Why did Buck stop making the Vanguard with TiN?

A

Albin

Joined
Aug 31, 2001
Messages
642
Why did Buck stop making the Vanguard with the Titanium nitride coating? From the Cabela's catalog, it was supposed to give one side of the blade a super hard and therefore sharp edge. I see from the latest catalog, its no longer offered.

What's the deal? TiN doesn't work as advertised or...?

Thanks,

Albin
 
I've got one that I bought a few years ago. It is very sharp, but it is the one knife that I own that I refuse to cut anything with because it is so pretty.
 
Probably because IonFusion never caught on. It is a good idea, and although I've never used it, it supposedly stays sharp forever. Another problem that I've heard about is toughness. If you chip or ding the metal on the edge, it is hard to sharpen out.

I'd love to see more IonFusion knives on other models. It'd probably work great for EDC needs.
 
I was involved with the field testing when we were first considering using this technology. I saw how well it worked time and time again. I would go on hunts and give a Ion Fusion knife to someone and everytime, they were impressed. We tested it at a hog ranch and the guy that did all the gutting and skinning consitantly got 3 to 4 times the life out of a knife with Ion Fusion. I saw all of this but personally i did not care for it. I am not sure why and there are other hunters hear at Buck that love it. I guess not enough folks warmed up to the idea because sales did not justify keeping it in the line anymore.
Anyway i hope that answer helps.
 
Joe,

Now that the Ion Fusion knives have been dropped from production, how will warranty issues be handled. I have an old Buckcote 110. It seems to be holding up quite nicely, but I have ceased carrying it for fear that I may do somthing stupid ( not out of the realm of possibility ) and not be able to have the blade repaired/replaced.

I really miss not having this knife with me. In the almost 7 years I carried it, I have never sharpened it, and it still does everything I need my knives to do.

Mike
 
:thumbdn: Buck doesn't warranty the coating! Even though the same warranty paperwork comes in the box. I've got two good ionfusion preformers and one the ionfusion coating started coming off on. I use the two heavily on wild hogs (there is no tougher hide, hair, or fur) they wher the only knives I had that could make it through cleaning a 500 lb hog. I think the coating is supposed to keep the knife sharper 5 times longer than regular. Be careful though.
 
My Buckcote Vanguard edge was damaged when I chopped bone with it. The asymmetrical edge grind is a little like a chisel grind in performance. The edge is not as well supported on one side as it is on the other side. When overstressed the edge rolls over to the weak side. I did the exact same thing with a Master Series Vanguard with a BG42 blade. It was totally unaffected by the chopping. You couldn't tell where it had been done and the edge was still razor sharp.

I retired my Buckcote blade. I did get an Alaskan Guide with S30V blade to try. That is another appealing alternative to me.
 
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