opinions on a buck ranger

RescueRiley

RescueRiley

Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
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Was thinking about picking one up but watned some feed back from folks who might own one...I' haven't bought a buck in a while since I thought there was too much play between the blade and handle of the squire I bought last...I sent it back and recieved one just as bad...I like the looks of the ranger but I want something that's gonna hold up to some woods time (so no play between the blade and handle) what's a good sharpening angle for this knife.
 
RescueRiley said:
Was thinking about picking one up but watned some feed back from folks who might own one...I' haven't bought a buck in a while since I thought there was too much play between the blade and handle of the squire I bought last...I sent it back and recieved one just as bad...I like the looks of the ranger but I want something that's gonna hold up to some woods time (so no play between the blade and handle) what's a good sharpening angle for this knife.
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The 112 Ranger is a fine knife, I have several older ones as collectibles and no blade play in any of them. But, I prefer the larger 110 as it has more handle in my hand when I am skinning or dressing deer.

On the squire, play between the blade and handle... I gather that you mean when the blade is deployed and not closed. You may want to send that directly to Joe Houser who is a moderator here. He will get it fixed for you if you are talking about when the blade is open. Because some blade play may be normal when closed. I feel silly for asking, but this has been brought up before.
 
The ranger is a smidgeon smaller than the 110. The 110 is my woods knife and I love it. I have had no problems with play in the handle. I would recommend getting one they are good value and a solid knife.
 
For me, a woods knife would be something a little bigger than a Ranger, but the Ranger is a really nice sized knife for pocket carry. I carried mine a lot before it got displaced by an 889. Stop by your local knife counter (or your local Wally World) and check one out. You can also check for blade play at the counter before you purchase one.
 
I think the 112 Ranger would exceed your expectations so far as holding up in the woods.

While it is smaller than a 110, I have found it handy many times where a 110 would've been just a tad too long. The 112, to me, just feels better in the mitt for small work.
 
I suspect you're just being a little too picky.

A folding knife is not a fixed-blade knife, it's as simple as that.

If you wiggle hard enough and look hard enough you can always convince yourself that there's some blade-play (don't be deceived, the Ranger is among the toughest knives around and will hold up for several lifetimes unless abused).

So you may have to get a small fixed-blade like the 102 Woodsman.

Either accept your perceived tiny bit of blade-play or get a fixed-blade knife.....that's your choice.
 
Don't mean to come off like a snob sorry but I was able to fole an index card in to 1/4 s and fit it into the space on either side of the blade...maybe I', wrong. but that's alot of play. Thanks for the help
 
RescueRiley said:
Don't mean to come off like a snob sorry but I was able to fole an index card in to 1/4 s and fit it into the space on either side of the blade...maybe I', wrong. but that's alot of play. Thanks for the help
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That is a lot of play and I would not be happy with that ether.
 
BTW RescueRiley,

I own a Buck Ranger but it went into the collection and is never used.

It's is the 110's that do the work for me.
 
RescueRiley said:
Don't mean to come off like a snob sorry but I was able to fole an index card in to 1/4 s and fit it into the space on either side of the blade...maybe I', wrong. but that's alot of play. Thanks for the help
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And you sent it back to Buck and they sent you one just as bad?

Ok.

I have had no such experience. Maybe things are worse than I thought.
 
RescueRiley said:
Don't mean to come off like a snob sorry but I was able to fole an index card in to 1/4 s and fit it into the space on either side of the blade...maybe I', wrong. but that's alot of play. Thanks for the help
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Riley,,,no way did you come off as being a snob bud. A perfectly legit question. Blade play in any of the buck folders should be so minuscule that it shouldn't be noticeable.

And you have every right to be picky about it. Not many of us here would accept ANY, and especially not as much as you described.

Send your knife back to Buck and Att: it to Joe Houser. Use BKI as the address name instead of Buck Knives. Keeps the postals from getting sticky fingers if they see the word Knife, well some of them...

Buck will fix it.

AND, the 110/112 lock back folders are as close as you can come to emulating a fixed blade and still have a folder. Well, at least my opinion.
 
Just picked up a 112 today, Walked into an army navy store and it was right there, on clearance... A sign??? anyway I picked it up for 30 beans, it has a little play but not enough to make an issue of and at that price I can't complain
 
RescueRiley said:
...it has a little play but not enough to make an issue of...
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DarrylS has a blade-play reducer...it takes a bit of practice, and may require filing, sanding, and buffing when done, but it is an excellent solution to blade-play problems in the 112/110... :):thumbup:
 
But seriously...I have an arbor press and I apply pressure to the blade bolster, usually just pressing down on a piece of hardwood, and I press until I get a good tight lockup...but if the blade is loose due to a pin that is working loose, then the only cure is to replace the pin...still not a big job, just needs the filing/sanding/buffing to make it look right... :)
 
Great knife, I lean toward the 110's but i've had a 112 for about 25 years and it's seen a lot of use. enjoy,ahgar
 
chickentrax said:
But seriously...I have an arbor press and I apply pressure to the blade bolster, usually just pressing down on a piece of hardwood, and I press until I get a good tight lockup...but if the blade is loose due to a pin that is working loose, then the only cure is to replace the pin...still not a big job, just needs the filing/sanding/buffing to make it look right... :)
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:cool:...Okay, Okay...Trax is right. His method is not quite as extreem and a bit more precise when tightening those wiggly blades on 110's and 112's than my "method". In all seriousness though...I'd save my method for use on those Spyderco thingies with that big ol' hole...Works like a charm on those...:p:D:D
 
I like them both, but the ranger is sometimes a pocket knife for me where a 110 doesn't work as well for that....
 
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