Buck Vantage Pro Small(first impressions)

[Justin Presson]

Hi guys,
Quick intro I have been on BF for awhile but mainly over on the custom forum.
I have not bought a factory knife in about 5 years and that was a beater Cryo.
I started making knives about 5 years ago and recently have wanted to try and get into making folders. I have made to folding knives to date a frame lock and a slip joint but wanted to get my hands on more factory knives to compare and really just needed another EDC until I get better at folders.
The Vantage has always caught my eye so I decided to get the Vantage Pro small. It showed up today and I have to say it is a pretty cool knife.
First impressions are I really like the size and shape. The drop point blade for me is about as useful as you can get in an EDC. The over all design flows nice and pleasing to the eye. The finish on the blade is nice and clean satin. I have not used s30v so it will be nice to try out. It came sharp not hair popping sharp but pretty dang good.It will cut newspaper. With some pressure it will shave arm hair.
I really like the feel of the g10 scales, they did some kind of texturing on the inner part that has the small milled slot around it and it is very appealing to me and feels like it will provide a nice grip.
The blade is not perfectly centered but I can live with it. It definitely does not rocket out when using the flipper but if you kind of pre load it will flip pretty good or with a little wrist flip it deploys just fine.
There are a few machining marks here and there but nothing terrible.
I love the pocket clip! Rides nice and deep in the pocket and feels secure. The little anvil buck stamp on it is a nice touch too.
The lock up falls a little short of you just open the knife with the thumb hole but if you snap it open with the flipper it locks over solid. No blade play or rocking.

Overall first impressions are good. For the price, steel,g10 and made in the U.S.A I think Buck did a great job. Being all made in the USA was a big factor for me when making the purchase.
I will use it over the next month or 2 and report back. I know this knife has been out awhile and has mixed reviews and nothing new to you guys on the forum but I just had to tell some other knife enthusiast of my new purchase and thoughts.
Sorry if I was long winded.
Justin

Here are a few pics.

 

[afishhunter]

Good review. Thank you.

 

[Badhammer]

Nice review and great photos.

Decided I liked my large Pro better so rather than leave my small in the drawer I added it to a display with my BCCI Life Member certificate. I can still see it and enjoy it on a daily basis. After reading your review I may give it another try.

 

[Justin Presson]

I carried it at work for the first time today and again that pocket clip the way they attached it on the back spacer is genius and makes it ride nice and deep in the pocket.
Didn't get a chance to use it to much but did snap a few more pics.

Thought I would also show what I meant by the lock not engaging very much when opening it with the thumb hole and a picture opening with the flipper. You can see it locks up more when flipped. But I'm sure it will break in a bit more. What are anyone else experience?

Last thing I noticed today was a small burr that didn't get cleaned up inside the thumb hole, not a huge deal for me I can probably hit it with a small dremel sander but worth noting.

Again for a $69 made in the USA knife with s30v blade I think I'm gonna like it.

Justin

 

[Justin Presson]

Nice review and great photos.

Decided I liked my large Pro better so rather than leave my small in the drawer I added it to a display with my BCCI Life Member certificate. I can still see it and enjoy it on a daily basis. After reading your review I may give it another try.

I thought about the large but something drew me to the small one and I think I want a Buck Marksman so I thought the small can be my more gentlemen carrying knife Marksman be another larger option but who knows I may get the BVP large too..lol

 

[Pondoro2310]

My 345 in 420HC is my favorite pocket knife. It is not perfect but just does anything I ask of it. Mine locks up more than yours. Disadvantages- a key can get between the blade and the frame if your keys and your knife are in the same pocket. Also centering can be adjusted but adjusting the centering also affects the tightness of opening. Still my go to, main knife. When I wander in the woods a 110 or 112 is on my belt, but in the office a 345 is in my pocket.

 

[Pondoro2310]

Last thing I noticed today was a small burr that didn't get cleaned up inside the thumb hole, not a huge deal for me I can probably hit it with a small dremel sander but worth noting.

Again for a $69 made in the USA knife with s30v blade I think I'm gonna like it.

Justin

I'd use a small fine hand stone, rather than a Dremel. Finest I could find. Maybe a Dremel bit but not use power.

 

[mbkr]

I think these are a great deal. Its a lot of knife for the money. Mine locks up tight in all directions and the blade is nicely centered. Its a solid feeling little knife. The only thing I've cut with it so far is some plastic, but it zipped right through it like, well....like a hot knife through butter.
Nice review.

 

[Roamad]

Love my large Vantage Pro. But I think they blew it a bit on the small version. It's just a little too small for me. I wanted to love it but parted with mine. My Mini Griptillian, on the other hand: Benchmade got the size just right.

As for the lock, yes it will wear in a bit over time. Buck has never been consistent with the lockup on these. One of the long running complaints with this model.

 

[Makael]

Love my large Vantage Pro. But I think they blew it a bit on the small version. It's just a little too small for me. I wanted to love it but parted with mine. My Mini Griptillian, on the other hand: Benchmade got the size just right.

As for the lock, yes it will wear in a bit over time. Buck has never been consistent with the lockup on these. One of the long running complaints with this model.

Shouldn't knock the size. That's a personal choice. There's no way to build a knife that fits everyone's hand. My opinion is the large is typically a man's knife and the small would be a ladies knife. Or one or the other fits your hand better. Sounds like the Benchmade mini knife fits your hand.

 

[DocT]

One reason I never carry a Mini Griptillian is the same reason I have never bought the OP's knife. They are both fine knives. However, they are both 3 finger knives, for me. They are too small. This nonsense about blade to hand ratio is silly. No one holds a fixed blade to that standard, why folders? I think the handle needs to be large enough for all 4 fingers, somehow. Still, they are fine knives.

 

[Justin Presson]

I would disagree with the size of handles and blade ratios and all that. This is a 3 finger knife for sure with that pinky finger tucking in behind the butt of the knife for me. For most task EDC this works fine for me. I work as a groundskeeper for a school district and most of the time now this size of knife is all I need. I'm the manager so I don't get after it as hard as I used to but when I was one of the guys on the crew I preferred a 4 finger grip and a larger knife as the job required a lot more cutting with a bit more force.
To say they missed it with the size on the BVP small is all subject to the user and task you are asking the knife to do.
I have several 3 finger fixed blades, mostly neck knives to me they are handy. I also have several full size handle fixed blades but in my opinion it's all give and take when it comes to picking the right size knife for the job. YMMV
JP