Buck Vantage questions from Canada

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gcconspiracy

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Apr 3, 2012
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Alright, so I've been looking for a new EDC folder to ride alongside my LM Wave, and I recently stumbled upon the Buck Vantage Avid (Large). As it stands, I am thinking this might be the knife for me, but I do have a couple of questions:

1. How does the 13C26 Sandvik steel stack up against good old Buck 420HC? The only Buck knife I have much experience with is my old 110 in 420HC, and that steel is absolutely astonishing compared to other knives in 420HC (thank you, Mr. Bos!).

2. What is a good price in Canada, and where might I go to find it (if this is not allowed to be asked, feel free to PM me). I found the knife for 60$ CAD at a brick and mortar store, and am wondering if I should buy it there or look elsewhere.

Thanks for any help!

PS - I also was told that the SOG flash series knives might be comparable, any truth to that?
 
I'm a big fan of the pain-jane large Avid with a 420HC blade and glass reinforced nylon scales, but right now there seem to be a lot of 12C26-bladed models on the market at very good prices (just check The Auction Site That Must Not Be Named). You will not go wrong with either steel; Buck long ago figured out how to get the most out of both 420 and 12C26. In real world use I don't think most folks would be able to detect a difference in performance.

One observation. Most of the 12C26 Avids for sale right now seem to be the ones with the charcoal Dymondwood scales. Buck must have done a huge production run of these knives because they are everywhere at very good prices. However, I find the Dymondwood scales to be somewhat uncomfortable. They are not well smoothed and have uncomfortable corners. I much prefer the standard glass reinforced nylon scales.

Sorry I can't comment on Canadian pricing but I can't imagine it would be that much more than US pricing since the US and Canadian dollars are about at par right now.
 
northingeasting said:
I'm a big fan of the pain-jane large Avid with a 420HC blade and glass reinforced nylon scales, but right now there seem to be a lot of 12C26-bladed models on the market at very good prices (just check The Auction Site That Must Not Be Named). You will not go wrong with either steel; Buck long ago figured out how to get the most out of both 420 and 12C26. In real world use I don't think most folks would be able to detect a difference in performance.

One observation. Most of the 12C26 Avids for sale right now seem to be the ones with the charcoal Dymondwood scales. Buck must have done a huge production run of these knives because they are everywhere at very good prices. However, I find the Dymondwood scales to be somewhat uncomfortable. They are not well smoothed and have uncomfortable corners. I much prefer the standard glass reinforced nylon scales.

Sorry I can't comment on Canadian pricing but I can't imagine it would be that much more than US pricing since the US and Canadian dollars are about at par right now.
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Perhaps there are some that I've missed (I don't think so) but all the Avids except for the new Force models had and have Dymondwood scales. Plus, the Avid never had 420HC blades (they are 13C26, not 12C26 by the way). There was a run of Selects (420HC) made for Walmart using Dymondwood also and they had a finish that was different than the finish on the Avids, duller and not as smooth. The standard glass reinforced nylon scales were used only on the Selects, not Avids to my knowlege
 
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Plumberdv said:
Perhaps there are some that I've missed (I don't think so) but all the Avids except for the new Force models had and have Dymondwood scales. Plus, the Avid never had 420HC blades (they are 13C26, not 12C26 by the way). There was a run of Selects (420HC) made for Walmart using Dymondwood also and they had a finish that was different than the finish on the Avids, duller and not as smooth. The standard glass reinforced nylon scales were used only on the Selects, not Avids to my knowlege
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Plumberdv,

Thanks for straightening me out. The naming conventions Buck uses for that line confuse me every time.

Bottom line - great knife regardless of the steel or scales.
 
I have come to find that the Select (420Hc) model is the best buy for the money. The others cost more and only perform marginally better, IMO...
 
If you don't mind plastic, I agree that the Select with the 420HC is a great value. 420HC has a long and well proven track record as a great blade steel.

However, the apprx. $6 (auction BIN prices) extra for the Avid not only includes the steel upgrade, but also in my opinion, a big upgrade in handle material.
 
Plumberdv said:
If you don't mind plastic, I agree that the Select with the 420HC is a great value. 420HC has a long and well proven track record as a great blade steel.

