Blade stamps

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Plumberdv

Plumberdv

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There's been quite a bit of chatter lately about the stamped vs engraved/etched stamps and logos.

Here's a statement from Joe posted sometime ago.

"Joe Houser
Moderator Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Post Falls, Idaho U.S.A.
Posts: 2,733

This just in:
We started lasering the logos on the premium steels because those blades dont like to get stamped on both sides. Sometimes they would crack. They did an unknown quantity with the inverted stamp (laser).
They recently swiched to engraving the Buck and Bos logos, instead of lasering.
Personally I like the stamping the best.....but then again I dont like cracked blades either...I'm funny like that.
__________________
Joe Houser
Director of Consumer relations Buck Knives Inc.
Buck Collectors club Liaison, Member #123"

For what it's worth, I worked on the construction of a Nuclear Power Plant for many years as a pipefitter. We used pipe in various alloy's in different systems depending on the application. Every piece of material used in the vital or Class 1 systems in the plant comes with traceability data which is marked on the material so that every piece can be traced back to the manufacturer and lot from that manufacturer. Any piece of the material that is cut off the original has to have the data transferred to the piece that was cut off for use. Also, every weld had to have an identification mark next to the weld that gave the weld number and a symbol that was used to identify the welder that made it.

On the stainless alloys and more exotic (low carbon content) material, we were not allowed to use "stamps" because they were known to cause stress cracks and were required to use a vibra etching tool to mark the material and the welds.
 
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Thats a very valid point Dave. We use "Low Chloride" paint markers on our alloys.
Although, my Buck knife isn't as vital as a weld on a Nuke... But I sure like to think it is :D ;)
 
This is a good point and I had not seen Joe's comment on this topic before. So, really a stamped blade is becoming an indication that its NOT premium steel. DM
 
Well, that sounds like a valid reason, in which case I like the engraved over the laser etch.
 
I guess it makes sense that as you need different types of welding machines depending on the metel being welded that the same would hold true for marking blade steels.Dave coming from a do it you self welder like me,I get amazed hearing about the type of welding you and your Son do.
 
There's a problem with the "company line" about the etching problem.

Simple question.

Why don't they just stamp it on the same side along the top side of the blade as they did with the last real premium steel they had???

I've asked this several times before, but no answer has been given.
 
postfallsidaho said:
Thats a very valid point Dave. We use "Low Chloride" paint markers on our alloys.
Although, my Buck knife isn't as vital as a weld on a Nuke... But I sure like to think it is :D ;)
Click to expand...

The warehouse people did that also when the material was received and accepted to make it easy to identifiy and spool pieces after fabrication were also paint marked.

You can't stamp the inside of a pipe very easily, so having stamps back to back on the steel wasn't the issue. A single "stamp" on one side is enough to cause potential stress cracking and failure.;)
 
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David Martin said:
I don't think thats the subject of this original post. DM
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Dave, if you are referring to this:

There's a problem with the "company line" about the etching problem.

Simple question.

Why don't they just stamp it on the same side along the top side of the blade as they did with the last real premium steel they had???

I've asked this several times before, but no answer has been given.
Click to expand...

It's EXACTLY the subject of the original post.

;)
 
"A single "stamp" on one side is enough to cause potential stress cracking and failure."
 
"A single "stamp" on one side is enough to cause potential stress cracking and failure."
Click to expand...

So where are the test results from the knives that prove this theory on knives?

;)

If we look at this realistically, there is no explanation (and none offered by Buck) that would indicate that the reason behind it is anything but saving a few bucks by putting a cheesy etch on the blade rather than the good, old-fashioned stamp.

Unless there are published test results that prove that S30V is so weak that a single stamp could destroy its integrity (something I would be quite open to seeing).
 
Wow Bg,
You always seem to assume the worst in us dont you? I hope we never live up to your expectations then. ;)
We have done tests, and made the conclusions that we did based on the results. No test data has been offered and none is forthcoming.
Bottom line is that wacking these steels with a stamp, and especially doing it more than once, CAN cause stress risers. Not all the time, but enough to where we felt a change was warranted. Like I've said before, I dont like an etch at all, but considering why we do it, I can live with it.
Sorry if this sounds harsh but your stereotype of "big business" just does not fit Buck. I know the men and women that work here and it really rubs me the wrong way when implications like this are tendered. Your not bashing big business, your bashing Phil, or Steve, or Chuck, or any of the many other folks that take pride in making their living working at Buck Knives.
Where my dang tums! :thumbdn:
 
Sorry Joe, I just don't buy that (especially with a statement like "No test data has been offered and none is forthcoming").

I've never heard of anybody having a problem with a knife because it was stamped......and I have been listening hard for knife problems of all kinds for years.

I haven't bashed anybody named Phil or Steve or Chuck, but I do sincerely criticize whoever made the decision to go with those cheesy engravings or laserings that make good knives look like cheap fakes.

And my severe criticism will be laughed off, I'm sure. But I bet it costs you in the long run, because I won't buy a knife without a real stamp and I suspect there are others like me.

I bought a bunch of the build-outs off the website last week and as far as I can tell......all have real stamps.

But if you're going to end that famous Buck Stamp on the blades.......that will be the end of it (my buying).

You're lucky to have somebody who's not afraid to tell you the truth. They seem to be getting to be fewer and fewer around here.

Funny how that happens.

Again, not bashing any innocent Buck employees, just whatever bean-counter came up with this goofy idea.

Enjoy your Tums, but don't blame me.....I'm not the guy who caused the problem, I'm the CUSTOMER TELLING YOU about it.

;)
 
Plumberdv said:
A single "stamp" on one side is enough to cause potential stress cracking and failure.;)
Click to expand...

Its more than enough! ;) Thats why we used paint markers for our weld and spool ID's right from the shop. No stamps no cracks ;)

Thanks for stopping by to confirm the stamp/etch/engraving theory Joe!
(I kinda like the etches myself) :D
 
With all due respect to your fields of expertise, Post Falls and Plumberdv, what you're talking about is pipe and other metal objects.....not knives.

It's irrelevant to the issue at hand.

If there's a problem with knife blades being ruined by normal stamping.....it hasn't shown up.

How many posts here or elsewhere have we witnessed about stamping causing a knife to fail?

How many of us own dozens or hundreds of knives and can't remember any such thing happening?

Let's get real.

;)
 
Thank you Joe. Your participation and information is greatly appreciated as always. I hope that someday, a stress free method of real stamping can be developed. Like you, I prefer the stamped look, but a well done engraved knife is fine also. I'm also pretty sure that any business lost by the change to etching/engraving will be negligible and something Buck can easily withstand.

After all, it's still a Buck, stamped or not!:thumbup:
 
This is actually funny. How many people collect knives? How many people collect knife stamps? :)
 
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