me thinks me "oopsed".

afishhunter

afishhunter

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Oct 21, 2014
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I looked at a Buck 379 Stockman at Walmart the other day, when I bought my SAK.
I did not buy the 3 blade Buck stockman with black and blue g10 covers ... and a single bolster, for under $18.00.
The knife had three blades, and three back springs. It was not the two blade trapper.
I cannot find that knife online anywhere! Not even the Walmart or Buck websites!
I just knew I should have bought both BUCK and SAK.
Can't go back to that Walmart, I was passing through Montana on my way to Minnesota.

Oops. :(
 
Yes, you "oopsed". I've got this particular Buck and it's a heck of a value and a great EDC.
 
The 371 Stockman and 385 Toothpick G-10 versions seem to be WalMart exclusives.
There is also a matching 379 Solo and 382 Trapper which were new in the Buck 2014 general catalog.
I think they are kinda cool looking but YMMV. Also... the single ended bolster is stainless steel, not nickel silver or brass. Not bad for a set of knives all under $20. Here is a picture of the 379 and 382.

TrapperampSoloG-10002_zpsdba37750.jpg
 
So, I really like the looks of these, but does anybody have real world use on this steel. I know it will not be as good as the regular buck stuff, but how bad is it?
Bruce
 
In normal everyday use, cutting open packages, opening mail, cutting banding, etc. The difference is insignificant. I can't telll any difference between it and 420HC.
 
Interesting Badhammer, So lets say I lightly sharpen one of my Buck 420hc blades once a week to keep it roughly shaving sharp. Would the 420j2 leave me sharpening the same or one day sooner, or two days....I may just have to try one.
One more question- Is the fit and finish on these normal Buck goodness or ?
I like Buck knives but am curious about the china made models. I recently picked up a Redpoint and was very pleasantly surprised, but that is 420hc.
Thanks, and sorry for somewhat derailing the thread,
Bruce
 
Made in China for Buck. Th original and largest online knife retailer has these in stock so all is not lost.
 
bralexander said:
Interesting Badhammer, So lets say I lightly sharpen one of my Buck 420hc blades once a week to keep it roughly shaving sharp. Would the 420j2 leave me sharpening the same or one day sooner, or two days....I may just have to try one.
One more question- Is the fit and finish on these normal Buck goodness or ?
I like Buck knives but am curious about the china made models. I recently picked up a Redpoint and was very pleasantly surprised, but that is 420hc.
Thanks, and sorry for somewhat derailing the thread,
Bruce
Click to expand...

420J2 with a slightly lower carbon content heat treats 2 points lower Rockwell than 420HC. I do not know how to translate that into performance. Can you tell the difference in every day use? I suspect some people can but most probably couldn't.

I collect (but do not use) the China made 370 and 380 series slippies. I have about 60 of them. Cosmetically I would say the quality is very good.

Here is a sampling of just the model 389 Canoes in my collection. The 389 Canoes were issued in a wide variety of handles.

389Canoe005_zpsf53c10f5.jpg
 
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Ok I am going to have to expand my horizons into the Buck china made traditionals. I've been looking at the canoe patterns and really want to try one out, but again was unsure of the quality but those look really nice. So I guess I can add the g10 trapper and a canoe to my shopping list.
Thanks guys,
Bruce
 
I just bought that three blade Stockman with the G-10 handles at Wally World last week. Fit and finish is excellent and blades are tight with good snap. Maybe I'm in the minority here but I have no problem with the China made Bucks. They are Buck knives made to Buck standards. Made in China or the USA, it's a Buck!
 
bralexander said:
Interesting Badhammer, So lets say I lightly sharpen one of my Buck 420hc blades once a week to keep it roughly shaving sharp. Would the 420j2 leave me sharpening the same or one day sooner, or two days....I may just have to try one.
One more question- Is the fit and finish on these normal Buck goodness or ?
I like Buck knives but am curious about the china made models. I recently picked up a Redpoint and was very pleasantly surprised, but that is 420hc.
Thanks, and sorry for somewhat derailing the thread,
Bruce
Click to expand...

I've got the Canoe and the G10 Stockman and run my edges at 40 degrees inclusive on a Sharpmaker, (same for pretty much all my Bucks) so I don't have a particularly thin edge on mine. My Sharpmaker is usually on the counter ready to go so my routine, regardless of knife or steel is to touch up the blade every day or two of EDC if I've used the knife so none of mine really get to the point where they are dull. Given the same bevel and same use I would be surprised if you need to touchup the 420J2 any more often then the 420HC. As others have noted the fit and finish is pretty much on pare with Buck's U.S. made models.
 
bralexander said:
Interesting Badhammer, So lets say I lightly sharpen one of my Buck 420hc blades once a week to keep it roughly shaving sharp. Would the 420j2 leave me sharpening the same or one day sooner, or two days....I may just have to try one.
One more question- Is the fit and finish on these normal Buck goodness or ?
I like Buck knives but am curious about the china made models. I recently picked up a Redpoint and was very pleasantly surprised, but that is 420hc.
Thanks, and sorry for somewhat derailing the thread,
Bruce
Click to expand...

I have a 301 Stockman with the 420HC blades, and a 389 Canoe with 420J2.
I have not had to sharpen one or the other more often. I EDC both in my right front pocket, and use whichever one comes out when I need a knife.
Fit and finish of the canoe is as good as or better than the 301. My 301 might have been ground a little thin on the top of the bolsters, but, I'm satisfied with it, I bought it as a user, not a safe queen decoration.
 
Thanks for all the replies. Hopefully afishunter can find the stockman he is looking for. I am sure I have seen them locally in Florida so his family should be able to grab one.
Bruce
 
Found it today, in a Walmart at I forget where, Tennessee.
Seems ok, the main clip and spey blade springs sit just a touch proud when the blade are closed, but are flush with the blade open. No blade rubs, no blade wiggles on any of the three blades, and good walk n talk.
The tip of the spey is a little rounded/not quite ground sharp, but nothing a couple minutes with my wet stone can't cure ... provided I can discover where the truck poltergeist hid it ...
 
USA made Bucks are such a good value and support American workers I can't ever see myself buying a communist China made knife.....that being said, they do look like good knives and better than other China made junk.
 
Buying a China made Buck supports Buck, an American company. Ditto the new Taylor-Shrade, and Rough Riders. Taylor Schrade is an American company, as is SMKW who owns the Rough Rider and Colt brands.

EDIT:

It is true that Buck could contract with GEC, Case, Queen, or some other US cutlery firm to produce the knives they currently have made in China. Buck contracted with the original Schrade and later Camillus, to build the 300 series, before bringing them in house, after all.
However, I don't think they could get the knives made by a US company at the price point they require.
Take the 389 Canoe, for example; Case and the rest make a canoe, but it sells for at least twice the price of the 389. Not everyone can afford to spend $50 or more for a knife.

I now have four Buck knives; a 389, 301, 371, and a 110.
The two Chinese knives are every bit as good as the US knives. I would expect nothing less, since the Buck family takes pride in their product, and would never put their name on a knife that does not meet their high standards.
 
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