Buck Origin of Manufacture

[jerryd6818]

I find this a little, um, how should I say it, a little less than clear. I bought the Buck Bantam Nano 283CMS9 & BLW 285CMS9 Blaze Orange Knife Combo Set CMB016.

See the big American flag in the upper right corner? Made in USA, right. Wellll maybe. On the front of the clam shell there's a declaration that this set is "Select Level"

The same logo is on the back, but larger.

There's also an explanation of the three "levels" on the back which says, "These knives were designed in the USA and well-crafted overseas (manufactured??)..."

Another paragraph below that says, "MADE IN THE USA OF USA AND IMPORTED PARTS" (I'm not shouting. That's a direct quote.)

WTF?? Are just the blades made here (stamped USA)? And where the devil are they assembled? Confusion has free-rein in my small pea brain.

Just being picky again.


As far as the knives are concerned, they're okay, especially for the price. The big one has thumb studs but I can't make 'em work. The blade is pretty stiff opening but locks up solidly. Nice sturdy, sharp blade with a very light-weight handle. I kinda like the orange camouflage.

The Nano would make a good key-chain or watch pocket knife. Little bugger is sharp and would make a nice small EDC for slacks or dress pants (same thing?). Good lock up on it too.

If I had known what I know now before I bought them, I still would have bought them. I guess there isn't a much better recommendation than that.

[Cutty]

Post deleted. I posted here about a non buck knife. Srry

[garddogg56]

It's a little disturbing to me I cannot comment

[Iron Hoarder]

When in doubt write to the company and ask "WTF is going on??" I accidentaly bought two of the Chinese made Buck knives. I'm still mad about it.

[Cutty]

Wow.
Talk about creative advertising and double talk.
It either is or it ain't. That makes me more angry than the actual truth. Some classy lawyers were involved with that verbage.

[Old Hunter]

I have noticed that Buck now offers some of their knives in three levels (same knife, three versions) - the highest has the most expensive steel and is USA made, the middle tier has an intermediate steel and is also USA made, it is the lowest tier that is confusing - some are 100% imports, some are a mixture of imported parts and USA assembly (learned this all recently on the Buck section of the Blade Forum). Jerry, don't know about your specific knife, but I agree with Iron Hoarder - call Buck and ask them - then let us all know. Thanks, OH

[300Bucks]

Go with the steel. If they are USA is will be on the blade. Also otherwise. So what does it say ?
There are not many working parts to farm out over the oceans. This is a reason many folks hate bubble packaging. They also are not printed for each individual knife. The same package and wording is likely used for several knives, which might have a odd part.....300

[1967redrider]

I always look for Old Glory on the packaging. No American flag, no purchase by me.

[jerryd6818]

The Buck website says the Bantam is: "Made in the USA of USA and Imported Parts"

The Buck website says the Nano is: "Made in the USA of USA and Imported Parts"

For the prices they get for these two knives the only USA parts are probably the rivets that hold them together. I'm just trying to be funny here. It would be interesting to know which parts are USA made and which come from the Far East Pacific Rim.

[1967redrider]

If I could edit my above post I would like to add that at least the knives are "Made in the USA," hopefully with parts not from a country who's first letter is a "C" or a "P" mainly because of the quality of the materials they export.

[jerryd6818]

So why can't you edit your post??

[pinnah]

As a fan of Buck knives and having spent my time working in marketing (it only hurts for a second when they remove your soul) and product strategy, there is very little about what Buck does that makes any sense to me.

The Bantam line is a perfect example. Could somebody explain to me why Buck has this line along side of the Bucklite Max line of folders?

Buck has something that most companies would kill for. They have a few styles that are utter icons. They have the Buck 110 (and 112) that is known the world over as "the Buck knife" and among fixed blade knifes, the classic black phenolic handle is instantly recognized as being a Buck. These are knives that could be made by nobody other than Buck, and when they are, they're correctly seen as knock-offs.

And yet, Buck seems dead set at following the Boker and Camillus (and CRKT) model of making a gazillion different models with huge amounts of overlap while diluting their brand image with off-shore stuff.

IMO, at the very bottom of the heap has to be their imported line of pocket knives.

I know that Buck has said that they are working to bring all their production back to the US, but that alone isn't enough in my mind. I find their product line utterly bewildering, especially in the face of the internet that allows an international community of consumers to find and buy knives in an international marketplace from the comfort of their own home. In the face of that sort of massive competition, does Buck really want to be a "we have a knife for everybody" type of company like Boker or CRKT?

FWIW, I have both the 482 and 486 Bucklites. Light, sturdy, capable but they lost the ugly lottery.

Jerry, I got the nasty looking and ineffective thumbstuds off pretty easily. I put the blade in a padded vice to support the blade and protect the pivot from being worked and put a pair of vice grips on one end of the stud. A bit of yanking and twisting got it apart. Was just press fit together in 3 pieces - center axle and 2 outers.

[johnnierotten]

Disturbing...but not surprising..