Buck 501 Squire quality issues. Should I send it back?

S

ScreaminSS01

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Jan 2, 2012
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This forum is great and very informative.This post is about a Buck 501 Squire I got from my wife's grandpa for Christmas.I don't really use the knife but my wife has opened her fair share of envelopes and packages with it. I picked it up after she complained about it being dull. She knows I jump at the chance to sharpen a knife and I proceeded to do so. I put a nice edge on it and started messing with it. I noticed the pins on either end are very visable and stand out like a sore thumb. I chalked it up to being a cheaper priced knife. Then I checked the blade play and it was very sloppy. I can move the blade from side to side enough it touches both liners with ease. Keep in mind it has only been used to open envelopes and packages. Should I contact Buck about it? It was a gift from a man who I am very fond of and I would like to keep this knife forever. Would you send it back or just leave it in the safe? I could buy my wife a pink mini grip or pink Kershaw leek for her needs and just leave it alone.

I always heard about Buck's great quality from my Grandpa and other men in my life. Should I accept the fit and finish and chalk it up as you get what you pay for? Keeping the exact knife he gave me is important. Do you think they would replace it or fix it? Thanks in advance.
 
ScreaminSS01 said:
This forum is great and very informative.This post is about a Buck 501 Squire I got from my wife's grandpa for Christmas.I don't really use the knife but my wife has opened her fair share of envelopes and packages with it. I picked it up after she complained about it being dull. She knows I jump at the chance to sharpen a knife and I proceeded to do so. I put a nice edge on it and started messing with it. I noticed the pins on either end are very visable and stand out like a sore thumb. I chalked it up to being a cheaper priced knife. Then I checked the blade play and it was very sloppy. I can move the blade from side to side enough it touches both liners with ease. Keep in mind it has only been used to open envelopes and packages. Should I contact Buck about it? It was a gift from a man who I am very fond of and I would like to keep this knife forever. Would you send it back or just leave it in the safe? I could buy my wife a pink mini grip or pink Kershaw leek for her needs and just leave it alone.

I always heard about Buck's great quality from my Grandpa and other men in my life. Should I accept the fit and finish and chalk it up as you get what you pay for? Keeping the exact knife he gave me is important. Do you think they would replace it or fix it? Thanks in advance.
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The blade play you say you can touch both liners? So you are talking about blade play with the knife closed right?

What is the blade play like with the knife open & locked?
jb4570
 
After making this post I checked it locked and the play is minimal. Is the discolored pins a common problem?
 
ScreaminSS01 said:
After making this post I checked it locked and the play is minimal. Is the discolored pins a common problem?
Click to expand...

Can you post a photo of the pin issue? If you decide to send the knife back to Buck for repair send a note with the knife explaining the issues you have with the knife. Also, tell them the knife is sentamental because it was a special gift and you don't want it replaced just fixed. That way you get back your knife.
jb4570
 
I have several 501's and only one has visibly noticeable pins, but they are shiny and the bolsters are tarnished, don't know why because none of my others are tarnished. I intend to rehandle the knife anyway and will polish the tarnish then.
Most have no or hardly noticeable play while open but some do while closed, till now never noticed it when closed.

Minor task such as opening envelopes and such wouldn't cause it but I have found it only takes one time of improper use to create side to side play while open.

I have sent knives to buck and been very pleased with customer service, although the issues you mention are minor and shouldn't warrant replacement, as mentioned above, just let them know you don't want it replaced.
 
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st8yd said:
Several 501's and only one has visibly noticeable pins, but they are shiny and the bolsters are tarnished, don't know why because none of my others are tarnished. I intend to rehandle the knife anyway and will polish the tarnish then.
Most have no or hardly noticeable play while open but some do while closed, till now never noticed it when closed.

Minor task such as opening envelopes and such wouldn't cause it but I have found it only takes one time of improper use to create side to side play while open.

I have sent knives to buck and been very pleased with customer service, although the issues you mention are minor and shouldn't warrant replacement, as mentioned above, just let them know you don't want it replaced.
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Hi st8yd,

Most of the 501's bolsters are SS, the one you have with tarnish may be NK and not SS. Take a good look at it let us know what you find!
jb4570
 
jb4570 said:
Hi st8yd,

Most of the 501's bolsters are SS, the one you have with tarnish may be NK and not SS. Take a good look at it let us know what you find!
jb4570
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I thought they were all silver nickel. They seem to ding and scratch up to easy to be SS. How do I tell if its Silver nickel or stainless steel.
 
Here are some pics of the knife. The first one is of the blade play to one side. The next three are pics of the pins the hold the knife together on each end. What is the correct term for them? I am going to email or call Buck and see what they say. If its common or they did not intend a uniform finish then I will keep the knife and replace my wife's expensive letter opener. I don't expect this knife to have top notch quality due to its price tag. I am just wondering if this is normal.

009.jpg


008.jpg


007.jpg


006.jpg
 
ScreaminSS01 said:
The only thing stamped on the knife is

Buck
501G
U.S.A.
Click to expand...

There is no G.
If its a C ( or U turned clockwise a quarter turn) its a 95 if its sat in a box since then its very likely to be tarnished.
If its a C or half circle with a dot in it its a 2011. In that case the tarnish is probably from handling with something on your hands.
I peeled an orange with mine a few months ago, didn't wash it right off and it tarnished quite a bit, but being an edc it wore off shortly.
 
I'm learning something new everyday. It is a C with a dot and made in 2011. I looked around and found the date codes for future reference.
 
I just polished a portion of mine with some automotive polishing compound and it took the tarnish off, pin can still be seen but not as well.
I would imagine that the pins come from a different batch of nickel silver thus the potential for them appear different, I don't know that is a quality issue though.

I'm sure grandpa hoped you would want to use the knife rather than stick it away in a drawer.
 
The pins look exactly like that on my 503. Not sure about it touching the side though, but if the blade doesn't rub the side I wouldn't worry too much about it.
 
Most people who use them a lot toss them in a pocket, sometimes with change etc, in short order the bolsters aquire a bunch of tiny scratches and take on a matte finish... They are great everyday users for light duty/ office type cutting chores... Enjoy it for what it is...
 
I generally carry my Spyderco Gayle Bradley or Emerson CQC10. I have lost so many knives I prefer my EDC to be beefy and have a clip.I've been eyeing up a 110/112 with finger grooves though to put in the rotation. I'll use this one around the house but I would hate to lose it.
 
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I bought a Squire about 30y ago, carried it for nearly 20, then lost it. Bought another and it was my regular EDC until I got the knife bug a couple of years ago.

It had none of the problems the OP alludes to.

It has its place in my heart, altho it's not seen much pocket time lately.
 
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