Comparison: Buck v Shrade-Chinese Checkers

imafritz

imafritz

Joined
Dec 30, 2008
Messages
4,879
Hey Guys,

My buddy is sales rep who's company gives knives away at tiimes. I got a large Bantam off of him last year and asked if he had anymore. No was the answer but he had a Schrade to give me.

It is a 2 blade stockman pattern, I guess akin to the Companion...maybe. I dont have a Companion to compare it to, but it is the same size and my chinese 373 Trio.

I know there are varying opinions and points of veiw the the whole chinese thing. This isnt for that but only an impression of 2 similar knives from 2 different companies who have farmed small slippies out to china.

Shrade 330T sawcut derlyn vs Buck 373 Stockman Trio dymondwood(Buck is pictured on top in each photo-as should be the case:D)

BuckvsSchradeChina001.jpg

BuckvsSchradeChina002.jpg

BuckvsSchradeChina003.jpg

BuckvsSchradeChina004.jpg


Both knives have similar frame/liner design

BuckvsSchradeChina006.jpg


One cool thing the Shrade has, is the recess in the frame to give a hair more room to get to the nail nic. Bucks positioning of the nic gives no reason to have it.

BuckvsSchradeChina008.jpg

BuckvsSchradeChina010.jpg



Back springs have similar design.

BuckvsSchradeChina005.jpg


Quite honestly, there enough similarities in appearance, that I wondered if the same company was making both.


Here are my impressions:

Though they look very similar in design, the Buck wins. My Trio was razor sharp out of the box whereas the 330t isnt very impressive in sharpness.

The backsprings on the 373 are considerably stronger/stiffer than the Schrade. The Shrade spey blade has a narrower backspring but is stronger than the main clip point and neither is as stiff as any of the Buck blades, which are all identical in stiffness(as far as my non-scientific test fingers can tell.

The only thing I like about the schrade is that it came in a box rather than a clamshell.


There it is-thanks for lookin and reading.
 
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Buck wins in my book every time. Even the off shore products. At first I had hesitations about off shore Bucks but I accidently bought one thinking it was something else. I took it out of the package and realized it was made in china. I put it in my drawer and tried to forget about it. One day I needed a knife and went to my drawer opened it up and gradded one of the many knives I have in the drawer. Luck has it, I grabbed the buck(china) I used the knife and it worked like a charm. It was sharp as a whip, fit and finish was right on point, it locked up tight and didn't wobble at all. When I closed it I tyied to find something wrong with it and couldn't. I works, looks good and its a Buck. Hits all points. The knife I trefered to is the 318. For an EDC its a little small but it makes up for its size with the way it performs. My 2 Cents. Hope it helps.:) Now I'm looking at the 38* trapper (forgot the model #)
 
An interesting topic for sure. Several years ago before I became a Buck devotee, I was buying knives of all brands. I have quite a few Schrade's both domestic and foreign and I have to say that not one of the Schrade's fare well when compared to a Buck (either USA or China version).

Granted, most of the USA made Schrade's that I have are newer and were made when Schrade USA was on it's way out more than likely. Not one came anywhere near as sharp as a Buck does and the fit and finish left alot to be desired. Even the Chinese made Schrade's were an improvment quality wise over the last years of the USA made ones. I do have one Chinese made Schrade that see's some use and that's the Landshark that I use when I have a bunch of cardboard boxes to cut up to recycle. It holds an edge pretty good and the straight cutting edge of the single sheepsfoot blade is real easy to touch up with a sharpmaker.

