Buck quality

S

Sinkolen

Joined
Aug 15, 2006
Messages
124
Hi if you've read any of my threads you'll know that I'm new to the knife community and I recently asked about the quality of gerber knives, Ii got some pretty discouraging replies. Now I'm asking, how's buck?

I just bought a buck juno because it was cheap and looked like a good deal for the price, i was going to get a 110 hunter, or a 55 hunter. So far i like the juno. Handle is just made of rather cheap plastic but the blade quality is nice. I haven't sharpened it because I really don't know how to sharpen a knife (yeah I'm that new). But after a few days cutting it can still actually shave my hair. Are most buck's good quality?
 
tim8557 said:
I think that most forumites here respect BUCK and certainly consider them way above Gerber. They're not the best, but they are solid and consistent.

As for sharpening, read this http://forums.egullet.com/index.php?showtopic=26036
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Agreed. buck IMO is GOOD, solid, and very consistent in their designs,workmanship, and customer service. They don't use the best steel out there, however my 112 takes a GOOD edge, easily when needed. I still think the 110/112 design is timeless and will continue to carry it for along while.
 
I think Buck makes great knives. The knives that they make here in the USA seem to be better than the foreign counter parts. I would say that the Buck 110 and 112 would go head to head with just about any "tactical" knife under $100. They are very strong folders and the steel they use holds an edge nicely. One of my favorite knives is a Buck 110 that I've had for a while now.

Gerber is nowhere close to Buck. Buck is still a good old company.
 
Buck is probably one of the oldest and biggest knife company. The quality is on top - for all this years they defenetely learn how to make knives. For sure nobody can make knives better then Buck - same, but I doubt that better.

Paul Bos who working with Buck is most respected expert in Heat Treatment - 80% of custom knives are heat treated by Bos. And he is heat treated all premium steel knives for Buck and behind Buck 420HC heat treatment.

Only problem with Buck is their top line knives - they almost do not have such a line! Time to time they surprize us with something facinated but not as often as I like.

Well, this may not affect their bussiness to much. Some compnies like CRKT moving away from top models and produces only cheap 420 knives. However on forums like this it is hard to win without premium knives with premium steels etc.

I was very excited with Buck Strider collaboration but lately there are no too much collaboration seen... at least on top model battlefield. Which is very unfortunate, because Buck 880 is very good knife - one of the best, as well as 888. But next models they start to use 420 steel and serration only...

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Try the Buck Model 110 and get it at Walmart for $29.99....you will not find a better knife value anywhere!!
 
nozh2002 said:
The quality is on top - for all this years they defenetely learn how to make knives. For sure nobody can make knives better then Buck - same, but I doubt that better.
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Buck makes good knives for the money. Their 110 is a classic and a bargain. So is the 119. Their slipjoints are very solid for very little money. Their Buck/Strider knives are good for the money (not as good as a real Strider). And the Mayo 172 is fantastic for $145 (not as good as a real Mayo).

But Buck does not make top quality knives. There are countless knifemakers and companies that make knives far superior to Buck.

Buck actually makes knives towards the bottom of the quality range. They are quality knives (not junk at all), but they are entry-level quality knives, not top level.

I do consider Buck on par with Kershaw, Spyderco, Benchmade, etc... And I think they deserve more credit and acclaim than they get...

But if you think Buck's knives are "top quality" or that no one can make a better knife, I suggest you try:

Strider
Chris Reeve
William Henry
Bark River
Bob Dozier
Tom Mayo
Rick Hinderer
R.J. Martin
Trident
P.J. Tomes
Bill Ruple
John W. Smith
Busse
Ferhman

And the list goes on, and on, and on, and on.

Buck has never made a knife even close to what those makers and companies produce. They don't even try to. Compeating with P.J. Tomes is not what Buck is trying to do. Buck's knives are far cheaper, and no where near as high in quality or performance.
 
Hair said:
Buck makes good knives for the money. Their 110 is a classic and a bargain. So is the 119. Their slipjoints are very solid for very little money. Their Buck/Strider knives are good for the money (not as good as a real Strider). And the Mayo 172 is fantastic for $145 (not as good as a real Mayo).

But Buck does not make top quality knives. There are countless knifemakers and companies that make knives far superior to Buck.

Buck actually makes knives towards the bottom of the quality range. They are quality knives (not junk at all), but they are entry-level quality knives, not top level.

