Vantage Force Pro issue

[rje58]

I just got my first really nice Buck knife - Vantage Force Pro in S30V with green scales. It has never been used to cut anything other than paper, and never carried. Right away I noticed that the liner lock moves a good deal, well over halfway. It came with both some side-to-side play and some vertical play. I was able to adjust out the side-to-side play using the pivot screw, and while harder to flip open, it's not burdensome to flip. However, the vertical play did not adjust out. I could probably eliminate some if not all of it by pushing the liner lock further in, but I fear that would only cause lock wear and increased vertical play in the long run.

Other than the vertical play, my first impressions were pretty good, but I don't see myself carrying or using this one much with the vertical play issue.

Any thoughts, ideas, comments on this?

The only other Buck products I have are a Xtract Fin multitool (NIB which I have never used and have posted up in the Trading Forum), an Omni Hunter/PakLite fixed blade combo that I haven't tried out yet, and a little Revel, which also has vertical play and I am not impressed with - of course its a budget/econo knife, but still...

Thanks in advance!

 

[FordRanger]

I'd send it to Buck. I'm getting a Vantage Avid soon as a birthday present from my girlfriend and if it has much play I'll be sending it in. My experience with their customer service has been great, and the Vantage has gotten some really great reviews so I see no reason not to get it fixed.

 

[ItsTooEarly]

Send it to Buck with a note telling them your problems you're having with it
or take it back to where you bought it and get a different one or get your
money back... The Pro is a great knife... Good luck...

 

[SOLEIL]

Send it to Buck with a note telling them your problems you're having with it
or take it back to where you bought it and get a different one or get your
money back... The Pro is a great knife... Good luck...

+1 here. Buck customer service has always been good to me. Iv'e only had to use it once in 45 years of owning Buck knives. This link will take you the Buck warranty forms and shipping info. Easiest way is to take it back where you bought it if possible.
http://www.buckknives.com/about-knives/bucks-forever-warranty/

 

[rje58]

Okay thanks for the input! I will post back up with my results.

Update 1: I am shipping to knife back to Buck for warranty work on 4/18/2015.

 

[rje58]

Here is a much belated update to this thread:

It took them about a month or so, but back in May 2015 Buck sent me a brand new Buck Vantage Force Pro that has no blade play, vertical or side-to-side, and I am very pleased with their customer service! The knife is in my EDC rotation, and I'm carrying it right now. The only minor con that this knife has is relatively late lockup (60%) but otherwise I am well pleased.

Thanks to all who replied! and Merry Christmas!

 

[Sterculius]

Glad to hear they took care of you. Thanks for the update. I've been carrying a Vantage Force Pro for about a year and a half now, and it is a great knife.