gone all he cares about is whether he can find the thing when he wants it and if it will sort of still cut,

Buck knives are primarily utilitarian knives. Buck does generally treat collectors better than most makers of every day knives do, but their primary goal is to make money selling knives. They will continue to make changes that will reduce production cost without impacting the basic purpose of their product. They have done so throughout their history.
 
The harder steels can crack and or be hard on equipment
 
gedlicks said:
The BCCI damascus 347 Vantage had "Buck" acid etched and the members number and how many made lazer engraved which is deeper and will last longer
so my guess is that Buck can do lazer engraving.
I am sure with the proper equipment they can do a nice lazer engraving on even the harder steels.
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arent they already doing laser engraving? isnt that what this thread is about, or am I confusing terms and what buck is doing to mark blades currently when not stamped? thanks.
 
I have a small Vantage Pro going on five years used everyday at work. It’s fairly scratched up and worn. The etching has faded and can’t see it but when you get the light just right it’s shines that Buck plain as day. The Bos flame was partially removed when I cut some plastic tubing that had sulfuric acid residue. I quickly washed it but it had already etched it away. Still shows the s30v and Bos and half the flames. I don’t know but I have seen several that are similar and in softer metals. I wonder if they could re-etch or laser over the worn and faded markings. As long as it isn’t completely worn away to verify that it is a Buck.
 
gedlicks said:
jbmonkey - They can do laser engraving nice and deep and not just on the surface. Very similar to a stamp.
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ahhh..gotcha. thanks for explaining. I was missing the obvious there.

cost / time prohibits deep engraving I guess then?
 
I would think the problem with laser engraving is that if it goes too deep, it could heat the blade and ruin the temper when writing out so many words and letters. I am just guessing.

Stamping has the obvious issue that the metal is compressed at the point of the letters and somewhat surrounding them. This could conceivably cause a weak point or stressed point in the blade.
 
So does this mean that if I was to say buy a 110 at the local Walmart in a few months from now that the blade would not be stamped but etched ?

That's dissappointing news, I was just thinking how now would be the perfect time to order myself a 55 since they're going back to ebony.

I hope the cost of using real ebony isn't resulting in them going with an etch.
 
I don't know, Buck has built it's brand and I wouldn't think most of Bucks customers bought the knife because it was there (for the exception of the budget knives. I doubt one spending over $50-60 buy's it because they need something to cut with, when there's plenty of knives under $20, or $30 for a fillet knife when good ones can be had for $4 all day long.
CJ announced their MAP in large part to maintain intergrity in their product. Of course any business' goal is to make money, if they can't they won't be in business.
I was a Buck fan long before I even considered collecting, and wouldn't even consider myself a collector compared to most here. Probably more of a hoarder LOL. I still have every knife I've ever gotten, for the exception of a couple lost ones, and a large portion aren't of any value. I have bought a few in recent years with intent to sell but havn't gotten to it.
 
I like the stamps and the deeper the better. My 119– (1992) the dash is barely readable. And really the whole stamp is a bit too light.
Serial numbers on the bolster maybe an idea? Or 110 and year symbol at least but doesnt address the blade steel i know. Starting in 2020?
 
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