I do consider Buck on par with Kershaw, Spyderco, Benchmade, etc... And I think they deserve more credit and acclaim than they get...

But if you think Buck's knives are "top quality" or that no one can make a better knife, I suggest you try:

Strider
Chris Reeve
William Henry
Bark River
Bob Dozier
Tom Mayo
Rick Hinderer
R.J. Martin
Trident
P.J. Tomes
Bill Ruple
John W. Smith
Busse
Ferhman

And the list goes on, and on, and on, and on.

Buck has never made a knife even close to what those makers and companies produce. They don't even try to. Compeating with P.J. Tomes is not what Buck is trying to do. Buck's knives are far cheaper, and no where near as high in quality or performance.
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When Buck decide to make top quality knife - nobody can do better. However, usually Buck not doing it.

880 quality is out of questions. One of the best. 882 made from ATS-134 plane edge - made very well, but they made plastic handle. I guess problem between Buck and Strider is that Strider can not compete with Buck when they make top models. As well as Buck can easy win ower anybody in you list (actually very strange selection you have there). But the problem is that only 880 and 888 are there to compete plus few limited runs like 819 or Alaskan Guide.

Buck's knives are far cheaper, and no where near as high in quality or performance.
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And this is just ridiculos - "no where near"... Do you have Buck 880 or 888 or 882 or 819? Can you show me polished CPM S30V blade on other models same as 819 has? Do you know what are you talking about?

Thanks, Vassili.
 
I have caried and used my Buck 112 for more then 15 years day in and day out!. Now it's retired for a Spyderco :thumbup: But i do agree Buck makes good timeles knives with the 110 and 112 series.
My only problem with those series is that te tip tends to break easely. I think the tip is to thin, or perhaps thin for that kind off steel. Manny people i know with tose knive have the same problem. And it didn't tak much abuse.

For the rest, perfect knives, easy to sharpen, solid lock and good finish. NO rust whatshowever :)

I must say i like my new spyderco better, but you can't compare them because they are 2 totaly different knives from 2 different times. ( D'Allara )

Go ahead, you won't be dissapointed i think.
 
Buck makes very good quality knives. They don't have a lot of models out there with the new hightech steels, but there are a few.

In general its hard to be disappointed with the quality of a Buck knife, and if you are, send it in to them and they will fix it for free. Their customer service is widely known to be one of the best in the knife world. You can send a Buck in in almost any condition and they will probably fix it for you for free.
 
Has annybody got an e-mail adress for Buck's warrenty service or something like that? I got a few questions for them, but they don't post anny e-mail adresses on their site i can find?
 
nozh2002 said:
When Buck decide to make top quality knife - nobody can do better. However, usually Buck not doing it.
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Nobody can do better? Are you serious? You think that Buck's people are the best knifemakers in the world? Better than Loveless? Better than Kressler? I think you are very biased and inexperienced.

nozh2002 said:
880 quality is out of questions. One of the best.
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880s often fail spinewack tests. They are good knives, but their locks are not the most secure. One of the best? Hardly. Are the grinds as good as Dozier? Are the tolerances as close as CRK? No, and no. If you think otherwise you are misinformed.

nozh2002 said:
I guess problem between Buck and Strider is that Strider can not compete with Buck when they make top models.
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Have you ever handled a knife built by Mick Strider or Dwyer? I do not think they are the best knifemakers in the world, but they make stuff better than any Buck in terms of fit and finish, strength, and quality. Have you seen a Nightmare Grind?

nozh2002 said:
As well as Buck can easy win ower anybody in you list (actually very strange selection you have there). But the problem is that only 880 and 888 are there to compete plus few limited runs like 819 or Alaskan Guide.
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You think the 880 and 888 and Alaskan Guide models can compeat with P.J. Tomes, John W. Smith etc... in terms of quality? You are joking, right? Have you ever handled a true handmade knife in your life?

nozh2002 said:
And this is just ridiculos - "no where near"... Do you have Buck 880 or 888 or 882 or 819?
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Yes, "no where near". They are not even in the same league, and are not trying to be. I do not own an 880, 888, 882, or 819 because I do not want to own one. I have handled an 880, and 888. My boss has an 880. They are good for the money. They are not good at any price. They are not the best. They do not represent the "top".

