This is not a favorable review. Let me preface it by simply stating that I have never bought a knive that was more of a let down than this one. I am exceedingly happy with my other Bucks - all of them are keepers. Sure, I did get a BCCI BG-42 110 that had some QC issues - and they replaced it - in October. That was a first for me.
The knife is an oddball to begin with. It looked like an interesting conversation piece - that could also be a great EDC. The blade metal, 154CM, certainly can't be faulted. If you don't like the odd grind, you probably didn't need to buy the knife in the first place. The construction, howeever, can be faulted. The SS frames are held together by staked spacers - fast and easy to mass produce. If the frames aren't held tightly together, the stepped spacer held flat against the frames, daylight will be seen between the spacers and the frame. Additionally, the staking process leaves a bit of metal above the frame sides - which will keep the G10 scales from laying flat. The final indignation - the clip screws - and especially those in the other side's holes - are too long - and further push that end of the G10 scales away from the frame. Also, the frame is spaced by those stepped spacers - and the blade & copper washers. If the frame sides are canted - the blade will drag. My first one drug on the non-bevel side - and was dull. My second one was more centered - and shaving sharp. Too bad the vendor had to eat the Priority Mail costs to and from his store to replace my really defective first one.
So - interesting idea - poorly executed. I've had two examples, as I said, and both exhibited the same problems, the second one having the blade better centered. Please note - the angle of the blade changes as the pivot screw is tightened... that shouldnt change appreciably. The frame can't be parallel with the spacers not fully seated. Oddly, it looks like the pocket clip screws go into a trio of threaded brass nuts imbedded in the G10 - that's first class.
Comparing this to a 279 I have, and I bought three others of that model several years back as gifts, the 279, which now has an MSRP of $80 vs the $126 of the 850, is far better made. The blade pivot screw doesn't pass through the scales and change the blade angle, either. A similar cost to the 850 new Buck, my 005RWS, for example, is a far better value for the money spent. Hard to believe the same company made the 850 - and my 408, 419, & 005RWS. I would consider carefully any planned 850 Bravo purchase - and certainly try to buy it from a store, where you could look it over carefully. If you do so, you'll likely carry something else home. Yeah, I am not well pleased with this one at all.
Stainz
The knife is an oddball to begin with. It looked like an interesting conversation piece - that could also be a great EDC. The blade metal, 154CM, certainly can't be faulted. If you don't like the odd grind, you probably didn't need to buy the knife in the first place. The construction, howeever, can be faulted. The SS frames are held together by staked spacers - fast and easy to mass produce. If the frames aren't held tightly together, the stepped spacer held flat against the frames, daylight will be seen between the spacers and the frame. Additionally, the staking process leaves a bit of metal above the frame sides - which will keep the G10 scales from laying flat. The final indignation - the clip screws - and especially those in the other side's holes - are too long - and further push that end of the G10 scales away from the frame. Also, the frame is spaced by those stepped spacers - and the blade & copper washers. If the frame sides are canted - the blade will drag. My first one drug on the non-bevel side - and was dull. My second one was more centered - and shaving sharp. Too bad the vendor had to eat the Priority Mail costs to and from his store to replace my really defective first one.
So - interesting idea - poorly executed. I've had two examples, as I said, and both exhibited the same problems, the second one having the blade better centered. Please note - the angle of the blade changes as the pivot screw is tightened... that shouldnt change appreciably. The frame can't be parallel with the spacers not fully seated. Oddly, it looks like the pocket clip screws go into a trio of threaded brass nuts imbedded in the G10 - that's first class.
Comparing this to a 279 I have, and I bought three others of that model several years back as gifts, the 279, which now has an MSRP of $80 vs the $126 of the 850, is far better made. The blade pivot screw doesn't pass through the scales and change the blade angle, either. A similar cost to the 850 new Buck, my 005RWS, for example, is a far better value for the money spent. Hard to believe the same company made the 850 - and my 408, 419, & 005RWS. I would consider carefully any planned 850 Bravo purchase - and certainly try to buy it from a store, where you could look it over carefully. If you do so, you'll likely carry something else home. Yeah, I am not well pleased with this one at all.
Stainz
