Vantage Line - would you recommend to a friend?

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Jan 23, 2011
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Hi, everyone. I own a 340 Vantage select small. I paid $22 for it. As with all Bucks, I consider it a good knife at a fair price.

My knife does not have blade centering problems, opens buttery smooth. I heard of some knives hitting the frame with the tip when closed, and mine has a slight ding on the edge near the tip. I suspect the blade can be pushed into the frame under pressure, but it does not bother me. I did buy a torx driver to tighten down the center spacer, which was rattling. Overall, it's taken me a while to warm up to this knife, but the blade geometry, handle design, and ease of carry are all good in my opinion.

However, I've heard of folks having problems with this knife, even at the Avid and Pro levels. Do you think there are inherent design flaws in this knife, or is it just lack of attention to quality? As the title says, would you recommend it to a friend?

If all of them were like mine, I would do so without reservation. Based on all the posts I've read here, I'm not so sure.
 
While I wouldn't recommend the small version for a male adult (too small in my opinion), I would and have, recommended any and all of the others. What small issues some have had are easily remedied.

I've bought dozens of them and I've lost count of how many I've given away as gifts. Each and every recipiant has been thrilled with them. I think they are one of the best values for the money in the Buck line.

I just tried to push the blade into the frame on one and can't do it. I believe that the blade stop prevents that. I wouldn't care if it did, you can push the blade of a 110 in very easily and I don't think that's a design flaw in anyway.
 
Plumberdv said:
While I wouldn't recommend the small version for a male adult (too small in my opinion), I would and have, recommended any and all of the others. What small issues some have had are easily remedied.

I've bought dozens of them and I've lost count of how many I've given away as gifts. Each and every recipiant has been thrilled with them. I think they are one of the best values for the money in the Buck line.

I just tried to push the blade into the frame on one and can't do it. I believe that the blade stop prevents that. I wouldn't care if it did, you can push the blade of a 110 in very easily and I don't think that's a design flaw in anyway.
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I agree with Plumberdv on all his views above. I do remember reading here on the forums that some prefer the small Vantage, but they are so small for me that I have really have to fumble with it open it with one hand.

I only have one small Vantage Pro left and I'm waiting until I find the right person for it and then I'll have none. :)

I love all the large ones though.
 
I feel so inadequate, I don't know if I can continue to exist. I quess I should pile up my small Vantages, douse with gas and throw myself on the fire.

Maybe I can glue a clip on a 303.

300
 
300Bucks said:
I feel so inadequate, I don't know if I can continue to exist. I quess I should pile up my small Vantages, douse with gas and throw myself on the fire.

Maybe I can glue a clip on a 303.

300
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Funny...just don't play with fire!! You are one of the forum members I was talking about when I said that some here do like the small Vantage. :)

I have been carrying a 311 a lot lately, but I expect to open that with two hands.

The old Buck/Koji is the same for me as the small Vantage....just too small for my hand. I really do have to fumble with knife placement in my hand to use the small Vantage and Koji. It's just not a natural fit for me.

I have actually grown to REALLY enjoy the Paradigm over the large Vantage.
 
Yes, the Vantage force select that has FRN scales is very excellent . I love mine
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The small is a good pocket knife. I'm glad Buck made it.

I love the FRN handles as well. They seem very durable.
 
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I meant no offense to anyone who likes the small Vantages. It's simply that I (large hands) find them too small for my liking just as I prefer a 301 over a 303 for the same reason. If someone asked my opinion of which size to get, I'd say "in my opinion, the larger one".
 
I totally recommend the Vantage line. I'm sitting here looking at all ten of mine, 8 full size and 2 mini's, from paperstone selects to Force Pro's and not a bad one in the bunch.

Hogger, where did you get one with orange hangles?????????
 
That was a question, I even asked my self. The reason why, I got one for my very best friend to give it to him for his birthday. He´s a knife nut, but always carries those cheap chinese tacticlol folders.

I got him a Small Vantage with paperstone handles and 420HC. He should try an american made knife ... anyway ;)

I own one Vantage 345 and I really like it. I´ve played a little around the the small one and it would make a nice knife, even for adult hands.
 
Love my Buck Vantage Pro Small, I don't care what you basketball palming 6'6" giants say! :)

Yes, would highly recommend. S30V for $50! (Actually I got mine for $47!) Awesome!
 
I have a large and a small and would suggest the large only based on my bear paw sized hands. For a woman or a smaller man the small should be good though. I have had no problems at all with mine but centering is easy to fix if anyone has that issue.There is videos on YouTube but all is needed is loosen the scales, then re-tighten them while using opposing pressure. Hold one scale up with a thumb and the other down with middle finger as you re-tighten. Thumb and finger kinda push towards each other.
 
I was kidding around on first post, didn't mean to get Plumb in the middle. I like the small one as it fits in my back pocket next to my wallet. Sorta disappears. Now don't repeat I said this, but it does most everything a 301 or 303 can do for me. I will swear I didn't really say that. Its also stout, if I have to split something hard. And if Heaven forbid, I were to loose it, I don't feel as bad as I would if I lost a 25 year old 300 series.

I have a big Vantage and a Para. The Paradigm is too heavy for EDC my backpocket, I would squeal like a little girl if they would make a smaller sized one. Going to the woods I usually stick the big vantage Avid in the back pocket and a 303 or 309 up front. If I think I might be around machinery I might have a TL-29.

I am currently working on Craig Custom burl wood scales for my small vantage, if I can ever get them to do right I will do a stag set and be happy. Don't start this project at home unless you are ready to be crazy and mess up at least one knife. I currently have a small paperstone in pieces I hope someday to put back together. I have had to order a bunch of the correct screws and ruined some scale slabs.....It will get expensive if I do that with stag. Just ask Jerad.

I would really like that orange scale, wish I could do that dye job on dymondwood ....

300Bucks
 
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