I'm disapointed - - New Buck knife

[Pat-inCO]

I carried a Buck Stockman knife for way over two decades. Made in
America, excellent knife, but I decided to switch to a Swiss Army Knife
a while back. Put the Buck away.

Decided to start doing some whittling and that the shape of one of the
blades on the Buck would be more useful. Went looking for the Buck.
Did a FAR too good a job of putting it away; can't find it. SO, I just
decided to buy another Buck knife.

Several months ago I bought a Buck 110 that was "made in the USA"!
Thus, when I went looking I thought the new ones would also be "made
in the USA" . . . nope. New Buck arrived a little while ago (YUP, Sunday
delivery) and I noticed it was not near the smoothness I associate with
a Buck knife. Rough edges all over the place. Polished like all get out!
Just sharp edges where they should not be.

Looked closely and what to my wondrous eyes should appear but . . .
MADE IN CHINA! The 110 is USA but the Stockman is from China!

Any bets on what type of review I'm going to post?
(got it from Amazon)

 

[bogus bill]

Dunno. Must be good if they ship it half way around the world.

 

[Jeepnik]

Honestly even the US made Bucks today are a far cry from the ones I bought in the 60's and 70's.

They do not hold an edge. The scales are poorly fitted, and they just feel gritty.

It just seems they are trying to make too many too fast.

 

[cas6969]

Best bet for Old Timers, Bucks, Uncle Henry's etc etc. is to go on Ebay and buy an old used one. Of course you're rolling the dice there too as to condition and they prices aren't always cheap.

 

[Kevin]

Buck has this "custom order" feature for some of their knives. You can go to their website and choose the style and the handle material and if you want it can be engraved on either the bolsters or the knife blade itself. And the price isn't much more than buying a standard off the shelf knife.

I ordered my wife one for her birthday last year. The folding 110. It came with a brown leather sheath and brass bolsters with Happy Birthday engraved on the blade. Overall quality was very good. And I believe, true engraving, not a roll stamp, but, I'm not an expert on that.

I bet anything, the Made in China Bucks aren't even in the same class as those made here in USA. More and more, I'm willing to spend just a little bit more to buy a Made in USA product.

 

[Rick Courtright]

MADE IN CHINA! The 110 is USA but the Stockman is from China!

Any bets on what type of review I'm going to post?

Hi,

Pat, you've gotta know what you're ordering to know what you'll be getting with many of the Buck knives these days.

Some years back, Wally wanted to sell Buck knives at reduced prices and went to Buck with their usual demand that the mfr sell to them at Wally's, not the manufacturer's, price, and the story floating on some of the knife forums was that Buck said "Fine, but you won't get US made knives at your price." Many of the "classic" folders were now available at Wally's, and at the desired reduced prices, but they came with wooden scales instead of the traditional black Delrin material, and Chinese made. These were supposedly going to be "Wally exclusives" but somehow they morphed into something being sold all over the place.

There's been a lot of protest from the market, and as of a couple of years ago, Buck has returned much of its manufacturing back to the US. It's my understanding that if you order one of the folders today that used to be available only in black plastic, you have your choice of black plastic again, US made at a US price, or wood, Chinese made at a Chinese price. I think they may still cover that issue in the FAQ section on their website.

I've only bought 3 or 4 new Bucks in the last 5-10 years, and they're all US made. But I tried to do my homework first, too.

Rick C

 

[GP100]

When I see the "Made In China" stamp on a product, I don't just see a cheap crappy product..

I look deeper at the product, and see the skilled person that once was proud of his work, no longer with a good job.. I see another proud American, being told he is no longer needed.. I see another American family, being put on the junk heap of the American dream. I see skilled tradesmen, with nowhere to go..

I see the "Made In China" stamp on products, and wonder where "My America" went.. A once great nation, that was the best in the world when it came to manufacturing.. Products like Steel, or even Zenith Televisions.. Now, all gone.. A dream of what we used to be..

When I think of our new President, I don't give a damn about taxes, or foreign affairs.. I only have one thing I want him to do..

Please, make our country proud again.. Put Americans back to work with our hands.. Make us proud to say, that we have factories back.
Make the "Made In U.S.A." label mean something again.. Make us, the once proud nation we used to be..

 

[JohnBoy]

That is great information, Rick. I always 'assumed' all Buck Knives were Made in U.S.A. Based on your information - and my expectation - all REAL Buck Knives still are. Caveat emptor!

Pat - is there any way you can return that sucker? You really owe it to yourself to have 'Made in U.S.A.' stamped on the blade.

