Buck vs. GEC Traditional Locking Knives

Easyrider

Easyrider

Joined
Jan 31, 2000
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I am looking to get a traditional lockback knife and I wondered how GEC lockback knives compared to Buck knives? I will probably go with stainless in both cases, providing I can find a stainless GEC lockback.

How do they compare on fit and finish? How about the lock-up?

For the record I am looking primarily the Buck 112 or Buck 501 and the GEC 72.

I appreciate any comments.
 
They are both really go as far as I'm concerned. I have a buck 110 (not 112 or 105), and I can easily see how they've sold a ton of them. The GEC i have is also great. The buck wins for out of the box sharpness. Can't go wrong.
 
I have a newer 112 and am not real impressed with it. I bought an older one with 440C and like it much better. It doesn't seem like the quality control is as good as it was. For the money, they are still a lot of knife. You can find an old one for the same money which is a heck of a deal. It is one of my favorite knives.
 
I can't comment on the comparative quality of Buck vs GEC but can offer that Buck defined the class.

The 112 and 501 are very different. The 112 is, IME, too thick for pocket carry. More of a belt holster carry. If you want th length of the 112 in a slim drop point, look at the 500, not the 501. Th 501 is a beautiful knife but smaller by a wider margin than the measurements indicate.

I supect but don't know for sure but I think the 72 is between the 500/112 size and the 501 size.

I wish Buck produced a thin 112.
 
Easyrider said:
I am looking to get a traditional lockback knife and I wondered how GEC lockback knives compared to Buck knives? I will probably go with stainless in both cases, providing I can find a stainless GEC lockback.

How do they compare on fit and finish? How about the lock-up?

For the record I am looking primarily the Buck 112 or Buck 501 and the GEC 72.

I appreciate any comments.
Click to expand...

Buck's standard product is a solid working knife.
Has 420HC blade steel hardened to a Rockwell 58, which is unusually hard for 420HC.
His common production level fit and finish.
Street price for a standard 110 is about $40.

GEC's standard product is also a solid knife, and is capable of hard work.
It has 440C blade steel
Has exceptional fit and finish
more choices for handle materials
A large lockback will run ~$100.

But if you were to order a Buck 110 from the Buck Custom shop, you would have
S30V blade steel as an option (S30V being superior in edge retention and corrosion resistance compared to 440C)
fit and finish equal to the GEC.
More choices for handle materials.
And a price of about $100

I base the fit and finish comparison on a Buck 501 with S30V blade steel I bought from the custom shop and on several GEC knives.

Lock Back lockup on a traditional lockback often means there may be a bit of vertical play. By "a bit" I mean that if you grasp the blade with your hands and try to wiggle it up and down, you can. I have a number of traditional lockbacks from a number of makers which have that much play. I only notice it if I grasp the blade. I never notice it when using it to cut. That small bit of play does not mean the lock is unreliable.

I will note that my Custom Shop 501 has no vertical play at all.

edited to add picture:
IMG_5715_zps3454ed1e.jpg
 
Knarfeng nailed it. I'm a Buck fan, so I vote Buck Custom shop if you want to spend some money. Otherwise, the mass-produced Bucks are without question the better value. I've owned 6 non-custom Bucks, have been happy with all of them. If you get one you don't like, they will honor their forever warranty.
 
Frank, did you select walnut scales? The knot is cool.

Wish they had the 500 in the custom shop and wish they offered the old micarta scales as an option.
 
Oh my, a Buck traditional lockback with S30 steel!

That makes my decision much easier! Thank you very much!
 
Always liked looking at Frank's beautiful custom 501 and makes me not want to post my plain Jane production but I will to show this 500/501 difference! Which ever you go with I don't think you'll go wrong. The only experience I have with the GEC is my knife work buddy's stag 42 roughly the size of the 500 which when he showed me I drueled all over! He isn't happy with the up and down movement which my 500 has none of, but everyone is different on this. For me his seems fine. If your out there Mike you can chime in on it. The 112 is thicker but they both feel great in the hand and I hate the thought about not having either on in my collection. The 501 is smallish but if I had a buck to dress out I think the 501 would handle it, providing you don't have large hands you wouldn't experience to much more fatigue. They're all great traditional LBs!
 
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Outside of the Custom Bucks like the 501, 112, or 110, do you guys think the quality of the regular production knives of the 501,112, 110 has gone down dramatically these days?
 
Ribeyeguy, you just pulled the pin on a grenade...

That topic is hotly contested in the Buck sub-forum with strong opinions on all sides.

Buck has moved it's plant with some disruption issues. They've also moved to high capacity techniques (as most high volume makers have done) which introduces a different set of QA issues. Note, hand production like the methods used by GEC, Queen and Canal street also have their own, albeit different QA issues.

Personally, I like the old Bucks. Real wood or micarta. More handmade. But, the production Bucks are a great value and they have a bullet proof warranty. I would stick with the super traditional patterns, the 110, 112, 113, 500 series and the 100 series of knives. Hard to go wrong there if you like their looks and features.

I'm less concerned about the quality of the builds and more wish they would offer different blade options. I would love to see more drop points and flat grinds.
 
The Buck 501 out of the custom shop would do well for you but you might also look at the GEC #42 Missouri Trader, 440C. As well as the #72.
501custom1_zps00a5c84b.jpg
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Both good choices. I have had a lot of the buck lockbacks and they've never had any blade play, whereas every GEC lockback I've encountered has a little vertical 'pop'. Both great, usable knives, just different kinds. I prefer GEC for slipjoints, for sure. My current favorite is an old 110 in 440C that locks up like a gunshot and has NO play in any direction. My next Buck purchase is a custom shop 500 series in S30V.
 
IMO, the buck is a little rougher around the edges, but is more heavy duty than the GEC. Both are great knives just a little difference.
 
Thank you everyone. That Buck custom shop is calling my name! I have had S30v on a tactical folder and I liked the steel very much. A traditional lockback with it is a knife after my heart. The fact I dislike blade patina makes a custom
shop Buck even more desirable.

My choice is clear. Thank you everyone.
 
Ribeyeguy said:
Outside of the Custom Bucks like the 501, 112, or 110, do you guys think the quality of the regular production knives of the 501,112, 110 has gone down dramatically these days?
Click to expand...
Possibly. I don't have enough samples of current production 500 series knives to make a valid comparison.


Easyrider said:
Thank you everyone. That Buck custom shop is calling my name! I have had S30v on a tactical folder and I liked the steel very much. A traditional lockback with it is a knife after my heart. The fact I dislike blade patina makes a custom
shop Buck even more desirable.

My choice is clear. Thank you everyone.
Click to expand...

If you liked S30V from another manufacturer you will love the Paul Bos heat treated Buck S30V. I have several other knives in S30V from other makers and two in S30V from Buck. The Buck S30V blades outperform the other S30V blades. Recommended.
 
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