Range series

I’m trying hard to like this knife, and give it a fair shake. Truly, I am. It’s a fantastic knife, but its aluminum scales just don’t speak to me.

I have carried and used it exclusively since it arrived last week. I’ve used it barehanded, with Nitrile gloves, and with my favorite rubber-dipped polypropylene cut-resistant work gloves. I’ve used it clean, dirty, and greasy. It cleans up pretty easily, though I didn’t get it dirty enough to get any grit in the action. I have just been using it normally, the way I would any other knife. I haven’t been trying to abuse it intentionally. The action is smooth. The lockup is great. The one-handed, left-handed operation is great. No problems, at all.

But, I just can’t get past the aluminum scales. To be fair, I have only fumbled the knife once due to the slick aluminum trying to draw from the elastic waistband of athletic shorts just behind the strong-side hip. Fortunately the knife did not pop open on the way down and snag me.

I really want to continue using the Magnacut to see if I can get over my prejudice against powder-metallurgy steels, but with so many wonderful Buck knives to choose from each morning, it pains me to continue reaching for a knife, wonderful as it is, that I just don’t love. Maybe I will swap the blade into the gray glass filled nylon handle of the Range Pro, and see how that goes for me. My first impressions of Magnacut have been good. I gave it a few more passes on a fine diamond rod, then a few swipes on a leather strop with diamond paste and it’ll shave and whittle hairs. I’m almost afraid I might end up liking this blade after some more time to use it. LOL!

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Culprit99 said:
I’m trying hard to like this knife, and give it a fair shake. Truly, I am. It’s a fantastic knife, but its aluminum scales just don’t speak to me.

I have carried and used it exclusively since it arrived last week. I’ve used it barehanded, with Nitrile gloves, and with my favorite rubber-dipped polypropylene cut-resistant work gloves. I’ve used it clean, dirty, and greasy. It cleans up pretty easily, though I didn’t get it dirty enough to get any grit in the action. I have just been using it normally, the way I would any other knife. I haven’t been trying to abuse it intentionally. The action is smooth. The lockup is great. The one-handed, left-handed operation is great. No problems, at all.

But, I just can’t get past the aluminum scales. To be fair, I have only fumbled the knife once due to the slick aluminum trying to draw from the elastic waistband of athletic shorts just behind the strong-side hip. Fortunately the knife did not pop open on the way down and snag me.

I really want to continue using the Magnacut to see if I can get over my prejudice against powder-metallurgy steels, but with so many wonderful Buck knives to choose from each morning, it pains me to continue reaching for a knife, wonderful as it is, that I just don’t love. Maybe I will swap the blade into the gray glass filled nylon handle of the Range Pro, and see how that goes for me. My first impressions of Magnacut have been good. I gave it a few more passes on a fine diamond rod, then a few swipes on a leather strop with diamond paste and it’ll shave and whittle hairs. I’m almost afraid I might end up liking this blade after some more time to use it. LOL!

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I got my first Buck in Magnacut over a year ago, and I have three now. So, even though I don't usually get excited about the latest super steels, I've become a Magnacut fan. When the Range elite was announced, I was pretty excited, but after thinking it over, I decided it probably wouldn't get much use or carry time, because I already have a whole bunch of modern folders.

Now, bring on a 112 Slim model, in Magnacut, with nice handle slabs, and I'm gonna be all over that thing. No Cerakote!
 
Ironbut said:
When the Range elite was announced, I was pretty excited, but after thinking it over, I decided it probably wouldn't get much use or carry time, because I already have a whole bunch of modern folders.
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I gotta be honest, I’m having just a touch of buyer’s remorse for this exact reason. I already have a bunch of very nice folders that don’t get carried for one reason or another, mostly because I have cheaper ones that will do the job just as well that I won’t fret if they get dinged up a little. A Sprint Select is still at the top of the list of the latter. Yes, I know, it’s a neurosis thing - one of my many. For me, as it is right now, the Range Elite is a very nice knife to have in the collection, and that’s about it. If nothing else, this one has pretty much cured me of buying the more expensive nice-to-haves and sticking to cheaper (<$100) stuff that’s more likely to get carried and used.
 
I get that the new locking technology is probably the best of any locking blade knife and I like the shape and design. The only thing I hesitate at is the thin handle. If it were at least as thick as the vantage I might try one of the textured ones but it just looks to thin for my liking. I’m very happy with my large vantage pro that was a botm a couple years ago, s35vn blade and natural micarta handle and it performs great. It was exactly the same as I had dreamed of and had sent a message to Buck requesting it before hand. You don’t always get what you want but that time I did!
 
Lesknife said:
I get that the new locking technology is probably the best of any locking blade knife and I like the shape and design. The only thing I hesitate at is the thin handle. If it were at least as thick as the vantage I might try one of the textured ones but it just looks to thin for my liking. I’m very happy with my large vantage pro that was a botm a couple years ago, s35vn blade and natural micarta handle and it performs great. It was exactly the same as I had dreamed of and had sent a message to Buck requesting it before hand. You don’t always get what you want but that time I did!
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It is rather thin.
I have the pro model.
I like the idea of the knife. It works well. I like the blade and the lock.

I just don't care for the handle.
I'm not gonna return it.
Nor am I thrilled with it.
 
DrMegabyte said:
I foresee several, "Carried for just a bit, decided it wasn't for me" Range knives in the "For Sale" section ... :cool:
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That’s exactly how I got my Range Elite so I can finally give Magnacut a try.

PS: these small phone cameras are crazy. Look how much larger the Range Pro looks than the Range Elite that’s the exact same size. The one in the middle is the Mini Pro.

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The vendor that I had ordered my range Pro from emailed that they have shipped it. Informed Delivery said they are still waiting for the item. I called the vendor to cancel but their voicemail is full... I have not done business with them before, this all seems fishy. I called my credit card company, told them the story and filed a dispute. I will wait a few more days to see what happens.
 
pjsjr said:
The vendor that I had ordered my range Pro from emailed that they have shipped it. Informed Delivery said they are still waiting for the item. I called the vendor to cancel but their voicemail is full... I have not done business with them before, this all seems fishy. I called my credit card company, told them the story and filed a dispute. I will wait a few more days to see what happens.
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If you bought from a reputable place, I wouldn’t worry. Sometimes the creation of a shipping label can trigger a “shipped” notification, even if it still takes a day or two for the shipper to actually get the box in hand.
 
pjsjr said:
The vendor that I had ordered my range Pro from emailed that they have shipped it. Informed Delivery said they are still waiting for the item.
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There is a national knife vendor from a large Midwest city that is well known to create shipping labels, mark your order as "shipped" and then wait several days until they get "enough" orders for them to feel it is worth it to go drop a batch of them off to the USPS.

My first order, I was worried at the delay between "shipped" and "accepted." After several orders with them, I know it is just SOP for them. I've never not received something I ordered.
 
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