 

[Pat-inCO]

Pat - is there any way you can return that sucker? You really owe it to
yourself to have 'Made in U.S.A.' stamped on the blade.

Yes, I can return it to Amazon.

I'm going to re-read their web page and see if it gives any indication of
just where the knife is/was made. If I missed it, It's my fault. If it does not
say, I may have to talk with them. :wink:

 

[blume357]

It's probably printed somewhere on the site... imported. I was going to buy a pair of Red Wing Boots, the new Irish Setter brand... then I read on the comments section on Amazon that they were made in China.... at least half the Red Wing's are made there now.

 

[powder smoke]

Made in China ALWAYS steers me away from a product.
I don't care what it is, I WANT made in the USA. That also goes for
automobiles. ps

 

[sceva]

The original Buck Stockman's ( made for them by Camillius) with the flat ground blade were excellent as were the in house made Stockman's. But, when they went to that semi hollow grind ( not sure how to describe it) they lost me. Buck has both in house made knives and Chinese made knives and they are trying to be competitive which I understand. As for me, given a choice I'll pick the US made ones.

 

[427mach1]

Buck's website makes it very easy for you. Find the knife you are interested in and click on it for more details. The detail page for every knife has its origin listed; it will either say USA or imported. Also, every USA made knife will be marked "Buck USA" on the blade. Chances are, if the knife is one of their cheaper versions, i.e., under $30, it is imported.

 

[gunzo]

Seems to me that Buck is trying very hard to survive in the market, plus get back to their roots & quality. Yes, they had/have a lot of their models made in China. The new Chinese plant opened in 2000 was producing as much as 30% of their product. But, like Rick C. mentioned, those were meant for box stores. Now, the Chinese percentage has been reduced to 13% & in 2005 they moved from San Diego to Post Falls Idaho. A move to help them survive in todays tax ridden & politically motivated manufacturing environment. They seem to be trying, trying hard to be a solid & productive American manufacturing company.
Sorry the OP got one of the Chinese models by mistake. These days it seems you have to be more diligent than ever while shopping.
BTW, I received a new Buck just a couple weeks ago. A new old stock Vanguard, 1992 model. Buck marks their blades, or used to with a code for year of manufacture, the chart is easily googled. Found mine on Ebay after a lengthy search, but they're out there.

 

[Pistolero]

I have purchased some good quality USA made old knives from in our classifieds from Whispering Smith. PawPaw Camo also lists some very good USA made knives.

 

[sfhogman]

I've always been a Case knife kinda guy meself. I think their quality is a bit better than Buck, and their knives are all made in the USA. Been carrying a Copperhead for over 25 years now.

Jeff

 

[mohavesam]

"Four generations of Bucks have honed their skills in both business and knife-making at Buck Knives. The company is a leading manufacturer of pocket knives, hunting knives, fishing knives, and other cutlery for hunters, sportsmen, the US military, and others. Chairman Chuck T. Buck and son C. J. (president and CEO) head up the company that began in 1902 in a lean-to adjacent to a San Diego garage. In 2005 the knife maker moved to Idaho where it operates a four-and-a-half acre factory in which hundreds of styles of Buck knives are made. Buck Knives is taking steps to regain the Made in the USA stamp for all of its products, after outsourcing some of its production to Asia." - D&B Hoovers

It is a $63M company with "$0" profits reported. I'd guess the shift to Asian production was shareholder demand. Tell the CEO (Chuck Buck, I love that) you'd buy them if/when they made and sold their products from the USA.

 

[coach]

When I see the "Made In China" stamp on a product, I don't just see a cheap crappy product..

I look deeper at the product, and see the skilled person that once was proud of his work, no longer with a good job.. I see another proud American, being told he is no longer needed.. I see another American family, being put on the junk heap of the American dream. I see skilled tradesmen, with nowhere to go..

I see the "Made In China" stamp on products, and wonder where "My America" went.. A once great nation, that was the best in the world when it came to manufacturing.. Products like Steel, or even Zenith Televisions.. Now, all gone.. A dream of what we used to be..

When I think of our new President, I don't give a damn about taxes, or foreign affairs.. I only have one thing I want him to do..
That
Please, make our country proud again.. Put Americans back to work with our hands.. Make us proud to say, that we have factories back.
Make the "Made In U.S.A." label mean something again.. Make us, the once proud nation we used to be..

Wouldn't that be the ideal. Only too many people aren't proud to be Americans anymore.

 

[Bkat]

here's a Buck 301 Stockman I gave my Dad for Christmas in '74 or '75--I think. I originally thought it was mid-60s, but after having looked at some of the Buck history and the markings I think it had to be after '73. Regardless, he carried it every day for at least 35 years until his death in 2010. I found it on top of his nightstand at home, where he left it every evening along with his watch. It's one of his keepsakes I value the most.

