Buck S35VN 501 Exclusives?

D

DocT

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Mar 25, 2012
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Does anyone have the 501 S35VN exclusives from that Trading company in WI? One is polished black micarta and one is green micarta. I wonder if the blades have play, if they are finished and polished properly. They look nice in the pictures, for sure.
 
I don't have one from that company in WI, but I am very pleased with my Goodfella from SKBlades which is a barehead 501 with BOS CPM-154.
It's a very solid knife, very smooth, has no blade play, great F&F and arrived VERY sharp.
In case you might want to consider an alternative, here's a link - CLICK HERE.
Hope that is of some help.
OG
 
As I recall the black one has polished bolsters the green one is brushed bolsters. The 501 is my favorite knife.
 
SK Blades on the left is lighter than the others so I carry that to work in my front pocket. The Green DLT Trading is brushed and feels more squared off and solid. The Black one I named Slick because they polished and fit it so well it opens like Butter. My old friend on the far right is Butter. They are all unique and yet the same. The 501 is my favorite knife as well.

Buck_105_501_04.jpg
 
I am really tempted to buy one of these. I love the 501 and it was the only pocket knife I would carry for a long time. Mine was an older one with the brown micarta scales. I gave it to my nephew a few years ago. It was a great, not good, great pocket knife and went on a lot of adventures with me.
 
BuckShack said:
SK Blades on the left is lighter than the others so I carry that to work in my front pocket. The Green DLT Trading is brushed and feels more squared off and solid. The Black one I named Slick because they polished and fit it so well it opens like Butter. My old friend on the far right is Butter. They are all unique and yet the same. The 501 is my favorite knife as well.

Buck_105_501_04.jpg
Click to expand...
I agree that the barehead Burlap model by skblades is very nice to handle and looks beautiful. And the cpm154 blade stays sharp a long time. I enjoy it much more than I first imagined and find myself going to it regularly. Nice size, comfortable and discreet carry in my watch pocket. It may have become my favorite.

All your 501s are really nice! Thanks for sharing!
 
I bought one of the green micarta S35VN as a gift late last year, for a friend who did a lot of work for me when I was unable. It came in with gaps on the back you could slide note book paper thru. There was blade play in the open position and so much play in the closed position the hollow grind was all that kept it from hitting the liners.

I've been away from Buck for 20 years and thinking this was just a fluke and not normal. I really liked the knife so I returned it to the seller for exchange and ordered a black micarta for myself.

The second green had very small but acceptable gaps on the back, no play in the open position and slight play in the closed position, so I went ahead and gifted it.

The black again had slight gaps on the back. Just like the one I returned there was blade play in the open position and so much play in the closed position the hollow grind was all that kept it from hitting the liners.

Repaired so all is good now. I had thought about getting the SKBlade 501 barehead but at this point I'm afraid to order sight unseen.
VECRZJS.jpg

I'm glade to hear others are having better luck than I had.
 
Don't have the DLT models I have the SKBlades model and love it but more to the point it is a Buck few in my experience have issues and should you find an issue they are good about making it right and my experience with SKBlades and DLT they are also both great and will do their best to make you a happy customer.
 
I've dealt with DLT before and have no doubt about their customer service. They exchanged the first with out a problem at all.
SKBlades, I've never bought from before but from what I've heard their reputation is as good or better than any dealer.

In fact I was overjoyed to find these two dealers carrying exclusives in S35VN and 154CM.

I was just surprised that Buck put out what I thought would be a premium model, only to find out that what I got was less than ideal. Maybe I just got very unlucky with my samples that is why I said I'm glad everyone was having a better experience than me. Still when you finally try a Buck after so many years the experience did not inspire confidence in future purchases.
 
I hate to hear you less than stellar experience, but i wouldnt let it deter you. I have heard of others with similar ex. But i assure you it is not the norm compared to their production.
I have ove a hundred bucks, mostly locking folders and i have only sent in one knife that had more play than i thought it should. Actually it wasnt bad, but my concern was since it was a lite, that with wear it might get noticably worse.
 
It's starting to sound like I just had bad luck, I always remembered Buck as a better knife.
I still have my old 303 flat grind 2 and 3 spring, a 301 2 and 3 spring flat grind and my old 503 and 501.
I would like a goodfella, I just have to talk myself into it.
 
I bought both DLT exclusives, intending them to be gifts. The black had no blade play...I was not so lucky with the green. I contacted DLT, and Jordan was both helpful and blunt - telling me a small amount of blade play was something of an expectation, rather than an exception. He checked multiple others in search of one with no blade play; and, based on his description of the best one, I chose to keep the one i originally received. I kept it for myself, and carry it regularly. The blade play is minimal - admittedly, I was being quite picky, as it was to be a gift - and it doesn't detract from my enjoyment/use of the knife... except for moments like this when I'm specifically thinking about it, lol.
FWIW, I had first purchased the SK version . It, too, came with minor blade play. When I contacted them, I was advised to return it for an exchange. (The entire DLT transaction took place while I was waiting.) When I received the replacement, it had more play than the first one. I was, of course, disappointed; but I didn't bother pursuing it further. Sad, if it's true that blade play in new Bucks has become acceptable. 3 out of 4 new 501s (exclusives, no less) with play...a big part of the reason I haven't sprung for a Custom Shop version.
 
I have three 501’s and they are just as solid as every other Buck knife I own. I think there are some flukes out there, but I don’t think blade play is an acceptable norm for Buck. Anything you send back, in my experience they do their very best. I’ve not had to use warranty but once (another knife, not a 501), but I’ve used the spa extensively. They happily go above and beyond. Don’t let a few bad apples turn your taste buds, especially with a 501. Heck of a great knife :thumbsup:

ETA I’m still quietly and persistently pushing for an exclusive/sprint 501 with a clip point :rolleyes::D
 
I received my black DLT 501 the day before yesterday. It does indeed open like butter. A nice ‘snick’. Negligible to no blade play. I can shave with my reflection in the bolsters. I’m glad DLT included a microfiber cloth! It is a beautiful knife. Much smoother and better finished than my plain factory 501, which is a great knife as well.

The Goodfella looks like a nice knife, but I prefer the pins on the scales with the DLT version.
 
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If it helps your sample poll I have a green Micarta and has a small amount of what I consider acceptable side to side play. Lockup is nice and tight though and the lock bar is flush when open. Very nicely finished otherwise.
 
MattWRog said:
If it helps your sample poll I have a green Micarta and has a small amount of what I consider acceptable side to side play. Lockup is nice and tight though and the lock bar is flush when open. Very nicely finished otherwise.
Click to expand...
side play only when closed?
 
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