“knife without a mark, a valueless knife”

Way cool :thumbsup:

Buck_110_%2B5106_Stamp_01.jpg
 
I may be mistaken, please correct me if someone with certain knowledge reads this.
For 300's, blades tangs were annealed by heating to soften the tang. Then stamped and then underwent the BOS heat treatment to harden the steel. This was done to prevent cracking and save machinery. Although I like a stamped nail nic, the grinding/cutting of the current nics is done to save a process that takes more time and could cause blade damage along the spine. Close inspection would remove the very very few showing stress cracks before assembly. Somewhere I have a couple of stamped, non heat treated, non polished or sharpened blades. They are dark grey in color.
Surely someone went on the factory tour this summer and I bet they talked about this.
300
 
I agree with those who would like a more permanent stamp or deep laser etched tang stamp for collector purposes. I do not think the absence of a tang stamp makes the product "valueless" but I would agree that it makes it more difficult to assign a collector value to the knife later on in its life. I have no idea what percentage Blade Forum, BCCI (and other collector clubs) members (plus those that haven't joined a club yet) make up of Buck Knives' total sales but one would think that Buck Knives would do well to listen to this group. Mark me down as one who wants a stamp that will last for years to come.
 
I a world of counterfeit products. It would seem to be wise for companies to permanently mark their products in a very clear concise manner. Just my opinion.

It is not just the collectors.

In 60 years when somebody holds a tool that has had a hard life and stood up well to it. They will want to know “who made this”. Hopefully the original company is still there to offer an equal replacement.
 
If they keep the etching up, like it is, in a couple of years you won't know when the knife was made, no date code... Also, unless you have a photographic mind like Gedlicks and Presto, I wouldn't always recognize the model number.

Even if it was there I still may not recognize it but I would have something to go on to research it.....

Buck is shooting themselves in the foot for future collectors, even the present...

If there are no markings on the blade I consider it to be Pakistani... :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::p
 
Maybe the Pressed date code needs to change to another type of code. Still pressed but smaller with less detail. IDK. Its a no win if the blades crack then thats a waste of money. Is anyone else stamping an upscale steel?
 
I am basing this on the poll results for the 2018 forum knife... A huge number of us here prefer stamps over etches, to the point of getting a “lesser” steel to get a stamp. However, We are such a small percentage of the buyers maybe cost is winning out?
 
Makael said:
Maybe the Pressed date code needs to change to another type of code. Still pressed but smaller with less detail. IDK. Its a no win if the blades crack then thats a waste of money. Is anyone else stamping an upscale steel?
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good question. who else is stamping still on high end or even low end steels in current production? true stamp i mean?
 
sassafrassdogs3 said:
C*se...
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1095cv and 420hc true, sort of same as buck currently. what about high end? they do have a new line dont they with a higher end steel?

edit part ...went and looked at their s35vn..cant tell what it is deep etch or stamp?
 
Makael said:
Is anyone else stamping an upscale steel?
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What other manufactures have been around as long as Buck and are on par or higher? Anything less and I wouldn't compare it. Not saying Buck is the only one and there aren't higher quality manufactures, just I wouldn't compare to anyone with less of a longstanding brand.
 
Maybe it boils down to making money. No profits, no bucks. Maybe they see every other manufacturer doing it with no complaints. Agreed not many companies have a collector's club. No good answer. Bucks has to win first, [money]:thumbsup:
 
I don’t know why they bother with a date code.
Makael said:
Maybe the Pressed date code needs to change to another type of code. Still pressed but smaller with less detail. IDK. ?
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I think it’s neat that they do use a date code but it’s not necessary. But the Buck name should be stamped. Does anybody else mark their knives with the date?
 
If they can get "BUCK" on it they can do the simple date code.
I wonder if a machine could be set up to do one letter at a time, maybe several small stamps would be less traumatic then a larger one done at once, IDK.
 
st8yd said:
“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.
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I have one to add that's always been a mystery to me as well.

The Buck 885 Taclite….

It's stamped literally with the Buck logo and on the blade front...but not USA on the tang nor model # or production year symbol.On the back though it does have the BOS flame stamping followed with ATS-34 and USA under it.Very strange that Buck did this.It's definitely not a fluke...I've acquired several 885 models that were like this.If someone was unfamiliar with this model they might claim the Taclite to be a fake.

Another oddball to mention is a few pieces Buck did back in the early 2000's called the Ecco 3.0 (model #275) and Access 3.0 (model #465).They never stamped the model# into the blade tangs.A bit tricky to buy on the secondary market considering there are smaller versions of those knives and if the seller isn't showing specs with a ruler.

Interesting post though because I'm not a fan of their laser etching switch either...even their Bucklite stuff was stamped into the 420HC.I hear you loud and clear especially if it's in a premium steel or something...I don't even like seeing them doing it to their 420HC.If Buck always laser etched on premium steel it would be an evident sign that the muscle of their stamping equipment can't make a deep enough impression into these hard steels.But the Taclite's, Strider collaborations, and pro model of the Alpha Hunter Series in 154CM and S30V say otherwise.

It's just another indication of the brand diving deeper into more cost-effective shortcuts.
 
Makael said:
Maybe it boils down to making money. No profits, no bucks. Maybe they see every other manufacturer doing it with no complaints. Agreed not many companies have a collector's club. No good answer. Bucks has to win first, [money]:thumbsup:
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Yeah but even their font for their sheaths has went to a very bland stamping look.A very generic looking font in small lettering with a tiny anvil on it...barely readable.I wish they'd go to to their old country style font or their upside down triangle/mountain logo with pointy letters.A good looking sheath logo helps sell the brand too.

Laser-etching does work and lots of companies do it...you are correct on that.You can do more intricate work and more font versatility with laser etch and will hold depending on where you put it and if it's thoroughly done.Buck uses a very unattractive/generic font and their etch seems inconsistent in impression...all about speed not perfection.Good lord the Chinese are doing more consistent laser etching. New stuff out or not they're losing identity that helps grab a consumer's attention.

I don't think Buck is at risk of being without profit as long as the laser etching and milky/scratched up polish job of the Select Series doesn't creep it's way in their golden gooses of their production 420HC models like the 110/112 and 119.Bad enough I'm already seeing this generic look on their leather sheaths of such models.
 
Their sheaths are moving to USA Made with the background an american flag. Have you seen recent sheaths.?

I could care less what the Chinese are doing.I dont see them losing identity either. just a different stamp. I dont care for etched either but Buck sees a reason for it.




 
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