Buck 830 Marksman mod. Perfecting the perfect knife!!

H

Harper89

Joined
Apr 10, 2014
Messages
34
Hello all. I'm a new user, but I have used this forum for years for research and the like. I start this new venture as a poster and contributor because I have a mod to my brand new Buck 830 Marksman that I want to share with you all.

The problem is a simple one, and is due to the fact that the strap on the back (strong lock) doesn't quite give good enough blade retention on its own. My blade liked to fall out of the handle pretty easily. It's not a make or break problem, but it made me nervous. I explain it all this in the video. I know it might void the warranty, but that's a risk I was willing to take. I hope Buck might see this and consider adding it into their design. It's a very basic mod and makes what is already a perfect knife that much more perfect.

I hope this doesn't create any silly controversy about the knife or anything. My intention is merely to share. :D

Well, here it is:

[video=youtube;i0c22PWZAeM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0c22PWZAeM[/video]
 
I don't think it's a bad idea, but couldn't you make the detent a bit stiffer by just tightening the backstrap a bit?
 
I don't think it's a bad idea, but couldn't you make the detent a bit stiffer by just tightening the backstrap a bit?
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I was wondering the same thing. My detent is pretty strong on this knife even after opening and closing multiple times.
 
Mine is fine as well. Perhaps the problem with the OP's knife was one of assembly and not of design. It would have been beneficial to have videoed the problem rather than just the fix that way we would have been able to see exactly how loose it was.
 
Badhammer said:
Mine is fine as well. Perhaps the problem with the OP's knife was one of assembly and not of design. It would have been beneficial to have videoed the problem rather than just the fix that way we would have been able to see exactly how loose it was.
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You're exactly right. But I didn't think to even make the video till I had done it. You live and you learn.

And to answer the earlier people. yes, you can just tighten the backstrap to increase the friction and make it a bit better, which I did first, but I didn't feel it was enough. The detent is a very simple addition that adds a lot of retention. Obviously you can't tell cause you haven't done it, but for me, it's a huge difference in retention. Like I say, just wanted to share.
 
Also, not that anyone "should" mod there blade, but as far as the addition of the detent is concerned: it has, in a strictly functional sense, zero drawbacks. Which is why I was wanting to share it, and still think Buck should incorporate it.
 
Thanks for the video and the show and tell video as well. I was waiting to see a more "critical" review and people's replies to it, since it's hard to form an opinion based solely on raving.
 
It actually may have two drawbacks. Number one is the warranty. You have probably voided it. A choice I would not take, but it is your knife so that's not a problem. Number two if the movement of the bar moves it out of the detent slot during adjustment. Then you are back to the same scenario. It could be that the adjustment will not allow it to move that far. But you don't know until you actually see how far it can be adjusted. You may have effectively negated the range of the adjustment. It will remain to be seen as you use the knife and see how it wears. This would be a good fix if the knife was used so much that it could no longer be adjusted and you needed to tighten the detent function. The real question is where would the knife wear with long term use? Would it wear on the blade detent area or would it wear on the lockbar? In all rationality the lock bar should be slightly softer than the blade, as it is the easier part to replace and is also the mechanical part in control of the adjustment. And how long would it take for the lockbar or blade to wear before the detent could not be adjusted? Hopefully a lifetime of normal use. This also remains to be seen. Either way the Buck lifetime warranty is in place for normal use and workmanship of the knife. If you like it and it works out well for you then it's all good.
 
The lock on mine was much too strong. So I took it off and carefully bent it a bit and now it is much better. I thought maybe shifting the lock forward a little bit might help also but my cat stole the Allen wrench that fits.
 
I have a question here. Does the strength of the lock, rely on the screw used to adjust the tightness of the backstrap? In other words, does negative pressure against the open blade, have potential to strip that screw and force the blade closed?
 
That's a very good question. By negative pressure do you mean pressure on the spine while it is open? I really can't see where it would but then again I don't know if the adjustment screw pushes the lock bar or is screwed into it to push and pull it. I guess if I tore it down completely I would know. I am leery of doing so as I don't know if the ball bearings are encased or free floating. I'm really not wanting to mess with it until I know. This would be a good question for folks at Buck. I'm sure with a Buck/G&G design they have test specs for this type of use.
 
SOLEIL said:
That's a very good question. By negative pressure do you mean pressure on the spine while it is open? I really can't see where it would but then again I don't know if the adjustment screw pushes the lock bar or is screwed into it to push and pull it. I guess if I tore it down completely I would know. I am leery of doing so as I don't know if the ball bearings are encased or free floating. I'm really not wanting to mess with it until I know. This would be a good question for folks at Buck. I'm sure with a Buck/G&G design they have test specs for this type of use.
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Check out this thread. The guy took it apart and took photos of the parts.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1171832-Inside-the-Buck-830-Marksman
 
SOLEIL said:
That's a very good question. By negative pressure do you mean pressure on the spine while it is open? I really can't see where it would but then again I don't know if the adjustment screw pushes the lock bar or is screwed into it to push and pull it. I guess if I tore it down completely I would know. I am leery of doing so as I don't know if the ball bearings are encased or free floating. I'm really not wanting to mess with it until I know. This would be a good question for folks at Buck. I'm sure with a Buck/G&G design they have test specs for this type of use.
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Yeah, it seems like negative pressure, or pressure in the closing direction on the blade, will pull the "strap" toward the pivot end of the handle, and could maybe potentially shear the threads off that screw, allowing the blade to, at least partially, close. I'd sure love to see somebody put the blade in a vise and start hanging weights from the handle... for purely academic reasons...obviously. :)

No need to make any tired and irrelevant comments about locks and blades being used properly... as I said, this is purely academic...
 
If you look at the strap, there is a hump of metal that goes through it between the screws that would most likely help to eliminate that issue.
 
ohmyheckinslc said:
Yeah, it seems like negative pressure, or pressure in the closing direction on the blade, will pull the "strap" toward the pivot end of the handle, and could maybe potentially shear the threads off that screw, allowing the blade to, at least partially, close. I'd sure love to see somebody put the blade in a vise and start hanging weights from the handle... for purely academic reasons...obviously. :)

No need to make any tired and irrelevant comments about locks and blades being used properly... as I said, this is purely academic...
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I can't remember where I saw it, but it was tested for lock failure, and the # of pounds was very high. (Can't remember the # of pounds either)
 
Which screw are we talking about? The set screw at the back of the knife or the screws holding the locking strap on?

Edit: oh I guess I misunderstood. I thought we were talking about the screws on top, you meant the back screw and what is to stop the whole unit being pulled forward.
 
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Hey all, as Soleil pointed out, my mod could have some future issues. I drew this handy dandy image to show how that might happen and I start off by showing some alternative ideas I had. I'm glad to hear that not everyone has had same issue as me, though I've heard from a few who have. These other options are a bit more future friendly, I like the first idea. Also, I suck at drawing, hope it all makes sense ;)

I think the amount of wear will be hugely minimal, but if you had this knife for 20 years, as you very likely will, my current mod could be a problem. If it ever is for me I will order a new back strap.

Ih0X210


In case image doesn't load here's the link: http://imgur.com/Ih0X210
 
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