Why don't I like the Buck Vantage?

Frangouch

Frangouch

Joined
Mar 12, 2006
Messages
55
I've purchased this knife on 3 separate occasions. First the Vantage Avid and then
2x the Pro. The Avid didn't center when closed no matter how much I played
with the torx screw. Just felt cheap, but not a bad deal for $30 I guess.

I got the Pro next, had similar issues, handle slabs are sharp and required sanding.
No jimping and the liner lock is too thin for my liking. None the less nice knife overall.
Needless to say I sold both.

Now this Christmas I get tempted again purchase the Avid Pro S30V, BOS heat treated.
So I sand the slabs and plan to keep this one. I carry it a few times and I just can't
warm up to the thing.

So many people love these blades. Any body out there feel the same as I do?

Thanks
 
I have and carry nearly every version except the Select models and really like them all with the possible exception of the Vantage Force Avid. It's aluminum scales were just too aggressive for me so I swapped them out with a set of G10's from the standard Pro. Now it's great. I've never had an issue with the blades not being dead centered. I've adjusted the pivot screws until I reached a happy medium between blade centering and easy opening and as long as the blade doesn't rub the liner, I'm just fine with it.

I find that I carry one or other of the Vantages a lot more than I carry any of my 110's.
 
The Vantage Pro is one of my favorite working knives. I find it to be a rock solid performer and it doesn't cost a lot to get it. I can't think of a knife with more bang for the buck. But if I want pocket jewelry for church or such, I take something different.
 
I got the cheap $14 vantage at walmart,it has the paperstone handles,this knife is centered perfectly,the blade is rock solid ,lock up is perfect,the liner lock couldn't be better.I have no idea maybe i got a good one,i've heard a lot of complaints on the quality of these knives,and the cheapest one in the line up is a 10 out of 10 for me.lol
 
The only thing I "don't like" regarding the Vantage is that my small Vantage Pro is just a little too small so I stick with the large Vantage Pro for EDC.
 
I love all the Vantages, large, small, force, paperstone,Pro, Avid, Select, this knife goes everywhere with me. The OP states that the liner lock isn't thick enough for his liking, I say Hooie. This liner is thick enough to stand up to what ever you put it up to. The blade is a great design and works just as good. I cant say enough about this knife as an EDC.

Frangouch, Give it a chance, you will warm up to it. By the way the Avid and Pro are separate knives. If you have the s30v you have the Pro, the Avid has the 13c26 sandivic steal( which I prefer). I have every production vantage made( and they all center perfectly) I don't have the limited edition fancy ones because this is a working knife. Every body should have one, or two...

Just a few pics



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Frangouch said:
Now this Christmas I get tempted again purchase the Avid Pro S30V, BOS heat treated.
So I sand the slabs and plan to keep this one. I carry it a few times and I just can't
warm up to the thing.

So many people love these blades. Any body out there feel the same as I do?
Click to expand...

A single bladed locking folder with a blade in the 3" - 3.5" range is, by far, my favorite type of EDC knife.

But, like you, the Buck Vantage leaves me totally cold. But maybe for very different reasons.

I don't sweat super steels. Not trying to fan the flames of a steel debate, but my knives get used and sharpened regularly. I know I'll kill the blades eventually but I see knife blades like bike chains or bike tires. They're things to be maintained regularly and eventually to be replaced. Buck's 420HC is just fine for my Timex taste, I guess.

Neither do I worry too much about exact fit and finish. Many of my knives were purchased used and all of them end up "used" anyhow. Scratches, nicked scales and such don't bug me. This doesn't mean I don't care about quality and looks. I do. A lot. But I care more about how the knife holds up and prefer looks more in line with classic hunting knife lines and less along modern tactical lines.

It's right about here that I part ways with Vantage line. To my mind, the Vantage is Buck's answer for people who want a Buck but who want a modern tactical look. I find that the modern tactical look ends up scaring people. Something about the thumb hole and the shape of the handle. My understanding is that original Spyerco's were designed to look frightening to help EMCs who needed to project an air of power in dicey situations where they got there before the cops (who had guns). I think all tacticals carry that "scary" look and the Vantage does that for me.

I should note that most non-knife people respond the same way to the clip point of the Buck 110/112, so the fear factor isn't limited to modern tacticals.

My preference for a people friendly EDC is this size range is the discontinued Buck 500. The drop point has classic lines while avoiding the tactical thumb stud/hole thing and the hunting oriented clip profile. The nickle bolsters and wood scales are more acceptable looking. And I prefer NOT having a pocket clip. I find it rides easily in the pocket and I can reach past the knife for change with no problem.

For working knives where I want less weight and don't care so much for looks, I'm finding the 482 to be just about perfect. I have the non-clipped version (Walmart tin) and couldn't be happier with it for what it is.
 
It's right about here that I part ways with Vantage line. To my mind, the Vantage is Buck's answer for people who want a Buck but who want a modern tactical look. I find that the modern tactical look ends up scaring people. Something about the thumb hole and the shape of the handle. [ . . . ] I think all tacticals carry that "scary" look and the Vantage does that for me.
Click to expand...

I am surprised and puzzled by this.

I found the Vantage line attractive precisely because it wasn't "tactical" (compare/contrast the Strider, or the Sirius).

