This post contains affiliate links. We may get paid an affiliate commission if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of the links on this web page.
Last Updated: August 3, 2019
I know my father has a couple Buck Knives stashed away in a sock drawer somewhere, and I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that a majority of American men over the age of 50 are in a similar position. Buck is known for making reliable hunting and outdoor blades, and they have been doing just that for over 100 years.
Buy the Buck Vantage at BladeHQ
Oddly enough, part of what made Buck so popular then is part of the challenge that Buck and many other classic cutlery companies face today. I’m talking about keeping their products relevant, their designs iconic, and their products in the hands of the consumer. Knife companies want their knives on your belts and in your pockets, not stashed away with Walkman’s, brick-sized cell phones, and other every-day articles of yore. And while the cutlery industry may not have evolved as rapidly as the electronics industry, it has certainly experienced its fair share of change. Things like pocket clips, exotic steels, and one-hand deployment have gone from curiosity to industry standard in a relatively short period of time.
And it is also important to note that the US cutlery industry is not without it’s casualties. Long standing companies like Schrade and Camillus have literally gone the way of the dodo. Both companies filed for bankruptcy in the past decade. Their assets were liquidated to satisfy their debts, and rights to their trademarks and designs were sold to the highest bidder. The knives made under these brands today are hollow shells of their former selves with their lineups largely comprised of cheap knives manufactured overseas.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. From the ashes phoenix soar to new heights. Plenty of new US knife companies have stepped up to the plate, and Buck is still going strong as they adapt to new market realities. In many ways the Vantage Pro is leading Buck’s charge to both preserve their brand and provide their take on the modern folding knife. The Vantage is made in America, features high end materials, and is priced reasonably. Lets see if this is enough to bring Buck into the 21st century.
General Dimensions and Blade Details
The Vantage comes in 2 sizes (small and large) and in a variety of trim levels. For the large knife, our overall length is 7-1/2″, our blade length is 3-1/4″, and we have a weight of 4 ounces. The small version weighs 2.3 ounces, has an overall length of 6-1/4″, and sports a 2-3/4″ blade. At 4 ounces I find the large Vantage a little on the chunky side, but find both sizes to be well suited for EDC. As for listing the varying trim levels, well, I figure it’s easier to do this with a chart.
| Model |
Steel
|
Handle Material
|
| Pro |
S30-V
|
G10
|
| Avid |
13C26
|
Dymondwood
|
| Select |
420HC
|
Zytel
|
Since we have a total of 9 possible configurations here I decided to simply buy the largest, most expensive version, and also the smallest most inexpensive version. So what you are looking at in the photos is a large Vantage Pro and a small Vantage Select. But this is mainly a review of the full size Vantage Pro. The large Pro is the flagship of the series, and is the knife that I was most interested in examining.
The blade on the Vantage is a no frills drop point design with a high hollow grind and a nice sweeping belly. Buck selected an adequately thick piece of steel here and I found the tip to be both sturdy and functional. The edge on my Vantage Pro was neatly applied although my less expensive Vantage Select was a little less precise. All in all I like the blade shape – it’s simple and extremely functional. A great choice for an every day carry blade.
Per my chart, steel runs the gamut from lowly 420HC to excellent S30V. Given that the prices range from approximately $25 up to $60 I think that is pretty interesting. I was very pleased to learn that the Vantage Pro included a S30V blade. S30V is something you don’t see on a lot of knives in the $50 range (with the Spyderco Native being the only thing that immediately comes to mind), especially $50 knives made in America. If you are contemplating a Vantage, my advice is to spring for at least the “Avid” level Vantage. Sandvik 13C26 will be a substantial improvement over 420HC, which a soft steel that is easy to sharpen, but doesn’t hold it’s edge particularly well.
Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip
The Vantage features varying grades of handle material over full stainless steel liners. On the full size knife these are thick liners, and I suspect that they add a fair amount to the 4 ounce carry weight. Price permitting, I’d prefer to see them milled out. I like how everything is screwed together, and the clean flow through construction. I found both my knives to be solid, but I did notice that some of edges of the G10 peeked out a little over the liners on my Vantage Pro. All in all this is a well-made handle.
In hand the large Vantage is pretty good. The G10 is given a smooth finish, but the handle isn’t slippery. There is plenty of room for a full grip, and the flipper doubles as a small finger choil to prevent forward sliding forward on the blade. The edges of the handle were a little sharp for my taste, but they are reasonable given the intended use. I actually liked the way the small Vantage fit in my hand a little more. It’s a tight fit for larger hands, but the corners aren’t as sharp.
The Buck Vantage Pro sports a nice deep carry pocket clip. This clip offers ambidextrous tip up carry, has nice retention, and is very discrete. I like the clip a lot. The Vantage itself is a flat knife and makes for an easy and unobtrusive carry.
Deployment and Lockup
Deployment is achieved primarily by means of a flipper, although you have the option of using a small oval thumb hole set close to the handle. This thumb hole is blocked somewhat on the left side, so really it’s best used by a righty. For me the easiest way to deploy this knife was by the flipper. I found that the Vantage snapped out crisply with a little wrist action. Buck included phosphor bronze washers to aid in a smooth and reliable deployment. They are small washers, but they get the job done.
For lockup the Vantage makes use of a liner lock. Lockup was nice and tight on both of my knives, and I detected no blade play at all. However, I noticed that the lockup was pretty late on my large Vantage, and sometimes it would engage a little earlier, sometimes it would engage a little later. For EDC use I’m not terribly concerned, but I’d like to see Buck iron out this kink.
