Vantage blade play

O

ohen cepel

Gold Member
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Sep 19, 2002
Messages
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I'm a big Vantage fan so this is NOT a bashing thread.

After many years of pretty hard use my favorite Vantage has worked lose some. Tightened the pivot some tonight and it helped with the side to side play but it is lose still when locked up with up/down play. Is there a reasonable way to fix this blade play? Is it a safety risk? I have others I can move onto if this is one I should retire. It bothers me a little but I am more concerned if it is a safety issue now of the lock failing due to the play. If not, I'll work it hard for many more years.

Again, NO complaints after years of use.
 
Up and down play on a liner lock is bad news. I'd take it out of the rotation right away.

Think about it... If it's got up/down play when open, that means the pressure of the lock to the blade is no longer static. Isn't your index finger in the same place the lock is? How easily could you inadvertently disengage the lock?

If it's mine, it goes in the "proud to have worn it out pile" rather than try to get warranty work for normal wear and tear. Besides, you have others to try to win your love...
 
If it is unsafe, I wouldn't want it to find it's way into someone's hand down the road by mistake. So, I would probably send it in and see what Buck can do.

The BUCK Forever Warranty
We warranty each and every Buck knife to be free of defects in material and workmanship for the life of the knife, and we will repair or replace with a new Buck knife, at our option, any Buck knife that is defective. Buck Knives does not warrant its products against normal wear, misuse, or product modifications. Buck Knives are not intended to be used as hammers, chisels, pry bars, or screwdrivers.

If your knife was damaged due to misuse, our repair department can analyze the damage and repair it for a reasonable fee. If the knife is unable to be repaired, we will extend a one- time courtesy offer, allowing you the option to purchase a new knife for 50% off of our MSRP price listed on the website, excluding any custom knives or web specials.
 
BuckShack said:
If it is unsafe, I wouldn't want it to find it's way into someone's hand down the road by mistake. So, I would probably send it in and see what Buck can do.

The BUCK Forever Warranty
We warranty each and every Buck knife to be free of defects in material and workmanship for the life of the knife, and we will repair or replace with a new Buck knife, at our option, any Buck knife that is defective. Buck Knives does not warrant its products against normal wear, misuse, or product modifications. Buck Knives are not intended to be used as hammers, chisels, pry bars, or screwdrivers.

If your knife was damaged due to misuse, our repair department can analyze the damage and repair it for a reasonable fee. If the knife is unable to be repaired, we will extend a one- time courtesy offer, allowing you the option to purchase a new knife for 50% off of our MSRP price listed on the website, excluding any custom knives or web specials.
Click to expand...

I think that would be the best solution...
 
Send it to Buck. As far as being unsafe I don't see it being any more unsafe than a slip joint.
 
I'd send it back and ask for a price for a repair. If you've been using it for hard cutting, this sort of wear can happen. I would think it's repairable, possibly including a new blade.

This is the axe my grandfather made. My father replaced the handle and I replaced the blade.
 
Thanks all! Jeff, really appreciate you chiming in.

Have never sent anything back to Buck. Need to gather up some I want to send to the Spa also while I am at it.
 
Your Vantage has lived good life and worked hard for many years, perhaps that one should be allowed to retire and be held in a place of great esteem while a new younger one takes it’s place. :)
 
As stated liner locks are all about the interface between the liner spring and the blade flat. I would retire or repair a vertical play liner lock. Jeff Hubbard says send it in. They actually like to look at used one's for tech reasons. Take Jeff's free offer or pay for your return shipping, your call.

My small Vantage is solid after at least three years of constant carry. You can see daylight all around the pivot bushing and liners, and the spring engages all the way over on the blade flat , but not any part off. Blade is centered and the 13C26 blade is as tuff or more so than the good 420HC. I have put a fine edge on the original angle grind numerous times using ceramic rods but the original factory grind marks are still visible. This is my EDC, if I think I might need one larger, my orange dyed beige scale Vantage Force clips beside my wallet. Sadly, the beige scale regular blade version is discontinued. But, I bought one extra in case of loss.
300
 
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300Bucks said:
As stated liner locks are all about the interface between the liner spring and the blade flat. I would retire or repair a vertical play liner lock.
Click to expand...


An engineer thinking out loud...

Liner locks are also about the interface between a stop pin (or surface) and some part of the blade, no? Repeated hard cutting can wear this interface, which creates more vertical play and once that play develops, then you see ramifications with the liner spring/blade flat interface. Collar ring locks like on the Opinel and those older Cold Steels have a similar wear issue. Locker rock in lock backs isn't entirely different either, I think. Hard cutting can damage the blade stop interface, which creates play.

Either way, bully for Buck to taking a look at the knife.
 
It could also be just a worn out pivot screw assembly from opening and closing. Over time dirt and grime can build up on the bearing surface causing enough wear to cause the play.:D Buck will have you up and cutting in no time :)
 
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Is wear and tear under normal use a warranty item? Maybe Jeff is a good guy offering to fix this one.:thumbsup:

We warranty each and every Buck knife to be free of defects in material and workmanship for the life of the knife, and we will repair or replace with a new Buck knife, at our option, any Buck knife that is defective. Buck Knives does not warrant its products against normal wear, misuse, or product modifications
 
Jeff is a good guy :thumbsup: and anything is possible even a defective pivot assembly not being hard enough . That why it's best to send back to Buck and let them decide if it's material falt or whatever :D
 
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