Buck knife

[john455]

Since when are Buck Knives made in China? I saw one on Ebay today with a China stamped blade, I always thought they were an American brand.

[Ted S.]

They still make some in the USA

[peejman]

Lots of brands do that now, some made here and some made in China. Be curious to know the source of the steel in the US made versions.

[bvarnell]

If you check the higher priced ones, they are USA made.

Like a lot of other things, if you want the $19.95 model, it's made in China.

[Guest RazooKelly]

Be careful if you're shopping eBay as well.  There are a number of Bucks (and Strider, as well as others) that say "USA" on the blade, but are coming from China.  Now you know if it's shipping from China, there's no way it was made here.  I fell for it on a Strider knife that has "BOS", with logo and USA on the blade.  The knife looks nice, but it's dangerous because the liner lock doesn't secure the blade.  I cut myself often enough on my own and don't need a piece of junk knife helping me.  I've lived in Murfreesboro since July and have already met the nice folks at the Saint Thomas Rutherford ER.  That's not to say that all the knockoffs are bad.  I've bought a couple over the years that were good EDC knives that held an edge, opperated safely and allowed me to carry a knife that looks like a $500 Sebenza.  I have 2 of those, but rarely carry them because I'm affraid of losing them.

[Oh Shoot]

Since when are Buck Knives made in China? I saw one on Ebay today with a China stamped blade, I always thought they were an American brand.

 

Look on Buck's site. About 25% say "imported", started maybe 15 years ago or more.

 

For example, you can get a US made Stockman:

 

http://www.buckknives.com/product/301-stockman-knife/0301FAM01/

 

or a Chinese made one:

 

http://www.buckknives.com/product/stockman-knife/0371BRS-B/

 

Perhaps most significant diff: Buck's fine 420HC steel vs the poorer 420J2.

 

They have said their goal is to bring all production back to US, whatever.

 

- OS

Edited April 16, 2015 by Oh Shoot

[vontar]

The 37x knives are made in China. The #301 and 303 knives are USA made!

 

 

However if you have a Buck 307, Buck will not repair it.  Most knives they will repair for 10 dollars per blade. 

 

They don't have replacement blades for a 307.  Found out after Dad broke his favorite knife.  He is mad at buck right now.

 

I got on the phone with them and they offered to trade it out for a Buck 301.  I said no. 

 

However I just traded down a new, never used blade for a 307.   Next will be getting it put in so I can give it back to him on fathers day I hope.

[vontar]

also it is a long story of research I have done and pieced together over the internet.  This may not be 100 percent but in short I found that for the most part, Buck Contracted a Company called Camillus to produce their Buck 307 line.  Camillus went bankrupt several years ago. 

 

Word is the machines they used to make the blank 307 blades is lost to the wind.

 

I have managed to get a few 307 bucks from Ebay and even a couple Camillus 307's. 

 

However I will feel better being able to give dad his knife back.  Last week he gave it to me with the broken blade after we found out Buck would not fix it.    So I am going to do what I can with in reason to get it fixed.

 

Got the replacement blade for 16 and change shipped. 

 

Edit, corrected spelling on Camillus thanks OS. 

Edited April 28, 2015 by vontar

[Oh Shoot]

also it is a long story of research I have done and pieced together over the internet.  This may not be 100 percent but in short I found that for the most part, Buck Contracted a Company called Callimus to produce their Buck 307 line.  Callimus went bankrupt several years ago. 

...

 

The company is Camillus. It was American, goes back to 1876, started with importing German made knives, then made its own,  went out in 2007. Was a competitor of Buck, but yes, also a collaborator on certain knives.

 

Acme International bought the Camillus holdings in bankrupt auction in 2009, cranked up the brand again. American company, but most if not all now made in China. They've got a Les Stroud line these days among other stuff.

 

http://www.camillusknives.com/

 

Buck's Chinese made blades are supposedly made in a Buck owned plant somewhere in China, but they've played that pretty close to the vest as to location and exact arrangement.

 

Camillus is perhaps most famous for developing the official military issue US Mark 2 Combat knife, which of course was later made by several companies and of course KA-BAR in very similar form to this day.

 

Here are beau coup BladeForum threads on the Buck 307:

https://www.google.com/search?q=307+buck+knifes&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8#q=307+buck+knives+site:www.bladeforums.com&newwindow=1

 

I carry a Buck Stockman 301. In Delrin yellow, though, which they've discontinued. Without my having to read up on it :), what's the big deal about the 307 compared to 301?

 

- OS

Edited April 28, 2015 by Oh Shoot

[leroy]

To add a bit to the conversation, there are lots of companies that are having the "chinese" manufacture knives... Take a look at the Kershaw-Emerson stuff... They are very well made knives (...i've got several of 'em...)...  The "chinese" steel is as good as anyone else's mid range stuff... The main difference between the "chinese" stuff and the "american" stuff at the same steel type is zero for most people... Makin steel is alot like makin a cake... Put the right stuff in, the right cake comes out... As to the workmanship, it's first class... The only difference is the difference between $35 and about $100 for the "chinese" vs "american" build...

