Buck paradigm

mbjannusch

mbjannusch

Joined
Apr 1, 2010
Messages
3,115
Buck Paradigm 336 Avid and 337 Pro, Cat. 3261 and 3262

IMHO, I'm not impressed. The slide to the side bolster feels a bit cheap. The Blades are up graded steal 13C26 for the 336 and S30V for 337. That is nice but doesn't really make a difference in the way it looks or feels. The Micarta 336 and G10 337 is probably the best part of these knives . These knives definately do not command there retail price of $150.00 and $180.00. This is robbery for this knife. Lucky for me I only paid half of retail for these. I'll still put these in my collection becayse I don't think they will last long and be discontinued soon, thus making them collectable. :thumbdn:


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I actually like my 337 a lot. At the street price of $100-$110 for the 337 (paid less for mine with my BCCI discount and I don't know of anyone paying retail for anything) it's a pretty nice blade.
 
I guess I expected to have a knife that felt solid. When you slide the bolster over it feels like some sort of cast metal. It feels like its going to break. Other than the bolster it is an ok knife. Just not what I would see spending 150 to 180 on. I didn't pay retail but I'm sure someone has. It doesn't command that price is all I am saying.
 
combs6136 said:
HOw does it open?....Give us some more details...............carl
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Notice the left side bolster has 3 ridges. The are grips to use yuur thumb to move it up to release the lock and then hit the flipper with your index finger to deploy. Then the bolster lock will either flip back down into place due to the force of the blade snapping open or push it back down to lock the blade.

001-9.jpg

sorry I dont have any action pics. Maybe when I get home I'll give a pic of the bolster pivoted open unless someone else beats me to it.........Plum:)


I love my 336 avid, locks up great, wicked fast deployment. Micarta indeed is sweet.
 
Since the Pro can be bought for under $100, the retail list price isn't a factor. I have and still have several of them and I've given two away to friends. I've found no one who has been dissapointed with the knife or the way it operates. I for one, love mine and would have paid more than I did if necessary to get one.

Paradigmflipperb.jpg
 
Plumberdv said:
Since the Pro can be bought for under $100, the retail list price isn't a factor. I have and still have several of them and I've given two away to friends. I've found no one who has been dissapointed with the knife or the way it operates. I for one, love mine and would have paid more than I did if necessary to get one.
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I am bummed to hear that MB, but I gotta agree with Dave. Although I havent had mine for too long, (no-one has) LOL but I am really impressed how durable it has been! I havent been able to get a Pro model yet, but the sandvik is awesome! I will gladly pay a little more for the "upgrade" :thumbup:
 
IMHO, I'm not impressed. The slide to the side bolster feels a bit cheap
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When you slide the bolster over it feels like some sort of cast metal. It feels like its going to break
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These parts are actually very strong and will probably outlast the rest of the knife. The bolsters are manufactured using the MIM (Metal injection molding) proccess:As a metal forming process, Metal Injection Molding (MIM) combines the material flexibility of powder metallurgy and the design flexibility of plastic molding. With properties comparable, or better than, those of wrought steel, the MIM process is ideally suited to producing small and complex-shaped parts with outstanding mechanical properties.
So the bolsters are something that you should feel confident with.

As for the msrp on these knives, you wont find many assisted opening, G-10, S30V knives that cary a lower msrp from any other manufacturer. In fact the prices are middle of the road when it comes to the industry standard. Like most everyone that has purchased them have said you can get them for a lot cheaper, so it really is a non issue.
 
I gave my OPINION of this knife. Weather one can find this knife or any other assisted knife for under $100 is not the point. I'm glad I didn't pay any more for this knife, it wouldn't have been worth it to ME. On that note I like the 290s way better. I dont care how the bolster is made or how long it will last, it feels like a cheap K-Mart piece of junk. I love Buck knives but not this one. If you can find it for under $100 buy one because it DOESN'T COMMAND THE RETAIL PRICE. Why have a retail price if you don't expect to have someone pay that price??
 
mbjannusch said:
I gave my OPINION of this knife. Weather one can find this knife or any other assisted knife for under $100 is not the point. I'm glad I didn't pay any more for this knife, it wouldn't have been worth it to ME. On that note I like the 290s way better. I dont care how the bolster is made or how long it will last, it feels like a cheap K-Mart piece of junk. I love Buck knives but not this one. If you can find it for under $100 buy one because it DOESN'T COMMAND THE RETAIL PRICE. Why have a retail price if you don't expect to have someone pay that price??
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Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion and although your's seems to be in the minority you are welcome to it.