I don't have many of the offshore Bucks, but one that does find it's way into my pocket on a pretty regular basis is the 371 Stockman. I just really like the brown wood handles and that unlike the charcoal Dymondwood and black Valox 301's, the 371's rivets are FLUSH with the scales. The yellow handled 301 is better in that respect than the other 301's but still not as good as the 371. That's something I hope has been or will be fixed because it's an irritation (just a minor one) to me. I don't have one of the 2010 Comfortcraft DW models yet, so maybe that's been fixed.
 
mbjannusch said:
Buck wins in my book every time. Even the off shore products. At first I had hesitations about off shore Bucks but I accidently bought one thinking it was something else. I took it out of the package and realized it was made in china. I put it in my drawer and tried to forget about it. One day I needed a knife and went to my drawer opened it up and gradded one of the many knives I have in the drawer. Luck has it, I grabbed the buck(china) I used the knife and it worked like a charm. It was sharp as a whip, fit and finish was right on point, it locked up tight and didn't wobble at all. When I closed it I tyied to find something wrong with it and couldn't. I works, looks good and its a Buck. Hits all points. The knife I trefered to is the 318. For an EDC its a little small but it makes up for its size with the way it performs. My 2 Cents. Hope it helps.:) Now I'm looking at the 38* trapper (forgot the model #)
Click to expand...
Small one is a 382 mini trapper-I got a pink one for my daughter-its a sweet little knife. Thanks for your 2 cent:)


Plumberdv said:
An interesting topic for sure. Several years ago before I became a Buck devotee, I was buying knives of all brands. I have quite a few Schrade's both domestic and foreign and I have to say that not one of the Schrade's fare well when compared to a Buck (either USA or China version).

Granted, most of the USA made Schrade's that I have are newer and were made when Schrade USA was on it's way out more than likely. Not one came anywhere near as sharp as a Buck does and the fit and finish left alot to be desired. Even the Chinese made Schrade's were an improvment quality wise over the last years of the USA made ones. I do have one Chinese made Schrade that see's some use and that's the Landshark that I use when I have a bunch of cardboard boxes to cut up to recycle. It holds an edge pretty good and the straight cutting edge of the single sheepsfoot blade is real easy to touch up with a sharpmaker.

I don't have many of the offshore Bucks, but one that does find it's way into my pocket on a pretty regular basis is the 371 Stockman. I just really like the brown wood handles and that unlike the charcoal Dymondwood and black Valox 301's, the 371's rivets are FLUSH with the scales. The yellow handled 301 is better in that respect than the other 301's but still not as good as the 371. That's something I hope has been or will be fixed because it's an irritation (just a minor one) to me. I don't have one of the 2010 Comfortcraft DW models yet, so maybe that's been fixed.
Click to expand...

I agree on the brown dymondwood. I just like natural wood(even laminate) over synthetics or non-normal colors. Also agree with the flush rivots.:thumbup:
 
Great pics and review...
I've never owned an off shore Buck or Schrade. I have old Schrades that are outstanding knives, but refuse to by the current production versions.
IMHO, I wish that when they closed, the Schrade name and likeness would have died and been left alone...

On to the Bucks. I would not have any problem buying an off shore Buck slip joint, although I would prefer U.S made.
The difference for me is that Buck is still a family owned company, and are willing to stand behind all their products, even the off shore versions.

I've owned a lot of slip joints from the early 1900's until recent production, but I still think the Buck slip joints have the nicest looking blades for a production knife.
I'm not sure it is necessary to use three back springs on a small knife though.
But on the other hand, I have big hands, so it might actually make them more comfy in hand.

I guess I need to finally break down and get one to find out :D
 
338375 said:
Great pics and review...
I've never owned an off shore Buck or Schrade. I have old Schrades that are outstanding knives, but refuse to by the current production versions.
IMHO, I wish that when they closed, the Schrade name and likeness would have died and been left alone...

On to the Bucks. I would not have any problem buying an off shore Buck slip joint, although I would prefer U.S made.
The difference for me is that Buck is still a family owned company, and are willing to stand behind all their products, even the off shore versions.

I've owned a lot of slip joints from the early 1900's until recent production, but I still think the Buck slip joints have the nicest looking blades for a production knife.
I'm not sure it is necessary to use three back springs on a small knife though.
But on the other hand, I have big hands, so it might actually make them more comfy in hand.

I guess I need to finally break down and get one to find out :D
Click to expand...

Agreed, I cant wait til the natural wood scale is available on a 301 USA. But I have said repeatedly, as much as I want them to be USA, I cant make a single negative comment about the appearance or performance of the slippies.
 
