China Buck

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cultivateitnow

Joined
Aug 21, 2010
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Last night I had to make a run to the next town over for something else I was working on. They have a WalMart and a Rual King. Rual King only sells China Shrade and China Winchester knifes. The WalMart sells a bit of everything and i was hoping to find a USA Buck Trapper or Stockman to play with. Well, my only traditional option was a China Buck Stockman. After some thought I desided I should see what all the fuss is about and bought one. Let me just say it is without doubt the best example of a China knife I own. Fit and finnish are perfect and all blades open and close with the same amount of pressure. Bolsters, liners, pins, scales, and blades...Perfect. All three blades on this knife were very sharp and would shave right out of the "box".

I got so excited about what a USA Buck Traditional knife would look like I went on line to try and fine a USA made Large Trapper with a 3" or bigger blade. I'm sad to say there is no such knife. I even went to the Buck site to see if I could custom order one. Not available.

I did find a China Buck large Trapper, and I found a USA small Trapper, but not the knife I want. With the Trapper pattern being in demand they way it is, how can they not have a USA version to sell? It seems Buck always just misses the mark when it comes to knifes I want and need. I guess if I want a Buck Trapper I'm going to have to order the China Buck Trapper. It should be a good one, but still.
 
Moved to the "Buck Forum" where you can establish dialog with the Buck folks who actually have some clout.
Please keep future China versus USA availability rants out of the Traditional Forum from this point on.

Contact with manufacturers is easily available via telephone, email and snail mail aside from direct manufacturer's forums (such as this one).
I'm sure they will be happy to discuss with you their product line and reasons for manufacture in one venue versus another.
 
This is a sensitive subject, so I'll try to tread lightly and avoid earning myself a chicklet. Buck contracts with a Chinese manufacturer to make some of their knives. These knives are made to Buck's specifications, they are held to the same level of quality Buck would expect from their domestic knives. When making things in China, it is all about the level of quality that is specified. If you want high quality knives, they can make them for you. If you order knives made as inexpensively as possible, then they can do that too.

When you see a lower quality knife that was made in China with the Schrade name on it, for example, that's because the knife was specified and ordered that way. I believe Taylor owns the Schrade trademark. If they wanted Schrade knives made to the same level of quality as the old American-made ones, then they would order them that way. The Chinese could easily do it, but these knives would not be at the price point Taylor is looking for. Taylor wants to make inexpensive knives to sell at low prices, while making the maximum amount of profit for themselves, so that's what they order.

In contrast, AG Russell also has knives made in China. Because AG is only interested in putting his name on high-quality goods, he has these knives made with the best available materials and workmanship. They are exquisitely made, and compare favorably with knives made anywhere else in the world. However, these cost much more than other knives made in China, because it costs more to make high-quality goods, anywhere you make them.

Buck is somewhere in the middle between these two extremes. They want a line of inexpensive knives they can sell in big-box stores like Wal-Mart, but of the highest possible quality for that price, so as not to potentially damage the Buck name and reputation.

Edit: This post was originally written in the Traditional forum, but Blues moved it before I could finish.
 
Well put, Moonwilson. Buck is in the process of bringing back some of the models that were moved to China made. I and others hope that will be all knives. The China Bucks are made to Buck's specs.
 
moonwilson said:
Edit: This post was originally written in the Traditional forum, but Blues moved it before I could finish.
Click to expand...

I'm sneaky that way, Andy. ;)
(I still think your message was germane, however. It's all about economics, competition and the global marketplace. Companies will do what they feel is in the best interest of their bottom line while trying to continue to satisfy the needs of their customers. The target is always moving and nothing remains static forever. :thumbup:)
 
Sorry, this was not intended to be a "rant", but more of a wish list. As noted I found nothing wrong with the knife purchased. I also believed this followed the theam of most of the other threads in the Traditional forum, such as those talking about the Rough Rider and sub-lines produced by Frost.

Simply put I would like to see a Large Trapper and Large Slim line Trapper made by Buck USA as another option.
 
These knive I believe are coming back, the Bantam series is already here and I believe the wood grain 38_ series, along with others will return as well. I hope. I agree with what moon says and I dont think you were on a rant. I think we would all like USA on those knives. I like the natural wood dymondwood myself. I have a 371 and 373 stockman, the 371 is 420hc and the 373 is 420j2 steel. Both have been excellent in every respect, but I still want USA models if I can get them.



oops, forgot I got a pink bone 382 mini trapper for my daughter and it is very tightly made as well. Been thinkin about getting one of the stag handled canoes.
 
cultivateitnow said:
Simply put I would like to see a Large Trapper and Large Slim line Trapper made by Buck USA as another option.
Click to expand...

And now you've told them.

We invite you to review or discuss your traditional knives in the Traditional Forum but what we don't want are a spate of threads which focus on the fact that knives are produced overseas (specifically China) rather than on the knives themselves. (We know, we get it, most of us wish they could all be made here at home. Let's move on.)

This particular thread is Buck specific and a circuitous way of getting around to stating your wish, which is what I quoted above. (And the reason why it was more appropriate to be posted here.)
 
I have several of the Chinese-made Bucks. I have had pin cracks on a couple of them, but other than that, they're nice knives. The blade action and snap on my 373 in particular is excellent.
 
I have several of the Chinese made 300 series knives. I think they're really nice knives and great bargains. I have no US made 300's because they didn't have what I was looking for.
 
As long as I'm making my wish list...I'd really like to see a large Trapper with yellow handle like the other new knives listed in Buck's site. I need one in high impact plastic too. :)
 
In my experience, any factory will rise (or sink) to the expectations of the supervisors, regardless of where they are made. As a result I would trust a Buck made anywhere before I would trust many other brands. That being said, I do prefer to buy American, and I have also been looking for a large trapper.
 
There are many patterns that Buck simply doesn't offer. I had to order two more for my collection from another manufacture yesterday because Buck doesn't make them. I alway look at Buck traditionals first to see if they are available, but they were not. It can't be a money thing cause guys and gals are buying traditional folders left and right that cost 3 to 10 times what the USA Bucks cost.
 
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