nozh2002 said:
Can you show me polished CPM S30V blade on other models same as 819 has?
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You think Buck makes top quality knives because they polish S30V? Anyone can polish S30V. Making a list would be pointless.

nozh2002 said:
Do you know what are you talking about?
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I am not a knife super expert, but I own some very good knives and have two friends with amazing collections that include examples by Bob Loveless, Bill Moran, Michael Walker, P.J. Tomes, Darrel Ralph, Tom Mayo, Ken Onion, etc.... I also own a very fine John W. Smith framelock. I have handled many Bucks and own more Buck knives than I do of any other brand or maker. Yes, I know what I am talking about. I do not know how you can think that any of Buck's knives are "top quality" or "as good as anyone" if you have honestly handled knives made by people like John W. Smith or Ken Onion.

So... do *you* know what you are talking about? Or are you just a Buck fanboy and shill that is talking out of your behind?

Thanks, Hair.
 
Hair said:
Buck has never made a knife even close to what those makers and companies produce. They don't even try to. Compeating with P.J. Tomes is not what Buck is trying to do. Buck's knives are far cheaper, and no where near as high in quality or performance.
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I'm going to have to disagree with you. The Buck Custom Knife Shoppe (formerly Pete's Custom Knife Shoppe) does very good work. The Angry Beaver, my stag handled BG-42 Buck 110 is very close in quality to many customs, and the performance is exceptional.

beaver1.jpg
 
Buzzbait said:
I'm going to have to disagree with you. The Buck Custom Knife Shoppe (formerly Pete's Custom Knife Shoppe) does very good work. The Angry Beaver, my stag handled BG-42 Buck 110 is very close in quality to many customs, and the performance is exceptional.
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Actually, you are not disagreeing with me at all.

Buck's custom shoppe does do very good work. But "very close in quality to many customs" is not the same as "as good as any knife made by anyone". Nor is it is the same as "top quality".

I never said Bucks are bad. I love them. I am refuting the notion that they represent the best quality possible in the world of knifemaking (or even close) and that no one can do better. Your statement "very close in quality to many customs" is proof that you agree with me.

I know you are not a fool, so I know you do not disagree with me.

Now if you think that Buck is trying to compeat with P.J. Tomes with their custom shoppe knives, then yes, you disagree with me. And you would also be wrong.

Yes Buck knives can be very good in quality and performance. No they are not on par with the likes of Ken Onion or John W. Smith. No, not even close- not in the same league- not even trying to be in the same league.
 
I've noticed a couple of things:

It's probably not fair to compare any mass manufactured or production knife company to high level custom made knives. I think you have to stick to similar comparisons.

I have no doubt Buck _can_ make and _do_ make some high quality knives for their price point.

I also know from personal experience that they make so not so hot knives, because I've owned a couple.

A big plus is they don't seem to rip off custom makers and other knifes companies like a number of other companies do.
 
DaveH said:
It's probably not fair to compare any mass manufactured or production knife company to high level custom made knives. I think you have to stick to similar comparisons.
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I agree and would like to point out that this is really all I am saying.

Buck's knives are great for their price. They do not compare to high-end custom knifemakers. Such a comparison is absurd. I was only pointing out how absurd it was for someone to say Buck's knives are as high in quality as knives can possibly be (and in doing so is saying they are not only comparable, but just as good as high-end custom knifemakers).
 
DaveH said:
A big plus is they don't seem to rip off custom makers and other knife companies like a number of other companies do.
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This is a HUGE plus in my mind. Good point!!!!!
 
My big problem with your post, was the part about the performance. The performance of my Buck 110 exceeds the performance of much of the high priced stuff. For instance, my Buck BG-42 blade has proven, many times over, to be better than the BG-42 blade on my Sebenza. There is FAR LESS edge rolling on the Buck BG-42, and even better wear resistance. There has been less chipping also. And this is on a blade ground to a much more acute edge than my Sebenza. My guess is that Paul Bos has been able to set up a better method of mass heat treatment, than Chris Reeve has been able to do on a much smaller scale. In fact, I'd consider that Buck BG-42 blade to be nearly as good in heat treatment as my Doziers. Paul Bos really knows his stuff, and it shows in this blade.

The fit and finish of the Buck is very good. Not the quality I'd expect from one of the better custom knife makers, but easily as good as many custom folders I've seen under the $500.00 mark.

Did I get a Sebenza lemon? Did I happen to get an outstanding Buck? Maybe.
 
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