Buck Disappoints...

[exiled13]

By the time I got to the end of this thread I had forgotten wiether it was about Buck customer service or Buck liner locks. I for one havent had any experance w/ Buck's customer service. Ive never had a Buck knife fail. Only person in my family that has sent a knife back was my grand dad. He broke the blade in a small pocket knife I dont even know what it was. Looked something like a 309 maybe. Anyway he had locked his self out of his house and used it to slide between the two widow panes to slide the lock over. Blade snapped almost at the handle. This was in the 70's. He sent it back with a note telling them what happened and he knew it was his fault and would be happy to pay for a replacement blade if they could replace it. he got a new blade free of charge even though it was his fault.
Prior to my cross lock all I've ever owned was lever locks. "110s" and their varients. I was skeptal about the the liner locks. I could see myself some how pushing the liner over or breaking it and losing some fingers. To my surprise Buck's liner locks are very strong and dependable. Never everything I buy is lever lock. Not because I think its better, just the knives I like just so happen to have liner locks. I just dont see Buck allowing a bad unit remaining. Something has to be amiss.
As someone said they have bought cheaper knives that seemed better than a Buck. I own expence custom hunting knives that dont even come close to a $50 119 or vanguard. I guess it is what it is.

 

[GLDNDomer]

My buck vantage pro locks up very solidly, just a hair further than the middle of a blade, right where it should be. I don't think the liner lock should be touching like that, perhaps the buck shop misunderstood what you meant in your note??

I feel obligated to say that I sent in a broken tip Buck 110 that my father's had for ten years, explaining that I would like an estimate on the blade replacement fee, and they instead just skipped that step and sent me a brand new blade, also polishing up the handle like it was new too! (still has name carvings in it though, so definitely the same handle) You seriously can't go wrong with Buck customer service, and they have earned my future business with them.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Anybody know how a new 112 could be unrepairable?

Or did they mean they didn't have time to repair it immediately so they'd replace it instead and repair it later?

Do they actually throw away 112s that aren't working quite right?

Seems like it would usually be just a matter of replacing a part.

There was damage to the handle at the pivot.

Repair would mean completely removing the handle and replacing it with a new handle. There was nothing wrong with the blade or spring.

If this had been a wood-and-brass 112, a repair would perhaps have been cost effective. Well, actually, if it had been wood-and-brass, the damage to the handle would not have been possible in the same way. Brass just doesn't do that.

In the end, the time and effort to repair it as an individual piece would cost more than a simple swap-out. I'm sure the blade and spring will be salvaged and re-done as a build-out or the like. But it will be done in a production line setting, not a workbench setting.

 

[Gates67]

My Vantage Pro is going way over aswell.
It locks up solid, but if you wrist flip and use flipper it actually locks up in the middle.It hits the liner and bounces back.
If you slowly open it it hits the far liner.
Worth calling Buck about?
It came over pretty far when I got it, but after a month its progressed farther to the liner.

 

[puukkoman]

If it locks up solid, I wouldn't bother sending it in. Still works fine. If, one day, it doesn't work as it should, then send it in. JMO

 

[GundaManiac]

Wow. With lockup that far over, I'd contact Buck CS. It may be solid now, but with just a teeny bit more wear you're probably going to start seeing up-down blade play.

 

[HuntBomb]

so wait for the play to start...then send it in.

 

[exiled13]

Where is the wear going to show up? How is the play going to happen in this condiction and not w/ the liner in the middle of the blade? Its not like the liner is thin enough to fit between the liner and the blade.
This matter really comes down to if you like it or not. If you don't send it back. Jmho

 

[OhShoot]

Where is the wear going to show up? How is the play going to happen in this condiction and not w/ the liner in the middle of the blade? Its not like the liner is thin enough to fit between the liner and the blade.

The wear happens as the edge of the frame/liner lock slides across the beveled blade lockup surface. Best is if it locks up 35-50% of the way across new, allows for wear as the lockup point moves toward the opposite liner over time. No, the liner will not ever slide down between the opposite liner and blade, but when that last little bit of the blade lockup surface wears off, vertical play WILL ensue.

On a properly mated surface position for a new knife, most folks will never wear this out, but when there's no room for travel, the wear will manifest into vertical lockup play -- when just depends of degree of usage. Since most folks flip one hand opener knives open quite a bit, even when not for use, it'll likely be sooner rather than later if it's an EDC.

- OS

 

[BG42EDGE]

Oh Shoot......that was a real nice and clear explanation.

 

[Hawk45]

I've looked at the Vantage series many times.. but never pulled the trigger b/c of the QC issues. Seems like they should come packaged in a self addressed return envelope to Buck for service. Why are they letting so many get by quality control with all the known issues? I want one.. but don't want to pay $60 for one then have to send it in for repairs immediately and wait 4 weeks.

Case in point.. I don't post in the Buck forum often but I do stop by every so many months to see if the CQ issues are cleared up. What do you know.. first post in the forum. That being said, I do love my 25yr old 110... got it back when I was a kid/teen b/c that's what the Duke boys had.. figured maybe Daisy would stop by too.

 

[imafritz]

I would also say that something isn't right with the knife. I have a bunch of Vantages and other linerlocks from Buck and not one engages like the OP describes. I would send it back to Buck along with a note expressing your concerns and mark it Attention Joe Houser. He's great at seeing that things get done right.

Agreed-get Joe involved

 

[OhShoot]

Oh Shoot......that was a real nice and clear explanation.

Thanks but sad I have to give one.

Even sadder: I have gotten rather enamored of SRM/Enlan/Bee/Navy knives. Have maybe 15 liner/frame lock models, none cost over $20, most significantly cheaper (including shipping from China!), and every one is perfect as per this lockup position thread, blade play, and blade centering. And yet my last 5 Buck purchases have all been poor to unacceptable.

