older stockmans versus newer ones (USA)

Voltron said:
LOL. No need to over react, kyhunt. I realized I was kind've coming off a bit standoffish in my post, which is why I lightened it up at the end. I wasn't being instigative, it's just a realization I came to a while back. EVERYTHING in my house is Chinese, and it really sucks, but it's what it is, you know? I'm looking under my mouse and it says made in china. My Smith's knife sharpening system that is sitting on my table is made in China. I remember (well, I don't remember,a s I wasn't alive back then) but there was a time when things from Germany were shunned. We had just fought a war against them, and they were still the enemy. However, German Pocketknives were and still are among the very best in the world. Granted, there ARE a lot of imported crap that passes for a pocketknife, but the Bucks? Even though it is assembled over seas, it is still an American company, and the knives are every bit as well made, if not MORE so then the domestic ones. Plus I'm poor, and these cost less.
But no need to over react. We are all friends here and we all love Bucks.
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With many things, unfortunately, there is no choice. With knives there still is. How much longer, I don't know. But for now there still is a choice.
 
destiny said:
With many things, unfortunately, there is no choice. With knives there still is. How much longer, I don't know. But for now there still is a choice.
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Thats what my thinking is on the subject. As I mentioned though every once in awhile I will even buy a German knife. But if I can buiy American I do.
 
Well guys,

I look at China Bucks like I look at tatoos. Some are nice looking, some aren't and It's a highly personal choice. I recommend China Bucks to folks looking for or needing to look for value. I have said before the first China made 303 is equal in fit and finish to the best USA made 303 even in the past.
At least Buck is getting some of the profits. I have four China Bucks, I sometimes carry the special edition jigged bone opposite ended trapper, just because I really like the look. I keep hoping it will turn USA in my pocket.

I guess what I would have to claim is being a person that when all things are equal would get USA. But that does not happen often now. As Voltron states our USA is 90% foreign stuffed, as is my household. Buck is Red.White and Blue enough for me.
I buy their USA made products 99.9% of my purchases, I would encourage them to produce more and when someone is able to afford it support Buck by getting USA made knives. I wear an American flag on my shirt collar every Sunday, I will now go look and see if it also was made across the water. All I can say is nobody is at fault here just "do your best, to (your) god and country". We're all in this together (Red Green)
300Bucks
 
knarfeng said:
On a traditional folder I am less concerned about ultimate cutting performance and am more into having a knife that just looks right to me.
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Interesting - I came fully back to carrying traditionals exclusively because of just that, their cutting performance. Slippies like a peanut or trapper or stockman or SAK simply cut the stuff I need cut better than a big, thick, single-blade folder.
 
mnblade said:
Interesting - I came fully back to carrying traditionals exclusively because of just that, their cutting performance. Slippies like a peanut or trapper or stockman or SAK simply cut the stuff I need cut better than a big, thick, single-blade folder.
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I agree with you that for most of my needs the smaller blades of a traditional allow more efficient cutting than the bigger wider thicker blades of the average one-hand opener.

My comment had specifically to do with the Edge 2X, which has been shown to give improved performance in CATRA tests. The CATRA machine samples are essentially gritty cardboard, and the Edge 2X shape was developed specifically to excel at cutting them. So you end up with a blade that cuts cardboard as if it were warm butter. But the profile looks kind of funky and non-traditional to me.

I don't do a lot of cardboard slicing with a traditional blade. Most of my cuts are odds and ends. A regular flat grind works as well as the edge 2x profile for that tasks for which I use a traditional knife. And I like the aesthetics of the flat grind better.

Just sayin'.
 
I have heard that some of the best knife steel comes from Japan. The only Japan knife I am familiar with is the Spyderco which is a great knife.

I still favor the USA made Buck knives but I also purchased a China made Cadet at Walmart with the wood handles for inclusion in my collection of 303s ( I currently have about 30 different ones ). The fit and finish are perfect and it even has brass liners!
 
bbb4u said:
I have heard that some of the best knife steel comes from Japan. The only Japan knife I am familiar with is the Spyderco which is a great knife.

I still favor the USA made Buck knives but I also purchased a China made Cadet at Walmart with the wood handles for inclusion in my collection of 303s ( I currently have about 30 different ones ). The fit and finish are perfect and it even has brass liners!
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No, you did not purchase a Cadet made in China.
You purchased a #373 Trio made in China.
All #303 Cadet models are made in Idaho, USA.