However, the apprx. $6 (auction BIN prices) extra for the Avid not only includes the steel upgrade, but also in my opinion, a big upgrade in handle material.
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Well I have to agree with that, for $6.00 you can't beat it. I don't particularly care for the standard handle scales on the Select but the steal is just fine. I was able to acquire a set of Carbon Fiber scales for my Select and it is my EDC although I have both the PRO and the Avid to choose from. I just love the Vantage in all models.
 
Wow, thanks for the feedback everyone! So as I see it so far, the consensus is that I won't go wrong with either the select or the avid... Only problem is I have only been able to find the select in the small version, and have yet to handle (or get a price on for that matter) the large version. I will keep searching for a Canadian store (online or brick and mortar) that has the select large at a decent price. I think it would have to be a fair bit less than the $60.00 avid for me to bite though, because I am REALLY loving those Dymondwood scales!
 
I can't comment on Canadian price points, but I can comment on the steel. With Buck's HT done by Mr. Bos the performance on the 420HC is in my experience about the level of Benchmade 154CM, and better than Spyderco VG10. It's a great steel, and I'm sure that the 13C26 Sandvik will be a bit better than the 420HC.
 
thatotherguy said:
I can't comment on Canadian price points, but I can comment on the steel. With Buck's HT done by Mr. Bos the performance on the 420HC is in my experience about the level of Benchmade 154CM, and better than Spyderco VG10. It's a great steel, and I'm sure that the 13C26 Sandvik will be a bit better than the 420HC.
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Oh wow, if this steel is on par with Benchmade 154 CM and better than Spyderco VG10, I'll be more than happy with it!
 
Whoa.

Slow Down.

Great steels are these, but premium steels they are not.

Have you tried calling Buck and asking for a distributor near you?
 
I had issues with my Buck Vantage select a while back. I think these knives have some serious quality control issues. My blade was rubbing against the handle out of box along with a really uneven grind and I set the knife down for a few days and it had deep rust spots.
 
BG42EDGE said:
Whoa.

Slow Down.

Great steels are these, but premium steels they are not.

Have you tried calling Buck and asking for a distributor near you?
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I have found a number of distributors, but all seem to be in the same price range.

In regards to the 13C26 steel, what would you compare it to if not the 154CM and VG10? I have no experience with 13C26, I am just trying to get an idea of how the steel compares to others.
 
I like Bucks 420, in fact I just received a Vantage Select Paperstone that I love (awesome buy at $24).

I don't find the sandvik to be all that awesome, maybe my steel palate is just not sophisticated enough.

I think the best buys or the Select and Pro models. Just one Hobo's opinion. ;)
 
BG42EDGE said:
13C26 compares to 420HC.

With BOS HT.......great steels. Not Premium steels.
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I honestly prefer 420 to the 13C26. I am using it out where there is some pretty high humidity(at least 50% at night) and some rough conditions of sitting on my side with all the heat and sweat. After all the use, it does not have a spot of rust on it and has not even needed to be sharpened.
 
Yes, I think the 420HC and the 13C26 are so close that if one seems better than the other, it might even be due to mysterious variations that show up in individual knives for various reasons.
 
gcconspiracy said:
Oh wow, if this steel is on par with Benchmade 154 CM and better than Spyderco VG10, I'll be more than happy with it!
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That was from my own use, with a VERY tiny sample from the other steels, Nothing scientific, and I am not saying that they are all actually on par with one another, but that's what I think from my own nonscientific usage with a very small test sample. had to put in that disclaimer.
in other words- take everything I say with a large grain of salt :)
 
thatotherguy said:
That was from my own use, with a VERY tiny sample from the other steels, Nothing scientific, and I am not saying that they are all actually on par with one another, but that's what I think from my own nonscientific usage with a very small test sample. had to put in that disclaimer.
in other words- take everything I say with a large grain of salt :)
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Thank you for the disclaimer, it's refreshing to see. :thumbup::thumbup:

Too many posters state their "opinions" on certain steels or other subjects as "fact" when in reality it's only their "opinion". Opinions are great and are appreciated here but they should always be identified for what they are.
 
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