2 bad Vantage Avids

Yo Mama

Yo Mama

Gold Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2011
Messages
6,214
I recently began singing Buck's praises once I picked up the Select Vantage. Great blade, no issues. I got into wanting an Avid, so I ordered one.

Got the first one and was tight as heck, wouldn't open or close without forcing it. Blade was all the way touching the liner. Sent it back, and ordered another.

Just got it from the mailman. This one won't lock! The lock won't engage until you force the blade up past a natural opening limit. Basically if I open the knife the lock doesn't lock in place.

Sorry, I'm done Buck. I'll keep and use my Select, but I'm not going to be burned a 3rd time.
 
I'm letting people know who are interested in getting the knife that Buck's QC needs a bit of tuning. Maybe people would say man that sucks, you should let Buck know, well I did. How am I a troll? Because I have something negative to say about the Avids I have received all of a suddend I'm a troll. Whatever.
 
I don't think you're a troll, but why not send the knife to Buck for repair? At least you have a good chance it will not be a dud. I assume you just sent it back to the retailer.
 
The thing is, if you had done a search you would have seen that the Vantage subect has been beat to death here. The vast majority of them seem to be just fine as they come from Buck.
This has been hashed over so much already, that many readers here just don't care to read anymore about it.

Old news, so that's why the "troll" statement. It just seemed like an attempt to start the same old controversy all over again.
 
Its not trolling if its true, and given the history of this subject, the presumption should be that its true. Of the 100+ knives in my hoard, the only one I have had to return is a Vantage. The burden is on Buck to makes knives that don't get returned - its not on consumers to be quiet about it. JMO.
 
No problem. I know that the issue was supposed to be addressed, but I just got 2 new examples. Coincidence maybe.

I would send back to Buck if I had used and owned the knife for more than 1 minute. Shipping is free to send back to the seller. I wish I could pick from a store here, but haven't found any locally.
 
Sorry to hear you got some duds Yo Mama. This being a Mfg forum, complaints put forth like this are usually not very well recieved by some, but the Manufacturers forums is a place for people to "interact with Manufacturers"... ... ...
perhaps a better venue for such threads is here :
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/699-FEEDBACK-The-Good-The-Bad-The-Ugly!

You are also not the first to hear that most Vantages leave the factory perfectly fine, which is most likely true. I have several Vantages which are all fine, and I have returned some Vantages in the past. Even if Buck put out 100 percent perfect Vantages starting right now, some vendors may have stock on their shelves for who knows how long.


powernoodle said:
Its not trolling if its true, and given the history of this subject, the presumption should be that its true. Of the 100+ knives in my hoard, the only one I have had to return is a Vantage. The burden is on Buck to makes knives that don't get returned - its not on consumers to be quiet about it. JMO.
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Wisely stated Powernoodle...there is always that little triangle at the bottom left, the one with the ! in it, maybe if we don't like the tone of a thread, we flag it, instead of browbeating the OP... just another .02cent
 
Sorry to hear about your two Vantage Avids. I am sticking to the Vantage Pro's myself. I now have 4 and they are great. I also had a QC issue Avid. I just now prefer the Vantage Pro as they just feel like quality knives.:thumbup: They have upgraded steel S30V. The handles are way neat:D
 
I heard a lot of complaints about the blades being off center, and rubbing the liner on the vantage avid models. It seems like they still haven't corrected this problem from their assembly line.

Or, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and think it's just old stock from that particular dealer...
 
