Disappointed in My Buck Vantage Pro Small

J

Joe_N

Joined
Nov 11, 2015
Messages
67
Today I received a Vantage Pro Small and I am going to return it. I am undecided if I will exchange it for another Buck or a different brand. The first thing I noticed was a small nick in about the center of the blade. After inspection it appears the edge of the blade is hitting the center pin when closed. Also, the liner lock barely engages the blade and looks like it was not properly machined so I don't trust it at all. The exposed edges of the liner are rough and unfinished looking. I am really disappointed. This is just not the quality I have come to expect from Buck. Another issue is the flipper is so small there is no way to get enough leverage to open the knife completely and the blade is stiff opening, though it might loosen up some with use.

I wanted a smaller knife and I really like the looks of this knife, I like the blade shape and length, and I like the way the grip fits my hand but I don't like anything about the fit and finish of the knife. Has anyone else bought one of these and if so were you happy with the knife you received?
 
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Since Buck has the best warrantee in the business they will make it right if you send it to them. Or, you could just return it to whence it came. If it was from someone special as a gift, send it to Buck.
Unfortunately, manufacturing turns out a flawed product every now and then, but Buck is better than most in quality and certainly at the top when it comes to making things right.
 
I bought the knife through BladeHQ so I will be calling them tomorrow and making arrangements to return it. I will ask them to inspect a replacement and if they can promise me a good one I may take it. I really wanted to like this knife, because I have carried a Buck almost every day for the past 45 years. I am hoping this is one that slipped through QC and the problems are not common to the Vantage Pro Small.
 
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Perfection
 
Deleted. Give buck a shot at replacement.
 
I'm sure this dealer will exchange it for a new one. Stuff happens to all of us. Don't forget to follow up with how awesome the replacement is.
 
Liner locks seem to be more common issues than Buck forum members would like to see. I consider a new liner lock does not have to center but only contact the blade with its full width, even if it is over to one side. Mine have pretty quickly worn in to at least near center with some use. It sounds like the blade was slammed by something that forced the edge down into the scale spacer. Someone at the factory would have had to drop it hard on something to do that. Do something that makes you feel good about your purchase. It is a pain to have to return stuff.
300
 
I am waiting for BladeHQ to open so that I can call them and make arrangements to return the knife. It is just such a disappointment to be expecting something then when you get it there is something wrong with it, and yes, returning something is a pain in the rear end. I have purchased many Buck knives since my first one in about 1971 and have had problems with only one other knife. That was a 110 and the blade was ground wrong resulting in an edge that was so thick it couldn't be sharpened. A guy I worked with wanted it, knowing the problem, so I gave it to him and bought another 110 which I still have. Hopefully I can get another Vantage Pro Small that will be as good as the many other Bucks I have owned.
 
BladeHQ had one Vantage Pro Small in stock and the gentleman pulled it and inspected it while talking to me but it also had a problem. The knife goes back and I will be getting something else.
 
Well, I can tell you there are other good sellers online that will check their stock to make sure you get one with a centered blade and no nic's. I had a issue with one early on but have been pleased to say no other of my half dozen or so had issues.
I switched out my carry vantage to a dark dymondwood model this morning. I almost grabbed one I had polished the blade to mirror sheen but scared myself when I saw what I looked like in the reflection.....ha

300
 
If you dont want to send it to buck. Send it to me and I will have it fixed in 48 hours. Every complaint you have. Then you can do a new review.
 
I've been eyeballing a Vantage Force Pro for a while now. What resolution did you get Joe_N?
 
I just received a new Buck Vantage Pro "small" in the mail today from Knifecenter and it has its fair share of problems.

1. One of the scale screws was loose in the packaging. On closer inspection it looks like the first 2-3 threads are stripped and it just fell out of the knife at some point in transit.
2. The blade hits the middle spacer when closed. You can see a mark on the inside where the cutting edge has contacted the spacer.
3. Blade was centered in the handle when closed, but so stiff that you could barely open it one handed. Loosening the pivot screw to a useable tension sends the blade off-center into contact with the frame liners.

To my surprise, when I removed the scales to address the last two of these problems, I discovered that the frame liners are not screwed together, but pinned and cannot be separated. Is this pinned construction new with the vantage pro small? I have a vantage select large and it is not like this.
 
Heck ,most liner locks you want to start with them barely engaging,because as soon as it's used a few times it settles in and the lock bar starts its journey to the far side,later blade play comes in .buck will fix you up,no problem there ?good luck.
 
Not a expert is this area, but I think the difference with the riveted liners is exclusive to the Vantage Pro models not the regular Vantage models. I don't have a new one to check.

300Bucks
 
rephresh said:
I just received a new Buck Vantage Pro "small" in the mail today from Knifecenter and it has its fair share of problems.

1. One of the scale screws was loose in the packaging. On closer inspection it looks like the first 2-3 threads are stripped and it just fell out of the knife at some point in transit.
2. The blade hits the middle spacer when closed. You can see a mark on the inside where the cutting edge has contacted the spacer.
3. Blade was centered in the handle when closed, but so stiff that you could barely open it one handed. Loosening the pivot screw to a useable tension sends the blade off-center into contact with the frame liners.

To my surprise, when I removed the scales to address the last two of these problems, I discovered that the frame liners are not screwed together, but pinned and cannot be separated. Is this pinned construction new with the vantage pro small? I have a vantage select large and it is not like this.
Click to expand...

Sometime around 2014-15 the Vantage series knives started showing up with riveted pins for the liners/spacers instead of the screws. This is a major drawback because you cannot take the liners apart to adjust the liner lock. Don’t know why Buck thought this was a good change.
 
Just checked my small Vantage Pro and Vantage Select. Mine are newer models, bought this year, and thankfully do not exhibit the problems you described. If you really like the design, maybe give it another try with a new one. DLT will check it before shipping if you request they do so. Good luck!
 
fellas this is almost a 4 year old thread. op probably figured out what he wanted to do by now.;)
 
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