I got a Buck stockman recently so I could play around with the different blade styles and have some cheap blades to practice sharpening with. I also plan on using it to practice convexing blades soon and practice hollow grinding when I get the space to get started making knives. I figured since I love writing and a mini-review might be helpful to some people I might as well discuss a few points about the knife.
First of all the stockman is made in China. It says so right on the sheepsfoot blade. Some of you will never knowingly buy a knife from China but personally I don't mind much in this case. I know the people at Buck aren't unreasonable. If they thought they could produce this knife cheaply enough here I'm sure they would do it. Profit from china-made knife sales help Buck afford to keep on producing their USA-made knives at their usual high standards of quality.
The heat treatment was of usual quality. Every one of the blades came as sharp as my 110 and they all sharpen just like it. The blades are all flat ground evenly. The fit of the handles and bolsters is even and clean. It does not appear that there is anything second-rate about the manufacturing of this knife.
Opening the blades was a serious pita at first. I almost couldn't get anything except the clip point out. I've got several white lines on my fingers from trying to get the blades out and having them catch briefly on my skin (no real cuts yet). I've been able to get the action loosened up quite a bit but the spey blade still gives me a hard time.
First of all the stockman is made in China. It says so right on the sheepsfoot blade. Some of you will never knowingly buy a knife from China but personally I don't mind much in this case. I know the people at Buck aren't unreasonable. If they thought they could produce this knife cheaply enough here I'm sure they would do it. Profit from china-made knife sales help Buck afford to keep on producing their USA-made knives at their usual high standards of quality.
The heat treatment was of usual quality. Every one of the blades came as sharp as my 110 and they all sharpen just like it. The blades are all flat ground evenly. The fit of the handles and bolsters is even and clean. It does not appear that there is anything second-rate about the manufacturing of this knife.
Opening the blades was a serious pita at first. I almost couldn't get anything except the clip point out. I've got several white lines on my fingers from trying to get the blades out and having them catch briefly on my skin (no real cuts yet). I've been able to get the action loosened up quite a bit but the spey blade still gives me a hard time.
