We know that Buck is as american as apple pie here in the states. Since some of you mature folks have been around a while, do you think from a quality perspective that the older or newer bucks are better? Assuming we are strictly keeping it to USA made bucks.
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Old vs. New Buck?
- Thread starter jlamb
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Pack Rat
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I have never found any differences in onshore or offshore quality in Buck knives. Sure, at times we may find one that has slipped past quality control. But that can happen either way. Onshore or offshore.
You been peeking at my birth certificate...
You been peeking at my birth certificate...
David Martin
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Pack Rat, Atleast you can produce a birth certificate . DM
BG42EDGE
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Bucks are Bucks, on or off shore, they are made to certain demanding specifications. I've never had to send back a Buck that was made in China. They've all been perfect.
I think Buck has been forced to cut corners to stay in business, but the cuts are manifested in aesthetics rather than function, and for the most part they have minimal impact.
I don't buy many new Bucks......I probably average three per year these days and I check them out carefully for flaws. I've sent a few back for replacements, but not a single problem was functional in nature--always fit and finish and machining flaws.
Buck makes many more models of knives than they used to.....that means there's more chance for problems.
Employees are no doubt being asked to do more with less......and produce more in a shorter time.
All of these things have predictable results.
All in all, though......Buck makes solid line of high quality products at a very reasonable price--plus a few gems that are quite amazing in their beauty and perfection.
I think Buck has been forced to cut corners to stay in business, but the cuts are manifested in aesthetics rather than function, and for the most part they have minimal impact.
I don't buy many new Bucks......I probably average three per year these days and I check them out carefully for flaws. I've sent a few back for replacements, but not a single problem was functional in nature--always fit and finish and machining flaws.
Buck makes many more models of knives than they used to.....that means there's more chance for problems.
Employees are no doubt being asked to do more with less......and produce more in a shorter time.
All of these things have predictable results.
All in all, though......Buck makes solid line of high quality products at a very reasonable price--plus a few gems that are quite amazing in their beauty and perfection.
BG42EDGE
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Save that kind of whining for the political forums, Dave. Statements like that are out of place here. Stick to knives, please.
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Personally, I feel that the older BUCKs are of greater quality. Of course that is what I collect. I have alway preferred the smoother lines, the nicer hand polishing of the finish and the knowledge that a living being crafted the knife.
That said, I don't think that the newer knive are functionally inferior to the earlier knives. They all do their job equally well.
Finally, I may be biased by the fact that the older knives are my contemporaries.
Telechronos
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QUOTE "Pack Rat, Atleast you can produce a birth certificate . DM"
Nothing wrong with DM's comment in here. Nothing wrong with a little light hearted levity amoungst friends.
In the interest of NOT hyjacking jlamb's thread, any comments not related to this thread should be directed to me in private message ok? Thanks.
Nothing wrong with DM's comment in here. Nothing wrong with a little light hearted levity amoungst friends.
In the interest of NOT hyjacking jlamb's thread, any comments not related to this thread should be directed to me in private message ok? Thanks.
jb4570
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The best answer to that question is for you to buy one of each. You do a comparison test and let us know what you think!
jb4570
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Deleted, sorry Joe.
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Since the OP really specified USA made knives in the line, I won't go into the offshore models. I prefer the newer (110's, 112's) over the older ones because the radiused edges just feel more comfortable to me. I don't have anything older in the 110/112 line than 2 dots, but the quality is very good no matter what the vintage.
I won't go into the new steel vs. old steel issue except to say that I was warned years ago by others that Bucks were too hard to sharpen and that was one reason I never bought one back then.
If anything, judging by my limited number of vintage Bucks, I have to say in my opinion, the overall quality is a little better these days. JMHO.
I won't go into the new steel vs. old steel issue except to say that I was warned years ago by others that Bucks were too hard to sharpen and that was one reason I never bought one back then.
If anything, judging by my limited number of vintage Bucks, I have to say in my opinion, the overall quality is a little better these days. JMHO.
Pack Rat
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Older vs New .... I think it gets back to personal preference. Least for me. I can talk about 110's since that is what I use most.