 

leroy

[vontar]

what's the big deal about the 307 compared to 301?

 

 

- OS

 

 

Well there is a bit of size difference. 

 

Buck model #307 “Wrangler” large stockman is 4 1/4 inches closed while the 301 stockman is 3-7/8.  I know that doesn't seem like much seeing the measurements but when you are holding them, there is a noticeable difference in size and weight.

 

I will try to get a picture of the 2 side by side later.

Edited April 28, 2015 by vontar

[Oh Shoot]

To add a bit to the conversation, there are lots of companies that are having the "chinese" manufacture knives... Take a look at the Kershaw-Emerson stuff...

 

Yeah, I consider Kershaw's PRC line is one of the best values in knifedom.

 

- OS

[JAB]

Yeah, I consider Kershaw's PRC line is one of the best values in knifedom.

 

- OS

 

Me, too.  I have also heard good things about Byrd knives (Spyderco's 'value' line) which, I think, are also made in China.  For that matter, the 'value line' of their knives that actually have the Spyderco brand are made in China, too.  I just checked and my Spyderco Resilience - which I have been edc'ing for about a month, now, and which none of my other folders seem to be able to evict from my pocket - has 'China' stamped on one side of the base of the blade.

Edited April 29, 2015 by JAB

[Jonnin]

I have a great deal of respect for a cheap knife.  $20 and it cuts.  It dulls fast, you sharpen it again.  It beaks or wears out, you replace it.  You lose it, you are out 20 bucks.   There is a time and a place for it.    I can't bear to *use* my nice knives, so they sit in their box being all pretty --- I just can't mentally get around using a $500 knife as a workhorse (I probably could if I needed one all day every day, but  I use one a couple of times a week, I don't need to cut that much stuff on a daily basis and 75% or more of the times when I get my knife out, its not the blade I want but a screwdriver or something). 

 

Something to be said for the tougher steel too.  I have my dad's knife which he used from the time I was old enough to walk until he died (over 30 years), and the blades are about 15% smaller than a new one he had saved away (same model etc).   I think my china junker would be worn to the backstrap in in half that time.

Edited April 29, 2015 by Jonnin

[Moped]

Man, I love cheap knives!!! I love the value you get out of them! I was at the flea market over at the expo center the other day and picked up a Mora Heavy Duty MG in carbon steel. Hard to beat that knife for a 4" fixed blade. I've found Opinels and the Svord Peasant to be awesome cheap folders! My Sunday go to meetin' knives are usually hand picked Rough Riders. I have a locking Canoe and a locking trapper that have good snap and a solid lock. The blades hold a very good edge. And I paid all of $9 for each of them. I also have a Rough Rider Scout folder and a Copperhead that a old fella insisted I take for doing some work for him on a porch. That was my first intro to Rough Riders. Now I do hand pick them, specifically for the snap when opening. I'm kind of picky about that.

Speaking of the PRC Kershaws, I picked up a little Compound to carry for $19. My older daughter liked it so well, I gave it to her to carry at college. She carries clipped to her pocket all the time. Great pocket knife.

One of the best values in a tactical folder is the Ontario Rat 1! I purchased on on EBay for $35 shipped several years ago. The knife is built like a tank!!! I carried for a couple of years. My daugher's fiance took a liking to it, so I gifted it too him.

Currently the most expensive knife I own, besides a Helle Odel and a Paul Hargis Custom fixed blade, is an ESEE Izula. It splits time in my pocket with a CRKT Minimalist. I've gone to carrying a small fixed blade thru the week most of the time. I just like carrying a small fixed blade. Just like the sturdiness. Every once in a while I will carry a Boker+ Kalishnokov auto knife. I know a lot of people don't like them. I bought this one to see what all the fuss was about concerning auto knives. I didn't want to pay a lot for it though. This one fits the bill. I've had ZERO issues with it.

Like I said I love good cheap knives!!! Edited April 30, 2015 by Moped

[vontar]

Took me longer then I expected to find the time but here it is.

 

OS is right there isn't allot of size difference but the 307 feels more substantial. 

 

Side by Side Buck 301 and Buck 307.

 

 

 

 

the Main blade is made different as well.

 

These 2 are mine,

Edited May 2, 2015 by vontar

[Oh Shoot]

Took me longer then I expected to find the time but here it is.

 

OS is right there isn't allot of size difference but the 307 feels more substantial. 

 

Side by Side Buck 301 and Buck 307.

 

 

 

 

the Main blade is made different as well.

 

These 2 are mine,

 

 

Huge difference really, didn't realize just how much.  Thanks for digging them up for the pix.

 

- OS