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Just saying.......if your lock won't engage as much as you would like, before giving up try rubbing a pencil lead on both locking edges and open and close it a dozen times. It might help. Just saying. Many times there is dark polishing media in the joint that didn't get cleaned out well, some hot soapy water, a good dry off with a hair dryer and a drop or two of oil has fixed up several....just saying.......300
 
Email Joe Houser at Buck, he'll take care of you. I've done business with Buck for a long time. They take care of their customers. By the way, I just ordered an Avid on Saturday and I'm hoping for a sweet one, but if there are problems I can't take care of I'll send a message to Joe and he'll take care of it.
Bob
 
rdg said:
Email Joe Houser at Buck, he'll take care of you. I've done business with Buck for a long time. They take care of their customers. By the way, I just ordered an Avid on Saturday and I'm hoping for a sweet one, but if there are problems I can't take care of I'll send a message to Joe and he'll take care of it.
Bob
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100% agree that Joe Houser is 100% excellent!:thumbup:
 
If the blade is centered enough for you, try this. open the blade and force it to lock. You can place the cutting edge down on something like a wood block and force the the liner to engage the tang. Now PROTECT your hand with gloves on something like that, and gently tap the spine and the same wood block. Start gently and then check the the lock up does. Repeat if nessary. ** I know how some feel about spine wacking a knife, and I don't do it often, but in this case I think you could have a very nice knife if you just seat the lock. i love these knives, but some of them do have issues. Any questions just ask.

Let me add, if I purchased a vantage with this problem, I would not be upset. I think it has potential to be a fine knife, if one could get the lock to "seat"
 
Just saying.......if your lock won't engage as much as you would like, before giving up try rubbing a pencil lead on both locking edges and open and close it a dozen times. It might help. Just saying. Many times there is dark polishing media in the joint that didn't get cleaned out well, some hot soapy water, a good dry off with a hair dryer and a drop or two of oil has fixed up several....just saying.......300
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If the blade is centered enough for you, try this. open the blade and force it to lock. You can place the cutting edge down on something like a wood block and force the the liner to engage the tang. Now PROTECT your hand with gloves on something like that, and gently tap the spine and the same wood block. Start gently and then check the the lock up does. Repeat if nessary. ** I know how some feel about spine wacking a knife, and I don't do it often, but in this case I think you could have a very nice knife if you just seat the lock. i love these knives, but some of them do have issues.
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Tried both of these suggestions. Thanks for trying, but neither worked. It's literally that the locking liner is to long and just physically can't get the clearance to lock.
 
Yo Mama said:
Tried both of these suggestions. Thanks for trying, but neither worked. It's literally that the locking liner is to long and just physically can't get the clearance to lock.
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Yo Mama:

Send me your address to Jhubbard@buckknives.com and I'll get one sent out to you.

What date is on the UPC code for the box?
Which Model Vantage is it? 340 or 345?

Jeff Hubbard
QA Manager
Buck
 
I think it's perfectly correct for you to seek advice from this forum. That the issue has been discussed, ad nausea, says more about the knife than it does the forum. IMO, search mechanisms on forums are hard ways to mine information and definitely can't give current information.

If there are serious objections about this issue coming up repeatedly, I would suggest that somebody with the rights to do so create a sticky. Sticky issue that, thought isn't it. Creating a sticky on the Buck forum to address known, recurring issues?

FWIW, I do think with low price knives (from any manufacturer), the users should expect a lower amount of fit and finish and assume the need to do some tweaking and tuning to get it just right. PlumbrDave is right, there is a lot of information buried in the bowels of the forum's search feature on tips and tricks on tuning the Vantage. Really good chance you could fix the problem yourself with a bit of elbow grease. But again, a sticky on the subject would be a really nice resource for the forum.
 
Yo Mama:

Send me your address to Jhubbard@buckknives.com and I'll get one sent out to you.

What date is on the UPC code for the box?
Which Model Vantage is it? 340 or 345?

Jeff Hubbard
QA Manager
Buck
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Wow Jeff, thanks! I'm really wanting this knife, so I have no problem doing this. REALLY GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE! I just sent you the email Jeff. Thanks.
 
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It didn't say in your post, but did you adjust the pivot at all on the first one? The Vantage is rather interesting in it's the only knife I own where I can adjust the pivot and watch the blade move from one side to the other.
 
I agree stunt, depending on which liner is being hit. If its the left, loosening will allow opening easier but will aggravate the liner touching. If it was the right side, loosening would have, in all likelyhood done the trick.
 
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