Ag S30V Vanguard review so far.

kyhunt

kyhunt

Basic Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2007
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Well its been a month since I said I would start using Vanguard AG for almost all my cutting needs. I have had this knife for about 2 years but hadn't used it on much except for a few squirrels until recently. The results thus far are mixed. The knife is holding up decently but the sheath has not lived up to my expectation.

Knife:

(GOOD)
1. Chopped 3 inch diameter tree, afterward still sharp but not shaving sharp.

After a few passes on stone back to shaving sharp.

2. Cutting large cuts of meat into smaller steaks. Excellent.

3. Kitchen work, cutting veggies- great! Great for slicing thin tomatoes.

4. Great for garden work.

5. Ease of carry -great.

(BAD)

1. Blade coating does seem to wear off faster than expected. (just in spots)

2. Handle got vinegar spilled on it and dulled it really bad so had to apply several coats of Reniassance wax.

3.Sheath (huge disappointment)- While the sheath looked really good at the beginning of this test the quality was not as outstounding as I expected.

Sheath and knife got soaked as so did I. Dried knife off and threw knife and sheath into car seperately. Hot summer day, left both in car while I went on my marry way. The next day to my shock the sheath had shrunk and started to come apart. Gorllia glued it and clamped it overnight. Thought no big deal I will live with it. But then I tried to put the knife in the sheath. It fits, but the thing is so tight and stiff that the leather started to rip.

Needless to say this knife will not make it to hunting season due to I will not buy a sheath that is going to do this again and who wants to spend $95 for a knife and then get a custom sheath.

I'm not bashing Buck because I own 9 and 3 of them are the AG(2 in stag). But if I had to do again I think I would spend the money on 2 regular old vanguards. I'm hoping my stag AG 110 doesn't disappoint this deer season. I will post before and after photos shortly.


After going back to the AG s30v Vanguard and using it for some more heavy stuff a year later. I would have to say that I change my mind and would not buy 2 regular Vanguards to replace one Ag. The Ag is a great knife. I had worn the finish of it in certain places bad so I ended up removing all the finish. I'm not sure if the Darker ones finishe holds better or not. I tend to think maybe they do because my 110 has not wear except at pivot points.
 
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KY...
If ya had to do it again...when a knife and leather sheath get wet, it is best ot dry them intact as a system.
The sheath will wet form around the knife.
Excessive heat will shrink a wet sheath though.
Oh, you know that ;)
 
kyhunt said:
Sheath and knife got soaked as so did I. Dried knife off and threw knife and sheath into car seperately. Hot summer day, left both in car while I went on my marry way. The next day to my shock the sheath had shrunk and started to come apart. Gorllia glued it and clamped it overnight. Thought no big deal I will live with it. But then I tried to put the knife in the sheath. It fits, but the thing is so tight and stiff that the leather started to rip.
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Thank you for the update!! This is exactly why I prefer the cordura nylon sheaths! You really cant blame Buck for leather getting really weird after becoming wet. However it should not fall apart and need to be glued! It will shrink and take on a different shape though! Dont have an after market sheath made just buy one for the 692! I had this happen with my 102 from 20+ years ago. sheath was split and shrunk and almost like dry rot from gettin wet duck hunting, now cordura is my sheath of choice.

OOps I just read gooses post, maybe thats why my 102 sheath went T.U...
 
Let me ask this about the handle. Does spilling vinegar on it usually remove the finish?
 
Too bad about the sheath, but if you like the knife and would like to continue using it there's no need for a custom replacement. You can get a stock nylon sheath for the Vanguard for $12-$15 at several places.
 
Well I just spoke with someone at Cabela's. They said because it is one of their exclusives they will replace it. Only catch is they have to replace both knife and sheath.
 
I did not know about the vinegar spill and the finish. I will ask our engineers if that is normal. As for the sheath...that was normal. I do not carry anything in a leather sheath anymore except for show.

If you email me your mailing address I would be more then happy to send you a 692 sheath no charge so if you take Cabelas up on their replacement offer you can retire the new sheath.

cj@buckknives.com
 
Address sent. Thank you very much. I had never had that happen before. I spilt vinger while using it to chop tomatoes for salsa. It just been a bad week for that knife. I have never had an issue with either the knife or sheath but until recently it was only used during hunting season. But I figured it was to good of a knife to limit until just then. But I will keep future ones away from vinegar. It caused the gloss and some of the color to rub off.
 
Nice review KY. Thanks for posting. I've been curious about how the blade coating would hold up under hard use. Guess you answered that question! It still looks great to me to be honest.

Also cool offer by Cabelas and Buck :thumbup:
 
The blade itself is really holding up the scratches in the coating you can't see in the photos. They are small. They don't bother me, just makes it look like its been used. The vinegar on the handle was kind of surprising to me but after several coats of reniassance wax it regain some of its finish CJ Buck is looking into if that should of happened. I will probally take Cabela's up on their offer because each time I wash the knife off I have to rewax the handle or it is extremely dull looking. I will keep this one away from the homemade salsa. It very well could of been just a one time thing but I want to be safe than sorry again.

I geuss me saying if I had to do it over again I wouldn't buy it was extreme. Because here I have the chance to do it over again and I'm doing it. Cabela's gave me the choice of exchange , refund or a differant knife. It was just one of those rough days and I was a little disgusted with the all nice and pretty sheath shrinking up like a rotten veggie.

I would feel comfortable if this knife was called to the occasion where my life and survival depended on it.
 
I have an extra cordura sheath for a Vanguard I was going to offer, but I see CJ has you covered.

Buck Knives rocks!!!
 
Guyon said:
I have an extra cordura sheath for a Vanguard I was going to offer, but I see CJ has you covered.

Buck Knives rocks!!!
Click to expand...

Guyon...that is cool One reason I really like the gents here is cause of getures like your's.


As for KYHUNT and finish on the knife itself: The more I think about it, the more of a drag I think it is...the finish being reactive to vinegar. Bummer.

Go G-10 ;)
 
It was the finish on the handle not the blade.Yes it was a bummer so I'm hoping it was just an isolated case. The blade finish just has some light scratches nothing serious. The logo is starting to wear off but no big deal, its a user. But the finish on the handle was kind of a pain having to rewax it becuase it got a real dull dull finish and some of the coloring actually rubbed off. Also thanks for the offer Guyon, But Mr. CJ Buck took care of it for me. Well maybe I'll have to buy a rubber handle one also for making salsa just in case I spill again. Gives me a good excuse to buy another BUCK.
 
I'm going to have to pay for a extra sheath cause someone left their WET LEATHER sheath in a HOT car to "dry" without a knife in it to hold its shape.............:grumpy:
 
bilrus61 said:
I'm going to have to pay for a extra sheath cause someone left their WET LEATHER sheath in a HOT car to "dry" without a knife in it to hold its shape.............:grumpy:
Click to expand...

:foot: :foot:
Yep, you will have to pay for that sheath all by yourself... Sometimes you gentlemen who post like this should think about how your post will look before you hit submit reply.......Better yet I will take your post as being sarcastic (even with the grumpy smiley)...

:)

Sometimes a company has to replace items for whatever reason to keep customers.

Bucks customer service is what KEEPS us all coming back for more!!!!
 
Nicely put wh4f. I'll gladly pay a few dollars more for a knife if it comes with customer service like this.
 
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