Can anyone verify the dates? The tang reads:
BUCK
301
U.S.A.

No other markings and there is a brass rivet on each side of the scales and a rivet on each of the bolsters.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Can anyone verify the dates? The tang reads:
BUCK
301
U.S.A.

Hi,

This isn't documented info, just personal experience: I bought a 303, the medium stockman "little brother" to your Dad's knife, about 1975. It looks identical in style and marking. Someone mentioned Camillus making knives for Buck for a while. I suspect, when parking my Buck next to a Craftsman of the same size and style which I know was made under contract by Camillus, that our two knives probably came from the Camillus factory.

Rick C

 

[Bkat]

Thanks Rick! That makes sense.

 

[chuck]

I bought a buck folding hunter back in 1971, took it deer hunting got my dear gutted it hung it in a tree and TRYED to get the hide off of it with that buck, no luck got home and sent it back to buck in California came back a Mo. later they sharpened it, still would not hold an edge, gave it to a guy at work who gave it to his brother in law that he didn't like, don't know where it went from their.

 

[BDM1]

you can get a poor specimen of any product at any given time, but, generally those older USA made knives were the best. I have a couple each of 70's- early 80's made Old Timer, Uncle Henry, and Case XX. I recall Contender posting once that Schrade "Walden" (early Old Timers) were very good, but i don't own one of those. I don't collect knives, i just happened to buy a new knife every now and then. Speaking of knives in general, i was just thinking about the same subject for some reason a few weeks back, and i realized that you can't find too many manufactured items with as many components, for as reasonable a price as a good multi-blade pocket knife.

 

[BDM1]

By the way, Bkat, that 301 is a perfect example of a fine older USA made knife. As it was your Dad's, i know it is priceless to you.

 

[Jeepnik]

1972 I was a USAF firefighter. I bought a new 110 specifically to carry in the right pocket of my turnouts. There was a device at the time called a Flickit. It was a small ledge that attached to the top of the blade with a thumb screw. It allowed one hand opening. I used the heck out of it.

A couple of years later I got hung up hanging from a safety line. I couldn't reach the knife in my right pocket. Afterwards I bought a second 110 and flickit and carried one in each pocket.

I carried those until discharged and afterwards as a fireman in a local shipyard. When I left that career I retired them. They sit in a place of honor. They are as sharp or sharper than the day I got them. And they have always held an edge very well. One has a slightly charred set of scales from too much heat on one fire, but not enough to even think about replacing them.

 

[WAYNO]

On a local gun forum frequented by younger members, this discussion surfaces often. The youngsters don't see any benefit or difference of domestic products compared to imported products. They tell the old timers to get used to it, as it's now a world economy.

The youngsters outnumber us, and out buy us. I don't see things changing any time soon.

Another thing. There seems to be no obsolescence to the American made products I bought 20-30-40+ years ago. The knife that I dressed some of my first deer with would do the same job today as it did decades ago. I'm really not shopping for replacements. So I'm no longer a big buyer. Domestically produced items aren't made for repeat buyers, as there's no reason to replace an item that will last thru generations. So, old guys like me aren't buying as much, and the young guys buy imported stuff because it's cheaper. That's an uphill battle for American made products.

 

[mohavesam]

Gotta make your own choices.

 

[RSIno1]

I had a friend who worked at Ladish Pacific in the late 70s. They forged and tempered Bucks blades. I still have 10-12 assorted raw forgings. I finished one and it was a task since it was already tempered. I was there one time and there must have been 500 55 gallon drums full of knives.

 

[mike7mm08]

I had a couple late sixties to early seventies vintage buck fixed blade knives. Forget the exact models. Anyways. They were carried many a mile and used on many a deer by my dad and grandfather. Last fall my house was broken into and the ammo can with them and all my other assorted hunting knifes and saws were taken. Pissed me off more than I can put into words.

Could not bring myself to replace the buck knives. Would not be the same and I would just be reminded of what I lost every time I used them.

I have slowly been buying knives from smaller makers. Not fullblown one man custom shops, but the mom and pop small shop type makers. Great quality and I know my dollars are truly supporting someone.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I "wear" a tiny Buck Mini in the "watch pocket" of my jeans every day . . . every day. I may also "wear" a Leatherman, depending, but the Mini is ALWAYS there. It's amazing what you can do with a good-quality small knife.

Buck Mini . . . blade marked BUCK 425> U.S.A.

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: