Vanguard MS

ccmn · Jun 4, 1999

I just received my Buck Vanguard Master Series from Knifecenter of the Internet. I live in Denmark so I was happy to see that it was delivered in only 9 days. It is a beautiful knife and seems nice crafted. One remark though, near the tip of the blade (1/3") there are on both sides some vertical dark stripes (one on each side), now I fear that shows weakness. They don't look like scratches more like dark areas.

I have been following the debate about Buck discontinuing the Master Series and the knives being collector's items. I just learned that the Vanguard is only produced in 350 items. Does that mean that the knife should not bee used but just put aside in a display?

Carl

Kodiak PA · Jun 4, 1999

Hi Carl,
Your question about the use of the knife is one that plagues me daily. I have 3 MS knives (the folders) and I am actively using the squire (501) but I haven't done anything but admire the 110 and the 532. My gut feeling is to to use these things but obviously I haven't used 2 out of 3. There will always be a lack of enjoyment to any knife that I don't use----I usually feel a little funny when I first start using one of my collector pieces but after I get over that first initial scratch, I feel like a free man. My advice, if you feel like something will be missing if you don't use it....then use it! If you can admire the knife's beauty and it won't bother you not to use it, then putting it up on the mantle is OK, too.

1 last thing: BG42 for collecting? Doesn't make sense to save this premium metal, does it?

The struggle continues for me......

------------------
~Greg~

[This message has been edited by Kodiak PA (edited 04 June 1999).]

kenf · Jun 5, 1999

Only 350 Vanguard MS made! I am glad I didn't know that before I used the knife. I have been using mine & it is a dream. It seems to stay hair popping sharp forever. Much much longer than my other knives. I have touched it up with the Shapemaker and examined the bevel with a hand lens and was really suprised at how little material was removed to return it to incredible sharpness. Knives are fine tools to me. The master series Vanguard is one of the nicest ones I have used.

Ken

Jeff Hubbard · Jun 11, 1999

Carl,
The dark stain near the tip is just that. The tip wasn't grey-wheeled and tyroed enough. WE've noticed with the ATS and the BG-42, we have to spend alot more time taking that type of staining off. This does not indicate a metal flaw. Hope this helps...

Ken, as far as BG-42 being sharper, I Just got back from the ER. My BG-42 lightning filleted my thumb open to the meat. These puppies are sharp. All I was doing was clipping off a corn stalk. Instead of the blade stopping at my thumb as it would have with a normal steel, it kept going right through.... talk about bleeding like a stuck pig...

Jeff 'It's too sharp" Hubbard

kenf · Jun 11, 1999

Ouch!
I know what they say, a sharper knife is safer...Perhaps it is, but us knife nuts use knives so often, it eventually catches up with us. I nailed my thumb once opening a package of meat. I didn't even know I cut myself until I seen the blood.

Jeff Clark · Jun 15, 1999

It's getting hard to find Vanguard Master Series. Only place I found recently is AG Russell. They seem to have several Master Series model still in stock. Now I have two Vanguards, one with Buckcote and one with BG-42. I guess that I need one in D2, one in A2, one in VG-10, one in 440V, one in O1, one in 1095...

I love the design, but I'm still looking for that perfect steel.

CJ Buck · Jun 17, 1999

Jeff,

Have you had any edge experience with the BuckCote Vanguard. Has it held an edge for you? Are you using it?

cj

Jeff Clark · Jun 17, 1999

CJ,

I've been gathering my candidates for the perfect Elk knife since April when I talked some friends into applying for Elk permits for the end of October. The location is a ranch in northwest Colorado where I expect all 4 of us to get a cow elk (my research shows a serious over supply). Today I checked the Colorado Division of Wildlife website and found we all drew permits.

So I haven't blooded the knives yet. I have touched up the edge on the buckcote Vanguard so that I can shave with it (it is a noticeably asymmetrical edge, but for cutting hide, meat, and splitting cartilage that probably won't matter). It is not as thin and sharp an edge as I typically prefer, but I really want to test the technology. The Fallkniven F1 I got for comparison has a finely tapered scarry sharp VG-10 blade, but I want to see how it wears.

I had to order the Vanguard Master Series (this voice called to me--"BG42, BG42, bg42..."). When it gets here I'll make sure it's scarry sharp. Have you noticed an obsession with sharpening knives? A friend once remarked that I was the only guy he knew who sharpened razor blades.

So now I need to find something to butcher. I may hit one of the local ranches (I'm in Colorado) and get a quarter of beef. I'll use these knives in place of my kitchen knives for a while. I'm not going to be using these things as crowbars, just disjointing and carving up meat.

The real test will be this October when I expect to not just gut and quarter our 4 elk, I plan on boning them out for quicker cooling and easier transport. My hunting buddies are going to think it's odd when I insist on butchering their elk as well as mine. All for the cause of science.

Jeff

[This message has been edited by Jeff Clark (edited 17 June 1999).]