just picked up a buck vantage paperstone- very disappointed

M

mr dylan

Joined
Mar 27, 2010
Messages
205
today after work i went to wally world to see if they had any buck vantage selects in stock and they did. when they guy pulled it out of the package i noticed right away that it wasn't the vantage with the normal scales, so i thought about it and just bought it (even though it wasn't the exact knife that i was looking for). It was only $20 so i just bought it.

when i got home i started to play with it and realized how much i hated the knife. it was really uncomfortable and slow so i took it apart and oiled it up with rem oil and that helped a little. also it was so off center that it touched the liner and when adjusted, so that it didn't hit the liner, it was too stiff to use the flipper. i also found that the flipper was quite small and hard to use. the lock up was great but the liner lock engaged extremely late, almost touching the other liner. the lock itself was also really hard to disengage. when the blade is deployed it is at a noticeable angle because of how late the lock engages. pretty much the only thing that i like about it is pocket clip.

i plan on returning this knife as soon as possible. i am very disappointed with almost everything about this knife. does anyone else have similar experiences with this knife?
 
Last edited:
Sounds like you got an earlier-manufactured version - there were some QC issues with the first couple of production runs (the offset handle retention being a big one).

Try sending it to Buck first for warranty repair - I pretty well guarantee they'll make it right for you.
 
jake5775 said:
thats why i dont go for $20 knives, spyderco and benchmade only.
Click to expand...

yeah this was my first knife below $40 and i wont be getting another one soon. also id much rather have the normal scales that were on the original vantage select. so i'm just going to return it and buy a better knife with the money.
 
Buck Vantage Pro/Avid are pretty good knives, I got no complaints with mine.
I don't think I would ever buy a select though..
 
i bought a select about a year ago and ive had no problems with it whatsoever.its been a great knife,i use it every day at work and ive had none of the issues with mine that youve had.it seems you mightve gotten a factory defect.id definitely send it back,buck has excellent customer service.
 
I had almost the same experience. I bought mine at a sporting goods chain and it was in the clamshell package so I was unable to even touch it untill I got home. It was horrible. The grind was so bad that it took my over an hour to put a decent edge on it. My lock, with the slightest bump, would unlock letting the blade partially shut. The fit and finish wasnt so hot either. Yes this was a $20 knife, but how these made out of the factory is beyond me. Mine rests in a junk drawer now. Due to a post I made in the Buck forum I was offered to send it back, but I decided to decline.
 
I have two Pro's and an Avid and they are fine knives. And all of them are not centered when closed nor are they touching the liner. Otherwise the lockup, speed of opening, smooth opening and closing, are all rock solid. The grinds are good and they all came razor sharp. Absolutely no complaints from me.

It seems a lot to ask that a $20 knife meet the standard of a $75-$100 Spyderco or Benchmade.
 
i just checked and the grinds are horrible! one side is about 15 degrees and the other is about 30 degrees!
 
I have a large vantage select. It's has zero of the above problems.
Lock up is nice and early, no blade play, blade is centered, grinds are good, action is smooth and fast. No complaints with mine.

Makes a great beater knife.

I'd say it's a perfect example of what you can get for 20$ these days.
 
Flatlander1963 said:
I have two Pro's and an Avid and they are fine knives. And all of them are not centered when closed nor are they touching the liner. Otherwise the lockup, speed of opening, smooth opening and closing, are all rock solid. The grinds are good and they all came razor sharp. Absolutely no complaints from me.

It seems a lot to ask that a $20 knife meet the standard of a $75-$100 Spyderco or Benchmade.
Click to expand...

Is it too much to ask that a $20 knife meet the standard of a $20 knife? There are lots of very good knives on the market for less having none of the problems described by a couple of the posters here. Considering how much quality can be had from companies like Sanrenmu, Kershaw, Spyderco, etc for even less money, there is absolutely no reason to expect a $20 knife to come up short these days.
 