With the advent of S30V, I like the new 110's for my deer processing. Without the S30V, I like the older 110's and learned how to sharpen the old hard steel with no problems.
Quality wise, I haven't had a problem with old or new.
And yes, I said onshore/offshore simply not to imply that I think there are quality issues with either.
Now, I do believe that during the transition of Buck from Cali to Idaho, there was a huge loss of experience and Buck went through some training and quality control issues, that were talked about here quite a bit.
I think most of those issues have been resolved. Hopefully. But no doubt there are still knives out there that may have suffered during this time frame.
But that is what Buck has a life time warranty for.
You got a quality issue with a knife, send it back and they will make it right. New or old, offshore or onshore.
Whew.....that's as mature as I am gonna get for the rest of the month. Now I gotta go dig out the birth certificate, dd214, marriage license, and no telling what all else they want down at the SS office.
PS: PDave... if you are ever out this way, you can play with this box of 40 or so vintage 110 and 112's. Some cool stuff and not a loose blade in the bunch
With the advent of S30V, I like the new 110's for my deer processing. Without the S30V, I like the older 110's and learned how to sharpen the old hard steel with no problems.
Quality wise, I haven't had a problem with old or new.
And yes, I said onshore/offshore simply not to imply that I think there are quality issues with either.
Now, I do believe that during the transition of Buck from Cali to Idaho, there was a huge loss of experience and Buck went through some training and quality control issues, that were talked about here quite a bit.
I think most of those issues have been resolved. Hopefully. But no doubt there are still knives out there that may have suffered during this time frame.
But that is what Buck has a life time warranty for.
You got a quality issue with a knife, send it back and they will make it right. New or old, offshore or onshore.
Whew.....that's as mature as I am gonna get for the rest of the month. Now I gotta go dig out the birth certificate, dd214, marriage license, and no telling what all else they want down at the SS office.
PS: PDave... if you are ever out this way, you can play with this box of 40 or so vintage 110 and 112's. Some cool stuff and not a loose blade in the bunch
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Whew.....that's as mature as I am gonna get for the rest of the month. Now I gotta go dig out the birth certificate, dd214, marriage license, and no telling what all else they want down at the SS office.
Don't forget a DNA sample!
Pack Rat
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Don't forget a DNA sample!
Got that covered.... got some from brother in law....he is a schrade guy
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Three cheers, Joe, you could say what I thought.:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
Telechronos
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PS: PDave... if you are ever out this way, you can play with this box of 40 or so vintage 110 and 112's. Some cool stuff and not a loose blade in the bunch
You just never know, I might take you up on that offer. I have two Aunts and several cousins that live in and around (Pasadena) Houston.:thumbup:
I can't tell you for sure how many I have but its well over 200 now and I haven't found a loose blade in any either.
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I have mixed emotions as I grew up loving my Buck knives that I first purchased in the late 60's, when I used them extensively. I had also bought the sharpening kit and never had problems keeping my 110 or 119 VERY sharp.
I never let them get dull and sharpening was a ritual in itself.
I don't use knives to the same extent these days, but the newer edge profiles and steels such as S30V are EXCELLENT.
From strictly a personal preference, I just LIKE the older knives such as the 2-liners and 3-liners with 440C blades.
Aesthetically, the older Kalinga and Akonua with the more tapered guards and micarta scales look MUCH better to me than the later versions.
Again, those are MY preferences, and I do realize they probably differ than many others.
That being said, the CONSTANT in my opinion, is the integrity with how Buck treats its customers.
Peter
I never let them get dull and sharpening was a ritual in itself.
I don't use knives to the same extent these days, but the newer edge profiles and steels such as S30V are EXCELLENT.
From strictly a personal preference, I just LIKE the older knives such as the 2-liners and 3-liners with 440C blades.
Aesthetically, the older Kalinga and Akonua with the more tapered guards and micarta scales look MUCH better to me than the later versions.
Again, those are MY preferences, and I do realize they probably differ than many others.
That being said, the CONSTANT in my opinion, is the integrity with how Buck treats its customers.
Peter