Buck Vantage Pro, or Kershaw Piston?

S

Steel3

Joined
Nov 14, 2013
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Hi, I would like some help on weather to choose between to folding knives, the Buck Vantage Pro Large, or the Kershaw Piston. The Kershaw has a 3.5 inch blade made of 14c28n sandvik steel, and g10 scales and a liner lock. The Buck has the same locking mechanism, S-30v steel, a 3 and 1/4 inch blade, and g10 handles. I would very much like your opinion.
 
I'd go for the buck. S-30V steel heat treated to perfection. Low rider clip. IMO a better overall package.
 
I have both. My Buck was crap out of the box. After as many mods as I can make (almost none) to improve it, it is still mediocre at best. I don't car what steel it is made with, I wouldn't pay more than $30 tops for this thing. The Piston, on the other hand, is actually quite nice.
 
Honestly? An Ontario Rat 1. Unless you want the s30v, in which case I suggest getting a Benchmade or Spyderco. A little more expensive, but well worth it. However, I carry the Rat around all the time and love it. Fast, solid, gets scary sharp, g10 in multiple colors, GREAT ergonomics and blade design, and there is even a smaller version, the Rat 2. For about $30-$35 it is the champ of working man knives. Feel free to come bacm and thank me after buying. :)
 
Piston. Sandvik ain't S30V, but it sure as hell is capable of handling anything a modern folder has to do. Plus you're backed by Kershaw's awesome warranty.

I'm not knocking Buck's Forever Warranty, but I feel Kershaw does a better job at keeping the customer service bar pretty high up there.
 
Well I have the Piston and I'm now looking for a Buck Vantage. I've had the Piston for over 6 months. I'm not happy with the deployment. Its no longer smooth. The torsion bar is not strong enough to snap the blade out. I've torn apart cleaned and re greased . I have to snap my wrist for the blade to lock out. Not at all happy with the operation of the knife.
 
Get the Piston (actually, I would say get the Knockout with its deep clip). I have had 2 Vantages with the blades so off center that they rubbed the liner and could not be adjusted. They are well known for this prob, and Buck does not seem eager to correct it for some reason. I have 3 Vantages with good centering, so you never know what you are going to get. So go with the Kershaw.
 
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I dislike the linerless design of the Piston because I stripped one the pocket clips mountings out of the scale. I was trying to force the pocket clip screw into the pocket clip mounting or what ever it is called. The Buck is slightly better. The basic Buck I bought used, and I liked it so much that I bought the pro version. The basic flipped super when I bought it. The pro is still breaking in.
 
I recommend the Piston over the Vantage because of handle ergonomics and quality control.

The Buck Vantage series has a history of off-center blades.

Plus the larger flipper tab is easier to engage.
 
I have two Vantage selects (large/small with 420HC blades). They needed some cleaning up and break in, but they are centered, and flip with authority, no wrist action required.
 
I had a Vantage Pro which I modified and gave as a gift, I thought it was a very nice knife. See if you can find them both at a knife shop and handle them to find out which you like better. The minor differences in quality of materials, fit & finish will probably not be too noticeable in daily use.
 
bj264 said:
Well I have the Piston and I'm now looking for a Buck Vantage. I've had the Piston for over 6 months. I'm not happy with the deployment. Its no longer smooth. The torsion bar is not strong enough to snap the blade out. I've torn apart cleaned and re greased . I have to snap my wrist for the blade to lock out. Not at all happy with the operation of the knife.
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Contact Kershaw - they are typically pretty happy to send new torsion bars out. No reason to not be happy with the operation of the knife. Also if you are using the flipper, try using the "preload" method manual flipper users have, that should give enough extra oomph to not need the wrist flick.
 
The Buck Vantage Force Pro is a terrible knife. Super soft and thin internal stop pin, super thin liners, gritty action, and uncomfortable protruding liner. Beautiful knife, but terrible for use.

 
o4tg said:
The Buck Vantage Force Pro is a terrible knife. Super soft and thin internal stop pin, super thin liners, gritty action, and uncomfortable protruding liner. Beautiful knife, but terrible for use.

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On the contrary, I quite enjoy mine, albeit it's the vantage pro (no force)
 
RemyKaze said:
Honestly? An Ontario Rat 1. Unless you want the s30v, in which case I suggest getting a Benchmade or Spyderco. A little more expensive, but well worth it. However, I carry the Rat around all the time and love it. Fast, solid, gets scary sharp, g10 in multiple colors, GREAT ergonomics and blade design, and there is even a smaller version, the Rat 2. For about $30-$35 it is the champ of working man knives. Feel free to come bacm and thank me after buying. :)
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The Rat doesn't have G10, it's GRN.
 
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