Buck Mayo TNT you won't regret it. :D :rolleyes:

On a serious note I wouldn't even bother going through the trouble of sending it to buck considering the knife was only $20. I'd save some nickels and dimes for the TNT. One FINE Buck knife. :thumbup:
 
ZippoThisKnifeThat said:
Buck Mayo TNT you won't regret it. :D :rolleyes:

On a serious note I wouldn't even bother going through the trouble of sending it to buck considering the knife was only $20. I'd save some nickels and dimes for the TNT. One FINE Buck knife. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I love the TNT design. I send this. or at least save up for the Buck Vantage Pro. I think it goes for around $60.
 
shecky said:
Is it too much to ask that a $20 knife meet the standard of a $20 knife? There are lots of very good knives on the market for less having none of the problems described by a couple of the posters here. Considering how much quality can be had from companies like Sanrenmu, Kershaw, Spyderco, etc for even less money, there is absolutely no reason to expect a $20 knife to come up short these days.
Click to expand...

What!!!!!!!! Shecky you can't actually be suggesting that a Vantage Select doesn't rate for a $20 knife?? A $20 knife built in America I might add! You don't even have one do you? If you did you'd know better.

Note your comment in bold and red. Those knives sell for a price that is a) based on a exchange rate fixed by the Chinese Government designed to steel American jobs, 2) Chinese factory workers are paid peasant wages, what is it now about a $1 per day 3) No rules, no environmental regulations. You bet your ass you’re getting a slightly better knife from China for your $20...but only slightly.

But that's not even the point; the OP was suggesting the Vantage Select needs to be as good as $100 Kershaw or $100 Spyderco.

If a person buys a knife from a clam pack for $20 he generally has three expectations a) will it cut b) is it inexpensive 3) is it durable. The Vantage Select meets those requirements without an issue. If your expectations exceed those you should upgrade your knife purchase experience to a $50-$100 knife where the maker has put in the extra time and material costs to provide you with what you want.

I know I'm on a soapbox but geez what a bunch of hooey!
 
Last edited:
I like the Select.Mine doesnt center perfectly but that doesnt bother me.With a slight edge touchup it cuts like a laser.I think its one of the best bang for the buck USA knives available.Wally wont take your knife back.Ive tried that.
 
Seals said:
I like the Select.Mine doesnt center perfectly but that doesnt bother me.With a slight edge touchup it cuts like a laser.I think its one of the best bang for the buck USA knives available.Wally wont take your knife back.Ive tried that.
Click to expand...

"A slight touchup and it cuts like a laser." EXACTLY!!:thumbup::thumbup:
 
Flatlander1963 said:
...If a person buys a knife from a clam pack for $20 he generally has three expectations a) will it cut b) is it inexpensive 3) is it durable. The Vantage Select meets those requirements without an issue. If your expectations exceed those you should upgrade your knife purchase experience to a $50-$100 knife where the maker has put in the extra time and material costs to provide you with what you want...
Click to expand...


there it is in a nutshell...

i have bought this exact knife...it does have some of the "issues"...my solution is; I USE IT...its performance on-the-job is equal to the vantage pro i also use...wow...
 
Flatlander1963 said:
What!!!!!!!! Shecky you can't actually be suggesting that a Vantage Select doesn't rate for a $20 knife?? A $20 knife built in America I might add! You don't even have one do you? If you did you'd know better.

Note your comment in bold and red. Those knives sell for a price that is a) based on a exchange rate fixed by the Chinese Government designed to steel American jobs, 2) Chinese factory workers are paid peasant wages, what is it now about a $1 per day 3) No rules, no environmental regulations. You bet your ass you’re getting a slightly better knife from China for your $20...but only slightly.!
Click to expand...

So people are forbidden from making comparisons between products at similar price points because the place of manufacture is different?

Complete and utter garbage.
 
My $25 Buck 486 is an unbelievable knife for the price. I love that Buck is putting out good quality USA made knives at these price points.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top