Ag S30V Vanguard review so far.

I'm sorry if my post was too harsh. Buck does have excellent service from what I hear. I've never had to use it. This past year I've bought a 110 AG, Mayo Wiamia 171 (wow), 303 LE stag, Prince, Alpha Dorado 271 and a Mayo Kaala (wow again). Two of the knives have very slight issues. I can live with them. I think KYHunt does have a good reason to seek a answer/resolution on his handle's finish being dulled by the vinegar. (although vinegar is VERY acidic,the handle finish should be able to take it I think). I just felt that his problem with the sheath was not the fault of Buck knives in the least. Any leather reacts that way to those conditions. I hope he has it resolved to his satisfaction and again I'm sorry for the tone of my post.

On a side note about sheaths......... Last fall I lost my vintage 119 buck on my farm after dressing out a neighbors deer. Two months later my dad found it. It had been run over by the tractor! The black part of the handle was slightly push askew by about 1 mm. The Leather sheath however had warped and got chewed on by mice. I love my sheath more than ever. I can still barely get the knife in and out of the sheath. Takes some effort but this sheath is now perfect! Take care all and I'll be quiet for bit till I learn better manners (and spelling!) BillyR
 
I understood whatcha meant BillyR. And I am tossed as I know Buck does a great job trying to keep their customer base happy. But at what price?

Have stated before that the Buck CFO must go nuts over the company bending over backwards to help their customers out.

Knowing that, I had an offer from Buck to fix up a knife that I messed up the scales on. Buck offerred to fix it for free. I sent along a check which they still have not cashed.

But, let me tell ya...if I live to be a 100, I will continue to buy Buck US because of their attitude of service and quality of knives.

Anyway, BillyR, thanks for the cool story of the 119 and sheath. Fricken' mice.
Hope to read more from you.
 
Buckaholic said:
I understood whatcha meant BillyR. And I am tossed as I know Buck does a great job trying to keep their customer base happy. But at what price?

Have stated before that the Buck CFO must go nuts over the company bending over backwards to help their customers out.

Knowing that, I had an offer from Buck to fix up a knife that I messed up the scales on. Buck offerred to fix it for free. I sent along a check which they still have not cashed.

But, let me tell ya...if I live to be a 100, I will continue to buy Buck US because of their attitude of service and quality of knives.

Anyway, BillyR, thanks for the cool story of the 119 and sheath. Fricken' mice.
Hope to read more from you.
Click to expand...

:thumbup: Well stated!
 
bilrus61, No appolgy needed. The simply fact is that Buck gives a custmoer (me) a $14 sheath gives me the incentive to go buy another $149.00 AG stag just because the company stands behind their product. It is a generous offer but at the same time it is a good buisness decesion. Does CJ have to do it? Not at all. Was it my fault? Yes. Does it make me want to go out and buy another Buck? Yes. Will I? Yes. In the past 9 months I have bought Buck A 119 Rosewood $75, a 105 Rosewood $55, A 102 Rosewood (?) $45, A 103 Wood handled skinner $39, 2 stag handles 110 AG @ $149 each= $300.00. Total= for 9 months = $514.00 this does not include other Buck knives that I have had for longer. So at $514.00 in 9 months I dont think you are the only one that will be paying for the sheath. Future purchases this year will include the stag akouna at $168. The Ag stag mini aplha at $169. So before you hang me out to dry stop and think does it make sense to give a dumb bozo that buys your product a $14 sheath if he will spend several hundreds more. The answer is yes. I have been a buck user for 20 years and never have ever had to use their warrenty until now. I was not bashing Buck in my review. If you read it it was an honest review. My simple concern was that the knife and sheath (I thought) was marketed for harsh condition if you read the the article thus the name Alaskan Guide. It is suppose to be able to handle the harshest enviroments. I told folks that I would use this knfe and tell what I thought of it. People always say they want pictures. So there was the pictures. Buck is a great company that makes a great product. I have had minor issues on some knives but nothing worth sending them in. I figure no one is perfect. But if I'm going to give a review it will be an honest review and not a sugar coated review that will make everyone happy. The knife has been sent back and when I receive it back I will continue the review and may even compare it to a Bark River I bought.
 
She doesnt care. We have a joint account and then we give ourselves each an allowance that we spend on what ever we want. Usually mine gets spent on knives from Feb- Aug because hunting season is over and I have withdrawls so I go knife shopping. Actually she bought me one of the stag 110 AG for christmas. The $514 is just for the Bucks,actually it was a little more that that I forgot the 403 I bought. I have spent about $150 on Case this year and $140 on a Bark river that also was sent back for work on the handle because it got left in the warm car by the same idiot. They were going to retighten the handle and polish the leather but dont tell anyone because someone may start complainig about having to pay for wax the next time the buy a Bark River.
 
Well I'll talk to you folks later. Its my day off and I'm taking the kids hiking.
 
