So I took the plunge and got the Vantage Force Pro (My Thoughts)

B

Bolt

Joined
Aug 28, 2007
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449
I grabbed the sculpted blue/black G10 model with the S30V Bos heat treated Non-serrated black blade. Upon opening the box, I was taken back by the feel of the knife. It felt great! The pocket clip is a great lowrider and the handle shape it very comfy. The blade is very sharp out of box and centered perfectly. Lock up is solid. I can see the draw and appeal of this knife. I am glad to have it in my collection. NOW, for the MAJOR disappointment.......there is significant side to side blade wiggle. It has nothing to do with the tightness of the pivot screw, but is a result of very small washers that allow the blade to rock back and forth. WHY, WHY, did they put such small washers in this thing? There is plenty of room for larger ones, which I plan to add myself, but a slightly larger pivot screw and larger washers would have given this knife a top rating. Why the short cut? Why are the designers at Buck missing this? This is supposed to be one of their best folders. I will keep the knife and improve it the best I can. I real do like it, but I have to say so very close, but no cigar. Does anyone know where to get larger bronze washers?
 
I've got the 845 Vantage Force Select and it has no play at all. Wonder if Buck uses the same washers? If so then the play in yours might be do to something else. Can you contact the seller and return it?
 
It is while it is open. If I tighten the pivot any more while it is closed, I lose the blade being centered. have to say again, this has disappointed me with this knife. So very close to getting it right. I have many folders that do not have this kind of wiggle, both cheaper and more expensive. Washer size seems to be the problem and the fix.
 
Still wondering if you can just return it to the place you bought it from? How do you know the washers are too small unless you compare them to others knives of the same model or you get the specs from Buck. Right now it's just a guess that the washers are the problem. I just checked a NIB 345BKS-B, 845TNS-B, 345BKSWM-B, 345BLS-B and a 345GYSWM-B and none of them have any play at all. Maybe someone at Buck put the wrong size washers in or maybe it's something else.
 
I've had a few of these apart and all have the same size washers whether they are the standard or Force models. I've never had an issue with blade wiggle either before taking them apart or after.

As you can see, the washers are pretty substantial in diameter @ 5/16". The bronze colored ones came from a standard Vantage and the grey ones from a Force.

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vantagewashers2.jpg
 
Thats a drag Bolt, I have several Vantages and they lock up really well. My 347 now has a little front to back but not substantial cause I monkeyed with it too much trying to center the blade, effectively overextending the linerlock bacward and then putting back together. The blade is now centered and it flips properly but I sacrificed a little blade play-my fault. My Force and 345 lock like a vault. I'd send yours back to Buck both to get fixed or replaced and to allow them to see what may have happened so they can keep it from happening again.
 
I am not saying Buck put the wrong washers in, just that the washers they use are too small. I compared them to my Hallmark Badblood and the Ontario Rat1 and the washers in the cheaper knives make the Bucks look like babies. Absolutely zero wiggle in the blade of the cheaper knives. Thus my disappointment. Sending it to Buck will not fix the problem. If I tighten the pivot to where I can barely open it, the wiggle goes away. For what I paid for it, I expected more. I had held off on getting a Buck for soo long. I have been living in the Kershaw and Spyderco world. Was hoping that this knife was up to competing with them because I love Bucks company philosophy, but sadly the Kershaw and Spyderco knives have better lock up, no matter what the price point. Maybe I got a dud, but that doesn't give me warm fuzzies on the QC.
 
I am done with the knife. Everyone says send it back to Buck, so if someone would like to take their chances with Buck's service department, PM me and we can work something out on this knife.
 
Bolt said:
Sending it to Buck will not fix the problem.
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You can't know that unless you try. FWIW, I've had zero play in any of my Vantages, but anytime of the very few times I have had to send a knife to Buck, they have always went above and beyond to make things right.

Give them a chance, before you write them off.
 
"Sending it to Buck will not fix the problem".

That's just flat ridiculous. If the problem is all in your head, they can't fix that, but if there really is a problem with the knife they can and will fix it.
 
Plumberdv, I have no problem in my head other than a small irritation for your attitude. The Knife could and should be built better for the price point. I have tooooo much going on right now in my life to have to send back a knife I ordered, to have to pay shipping, to have to wait weeks to risk getting back the same issues. I clearly am not the only one with issues with the design of this knife. Simply preform a Vantage search and you will see the knife has been problematic from the start. I had hoped the new ones were free of issue. Some do get lucky with a good one, but I would rather pass the knife on to someone else to deal with it, and purchase another from a company I find more reliable.
 
I have one and have had no issues, great blade. I find the scales a bit lacking in grip and wider profile than I normally EDC but they are not all like that...
 
For the fourth time, why don't you just return it to the vendor you bought it from and get your money back?
 
I just got a Vantage Force Pro and mine has no faults. Rock solid lock up, absolutely no blade wiggle open or closed, and the blade is centered. I'm very pleased with mine. Now I have some 1st generation Vantages and almost all are off-center when closed and had unsightly grind lines on the blade. Not to recognize the line has had some teething issues is being a homer. I'm not seeing any of those issues with this knife.

This model is a great pattern IMO and I hope Buck continues its efforts to improve the knife's F&F were needed. It seems that's exactly what they've been doing.

If a washer improvement is all that is required, I find it hard to believe Buck would not make the upgrade. Given their warranty program I would think it's more cost effective to do it right the first time.

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Bolt said:
I am done with the knife. Everyone says send it back to Buck, so if someone would like to take their chances with Buck's service department, PM me and we can work something out on this knife.
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Bolt said:
I have tooooo much going on right now in my life to have to send back a knife I ordered,
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No offense, but how can it be less trouble to work out a deal with someone and have to mail the knife to them, instead of just mailing it to Buck???????
 
I just counted 20, yes, that's TWENTY Vantages on a shelf in my "knife room" and I've lost count of the one's I've given away as gifts. They include all versions from the basic original Select Vantage through the Vantage Force Pro. I have had nearly zero issues with any of them, the WORST being slightly off centered blades on a very few and those were fixed (if I felt the need at all) by slightly tweaking the pivot screw. No blade wiggle, no looseness ever unless I created it when tinkering with the pivot screw.

Bolt, what I found to be a dumb statement was that "sending it to Buck will not fix the problem". Whatever the problem, they would fix it or replace it. If you REALLY meant to say that it was too much trouble for you, that's what you should have said.
 
Bolt, what I found to be a dumb statement was that "sending it to Buck will not fix the problem". Whatever the problem, they would fix it or replace it. If you REALLY meant to say that it was too much trouble for you, that's what you should have said.
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Exactly.

:)
 
Some people just want to have something to complain about, they don't want answers. Any option would be too much trouble. It's obvious that the OP has done Google searches on the problems the Vantage has had. It's not worth the time to answer if all options are shot down...
 
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