As far as the Suggested Retail Price being a little optimistic, it's not the most outragous one I can think of. Think of the Buck/Mayo 172CF at $450 and the 172 TI at $350. Nice knives yes, but worth that much. Hell no in my opinion and after the introduction of the Vantage Pro even less so.

How many 110's do you suppose are bought at the MSRP of $69, so why do they do that? Who knows, but having a retail price of more than a person thinks they are worth doesn't make them junk.
 
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When you slide the bolster over it feels like some sort of cast metal. It feels like its going to break
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I dont care how the bolster is made or how long it will last, it feels like a cheap K-Mart piece of junk
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Sorry you dont care for the knife. I was just trying to reassure you that the bolster would not break or fail. Thats is what it seemed you were concerned with in your original post.
 
Interesting.

MBJ has always been pretty reliable and realistic around here, so I respect his opinion and I also have to take with a grain of salt the other opinions of some of the more loyal Buck zealots here.

I consider myself a Buck zealot, but more and more......I'm finding myself looking for the older models.

I too, value a heavy, solid knife with good steel. Seems like with the new MIM technology we get knives with powdered steel blades and powdered steel parts.

Maybe they're as good as the old ways......maybe.

But I like the feel of solid.

I can get the Pro for $72. I won't be taking them up on that, but I'm sure it's probably a good knife.

Just not for me.
 
BG42EDGE said:
Interesting.

MBJ has always been pretty reliable and realistic around here, so I respect his opinion and I also have to take with a grain of salt the other opinions of some of the more loyal Buck zealots here.

I consider myself a Buck zealot, but more and more......I'm finding myself looking for the older models.

I too, value a heavy, solid knife with good steel. Seems like with the new MIM technology we get knives with powdered steel blades and powdered steel parts.

Maybe they're as good as the old ways......maybe.

But I like the feel of solid.

I can get the Pro for $72. I won't be taking them up on that, but I'm sure it's probably a good knife.

Just not for me.
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maybe I didn't say it quite so elequently as BG but thats what I ment. I prefer the older models as well. Thanks BG
 
I have no comment one way or the other. All I can say is I waited so long for these to come out I lost interest in them. I also have not had a chance to handle one as I have never seen one in a store or knife shop yet. If I ever get to handle one and I like it, I'm sure it will be more than $72, BG where can you get a Pro for that price?
jb4570
 
It's ok to not care much for ANY knife ,Buck or not...But as for me I have really liked every one I have picked up... BUT some more than others! I just wish I could buy every new model Buck that came out...
 
I too waited for ever to hold one and found it a bit less than what I had expected. I found the sliding bolster to appear cheaply made, and the flipper hard to access once the bolster was taken off the safe postion. It is nice to hear that the bolsters are well made, and you do get use to the opening method. It is worth the best Ebay price, but not much more than that. Just my feelings of course, but when the 110s can be had for $25, then this does not seem to be as much of a bargin.
 
jb4570 said:
I have no comment one way or the other. All I can say is I waited so long for these to come out I lost interest in them. I also have not had a chance to handle one as I have never seen one in a store or knife shop yet. If I ever get to handle one and I like it, I'm sure it will be more than $72, BG where can you get a Pro for that price?
jb4570
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BCCI membership lets you into a page on the Buck website where you can get it for that price. It was unavailable there until recently.
 
BG42EDGE said:
BCCI membership lets you into a page on the Buck website where you can get it for that price. It was unavailable there until recently.
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Thanks for the info BG. I did not get one of those discount cards from the club. Maybe I should ask for one. I get hit with state tax's + shipping on direct from buck orders, or I get hit with 2x shipping cost from dealers:o. That makes it cost more to my door and opens other options for the discount on-line stores.
jb4570
 
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