I've made a point of avoiding "tacticals" in my stable of blades, and have very few. I was pleased when I first met the Vantage because the blade profile was so ordinary. When I'm at the EDC part of getting dressed, and I know that today will put me in proximity to "sensitive" folk, I grab the Vantage -- the one with the pocket clip removed -- and drop it into my pocket. I deem it to be more "ordinary" looking than my Kershaw Packrat (which already isn't tactical), and somewhere near the same "gentlefolk" rating as, say, a Kershaw Leek or a Buck 501 (or a 500, if I had one).

The only blades I carry that are even more deliberately boring (perhaps "unexciting?") are sodbusters and stockman patterns in the same size range (e.g. 301). Oh, and my Benchmade Steigerwalt 12700 Outdoor, which has quite possibly the most ordinary looking main blade out there.

So, to hear the Vantage referred to as "tactical" gets an eyebrow raise from me.

(Let us not confuse the regular Vantage with the more recent Vantage Force, which is clearly a "tactical-ized" version of the Vantage.)

 
ArfinGreebly said:
So, to hear the Vantage referred to as "tactical" gets an eyebrow raise from me.
Click to expand...

Me, too. I don't consider the Vantage or Vantage Pro to appear "tactical".
"Modern", yes, it is a one-hand opening liner lock. "Tactical", no.
 
Same goes for me, the Vantage isn't a tactical knife in the least. I am a fan of the 300 series knives and will carry a 303 or a 301 on occasion, in addition to my vantages...
 
(shrug)

What can I say.... I guess for me its a combination of the handle shape, clip, liner lock and definitely the thumb hole that move it to the tactical side of the ledger for me. I like Bucks but the Vantage leaves me totally meh.

For whatever reason, the Buck Lite Max knives (486, 482), Buck Lites and Ecolites all "work" for me. And definitely the 500 more than works. I love it.

But not the Vantage.

Don't get me wrong... In terms of function, I think it's spot on. But I could say the same about all of the above. While I may not share the reasons, I'm with the OP in that the Vantage just strikes a wrong chord. And that's ok. Plenty of wonderful Bucks to choose from and not all tastes need to be the same.
 
I think the vantage is a nice looking knife, tactical no. But I can't seem to get away from carrying my 501.

I don't worry about squeemish people, in fact I've never ran across anyone like that.
 
I love mine! I prefer thumb holes (slots) and never had a flipper before my Avid, now I usually have my Pro in my pocket and my Avid in my messenger bag. I never leave home without at least one of them.
 
"Tactical"? Maybe not. Fun, aesthetically appealing, ergonomic, functional, sweet looking, with S30V, a nice flipper and deep carry clip? Yes.

IMG_2407.jpg
 
ArfinGreebly said:
I am surprised and puzzled by this.

I found the Vantage line attractive precisely because it wasn't "tactical" (compare/contrast the Strider, or the Sirius).

I've made a point of avoiding "tacticals" in my stable of blades, and have very few. I was pleased when I first met the Vantage because the blade profile was so ordinary. When I'm at the EDC part of getting dressed, and I know that today will put me in proximity to "sensitive" folk, I grab the Vantage -- the one with the pocket clip removed -- and drop it into my pocket. I deem it to be more "ordinary" looking than my Kershaw Packrat (which already isn't tactical), and somewhere near the same "gentlefolk" rating as, say, a Kershaw Leek or a Buck 501 (or a 500, if I had one).

The only blades I carry that are even more deliberately boring (perhaps "unexciting?") are sodbusters and stockman patterns in the same size range (e.g. 301). Oh, and my Benchmade Steigerwalt 12700 Outdoor, which has quite possibly the most ordinary looking main blade out there.

So, to hear the Vantage referred to as "tactical" gets an eyebrow raise from me.

(Let us not confuse the regular Vantage with the more recent Vantage Force, which is clearly a "tactical-ized" version of the Vantage.)

Click to expand...

I agree with you, I have my tactical folders for when I might be out in the field doing something that might warrant that sort of grip and strength. If I am going to be carrying something around all day I don't want i to look like some sort of military issue. Don't get me wrong, I love the tactical blades. I just don't prefer to have them as my EDC. I'm not into gentlemans folders as they are too swanky for me. I like something in the middle and that is where I think the Vantages are. The vantage Force are somewhat tactical but still aren't hard core tactical.
 
Does anyone know the size of the standoffs on the back of the Small Vantages? I want to replace mine with some fancier ones.

That and does anyone know who to contace about some custom handle scales?
 
I had a Vantage Avid and the liner lock would engage all the way over to the opposite liner and the blade was off center. The knife locked up, but it left no room for wear, the blade didn't rub on the liners, but it still bothered me. I liked being able to open the knife via the flipper, but I ended up gifting the knife to a non knife nut. I really liked the Sandvik steel though, awesome and easy to get very sharp.
 
My Vantage should arrive tomorrow or Friday. I'll let you know my first impression. Unfortunately, in my mind I'll be making the examination in the shadow of the Folding Alpha Hunter which is,without a doubt, a very fine knife. I hope to be fair and present unbiased findings.

-sevensix
 
I picked up the small Vantage Select at a local Brick & Mortar (they did not carry the Avid or Pro models) and I have to say that, overall, it's a great little EDC type folder. If I had to nit-pick, I'd say the liners were pretty sharp (but easy to remedy with a few light file strokes,) there's not a lot of room to get at the opening hole (the FRN could use a deeper relief for the thumb,) and the flipper is pretty slick (a little texture/jimping would have been nice.)

vansak01.jpg
 
Good to hear, they are handy little suckers. I love mine. The pro is worth the extra bills. the blade steel is awesome. I have both avid and pro and love em both, like the dymondwood more than the g10 though for handles.
 
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