I make no political or economic point -- just a statement of fact.

- OS

 

[Plumberdv]

Thanks but sad I have to give one.

Even sadder: I have gotten rather enamored of SRM/Enlan/Bee/Navy knives. Have maybe 15 liner/frame lock models, none cost over $20, most significantly cheaper (including shipping from China!), and every one is perfect as per this lockup position thread, blade play, and blade centering. And yet my last 5 Buck purchases have all been poor to unacceptable.

I make no political or economic point -- just a statement of fact.

- OS

It does seem strange that you've had such a bad run of luck with Bucks. As I said before, I have a dozen or more Vantages right now, have given away at least six and have yet to find one with any issue other than a few where the blade wasn't perfectly centered. Those were easily fixed with just a little adjusting of the pivot.

 

[exiled13]

I just don't see it. I have 2 rushs and my 1st one came new with the cross lock stopping about 3/32nds before hitting the other side. That was an EDC for 2 yrs. I would just sit around and flip that thing open. I lost it to my nephew in a bet on uf vs bama football game. He's carried it everyday since. I have to clean and sharpen it for him. That lock hasn't moved a bit and there's no play in the blade.
I have a few liner locking Bucks and all have served me well. An EDC I carried for 3 yrs my daughter bought me for fathers day for $20 is one of em.
I think way to much is read into this. If your not happy send it back. That's the good thing about Buck. Right?

 

[OhShoot]

It does seem strange that you've had such a bad run of luck with Bucks. ...

I've seemed to reside lifelong on the outer fringes of the bell curve.

...
I think way to much is read into this. If your not happy send it back. That's the good thing about Buck. Right?

Yeah, umm, actually no. See posts 1 and 14.

- OS

 

[BG42EDGE]

I stick with the older 110s and 112s off e-Bay.

Never had a problem yet!!! Those things are built like tanks.

 

[puukkoman]

I've seemed to reside lifelong on the outer fringes of the bell curve.



Yeah, umm, actually no. See posts 1 and 14.

- OS

Those are aberrations. This message board alone (not to mention the thousands who don't post here) is full of positive testimonials about Buck. Sorry you've experienced a fluke... it's unlikely to happen again.

 

[exiled13]

I've seemed to reside lifelong on the outer fringes of the bell curve.



Yeah, umm, actually no. See posts 1 and 14.

- OS

So what about post #1 and #14 makes what I said any less true. As if I hadn't already read them I went back and reread. Now correct me if I'm wrong we have the OP starting this out with a knife that he His self claims is perfect in every way but the lock goes all the way to the other side. He sent it back and he came back the same way. So he plans on just keeping the inife until its just all lose then send it back. That pretty much sums up that #1 post agreed?
In steps you in #14 post not wanting to slam on Buck but deside you'll take your shots about your bad knife. I can't remember what it was wrong with your not but you was going to just use until it was unbairable then you would send it back. Does that about sum that up?
Like I said. To much is put into this. Only you 2 can decide what's a good expernce or not. You said the lock is going tto wear. I have Buck knives that says other wise. I've read far more tales on here of Buck going out their way helping customers than unsatified ones.
End the end what I'm saying its your knife if whatever reason your unhappy send it back. Not everybody likes Buck or all of Bucks knives. That's what I don't like about ordering online. I prefure to go to a shop and buy my products. I might spend $20-$30 more but I get to handle the product 1st and decide which unit I leave with.

 

[OhShoot]

So what about post #1 and #14 makes what I said any less true.

You said "If your not happy send it back. That's the good thing about Buck. Right?" We both sent knives in to be fixed. They both came back not fixed.

In steps you in #14 post not wanting to slam on Buck but deside you'll take your shots about your bad knife.

Knives. 5 of them. I was merely reporting. I didn't even start this thread. You seem to be personally offended somehow, though.

I can't remember what it was wrong with your not but you was going to just use until it was unbairable then you would send it back. Does that about sum that up?

Nope. Sent one back, came back still quite sub par. Received the other 4 after sending in the Bucklite, never dreaming I would have more issues with any more Buck knives. If it were just this one Vantage Force with an admittedly "future problem", I wouldn't be particularly disturbed. I'm not very pernickety really, the frame lock is the least of the probs, the others I'm sure anyone here, including yourself, would find quite egregious.

You said the lock is going tto wear. I have Buck knives that says other wise.

Frame lock knives are not designed to initially have the lock all the way over to opposite frame. That's why blade lock part is beveled, so it can wear across gradually, however little or much the quality of the materials allow. If it were designed to engage at one place and stay there forever there would be a stop built in to keep it in that place.

Of course it will wear, it's physics. I EDC it, maybe I'll croak before it loosens up, maybe not. But it's a $45 Buck, and shouldn't be this way. The Bucklite Max, the Ecolite 110, and the Gents shouldn't be this way either.

End the end what I'm saying its your knife if whatever reason your unhappy send it back. Not everybody likes Buck or all of Bucks knives. That's what I don't like about ordering online. I prefure to go to a shop and buy my products. I might spend $20-$30 more but I get to handle the product 1st and decide which unit I leave with.

I have always liked Buck knives, have about 15, and lost a 110 and 301 way back in my 30's I had carried since a kid. Being it's Buck, never worried about having to put hands on to find one that was "right" before purchase, have always trusted Buck to have above average quality control. Have lost confidence now with 5 count 'em FIVE bad ones in a row plus one that's been back for service and is still far from right. Maybe I'll send in 3 of them, including the one for the second try, I dunno. The two Gents were engraved gifts with no time to spare for presentation; they went to two old gals who don't know knives anyway, or they would be in the service return too, assuming I do it.

- OS