First "off shore" Bucks

[Plumberdv]

Agreed.



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.

Care to be a little more specific? What do you find is wrong with the new ones?

 

[Doug S]

Care to be a little more specific? What do you find is wrong with the new ones?

Well again, I'm not complaining. Buck is one of my favorite knife makers (maybe my favorite). But, to answer your question...I posted here about the 110 I recently purchased from Amazon that came with the blade that wouldn't close because the kick needed ground a bit more. It wasn't just slightly above the scales, but enough to be unusable as it came and easily to the degree that someone could cut themselves on it. Just can't understand how this one made it out of the factory as it came. In addition to the kick, it also had noticable vertical and horizontal blade play. Interestingly when you go to close the blade the blade is so loose that if you wiggle the knife when you do it, that you can actually hear the blade clanking against the brass bolsters. As I've mentioned I have a number of other 110' that I've bought between 2008-09, and none of them have display any issues at all. As per the earlier thread, I asked Amazon for an exchange, and the replacement 110 was much better, but the kick still needs ground ever so slightly, and it also isn't quite up to the standard of my others Bucks (but it is usuable as it came). So, to summarize, nothing major, but enough to make me a little leery of ordering sight unseen again. I figure these are the exceptions to the rule, and not the norm but I still think it's worth mentioning within the context of this thread. But to be clear, I'll buy an American made Buck over a Chinese one any day.

 

[DeepFriedDoom]

As a foreigner, I have no nationalistic bent when buying knives, so I have no qualms about buying a knife without regard to country of origin. The Chinese-made knives that I own, at least those from reputable companies, have held up as well as my American-made knives. Buck is no different, with it's quality control so high up there with all its products that deciding between its US-made and China-made products boil down purely to which country you like better.

There was a time when I would only buy US-made knives because I thought only the US made knives of quality. I had absolutely zero experience with knives made elsewhere, but if people on the interwebz said American knives were better, they must be correct, no? Only when I received a Buck Nobleman as a gift did I realize that hey, they ain't bad at all. It cut just as well as my Vantage, and the fit and finish was just as good. I liked the Nobleman so much I went and bought the Colleague, and they have both impressed me very much. If we disregard politics and patriotism, there's really no difference. A Buck is a Buck, and I think that's what CJ intended.

 

[ohen cepel]

I have a china canoe and toothpick. The canoe is the better of the 2. However, both are good, very good for the money actually. I swore I would never have one but got the toothpick when I bought into a local Ducks Unlimited deal, not sure where I got the bone handled canoe. Sadly, (not really) I don't know where either are right now. I like them for that reason, if I lose them I won't feel bad since I still have issues with the Buck/china deal. They are good knives though.

 

[mbjannusch]

I will be the first to say that the off shore manufactured Buck knives are of great quality. That being said, I know that this site is monitored by Buck Knives. So, I would like to say to anyone viewing this thread, although the knives thus far are nice and most seem to like them, having the patterns and materials used on the off shore knives come home would greatly be appreciated. I wouldn't like it if more knives started showing up with made in China stamped on them. This is just my opinion. I love the fact that Buck knives are made in the great USA.

 

[Badhammer]

Well after spending the better part of the last two weeks in my pocket I can say I've very pleased with this 371. From cutting open envelopes and cartons to synthetic banding on pallets it's stay extremely sharp and I swear the wood scales seem to have an even nicer more mellow look from the handling. Love this knife.

 

[Blunt Forged Edge]

Well after spending the better part of the last two weeks in my pocket I can say I've very pleased with this 371. From cutting open envelopes and cartons to synthetic banding on pallets it's stay extremely sharp and I swear the wood scales seem to have an even nicer more mellow look from the handling. Love this knife.

Would you say they're a keeper? I saw the same Trio Combo for under twenty before taxes. Just curious that's all.

 

[Plumberdv]

Would you say they're a keeper? I saw the same Trio Combo for under twenty before taxes. Just curious that's all.

My two cents is, they sure are keepers. I have a 371 that's part of my bunch of 301's that gets equal pocket time with all of them. If it wasn't for the different number and the China mark on the sheepsfoot blade, you couldn't tell it from any of the others.

 

[Blunt Forged Edge]

My two cents is, they sure are keepers. I have a 371 that's part of my bunch of 301's that gets equal pocket time with all of them. If it wasn't for the different number and the China mark on the sheepsfoot blade, you couldn't tell it from any of the others.

Thanks and good to know. In my haste, I purchased the Trio Combo and missed the "Made in China" part and was contemplating on returning it. Personally, when I think of Buck Knives, I'm thinking U.S.A., that's all.

 

[Badhammer]

Would you say they're a keeper? I saw the same Trio Combo for under twenty before taxes. Just curious that's all.

Absolutely a keeper! I've not carried the other two I purchased (373 & 379) but will try and give them both a little pocket time over the course of the summer.

 

[TwinStick]

I try to buy "Made in America" items when i can, but thats just me. That being said, i did recently purchase a Buck Silver Creek Bait Knife, it was made in China. It was just a tic over twenty dollars. It is an AWESOME blade. I actually bought it because it is the first knife with serrations that i think was done right. It was pretty sharp ootb. It is scary sharp now. 3 people have cut themselves on it already(2 on the blade & 1 on the serrations)-even after i warned them. It is kinda Mora-ish in size & sheath. I am impressed with the quality for the price point. I only own 2 Buck knives. The one above & a Buck/Tops CSAR-T fixed blade. I love them both.

 

[BG42EDGE]

Here's the truth.......

If it's a "BUCK" I don't care if it was made in Pakistan because the Bucks won't let it sell until it meets their exceedingly high standards.

That "Forever" warranty ensures it, because they know they have to fix them forever and they don't want to be swamped with a bunch of junk coming back.

 

[Blunt Forged Edge]

Okay, so I've finally taken the two out of the box as depicted here.

Seems the 379 has more of a "solid" snap when closing than the 373. There is no "play" with the blades when open. Quite solidly built little pocket knives these are, and quite sharp.