Quality Control

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wackafew

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I would like to get everyone's thoughts on the plunge line grinds on the blades of some of the Buck models. Mostly 110's and 112s, and 110 and 112 Select, Select Pros, and TRX models. Maybe it's just me, but if I purchase a knife from any company, including Buck, I expect a decent grind on the blade. What I've noticed in the aforementioned models is where the plunge line meets the cutting edge of the blade, there are various degrees of gouges in the plunge lines from the sharpening belt. I've also noticed some of the blade height seem to be ground narrower than others.

If this is going to be just a user knife, it's probably no big deal to most people. If it's going to be Buck of the Month, or a Slim Pro, and you are going to have it in your collection, it's a different story. I know you can send these back to Buck, and they have a good warranty, but you have to wait several months to get it back, and you have to pay shipping. Kind of a hassle.

Has anyone else noticed this over the last few years, or is it just me? I would like to bring this topic up for discussion. Maybe someone from Buck could chime in?
 
I think I know what you mean, but some pics would be very helpful to understand your concerns.
 
Not sure if this is what you were talking about, but J J Hubbard explained a little bit about how its done at the factory. Posts 337 and 346, specifically, but there are a few more later on, as well.

??Buck 110 Release Tomorrow (01/10/2022)??

BP_ This will always hold its value and you will never have a problem letting it go to a new owner. Already blades are being pulled to install in other 110's and of course quite a few will get new handles and other Custom work. It's about the lowest cost knife of any kind in this steel and will...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
Here’s a couple pictures of the plunge lines of a standard 110 and a TRX. I have one on a BOTM but it’s put away. Some are worse than others.
 

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Thanks for the pics, that’s not what I thought it was. I can’t recall seeing that kind of mark before, but maybe I just missed it.
 
Blue Sky - yes it can be easily overlooked. Like in my previous statement, some are way worse than others. This is a 1/250 BOTM African Ebony that looks a little worse than the ones posted in the other photos.
 

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I am thinking that some people expectations are higher than others.
Me. I probably would have never noticed that. I have a tendency to overlook a lot that bothers others.
I am not pointing fingers or blame.
JMO!! 😉
John 🍻
 
due to the hand sharpening on belt....I think it's hard to ask for too perfect.......

doesn't bother me. I focus on the useable side of knives in production quality more than visual stuff.....but yeah i get we as a society are getting used to perfect and expect it anymore.....
 
Well like I said in my original post, if it's going to be a user, no big deal. I guess I'm kind of an old fart, because I don't remember seeing this on a lot of my older knives. I know everyone looks at knives from a little different perspective. I guess when I drop $100-200+ on a knife for a collector, I would like to see nice smooth plunge lines.
 
wackafew said:
Well like I said in my original post, if it's going to be a user, no big deal. I guess I'm kind of an old fart, because I don't remember seeing this on a lot of my older knives. I know everyone looks at knives from a little different perspective. I guess when I drop $100-200+ on a knife for a collector, I would like to see nice smooth plunge lines.
Click to expand...
sure, we're just giving you our thoughts that ya asked for is all........
 
wackafew said:
I would like to get everyone's thoughts on the plunge line grinds on the blades of some of the Buck models. Mostly 110's and 112s, and 110 and 112 Select, Select Pros, and TRX models. Maybe it's just me, but if I purchase a knife from any company, including Buck, I expect a decent grind on the blade. What I've noticed in the aforementioned models is where the plunge line meets the cutting edge of the blade, there are various degrees of gouges in the plunge lines from the sharpening belt. I've also noticed some of the blade height seem to be ground narrower than others.

If this is going to be just a user knife, it's probably no big deal to most people. If it's going to be Buck of the Month, or a Slim Pro, and you are going to have it in your collection, it's a different story. I know you can send these back to Buck, and they have a good warranty, but you have to wait several months to get it back, and you have to pay shipping. Kind of a hassle.

Has anyone else noticed this over the last few years, or is it just me? I would like to bring this topic up for discussion. Maybe someone from Buck could chime in?
Click to expand...
I've noticed a wide range of plunge grind angles and also some gouging into it during final edging at the factory. Here are two 112 Slim Selects that have very different grinds. The red one is actually a problem when trying to cut near the ricasso. I don't believe this can be corrected by any amount of sharpening or reprofiling. The green one is ground very thin behind the edge and is a wicked cutter.



 
I have noticed this too.

I have a local shop that has 110s and 112s, as well as the light versions.

Every one of them is over-sharpened.

Even the last three I bought online were as well.

I wish the people grinding would slow down and stop removing so much material, and stop mangling the plunge too.

It shortens the life of the knife too much.

I would buy more if this was remedied.
 
Toothy edges aren’t my favorite edge but they can be fixed in short time depending on the Steel. It’s the WAVEY edge that is the pisser and can take hours by hand to correct . I do understand how easy it can happen using power belts. I can also see how someone can overlook em and send em out the door in a fast pace work environment. It’s the buyer who will see it as soon as they touch it up If not sooner . So, it is weird to me how nice the quality of materials and workmanship is, why wouldn’t more care go into the edge :)
Here’s a pic or my slim pro. It’s getting there 😅
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