You are not comparing a Buck and a Schrade. You are comparing a Buck to a knife whose merchant name is now "Schrade". "Schrade" used to be a manufacturer's name, but it died in 2004. "Buck" is still the name of a knife manufacturer.
The difference between a manufacturer's name and what is simply merchant branding is most important to all 'knifers' whether Buckeroos, Schradeaholics, or whatever.
roland
 
rprocter said:
You are not comparing a Buck and a Schrade. You are comparing a Buck to a knife whose merchant name is now "Schrade". "Schrade" used to be a manufacturer's name, but it died in 2004. "Buck" is still the name of a knife manufacturer.
The difference between a manufacturer's name and what is simply merchant branding is most important to all 'knifers' whether Buckeroos, Schradeaholics, or whatever.
roland
Click to expand...

Sad but true Roland, although the idea was to compare 2 farmed out china knives cause I came upon one. The ongoing question in my mind is, are they perhaps manufactured by the same company in the same plant based on thier similarities.
 
Howdy slipjoint discussers',

I understand what fritz is trying to point across, and others points are right on.
But were discussing a three blade stockman verses a two blade pin knife.

The Schrades springs are different because of strength needed to hold and close blade.
The little pen blade spring is 'light' because the blade is short and the nic is out on the end of the blade for 'leverage' and it does not need a stout spring. In comparison look at Clip blades and see the nic in the middle, it takes more fingernail power to open those but you have to have a stout spring to work the bigger hunk of metal.

The Buck three spring design keeps blades straight in-line with the spring so no "crinking" or bend at the tang is necessary to get two blades into one slot. Also I have read that whittlers prefer a straight blade for control. I also believe a 'crinked' blade is easier to break or chip the edge because it is slightly 'off-set' in the hand. I have no facts but feel that it would be easier to assemble three straight blades than take the extra press step in the bending, inspecting and assembly of two blades in one slot.

The offshore Bucks have great fit and finish, apparently 'skilled' workers are employeed with some type of keen eye quality control....we should not speculate or discuss employee situations in China.

I like the new offshore escutcheon plate and would like to see the new blue shield made in that manner and put on the yellow scale, it would look classy.

My issues are all in the steel, that its not worked in the Bos heat treat room in Idaho....thats the difference for me. But, if my local scout troop needed 10 or 20 knives for awards the price of the offshore Bucks would be calling.....

300Bucks
 
300Bucks said:
Howdy slipjoint discussers',

The Schrades springs are different because of strength needed to hold and close blade.
The little pen blade spring is 'light' because the blade is short and the nic is out on the end of the blade for 'leverage' and it does not need a stout spring. In comparison look at Clip blades and see the nic in the middle, it takes more fingernail power to open those but you have to have a stout spring to work the bigger hunk of metal.

My issues are all in the steel, that its not worked in the Bos heat treat room in Idaho....thats the difference for me. But, if my local scout troop needed 10 or 20 knives for awards the price of the offshore Bucks would be calling.....

300Bucks
Click to expand...

Thanks for chiming in 300:thumbup: Maybe I read this wrong in your statements, but the one thing I found odd was how stout the pen blade spring was compared to the clip, even though it is narrower. I wish I had a 2 blade Buck to compare it to but I'm a big doorstop kinda guy;)
 
Fritz,

Nope your right, bad verbage.............Size matters.....actually position that nic back a 1/8 inch or so and it sounds like it would be a bugger to open......I do know that high quality springs can be thinner....300
 
My point is that Buck is still a knife manufacturer so they need to be very concerned with the quality of every knife that bears their proud name. It is in their interest to make sure that the manufacturer they found in China could consistently do the job right, not merely come in below a certain price point.
With merchant branding i think there is more concern with getting knives made for a certain price. They are not as intimately involved with the name and it's history, more using the name to make a profit.
roland
 
rprocter is correct.

A Chinese company is in business to make a profit. They will make a knife that meets the standards REQUIRED by the vendor that commissions the knife.......and NO MORE.

They are quite capable of making superb knives if the vendor demands it.

Buck obviously has done that and done a good job of it.

:thumbup:
 
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