Buck vantage. Reasonable low budget US flipper?

baxtrom · Sep 5, 2023

ShaiHulud said:
Just get one, but have reasonable expectations for what it can put up with

Done.
Asked my retailer if any in their stock had better action. One had, and I’m getting it.

ShaiHulud · Sep 5, 2023

baxtrom said:
Done.
Asked my retailer if any in their stock had better action. One had, and I’m getting it.

About to state a widely unpopular opinion --- folding knives have always been, and I suspect will always be designed for lighter and sometimes medium duty tasks, despite the lock type, it was never meant to mirror or replace a fixed blade because it simply can't (mechanical versus one solid blank of steel )
but it can supplement one nicely

Smaug · Sep 5, 2023

ShaiHulud said:
About to state a widely unpopular opinion --- folding knives have always been, and I suspect will always be designed for lighter and sometimes medium duty tasks, despite the lock type, it was never meant to mirror or replace a fixed blade because it simply can't (mechanical versus one solid blank of steel )
but it can supplement one nicely

Hmm, it sounds right on the FACE of it, but when you get right down to it, what can you do with a fixed blade that you can't do with a good folder?

The only thing I can think of is that in messy work like cleaning an animal, the fixed blade is a lot easier to clean. Chopping with a big one? If you have a big enough folder, even that is not an issue. (ex. Cold Steel)

MarkN86 · Sep 5, 2023

Buck makes a lot of solid products, but I won't buy a current production vantage ever again. Every one I've ever handled is hot garbage. Won't flip, stiff, late lockup, play, sharp edges everywhere, I could go on. There may be a few good ones out there, but I've never been fortunate enough to get ahold of one. If they revamp them entirely and they're good, then maybe I'll try one, but until that day, HARD pass.

baxtrom · Sep 5, 2023

Smaug said:
Hmm, it sounds right on the FACE of it, but when you get right down to it, what can you do with a fixed blade that you can't do with a good folder?

The only thing I can think of is that in messy work like cleaning an animal, the fixed blade is a lot easier to clean. Chopping with a big one? If you have a big enough folder, even that is not an issue. (ex. Cold Steel)

Having experienced Joe-X on YouTube has forced me to reconsider my previous beliefs regarding the limitations of folders

baxtrom · Sep 5, 2023

MarkN86 said:
Buck makes a lot of solid products, but I won't buy a current production vantage ever again. Every one I've ever handled is hot garbage. Won't flip, stiff, late lockup, play, sharp edges everywhere, I could go on. There may be a few good ones out there, but I've never been fortunate enough to get ahold of one. If they revamp them entirely and they're good, then maybe I'll try one, but until that day, HARD pass.

Let’s hope I get one of the few good ones

ShaiHulud · Sep 5, 2023

Smaug said:
Hmm, it sounds right on the FACE of it, but when you get right down to it, what can you do with a fixed blade that you can't do with a good folder?

The only thing I can think of is that in messy work like cleaning an animal, the fixed blade is a lot easier to clean. Chopping with a big one? If you have a big enough folder, even that is not an issue. (ex. Cold Steel)

Eh I'd personally never chop with a folding knife
It was never meant for that even if it would work for a time eventually something /might\ happen. After I took my Matriarch 2 to the beach (no I didn't drop it) it somehow got sand all up inside it, I guess sand just blows everywhere, took it apart and cleaned it, until it was all clean and oiled, watched a YT video to make sure i put it back correctly. It started with just small amounts of gritty action and eventually sounded like rubbing 2 gritty sand papers together. And wouldn't open properly anymore so I ended up selling it for 40 on ebay. I see folders are widely preferred here so I'm in thr minority, but the strength and durability of a good foxed blade can't be mimicked in a folder, but medford sure does try though. However I'll agree on cold steel before gsm, the recon 1 was something mighty, still never chop with it though. And it isn't just a matter of cleaning and disassembly which I never enjoy it's an observation that mechanical parts are prone ro breakages and failure, will they always? No but prone to yes

