All About Pocket Knives

These Buck tins I have been getting my Grand kids for years .I'm done.l know there China but this years are just JUNK.I would pay more for some USA Bucks if buck would present them.
please Buck next year let's have better knives

garddogg56 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 19, 2021 8:20 pm These Buck tins I have been getting my Grand kids for years .I'm done.l know there China but this years are just JUNK.I would pay more for some USA Bucks if buck would present them.
please Buck next year let's have better knives

I agree.
These are very unattractive.

I have not looked at this year's Christmas tins. Last year I was appalled to see tins of Buck knives labeled 3Cr... stainless steel. In that type of Chinese stainless code the first number is the tenth of a percent carbon. 7CR17MoV is supposed to be about equivalent to 440A, the steel in the majority of Rough Ryder knives. 7Cr17MoV is in interpreted .7% carbon, 17% Chromium and who knows how much molybdenum and vanadium. I might buy a Chinese knife if the first number is 7 or higher and the price is right. .6% carbon is about right for an axe. .85% is the lowest for decent knife blade carbon steel. While regrettably I've also seen 3Cr... in Schrade knives lately just a few years ago I only saw 3Cr... in Imperial and other knives that are less expensive than Rough Ryder. When I was young Buck made their name by selling knives that held an edge longer than Case and most common competitors. 3Cr.... does not belong in a Buck.

I forget what the rest of the 3Cr... code was on last year's Buck tins and Wal-Mart is too long a drive just to go refresh my memory.

Maybe it's past time to stop buying the lowest price Buck knives.

It is a disappointment to see Buck knives look like the ones shown in O.P.
China is quite capable of making high quality knives for little money. Why did Buck order such low end knives ? Why did Buck not spend just a small amount more and get a knife with better steel and more attractive handles ?
For people shopping by price only, there are many very low priced Chinese knives to choose from. Those interested in buying a Buck knife are more interested in decent quality than in buying the cheapest knife possible.
kj

Long time Buck Knife fan popping off here; IMO Buck should come up with another name to market their low end off-shore knives. All they are accomplishing is to prostitute the good name they have built over 100 years. Sad and disappointing to see such junk branded a BUCK. OH

I would not even consider buying a Chinese made Buck.

A couple years ago I purchased 2 buck canoes . Upon receiving the knives I noticed they were made in china. I called buck and talked to one of there representatives and she explained all buck knives whether they are made in the USA or china are covered under there lifetime warranty. So far no issue with either knife.

I've stated it elsewhere and I'll state it here. Who ever made the decision to have any buck knife made in China needs a good swift kick right between the pockets.

I pretty much agree with the sentiments expressed here. But there have been so many American name brands relocated to other countries ... Buck is just one more in a long list.

Had Buck knives since the late 70’s/early 80’s, same with Case although I probably more favored Buck back then. I currently have over 150 knives. Of those 70 are Case and Buck is about 15-20. These days I don’t buy Buck, I buy Case. I will never, ever intentionally purchase any knife that is made in china….ever. It saddens mr what Buck has done to a great knife and a great name.
David

Goodnight Robicheaux wrote: ↑Sat Oct 11, 2025 12:11 am Had Buck knives since the late 70’s/early 80’s, same with Case although I probably more favored Buck back then. I currently have over 150 knives. Of those 70 are Case and Buck is about 15-20. These days I don’t buy Buck, I buy Case. I will never, ever intentionally purchase any knife that is made in china….ever. It saddens mr what Buck has done to a great knife and a great name.
David

You don't have to buy Chinese made Bucks, some of theirs are still USA made. Of course they are more expensive.

More expensive but more better.

I agree that they should at least use another name on the cheapos. The net profit per cheap knockoffs cant be that much?

robpa wrote: ↑Sat Oct 11, 2025 2:54 pm More expensive but more better.

I agree that they should at least use another name on the cheapos. The net profit per cheap knockoffs cant be that much?

Heck, Buck even did this prior to the '90s. They used to have a range called "Ultrablade"--and most were cheaper offerings made in Japan and Germany. I have a Colonial with an UltraBlade tang stamp here somewhere as well.

No reason they couldn't dust off this old trademark.

cody6268 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 11, 2025 8:04 pm

robpa wrote: ↑Sat Oct 11, 2025 2:54 pm More expensive but more better.

I agree that they should at least use another name on the cheapos. The net profit per cheap knockoffs cant be that much?

Heck, Buck even did this prior to the '90s. They used to have a range called "Ultrablade"--and most were cheaper offerings made in Japan and Germany. I have a Colonial with an UltraBlade tang stamp here somewhere as well.

No reason they couldn't dust off this old trademark.

But a different trademark wouldn't have the draw as the Buck name. And many, many people will buy without looking at country of origin. That's their strategy and they are sticking to it.

Buck's web site has, or at least use to have, a pretty reasonable explanation on why they import some knives. Buck does make it pretty clear on their web site which of their knives are Made in the USA and which knives are imported, which I appreciate because I prefer knives that are Made in the USA.

Dinadan wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 3:00 am I pretty much agree with the sentiments expressed here. But there have been so many American name brands relocated to other countries ... Buck is just one more in a long list.

Buck didn’t move to China. This has much more to do with Camillus closing than anything.

Buck has always outsourced most of their small pocket knives. Once Camillus and Schrade died, they pretty much had no choice but to go to China. If they wanted to stay in the cheap pocket knife market.

eveled wrote: ↑Tue Mar 10, 2026 8:29 am

Dinadan wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 3:00 am I pretty much agree with the sentiments expressed here. But there have been so many American name brands relocated to other countries ... Buck is just one more in a long list.

Buck didn’t move to China. This has much more to do with Camillus closing than anything.

Buck has always outsourced most of their small pocket knives. Once Camillus and Schrade died, they pretty much had no choice but to go to China. If they wanted to stay in the cheap pocket knife market.

Why not Utica?

1967redrider wrote: ↑Tue Mar 10, 2026 12:06 pm

eveled wrote: ↑Tue Mar 10, 2026 8:29 am

Dinadan wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 3:00 am I pretty much agree with the sentiments expressed here. But there have been so many American name brands relocated to other countries ... Buck is just one more in a long list.

Buck didn’t move to China. This has much more to do with Camillus closing than anything.

Buck has always outsourced most of their small pocket knives. Once Camillus and Schrade died, they pretty much had no choice but to go to China. If they wanted to stay in the cheap pocket knife market.

Why not Utica?

Or even Bear and Son. Heck, if I'm not mistaken--Moore Maker for example has offerings from both. Same with SMKW and their revival of Queen.