Buck lockback folders?

[DMG]

I guess in my head it's like "I always loved buck, but holy crap, they've gone up. Meanwhile victorinox has added knives with an led to the sak line, and it's less expensive than these formerly bargain price buck knives."

I'm window shopping for my son's first knife and I'm checking out the ones I'm already familiar with first. There's so much competition in the market now, I guess that's why I'm so surprised. 15 years ago I would have never imagined seeing folders in d2 for $50 either. That was the $15 "upgrade" on a griptilian.

So you are complaining about the midgrade steel with great HT in a Buck but are excited by a Victorinox with butter knife steel?

Btw, not knocking victorinox, there is one in my pocket today. But they aren't great at edge holding.

 

[knarfeng]

d2 isnt what it was 15 years ago. I mean it's still d2, but benchmades marketing was d2....the best basically. now it's an entry level steel used by about every Chinese brand and Chinese made American brands. don't be impressed by it, like ya are. it's the newest entry level, replaced the 440 stamped on bout every budget no name brand in the Chinese made stuff back then.

It's still D2, but is the heat treat the same?

I tested one of those BM D2 folders some years back. At the time I had access to a Rockwell tester. That blade was hardened to a 61.6 HRC. The edge retention performance cutting manila rope was superior to Spyderco Military S30V, which I measured as hardened to a 58.3 HRC Both blades sharpened to 15 DPS.

I'm not aware of any Chinese D2 outperforming S30V these days. So I question the heat treat they are getting.

 

[wesessiah]

So you are complaining about the midgrade steel with great HT in a Buck but are excited by a Victorinox with butter knife steel?

Exactly... lol, no, just an example of another popular manufacturer with a lower end steel adding extra bells and whistles and not more than doubling in price in a short time frame while keeping the low end steel.

Buck does a good job with 420hc, no question about that, it's what they're known for, but calling it midgrade and 1.4110 butter knife steel (I don't disagree with the butter knife part, as I know 440a is common in them) seems a little disingenuous given the similar composition and performance. Victorinox isn't known for bad heat treatment, unless that's changed in recent years.

It also helps to bear in mind that despite what the talking heads on YouTube say, 420hc is still a fine blade steel. Sure, it doesn't sound as cool as some of the hot steels now, but it'll cut what needs cutting without frustrating a novice knife sharpener at the end of the day. Which could help retain the interest of a budding edged tool enthusiast.

I'm fine with 420hc, it's just sticker shock for me, as I always saw it as bottom rung of decent steels at budget prices.

 

[ShaiHulud]

Exactly... lol, no, just an example of another popular manufacturer with a lower end steel adding extra bells and whistles and not more than doubling in price in a short time frame while keeping the low end steel.

Buck does a good job with 420hc, no question about that, it's what they're known for, but calling it midgrade and 1.4110 butter knife steel (I don't disagree with the butter knife part, as I know 440a is common in them) seems a little disingenuous given the similar composition and performance. Victorinox isn't known for bad heat treatment, unless that's changed in recent years.


I'm fine with 420hc, it's just sticker shock for me, as I always saw it as bottom rung of decent steels at budget prices.

Prices gone up for everything.

 

[BuckShack]

The 110 and 112 Slim Select knives are affordable and great knives. Made in the US too. Upgrading the steel to S30V in the Pro models is an option. Everyone has to weigh their price options, but I don't see Buck being any more expensive than other brands

 

[Hashishiin]

The Slim Select line are of a fantastic value, truly love those.

Also rock a Buck 110 and a 119, wanting a custom shop 120 and custom 303. They were not overpriced and have truly great customer service.

Love Buck.

 

[ChiefTJS]

I recently went back to a Buck from a Spyderco EDC and I gotta say, I'm pretty happy. Wasn't unhappy with the Spyderco in any way but for less than 1/3rd the money I don't mind being rough on the Buck and it takes it and asks for more. Since I bought that "Cheap" 112 Slim Select, three more 112's have worked their way into the fold and I'm having a blast.

 

[wesessiah]

The 110 and 112 Slim Select knives are affordable and great knives. Made in the US too. Upgrading the steel to S30V in the Pro models is an option. Everyone has to weigh their price options, but I don't see Buck being any more expensive than other brands

Thanks for mentioning those, I hadn't seen them. Those I consider a really good deal. I'll have to get my hands on the 112 slim select and see if it would be a manageable size for my son.

I have a kissing crane trapper that would have probably done well for him, however, my wife used it and was nice enough to clean it afterwards. She sat it in a bowl of clr and I guess left it for hours, and the following picture was the result. I've started working on getting the pitting and corrosion off the blades and spring bars with a wire wheel, but I can't get the walks to seat right. Even before starting on any cleanup, I couldn't get any kind of lockup. I have no clue where I could get kissing crane components for replacement.

Well nevermind, I'm too old and stupid to upload pictures on forums anymore. I tried imageshack, imgur, and Flickr, and it tells me "image cannot be loaded from passed link."

https://imgur.com/0mmc1at

 

[remington79]

I saw the 110 for the same price at Walmart as I did on Bucks website.

 

[jbmonkey]

I saw the 110 for the same price at Walmart as I did on Bucks website.

you're right. least Walmart where I am. that surprised me. used to be dealers and stores were cheaper than the factory store......

 

[remington79]

you're right. least Walmart where I am. that surprised me. used to be dealers and stores were cheaper than the factory store......

Although now if you sign up for Buck’s emails you’ll get 10% off while that won’t ever happen at Walmart.

 

[BJE]

I would much rather have bucks 420HC than D2 run soft. Buck does 420HC perfectly, it’s harder than steel used in liners and takes an edge well while holding it long enough for me to have no complaints.

Soft steel of any alloy is an annoyance for me, I get it’s tougher that way, but I use my blades properly for cutting things, and dislike a gummy feeling blade that rolls easily.
Victorinox steel is fine for me, but I do with they ran it harder.

Never cared for S30V, it’s fine, but hasn’t impressed me and I grew tired of seeing every knife over $100 having that steel which I didn’t particularly like all that much. Just doesn’t feel right on a stone to me. Benchmade did 440c, 154cm, and D2 very well.
D2 is very common on inexpensive import knives now, and Bucks 420HC outperforms them for the most part, I’m happy enough with that.

The smaller less popular Bucks have always cost more, I reckon it’s a matter of production scale that makes them more expensive than a 110. Buck likely makes a similar profit on 110s as they do other knives, but 110s are their bread and butter so they are churned out at a higher rate than other models which makes them cheaper.
Can you think of anything that isn’t cheaper to buy in bulk?