Smaug · Sep 5, 2023

ShaiHulud said:
Eh I'd personally never chop with a folding knife
It was never meant for that even if it would work for a time eventually something /might\ happen. After I took my Matriarch 2 to the beach (no I didn't drop it) it somehow got sand all up inside it, I guess sand just blows everywhere, took it apart and cleaned it, until it was all clean and oiled, watched a YT video to make sure i put it back correctly. It started with just small amounts of gritty action and eventually sounded like rubbing 2 gritty sand papers together. And wouldn't open properly anymore so I ended up selling it for 40 on ebay. I see folders are widely preferred here so I'm in thr minority, but the strength and durability of a good foxed blade can't be mimicked in a folder, but medford sure does try though. However I'll agree on cold steel before gsm, the recon 1 was something mighty, still never chop with it though. And it isn't just a matter of cleaning and disassembly which I never enjoy it's an observation that mechanical parts are prone ro breakages and failure, will they always? No but prone to yes

An excellent point, re. sand getting in folders but not fixies.

elkins45 · Sep 10, 2023

I have one. This thread made me realize I haven’t seen it in years. I modded the handle a bit on mine to make it more ergonomic.

I never really trusted the thin locking liner.

oldmanwilly · Sep 10, 2023

knarfeng said:
But the lock bar is thin, and at least on mine is exposed on both sides, unsupported by the handle. I get that this enables lock access left handed or right. But it's not comfortable in a hard grip.

I don't want to beat a dead horse, but Frank's experience is the exact reason I offloaded my 2 Vantages. I found it to be a solid, budget user but for the lockbar wearing into my trigger finger during anything but light use (cutting through thick cardboard counts as "hard use" for this folder). I thought about grinding it down but it's so thin I figured it would lead to lock failure. Not worth the trouble in my mind, especially considering Buck's updates to the 119 and 112.

Biochemdawg · Sep 15, 2023

In general the vantage is one of my favorite models. I own several, but most have all been modified to create more comfortable grip, made a more comfortable landing for my thumb on the lockbar, and removed the flipper tab. Ive had to switch out washers on some to get better action. I’ve never seen them as hard use, but just a great EDC. All my smalls seem to flip excellent- the larger have been much more hit or miss. I’ve bought plenty and still consider buying more every now and again. Just my two cents.

baxtrom · Sep 17, 2023

So I got it,

- It flips reasonably well given it doesn’t have ball bearings, but then again I asked my retailer to find one that had better action.
- Yes the liner lock constitutes a bit of a hot spot. It could have been better designed.
- the liner lock is pretty heavy to release and is a bit of a thumb killer, I find myself using both hands to close it.
- I like the dyamondwood semi-synthetic scales
- it’s subjective of course but I like the looks. A beautiful knife

- made in the US while still affordable

Danny Linguini · Sep 17, 2023

baxtrom said:
So I got it,

- It flips reasonably well given it doesn’t have ball bearings, but then again I asked my retailer to find one that had better action.
- Yes the liner lock constitutes a bit of a hot spot. It could have been better designed.
- the liner lock is pretty heavy to release and is a bit of a thumb killer, I find myself using both hands to close it.
- I like the dyamondwood semi-synthetic scales
- it’s subjective of course but I like the looks. A beautiful knife
- made in the US while still affordable

View attachment 2324597

That is a beautiful looking knife, like many other Bucks. I still have one on my wish list, but I think I’m going to pass on it - I have enough other pretty knives that are difficult or just uncomfortable to operate in some way, and that to me takes away from the enjoyment of owning them. Anyway, thanks for the nice review, and good luck with yours!

baxtrom · Sep 17, 2023

Danny Linguini said:
That is a beautiful looking knife, like many other Bucks. I still have one on my wish list, but I think I’m going to pass on it - I have enough other pretty knives that are difficult or just uncomfortable to operate in some way, and that to me takes away from the enjoyment of owning them. Anyway, thanks for the nice review, and good luck with yours!

Thanks!