Is Buck good as the "old days"?

J

johnnyKnives

Joined
Sep 21, 2008
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144
I ask this because I told someone I was getting a buck and he said, "They used to be good a long time ago." I have heard that kind of talk before, but I don't know much about it. I really don't know why he said it. Maybe heard it somewhere else. Too commercial? I don't know.

Is the Buck of today a good knife like long ago? Thanks.
 
It depends. I found many of their older patterns nearly inpossible to sharpen, but overall fit and finish was generally a tad better than most of the ones that are still made, but, I find the newer ones take satisfactory edge and hold them quite well.
 
if you're new to knives get ready to hear that quite often, sometimes it's true and sometimes not. i've picked up a few bucks over the last couple of years and i think they are an excellent value for the money and just a darn good knife. I'm referring to the american made bucks in particular. I know that the steel has changed over the years and i'm sure the heat treat has changed also. my memory of older buck knives was that they were quite a bit harder to sharpen but then they held the edge a little longer. other than that as far as fit and finish goes i think they are about the same. good working knives for a good price made in America by a company that backs it's product. i like them.
 
You may get a better answer by posting this question in the Buck knives forum. I use a lot of Buck knives in my stoneworks and they are a very nice knife to work with. I use mostly Buck and Case XX knives as they are very consistent in their quality.
 
johnnyKnives said:
I ask this because I told someone I was getting a buck and he said, "They used to be good a long time ago." I have heard that kind of talk before, but I don't know much about it. I really don't know why he said it. Maybe heard it somewhere else. Too commercial? I don't know.

Is the Buck of today a good knife like long ago? Thanks.
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The answer depends upon what the speaker is referring to....

Some folks think that since Buck now makes some of their knives in China, it means that Buck has slipped in status.
I disagree.
It's not that the chinese made Bucks are bad knives, it's just that products made in china are almost always associated with cheap shoddy products in the minds of most Americans.
And while I personally will not buy a chinese made knife, I cannot deny that they seem as well made as most knives.

And some folks think that since Buck uses 420HC on most of their knives that they have lessened their quality over the years.
I don't find this to be true considering that 420HC is an okay steel that is perfectly serviceable for most folks (albeit most folks are not knife nuts like we are on this forum).
It's tough and easy to sharpen.....even if it doesn't hold an edge for that long.

But when you look at Bucks higher offerings, like the Strider and Mayo collaborations, and the products from Buck's own Custom Shoppe, I think it's safe to say that Buck is every bit as good as 99.99% of the knife companies in the industry.

Of course I could be biased. ;)

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BTW, I've owned knives from Spyderco, Benchmade, Chris Reeve, Micro-Tech, Pro-Tech, Kershaw, Emerson, Schrade, Camillus, SOG, Moore Maker, Victorinox, Wenger, CRKT, Gerber, , Case, Boker, Meyerco, Al Mar, Browning, Cold Steel, and some that I can't recall right now.

The one I'm carrying is a Custom Shoppe Buck 110.
 
I can't improve on what AllenC said. I'm a Buck Nut, as well, and love their knives. The 110's and 12's are what I collect but will be buying a new 119 next chance I get. It will go in my BOB. I have a ca. 1969 120, 307, and bought cadets for all the men in my wedding party back in 72. When I gift someone special, I buy them 110's.
 
because as has been stated previously they tend to be easier to sharpen. A friend of the family, a real hunting fishing guy saw my buck alpha dorado and went on to tell me that he loved his old Buck from years ago but could never get the damn thing sharp! So i think it depends on who ya talk too.
IMO Buck makes excellent knives even the imported are excellent:thumbup:
If a Buck works for you then thats the knife regardless of someones opinions
I have EDC a buck alpha dorado for almost two years:eek:
One of my favorite knives and it aint even a slipjoint:D
ivan
 
I recently purchased a 55 mini folding hunter, a 501 squire and a 173 mayo the imported one. The 501 has a little blade play but nothing that would keep the knife from working properly. The 55 is a very attrative small folder. All are well made knives and are sharp. I carried a 501 back in the late seventies and early eighties and theywere nice knives then but I think the new ones come with a much better edge. I also just got a couple of China made Buck pocketknives a small stockman and mid size trapper and they are well made and sharp. I think they make a nice knife and they make most of their products in the USA. Try one.

RKH
 
There are many different styles and grades of Buck knives. The ones that have been around for a while in my opinion are still top shelf as well as many of the newer ones.
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I have a Buck 110 that is approx. 18 years and old is a great knife easy to sharpen and has stood up well to whatever I've thrown at it. And a newer Buck Strider that I took on deployment and carried in rotation with my Endura. Easily as good as the Endura , so I don't think their quality has fell off at all.
 
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citizensoldierNY said:
I have a Buck 110 that is approx. 18 years and old is a great knife easy to sharpen and has stood up well to whatever I've thrown at it. And a newer Buck Strider that I took on deployment and carried in rotation with my Endura. Easily as good as the Endura , so I don't think their quality has fell off at all.
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My favorite knife makers are Buck, Kershaw, Spyderco and Benchmade. I have found that Buck compares favorably to all the others in fit and finish. Add in the superb heat soak by Paul Bos and you have a very effective combination.
 
Buck got that undeserved reputation of hard to sharpen because they were the first to use the then new super steel 440 C in a big way.The sharpening technique at the time was a medium to fine stone and yes,they were hard to sharpen compared to carbon steel of course.With todays diamond hones those old knives take a quick keen edge and are highly sought after.Todays Bucks are excellent value with great quality.Even Their China line is very impressive.Perhaps the best of the east.
 
johnnyKnives said:
I ask this because I told someone I was getting a buck and he said, "They used to be good a long time ago." I have heard that kind of talk before, but I don't know much about it. I really don't know why he said it. Maybe heard it somewhere else. Too commercial? I don't know.

Is the Buck of today a good knife like long ago? Thanks.
Click to expand...

When I was in my teens in the '60s Buck was THE knife company. They used the uber steel of the day, 440C. IIRC they made maybe a dozen models.

Today they have way more models that are available in a wide range of alloys. But they also have A LOT more competition for the high end of the knife market.

So,
Do they stand out like a beacon as they did 40 years ago? Maybe not.
They got lots of other companies now that also make great production knives.

Do they make an excellent blade? Absolutely so.
They do a great job with S30V, 154CM, and CPM 154 for those who want those alloys. And their 420HC blades are top notch for what they are.

Buck Knives :thumbup::thumbup:
 
knarfeng said:
When I was in my teens in the '60s Buck was THE knife company. They used the uber steel of the day, 440C. IIRC they made maybe a dozen models.

Today they have way more models that are available in a wide range of alloys. But they also have A LOT more competition for the high end of the knife market.

So,
Do they stand out like a beacon as they did 40 years ago? Maybe not.
They got lots of other companies now that also make great production knives.

Do they make an excellent blade? Absolutely so.
They do a great job with S30V, 154CM, and CPM 154 for those who want those alloys. And their 420HC blades are top notch for what they are.

Buck Knives :thumbup::thumbup:
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Curious. What does you mean "for what they are"? Thanks.
 
Their Chinese line is a decent line of imported user knives. Good bang for the Buck, you should pardon the expression.

edit to add, their standard line of US -made 420HC blades satisfy the needs of a lot of folks who want a good knife for a fair price and aren't wanting premium steel.
 
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