So says the Buck web site, and I believe them.
 
knarfeng said:
No, you did not purchase a Cadet made in China.
You purchased a #373 Trio made in China.
All #303 Cadet models are made in Idaho, USA.

So says the Buck web site, and I believe them.
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How much would you like to bet?
 
I have in my possession ONE, Buck 303 (date code 2004, inverted T ) CADET with woodgrained handles, brass liners, and near - mirror polished blades that I purchased at a local Walmart for $24.95 !! What the Buck website says may be true for now but not for 2004. (maybe I should have bought more of them).

In my description I forgot to state that CHINA is stamped on the backside of the sheepsfoot blade. 303 is stamped on the main blade in the usual place. The knife looks exactly like the ones in the catalog.


Maybe Joe Houser could weigh in on this discussion....? I can provide photographic proof for him if needed !!
 
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I'd like to see a picture or two. The wood handled ones from
China don't even show up in the catalog until 2006 and are listed as "new" that year..:confused:
 
In my description I forgot to state that CHINA is stamped on the backside of the sheepsfoot blade. 303 is stamped on the main blade in the usual place. The knife looks exactly like the ones in the catalog.

Let's see if Joe has any comments.
 
Well my name is not Joe,

But it most likely looks like the front knife:
ChinaBuckFront-1.jpg

This is the first version China Buck. As reported by 3b China stamped on reverse of sheepsfoot. Mirror polished blades. This is the one I espouse as being one of the best fit and finished Buck slipjoints going, better than 95% of the American produced. If it would have had a nice jigged bone scale this would have been one of those Classics everyone would have wanted. The laminated scale turned some folks off. Aftermarket only now.
300Bucks
 
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There are indeed some knives floating around that show up on Ebay sometimes, that are marked as 303's and "China". I've seen them as well, and every one that I have seen was date coded for 2004.
 
Where can I apply for the distributorship of Dixie cups to brothels??

On another note, the Japaneese steel is a give-away for Kershaw, Spyderco, and Falkniven - like VG-10 steel. Now, go to S30V, and other US made steels, and you'll find the vast majority of Kershaws and Spydercos are still made in the USA - like Buck. In fact, my two Spydies state "Golden, CO, USA, Earth" on them... no mistakes there.

I can't fault Buck for trying the PRC for cheaper production on discount house knives. Even Benchmade, with their Red Box line, has a mix of Japan, PRC, Taiwan, and USA sources. I'll have fewer - but buy USA made Bucks (and Benchmades, Kershaws, spydercos, etc). I also have German and Swiss knives. My huge collection of 'stockman' knives is shown below - note the difference in secondary blades between the Boker Tree Brand and Puma vs the 20 yr old 301.

IMG_3384.jpg


Stainz
 
knarfeng said:
I don't do a lot of cardboard slicing with a traditional blade. Most of my cuts are odds and ends. A regular flat grind works as well as the edge 2x profile for that tasks for which I use a traditional knife. And I like the aesthetics of the flat grind better.
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I think the cardboard used in the CATRA tests is to provide an industry standard. I don't think (and please correct me, someone, if I am wrong) Buck knives are especially designed for cutting cardboard. Stockroom attendants and grocery stockers who cut down cardboard all day long on the job use something more like these with retractable and changeable blades:

http://www.martor.com/primax_58144.html for under $14.

I grew up in the old-school, too, with flat grinds being preferred because you had more steel to start with and could better customize the edge to your needs and tastes. However, I have no problems with Buck's current line in Edge 2X. If their custom shop offered both options, flat grind and Edge 2X, which would I choose?

One of each.
 
300Bucks said:
Well my name is not Joe,

But it most likely looks like the front knife:
ChinaBuckFront-1.jpg

This is the first version China Buck. As reported by 3b China stamped on reverse of sheepsfoot. Mirror polished blades. This is the one I espouse as being one of the best fit and finished Buck slipjoints going, better than 95% of the American produced. If it would have had a nice jigged bone scale this would have been one of those Classics everyone would have wanted. The laminated scale turned some folks off. Aftermarket only now.
300Bucks
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THAT is the one !! Thanks for saving me the trouble of taking pictures of mine.
 
I hereby eat my words.
You have a Chinese made 303.
 
I didn't know this knife was from China until I had it home. I was not happy and almost took it back to walmart. It was the excellant fit and finish and blade snap that convinced me to keep it for my collection. It is the only chinese made 303 Cadet in my collection and probably will always hold that distinction!

In hindsight, I should have bought a few more.
 
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