- Joined
- Aug 9, 2006
- Messages
- 718
Just thought I would relate a few Buck knife buying experiences I had on a recent trip to the US.
During the visit I traveled to Denver to have a look at the Custom knife show. Great show but not a subject for this forum.
While in Denver I picked up a user knife as I had not brought any into the country and had a few camping trips planned. My first purchase was a stock 110 at a local Wal Mart. For those not from the US, Wal Mart (at least the ones I visited) dont display their knives but have instead a photographic display. You have to ask an attendant to open a locked cabinet to get a knife out for you to look at. The first 110 I looked at had some blade play and I asked to try a few more. The guy at the knife counter had no problems with this and I picked the one that was just right for me. These things are really well priced at little more than $26 plus tax. I dont mind the synthetic sheath and the service was fine.
Next day I visited the Denver Bass Pro store and asked to look at one of their 154CPM 110s. The one they had on display had some serious blade play. I asked to look at a few more but they were unable to locate any others. It was suggested I come back after 20 minutes or so and they would do a search. I returned as arranged and they had located only one other 154CPM model and the blade play was just as bad. Unfortunately I was not able to acquire one that I found acceptable.
Later in the trip I visited Cabelas store in Sidney, Nebraska and asked to examine one of their S30V 110s. The display model had some blade play (not too bad) and I asked to look at a few more. The lady behind the counter was exceptionally helpful. She was temporarily caretaking the knife section and knew nothing about knives and headed off to find the guy who was the store expert. Between the two of them they dug out quite a few S30V models (all of the others were free of blade play). They really went out of their way to help. I was so impressed I bought two of them. These are impressive knives for the price.
Final Buck purchase. Before heading north towards Montana, I stocked up on some food and drink supplies at the Wal Mart in Sidney. While there I decided to pick up a fixed blade and they had 119s at a great price. They guy at the knife counter got one out for me (still in the box). I asked to examine the knife they guy was a bit puzzled but agreed. When he removed the knife, it turned out to be something other than a 119 (some synthetic handled, Taiwanese Buck a diamondback or something like that). The Wal Mart guy insisted it was a 119 as it said so on the box. I requested another one and it had a real 119 inside that I purchased. The Wal Mart guy put the wrong knife back in the box for the next customer. I dont think he had any sense of the difference between the two knives.
Had some other interesting knife purchase experiences during the trip but they arent Buck related. There is certainly a variation in knowledge, attitude and expertise among the people that sell these things.
I flew back into Australia with a large quantity of sharp things in my suitcase and, contrary to popular myth, had no Customs problems at all. I declared the knives; the Customs people gave them a quick glance and waved me on.
During the visit I traveled to Denver to have a look at the Custom knife show. Great show but not a subject for this forum.
While in Denver I picked up a user knife as I had not brought any into the country and had a few camping trips planned. My first purchase was a stock 110 at a local Wal Mart. For those not from the US, Wal Mart (at least the ones I visited) dont display their knives but have instead a photographic display. You have to ask an attendant to open a locked cabinet to get a knife out for you to look at. The first 110 I looked at had some blade play and I asked to try a few more. The guy at the knife counter had no problems with this and I picked the one that was just right for me. These things are really well priced at little more than $26 plus tax. I dont mind the synthetic sheath and the service was fine.
Next day I visited the Denver Bass Pro store and asked to look at one of their 154CPM 110s. The one they had on display had some serious blade play. I asked to look at a few more but they were unable to locate any others. It was suggested I come back after 20 minutes or so and they would do a search. I returned as arranged and they had located only one other 154CPM model and the blade play was just as bad. Unfortunately I was not able to acquire one that I found acceptable.
Later in the trip I visited Cabelas store in Sidney, Nebraska and asked to examine one of their S30V 110s. The display model had some blade play (not too bad) and I asked to look at a few more. The lady behind the counter was exceptionally helpful. She was temporarily caretaking the knife section and knew nothing about knives and headed off to find the guy who was the store expert. Between the two of them they dug out quite a few S30V models (all of the others were free of blade play). They really went out of their way to help. I was so impressed I bought two of them. These are impressive knives for the price.
Final Buck purchase. Before heading north towards Montana, I stocked up on some food and drink supplies at the Wal Mart in Sidney. While there I decided to pick up a fixed blade and they had 119s at a great price. They guy at the knife counter got one out for me (still in the box). I asked to examine the knife they guy was a bit puzzled but agreed. When he removed the knife, it turned out to be something other than a 119 (some synthetic handled, Taiwanese Buck a diamondback or something like that). The Wal Mart guy insisted it was a 119 as it said so on the box. I requested another one and it had a real 119 inside that I purchased. The Wal Mart guy put the wrong knife back in the box for the next customer. I dont think he had any sense of the difference between the two knives.
Had some other interesting knife purchase experiences during the trip but they arent Buck related. There is certainly a variation in knowledge, attitude and expertise among the people that sell these things.
I flew back into Australia with a large quantity of sharp things in my suitcase and, contrary to popular myth, had no Customs problems at all. I declared the knives; the Customs people gave them a quick glance and waved me on.
...Blade "play"???...None of my 110's have "blade play"...............
