First "off shore" Bucks

Badhammer

Badhammer

Joined
Jun 8, 2009
Messages
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Was at Wally World yesterday and decided it was time to check out some of the models that Buck still brings in from overseas. Don'
t have a camera at the moment so no pics. Picked up an 0371BRSWM-B and couldn't happier. Fit and finish are as good as my Chairman series stockman. If anything this one has a bit more snap to it. Very even grinds and came just as sharp as every other Buck I've purchased. Nice looking wood too.

The other purchase was the 373/379 combo (CMB05WM-B Trio and Solitare). These both have a jigged scale material (not sure if it's bone or what)where as the 0371 has smooth wood. Other than the difference in the scales the 373 is just a smaller version of the 0371. Same great fit and finish, same nice snap and even grinds. The 379 is a little on the small side for me but it's just as solid and well made as the other two.

All three cost me $43 and change and IMHO it was money well spent. The 371 and 373 will go into my EDC rotation. Not sure what I'll do with the 379 as far as actual use but for the rest of the weekend at least, it'll continue to be admired and fondled just like the other two.
 
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Congrats on giving them a try Badhammer...:o(fixed that) I have two of the Canoe's in the 420HC and love them! I was leery of the 420j steel but when I received a 373 / 379 combo in a GAW, I carried and used them a bit...I too was quite impressed with the fit & finish on them, and the steel seems to perform quite well for EDC tasks. Surprising quality at their price point!
 
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I just picked up a 371 a few days ago from a little sporting goods store for $22. I have been putting off buying a Buck Stockman, as I normally carry a Case. I gave in and so far, the knife seems pretty decent............but made in CHINA. I wasn't aware Buck was outsourcing their product. I am sure some of the Buck loyals here are, but I was asuming I was buying a knife made in the good old USA. Does having a knife made in China make it any less of a knife.....not yet. Just sad that more and more products are moving out. I could immediatly tell this wasn"t a crappy POS; Buck must still maintain a high standard of quality control. I would just hate to see Buck's products degrade to "gas station knife" quality.
 
Buck moved SOME of their product line off shore years ago but has since brought a lot of it back to production here in the U.S. Might have the percentage wrong but I believe I read that they have returned about 80% of the items that that were sent overseas so Buck is well on their way to reversing what they started.
 
RRR1977
You can still get a 301 stockman, made in USA. you just have to look a bit harder. Buck still makes the stockman in the US as well as off shore. The off shore knives are far superior to gas station knives and will always be. The QC is amazing as well as the F and F. I find the handle materials used in the off shore made knives more appealing than the US made knives.
 
Badhammer said:
Buck moved SOME of their product line off shore years ago but has since brought a lot of it back to production here in the U.S. Might have the percentage wrong but I believe I read that they have returned about 80% of the items that that were sent overseas so Buck is well on their way to reversing what they started.
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To clarify Buck sent 10-15% of there lines over seas and have brought a large percentage of that back.
 
I don't believe that Buck "moved" any line overseas. From what I can see of every knife made over seas, their production originated over there and was never produced here in the US. The closest possibility is the wood handled slippies (stockman line, etc.) but they weren't made here with the wood handles and the original versions are still produced here.

That seems alot different than the companies that moved everything, lock stock and barrel, kept the same look and name.
 
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Anyone know what the "jigged" material is on my 373 & 379? It kind of reminds me of some older "jigged brown bone' Buck slipjoints I have. I'd like to find a matching 371. FWIW my 371 is dated 12-10-11 and my combo is 7/23/11.
 
mbjannusch said:
RRR1977
You can still get a 301 stockman, made in USA. you just have to look a bit harder. Buck still makes the stockman in the US as well as off shore. The off shore knives are far superior to gas station knives and will always be. The QC is amazing as well as the F and F. I find the handle materials used in the off shore made knives more appealing than the US made knives.
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"gas station knives"...???? Is that a west coast thing? Here in the midwest they sell soda, beer, ice, and hotdogs. :D
I agree with your opinion of the quality and varied scale selection.
 
Badhammer said:
Anyone know what the "jigged" material is on my 373 & 379? It kind of reminds me of some older "jigged brown bone' Buck slipjoints I have. I'd like to find a matching 371. FWIW my 371 is dated 12-10-11 and my combo is 7/23/11.
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They are bone, labeled that way anyways....
 
DeSotoSky said:
"gas station knives"...???? Is that a west coast thing? Here in the midwest they sell soda, beer, ice, and hotdogs. :D
I agree with your opinion of the quality and varied scale selection.
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I could direct you to gas station, cash only in the St Johns area of Portland where English is a 2nd language, where you can cheaply buy switch blades & brass knuckles, among other mayhem accessories, with fuel.
 
They could also be called "tobacco store" knives. Every store I've been in (yep, I'm a smoker) has a case full of tactical looking and fantasy knives, imported and very cheap! I asked one of the owner/operators why he carried that stuff and not some good knives. He said they sold like hotcakes, especially to the younger customers and they were cheap and easy to get.
 
DeSotoSky said:
"gas station knives"...???? Is that a west coast thing? Here in the midwest they sell soda, beer, ice, and hotdogs. :D
I agree with your opinion of the quality and varied scale selection.
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You can't tell me that you have never seen the crappy things (don't even want to give them the respect of calling them knives) made in Twain/china, in the gas station or liquor store...
 
One of the primary reasons that I buy Buck is because I like my knives stamped "U.S.A". That said, I did purchase the Chinese version of the 301 for my son a few years back, and I have to admit it is every bit as nice (actually nicer than some) than the 5-6 American made 301' I have around here.
 
Yes, China can produce any quality you ask of them.

Buck apparently asks for excellent quality.

That's probably why Buck is finding that they can bring back that manufacturing to the U.S.

Other manufacturers ask for low quality to gain huge profits......I'm glad Buck is not like that.
 
The fact that Buck holds their offshore producers to such high standards should help keep the domestic production standards high.

For instance, it would suck big time to have buyers say "Wow, the Bantams used to be a lot nicer when they were made in China". :eek:
 
Buck apparently asks for excellent quality.

That's probably why Buck is finding that they can bring back that manufacturing to the U.S.

Other manufacturers ask for low quality to gain huge profits......I'm glad Buck is not like that.
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Agreed.

The fact that Buck holds their offshore producers to such high standards should help keep the domestic production standards high.

For instance, it would suck big time to have buyers say "Wow, the Bantams used to be a lot nicer when they were made in China".
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Not trying to stir anything up here, but to be honest the last two Buck 110' that I recently purchased from Amazon, are not up to the quality in fit and finish of the previous five 110' that I purchased over the last few years. Maybe a fluke. I understand that it's possible to get something of lesser quality from time to time with mass manufacture, and I'm not saying the two recent ones weren't good knives, but they weren't up to the standard I've come to expect from Buck. There just seems with these two, that there was a little less attention given to details of fit and finish, IMO. Just sayin.
 
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