This is the Buck Vantage Select, a more affordable version of their Vantage Pro line. The differences? 420HC steel and FRN handle scales (in the Select) as opposed to S30V and G-10 scales (in the Pro). Both the Select and Pro are available in small or large; I chose the larger size. It's model 345, and is made in the United States. Mine costed $30 from a popular sporting goods store. Here are the specifics...
The Handle: The closed Vantage Select is 4-1/2" long and 7/16" thick. It's a thin knife; a tiny bit thicker than the $20 Dozier knives from Kabar. The liners are stainless steel, and they're solid (not drilled out). The handles are black FRN with a smooth texture and no real pattern; just some random wavy lines. The Buck Knives logo is engraved into the left handle slab. The slabs are held in place with two T-6 screws on each side, and the blade pivot pin is adjustable (also a T-6). The knife is an open-build design; there's the blade, a pillar, and a stainless spacer in the butt, and the rest is open. I like this. There is no blade stop pin; instead the liner lock itself stops the blade from overtraveling.
Speaking of the lock, it's a linerlock. Lock-up is solid; no blade play in any direction. The liners are each 1/16" thick. I'm sad to say there is no jimping on the liners where you'd expect to find some jimping on the lock. In fact, there isn't jimping anywhere on the knife at all. It's not a deal-breaker, especially at $30, but it would be nice to have.
The pocket clip is stainless steel, and is held in place via two T-6 screws. It's tip-up only, but can be reversed for left or right-hand carry. It's a deep-carry clip like a SOG in that it rides on the butt of the knife. However, the SOG's clip screws into the butt; the Vantage's clip screws on to the butt. Clip retention is great; not too loose and not too tight. I thought that because of the smoothness of the handle and the clip, it would move around in my pocket. Not so. It stayed put. The clip is engraved with Buck's anvil logo.
In all, the handle is nice. I have only used it for about 30 minutes total, but I like it. Not too slick and not too rough, and with great fit in your hand due to the finger choil and palm swell.
The Blade: The Vantage Select's blade is 3-1/8" long (full cutting edge) and 1/8" thick, and is made of 420HC at 58 Rockwell. It's also treated with Buck's Edge2X. It's a hollow ground blade. The right side of the blade is void of any markings, but the left side is lsered as follows... BUCK on the blade portion, USA over 345 on the tang. The blade style and shape is very close to the TNT, except it has a flipper added. The blade rides on two (one on each side) bushings, but I can't peer down in there far enough to see what they're made of. Knowing Buck, they're probably phosphor bronze. Opening is smooth and quick.
Opening is accomplished via either the flipper (fastest for me) or using the thumb oval. Again, there is no jimping anywhere on the knife (that includes the blade). I guess it's not mandatory, but I'd sure like a little bit on the blade spine. The edge was great right out of the box, and after a few passes on the strop it was shaving.
The blade is a nice size and shape, and really lends itself well to EDC chores. It's not a hunting knife, it's not a self-defense knife, it's an EDC. In that function, it's great.
The Vantage Select is another great optioon by Buck, and one every knife user should have. Made in the USA for thirty bucks with great quality and functionality; that's great. It's a Buck.
The Handle: The closed Vantage Select is 4-1/2" long and 7/16" thick. It's a thin knife; a tiny bit thicker than the $20 Dozier knives from Kabar. The liners are stainless steel, and they're solid (not drilled out). The handles are black FRN with a smooth texture and no real pattern; just some random wavy lines. The Buck Knives logo is engraved into the left handle slab. The slabs are held in place with two T-6 screws on each side, and the blade pivot pin is adjustable (also a T-6). The knife is an open-build design; there's the blade, a pillar, and a stainless spacer in the butt, and the rest is open. I like this. There is no blade stop pin; instead the liner lock itself stops the blade from overtraveling.
Speaking of the lock, it's a linerlock. Lock-up is solid; no blade play in any direction. The liners are each 1/16" thick. I'm sad to say there is no jimping on the liners where you'd expect to find some jimping on the lock. In fact, there isn't jimping anywhere on the knife at all. It's not a deal-breaker, especially at $30, but it would be nice to have.
The pocket clip is stainless steel, and is held in place via two T-6 screws. It's tip-up only, but can be reversed for left or right-hand carry. It's a deep-carry clip like a SOG in that it rides on the butt of the knife. However, the SOG's clip screws into the butt; the Vantage's clip screws on to the butt. Clip retention is great; not too loose and not too tight. I thought that because of the smoothness of the handle and the clip, it would move around in my pocket. Not so. It stayed put. The clip is engraved with Buck's anvil logo.
In all, the handle is nice. I have only used it for about 30 minutes total, but I like it. Not too slick and not too rough, and with great fit in your hand due to the finger choil and palm swell.
The Blade: The Vantage Select's blade is 3-1/8" long (full cutting edge) and 1/8" thick, and is made of 420HC at 58 Rockwell. It's also treated with Buck's Edge2X. It's a hollow ground blade. The right side of the blade is void of any markings, but the left side is lsered as follows... BUCK on the blade portion, USA over 345 on the tang. The blade style and shape is very close to the TNT, except it has a flipper added. The blade rides on two (one on each side) bushings, but I can't peer down in there far enough to see what they're made of. Knowing Buck, they're probably phosphor bronze. Opening is smooth and quick.
Opening is accomplished via either the flipper (fastest for me) or using the thumb oval. Again, there is no jimping anywhere on the knife (that includes the blade). I guess it's not mandatory, but I'd sure like a little bit on the blade spine. The edge was great right out of the box, and after a few passes on the strop it was shaving.
The blade is a nice size and shape, and really lends itself well to EDC chores. It's not a hunting knife, it's not a self-defense knife, it's an EDC. In that function, it's great.
The Vantage Select is another great optioon by Buck, and one every knife user should have. Made in the USA for thirty bucks with great quality and functionality; that's great. It's a Buck.
