Are elk scales supposed to be this thick?

Nebuchadnezzar said:
Not that I saw, all pics showed flat scales and the model name is the same so one would think the specs would be relatively similar unless stated.
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If they can't reply with a spec and it doesn't match the online photos, maybe you should see if you can take the problem to a higher level. In my experience with them, they have a repair shop supervisor and probably a few layers above that.
 
Help beyond the brush off I got from the Buck customer service rep would be appreciated.

Again, I get it is a natural material and variance is to be expected, but the functional extent of that variance was surprising. Like eveled eveled said, seems they could of thinned it from the back a bit more before making such a drastic swell in the center. Would of preserved some of the color and texture and not of increased the thickness so much. Sanding it down to thin it out seems like the only real reasonable approach at this point and I would be fine with that preferring a functional smooth white handle over the sheath busting current one.
 
This is an interesting dilemma. I'm sorry you're in it as well!

Aside from the "natural materials" angle, you're dealing with a company, and then the company's craftsmen. Because of the company, we tend to believe the craftsmen are always excellent. Unfortunately, that might not always be the case. I used to be a huge Ontario Knife Company fan, but the workmanship of their knives in the majority of personal cases left me feeling let down. On the bright side, when I complained, I did get my "customer satisfaction," if you will. I heard rumors of Buck QC going a bit downhill several months ago, so perhaps they are struggling to get quality people at the moment. That condition is also potentially an indicator of how the company is handling itself as well, but I have no information on that front personally. I have had minor QC issues with some of my Bucks in the past, but aside from some work done to my Vantage Force Pro, it wasn't anything I couldn't handle myself. I think if you make enough noise (and in the right places), your words will make it into someone's ears who can help you. If you opt to do the work yourself... you'll have to be content with that. If you can source a competent cutler, they might be able to deliver the kind of workmanship you expect, but you'll have to pay it.

As a closing statement, I am also a bit of a sucker for fancy-but-practical knives. Stag is beautiful. HOWEVER, in my experience, it's never been as tactile as I thought it should be. My 119 and 113 are gorgeous, but the stag ultimately contributes more to the presentation rather than the function in my opinion. My last knife (I have no decent reason for buying it, other than the fact that it's the coolest "hunting" knife you've ever seen) was a Joker Jabali. I elected to get olive wood scales for economy reasons, and I'm not sorry I did. Part of working with stag is making the natural features of the material into a practical feature for the knife. There are so many variables in this that expecting a certain standard of quality at a fixed price point is really... optimistic at best.
 
pjsjr said:
Maybe J J Hubbard could/would help?
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I honestly don't believe that's gonna happen.
He's been here, it's just a door they are not going to open.
Because then how do you close it........?

They missed their chance at initial contact.
This is a Custom Shop knife after all.🤔

I think it's a good looking knife, and I agree the stag is "fatter" than need be.
If it were mine I'd just put it up for sale for what you have into it. And be done with it.
.....Some folks actually prefer a big elk handle.

Threads like this have to influence sales.
I wonder what happened to 212 Legacy knives after concerns expressed earlier this year.
......I've noticed a decrease in interest here.....

Search on the web for info about a Buck knife. This forum ALWAYS shows up in the search results.
Just sayin.😎
 
Just want to get the info out there for anyone else considering ordering one for better or worse. Several folks have chimed in that they wouldn't mind the scales or thickness. Buck said the handle scales are within their quality standards. Chief gripe is lack of description on the custom order site, which lead me to believe that it would be close to the production 110 dimensions. Their legendary customer service was also dismissive and seemingly indifferent.
I'll likely sit on the knife as a reminder to look before I leap in the future, or perhaps eventually get someone to swap the scales to something more useable. This is not my first custom from them but based on this experience likely my last.
 
view


This was my custom shop lesson. I ordered all these with Cherrywood to match my cherrywood set. One looks like a black eye.
 
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eveled said:
Yes all ordered at once shipped together.
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A bit more frustrating that they do not match.

I've ordered four customs and have not had any issues. However, I find it odd there is no option to add a request to one's order; thin vs thick handles, "a matching set", or other general requests. I suppose opening such a door could lead to a lot of complications.
 
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