Ran across this review at Amazon. This fellow got his new Buck in S30V and promptly ruined the edge with what he refers to as his usual knife hardness test. I couldn't read it without laughing.
I had long wanted a S30v knife. I have heard so much about this special steel. I got the 2 5/8" version (slightly shorter than the 3 1/4" version). It arrived fine from Amazon and the knife was very nicely designed and built with no blade wobble. I have bought a number of Big5 Chinese knives (3" and less folders) when on sale and a 2 1/2" Chinese folder from Orchard Supply Hardware called "Coast" (Japanese made blade). I did my usual knife hardness test by lightly banging two different knives together, blade edge hitting the other knife's blade edge where edges were sharpened at about the same angle.
I was expecting the S30v Buck blade to cut the cheaper ($12 on sale vs. the $59 I paid for this Buck S30v) knife. The $12 Chinese made Browning folder took a very small cut in its blade but cut a noticeably deeper cut into the S30v Buck blade edge. So....what does this say? That the blade of the Chinese Browning-labeled folding knife is of harder temper than the Buck S30v knife. And thus probably the Browning folder will hold its straight razor style hollow ground blade sharpness better/longer than the more expensive USA made Buck.
So, while this S30v Buck is a very nice knife, I do not expect it will be able to retain a razor sharp edge as long as my $12 (sale price at Big5 Sporting Goods) Chines Browning folder (of simular size). And there is nothing about the Buck that says it is superior to my $13 OSH Coast folder either. Chinese made knives are improving in quality. Years back, the Chinese knives were less precise and even the "Smith & Wesson" branded Chinese folders, though of CNC fit and finish were softer blades, it is clear to me now that the better quality Chinese "cheap" knives are getting to the point where in blade material and temper, that they are competitive with USA knives.
Would I have bought this S30v Buck folder if I could have done it all over? Nope. A Chinese made Browing folder of at least the 2 3/4" blade model I have and the 2 5/8" est Chinese OSH Coast folder (literature says the blade from Seki City, Japan) are just as good as my $60 Buck S30v Vantage (for some reason the shorter Vantage was more money than the 3 1/4" Vantage).
Also, the 'assisted opener' works well in partially opening the blade on my Buck Vantage (2 5/8" blade length version of this 3 1/2" Buck Vantage), leaving the blade open about 45 degrees or so. But to open it all the way (180 degrees), requires either me use two hands or push the blade all the way open risking a cut as I use the one hand that opened it 45 degrees, to use that hand's thumb to push it open with the thumb VERY close to the razor sharp blade.
Other folders, use a "peg" which works well. IMO the "peg" of my cheaper Browning, etc folders works better than Buck's system.
All in all, I am disappointed and rate this knife, S30v steel and design as a B- or C+. I have owened Buck knives since a kid and I do not recommend this knife.
I had long wanted a S30v knife. I have heard so much about this special steel. I got the 2 5/8" version (slightly shorter than the 3 1/4" version). It arrived fine from Amazon and the knife was very nicely designed and built with no blade wobble. I have bought a number of Big5 Chinese knives (3" and less folders) when on sale and a 2 1/2" Chinese folder from Orchard Supply Hardware called "Coast" (Japanese made blade). I did my usual knife hardness test by lightly banging two different knives together, blade edge hitting the other knife's blade edge where edges were sharpened at about the same angle.
I was expecting the S30v Buck blade to cut the cheaper ($12 on sale vs. the $59 I paid for this Buck S30v) knife. The $12 Chinese made Browning folder took a very small cut in its blade but cut a noticeably deeper cut into the S30v Buck blade edge. So....what does this say? That the blade of the Chinese Browning-labeled folding knife is of harder temper than the Buck S30v knife. And thus probably the Browning folder will hold its straight razor style hollow ground blade sharpness better/longer than the more expensive USA made Buck.
So, while this S30v Buck is a very nice knife, I do not expect it will be able to retain a razor sharp edge as long as my $12 (sale price at Big5 Sporting Goods) Chines Browning folder (of simular size). And there is nothing about the Buck that says it is superior to my $13 OSH Coast folder either. Chinese made knives are improving in quality. Years back, the Chinese knives were less precise and even the "Smith & Wesson" branded Chinese folders, though of CNC fit and finish were softer blades, it is clear to me now that the better quality Chinese "cheap" knives are getting to the point where in blade material and temper, that they are competitive with USA knives.
Would I have bought this S30v Buck folder if I could have done it all over? Nope. A Chinese made Browing folder of at least the 2 3/4" blade model I have and the 2 5/8" est Chinese OSH Coast folder (literature says the blade from Seki City, Japan) are just as good as my $60 Buck S30v Vantage (for some reason the shorter Vantage was more money than the 3 1/4" Vantage).
Also, the 'assisted opener' works well in partially opening the blade on my Buck Vantage (2 5/8" blade length version of this 3 1/2" Buck Vantage), leaving the blade open about 45 degrees or so. But to open it all the way (180 degrees), requires either me use two hands or push the blade all the way open risking a cut as I use the one hand that opened it 45 degrees, to use that hand's thumb to push it open with the thumb VERY close to the razor sharp blade.
Other folders, use a "peg" which works well. IMO the "peg" of my cheaper Browning, etc folders works better than Buck's system.
All in all, I am disappointed and rate this knife, S30v steel and design as a B- or C+. I have owened Buck knives since a kid and I do not recommend this knife.