Yes Goose, that makes my fascination with knives look kinda normal :p

I have some hunting buddies that have a thing for cast iron frying pans :confused:
 
I bought an AG Vanguard a while back using my NRA coupon - it cost me $59.99 - same as my 'regular' ProLine Vanguard. The TiAlN S30V blade is gorgeous... I just can't bring myself to use it much. That regular SS Vanguard, with a similar handle, gets more use. I think if I Knew I were going to carry it camping, I'd get the rubber gripped/nylon sheathed. I hate poly finishes on wood - they look plastic - but they do handle spills better.

Sadly, I had to have another S30V 'user' knife - and found the Spyderco Native C41PBK at Wally World for <$40. Not bad for S30V lockback folder marked made in 'Golden Co USA Earth' - even if it has a hole in the blade. Thus far, it is a keeper - very sharp.

Today, I found myself ordering a few things from Cabela's... then, I heard myself giving them the number of that S30V TiAlN coated 'AG' 110... another $65 - but it looks to be a deal. Of course, the best deal in 110's was the tin collector boxed 110's, with Buck keychain and nylon sheath, which I got from Wally World after Christmas '05 - $11 and $14 each - depending on the 'day of the week'. I gave some nice 'after Christmas' gifts that year!

Stainz
 
I would guess that the acid in the vinegar reacted to the finish on the knife. I guess that could be a future test for Buck knives. They could call it the "Salsa Test".
 
edbeau said:
I would guess that the acid in the vinegar reacted to the finish on the knife. I guess that could be a future test for Buck knives. They could call it the "Salsa Test".
Click to expand...

Acid in Vinegar? Vinegar is neutral..:confused:
 
Hawkeye5 said:
Acid in Vinegar? Vinegar is neutral..:confused:
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Since when? Vinegar has acetic acid. It's a weak acid, but it's definitely not neutral. It's what makes it tart.

Next time you marinate something with vinegar (and other stuff), cover it with aluminum foil and you'll find tiny holes in the foil the next day. That's the acetic acid at work.
 
Well I have my replacment Vanguard. I will have to post pictures in a bit. Its a little differant the the old one I had. Handle seems to be slimmer,which is something I like. Very high gloss.I will have to keep this one away from vinegar. Handle is a differant shade.One side is dark and the other light. Not gripping.This one is just differant.
 
Glad ya got good resolution on this KY,,,

The whole time I was reading vinegar, I was wondering if something like Tru-Oil would put a finish back on that handle. I had a few tiny scratches on the rosie grips on my 277 Alpha and smoothed them all down and hit them with a couple of coats of tru oil and they look great.

I am half tempted to go soak my rosie vanguard ag in some vinegar just to play with it, but alas,,it is still nib so that would be kind of silly. Now I am curious about trying the truoil on a 110...hummm...

Anyone else used any tru oil on knives?? I have done a bunch of gun stocks and they come out beautiful.
 
Pack Rat said:
Glad ya got good resolution on this KY,,,

The whole time I was reading vinegar, I was wondering if something like Tru-Oil would put a finish back on that handle. I had a few tiny scratches on the rosie grips on my 277 Alpha and smoothed them all down and hit them with a couple of coats of tru oil and they look great.

I am half tempted to go soak my rosie vanguard ag in some vinegar just to play with it, but alas,,it is still nib so that would be kind of silly. Now I am curious about trying the truoil on a 110...hummm...

Anyone else used any tru oil on knives?? I have done a bunch of gun stocks and they come out beautiful.
Click to expand...

I'm not familiar with tru oil... I re-finished the stock of a old remington (walnut stock) with multiple coats of hand rubbed Tung Oil... it is hard to beat that finish. Some time ago, I had some work done on this rifle and the gunsmith asked me what I used, it had a very natural feel. Tung Oil makes a fine finish for knife handles as well, I used it on a custom.
 
mainewoodsman said:
I'm not familiar with tru oil... I re-finished the stock of a old remington (walnut stock) with multiple coats of hand rubbed Tung Oil... it is hard to beat that finish. Some time ago, I had some work done on this rifle and the gunsmith asked me what I used, it had a very natural feel. Tung Oil makes a fine finish for knife handles as well, I used it on a custom.
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I think Tru-Oil is probably very similar to Tung oil. I also apply using my fingers with 0000 steel wool between coats. I put all the steel off of an old A-5 Browning in a gumsmith shop once, for a total restore.

Meanwhile I worked the stock over cleaning and gently removing all the scratches that I could.

Like you, the smithy wanted to know who did the wood work. Said it was among the best he had seen. I guess the ocd helped out there...lol

So I can see my next little project being one of these old junker two or 3 liner 110's
 
Boy I wish I thought of that tung oil instead of sending it back. Something interesting, the blade is thinner on this one than on my old one. Thats all I'll say.I messaged Joe Houser with a few things about it. I do like my old one better. Its just me. I like the thicker blades.
 
kyhunt said:
Boy I wish I thought of that tung oil instead of sending it back. Something interesting, the blade is thinner on this one than on my old one. Thats all I'll say.I messaged Joe Houser with a few things about it. I do like my old one better. Its just me. I like the thicker blades.
Click to expand...

The blade on this 192 laying here is 1/8 inch at the top of the spine. I just couldn't imagine one any thinner than that. :confused: :confused:

We gotta know!!!!!:eek: :eek: :)
 
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