I also wanted to mention blade centering and other matters of fit and finish. When this knife first came out in 2009-2010, there were reports of off-center blades rubbing liners, and tips getting blunted on the backspacer. Buck responded to these issues like champs, both fixing customer’s knives and refining their manufacturing process to avoid future issues. I am pleased to say that I didn’t experience any of these fatal fit and finish issues with my two knives (purchased late 2011).
Buck Vantage Pro Review – Final Thoughts
All things considered I feel that the Buck Vantage Pro is a very solid offering. I especially like the price, the high end blade steel, the G10 scales, the attractive design, the nice pocket clip, and seeing “USA” stamped on the blade. Fit and finish isn’t quite 100%, and I think the ergonomics could use some tweaking, but these are relatively minor issues that I can easily overlook when presented with the bigger picture of this knife.
What Buck has done here is provide something appealing to the modern knife user without sacrificing the core values that built their business in the first place. It’s so refreshing to see a high quality steel like S30V on a ~$50 knife, let alone a ~$50 USA made knife. I hope Buck will continue along this path of success by continuing to pay attention to the consumer, refining their designs, and releasing more knives that stand out from the pack. In a stormy knife industry Buck has decided to make their own waves – and that’s great news.
- SUPREMELY SHARP BLADE - 3-1/4" Drop Point S30V Steel Blade delivers a combination of edge retention, ductility, hardness, toughness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance for optimal performance. The full bellied blade offers remarkable cutting ability
- CONVENIENT ONE HAND OPENING - A Thumb Hole on the blade facilitates a smooth one-handed opening action and locks open using a stainless steel liner lock. Built with two stainless steel liners for extra durability and safety.
- SAFE AND SECURE GRIP - The Ergonomic Grip made from Injection Molded reinforced nylon with CNC contoured G10 material provides a comfortable and secure grip while you work. Closed Length 4-3/8", Weight 4 oz.
- EVERY DAY CARRY - Includes a removable, reversible, deep pocket tip-up carry clip for easy carry in your pocket, on your belt or in your bag. The Vantage Series comes in two sizes, handle choices and steel options. It's an ideal knife for every day carry
- MADE IN THE USA - FOREVER WARRANTY - Since 1902 Buck Knives has offered a lifetime warranty on our knives because we believe in the integrity of our products. This knife is proudly made in the USA.
I recommend purchasing the Buck Vantage Pro at Amazon or BladeHQ.
Another nice review. These knives certainly look very nice, and at the price, seem to be quite a deal. They actually (to me anyhow) look like they are more expensive knives. Think I’ll be checking out that pro model.
Thanks man. I think these are nice for the money. I agree, they are pretty handsome and they do look like they would cost more than $60. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts if you pick one up, thanks so much for stoppin by!
A buck knife not made from fail-twe I mean 420! GAH my heart! Need defib stat!
Seriously, it is about time for Buck.
lol! Yes, I am so happy to see Buck “get it.” I hope other manufacturers catch on too!
The question is how well they’ve pulled the S30V off. For a company that has pretty much only done 420HC since the T-Rex ruled the world it might take a while before they get it just right. Also, is this the first S30V-knife with a hollow grind? If not, it’s one of the very few.
Hey Lew! One detail I left out of the review is that the S30V blade has been heat treated by Paul Bos, who is apparently a pretty big deal in the heat treating industry. I believe this knife has been cryo treated. In practice the edge has performed very well. I’m not sure if this is the first, but it does feature a hollow grind and S30V.
Hi Dan, thank you for another fine review! =)
As a Vantage Pro owner, I confirm that they had some quality issues in the early production series, so I’m very glad to know that these problems seem to be gone.
My Vantage was terribly sharpened at the factory (rounded tip, asymmetrical bevels, torn cutting edge) and had some irreparable side-to-side blade play (possibly because of small in diameter, but rather thick plastic washers).
Despite the aforementioned issues, I found this knife to be a good city folder, though I’d prefer to carry my tried-and-true Military or cheaper Ontario Model 1.
Hey Vit! My pleasure man, thanks so much for stopping by my little corner of the web! 🙂
Ah yes, those issues are pretty much deal breakers for me – but it really says something if you were more or less able to still find the knife ok for your needs despite those various issues with the fit and finish. I think if you tried the Vantage again you would really be surprised. They aren’t Sebenzas or anything, but they are very sturdy and lack the major structural flaws of the earlier runs. Thanks again for leaving the nice comment man, always a pleasure to get your thoughts. 🙂
Another fine review Dan! I think the vantage pro is a classic “great materials but suspect craftsmanship/fit and finish” kind of knife. I’ve heard so many stories of these things getting sent in for faulty lock up and centering. But then again, you know what other company is like that? Strider. I also heard the Bos heat treat on the s30v is some of the best out there. At $60 it’s hard to imagine going wrong with this materials, but fit and finish is a real deal breaker for me, no matter what the cost.
Pat, you make an excellent point man. For guys who have had a taste of some mid to high end offerings it could be difficult to warm up to the Vantage. In defense of the knife I do think they ironed out the major issues, but for some people it’s just too late. Thanks for stopping by!
As of last week I got my hands on a small pro myself.
I can confirm the fit and finish issues are now cleared up.
I also feared the small would be too small but that’s not the case.
It’s a pleasure to EDC and put to work when needed. Best part, it’s not going to offend or frighten anyone when you do pull it out. Speaking of pulling it out, what an excellent low profile clip! In use you can see the clip but not the knife – perfect.
Needed no sharpening out of the box. SV30 steel is awesome for edge retention. Strong lock-up without blade play. Neigh indestructible G10 scales are a pleasure to hold onto.
Huge win for Buck knives, welcome back to the market!
Hey Sarge! I am happy to hear you are having a similar positive experience with your Vantage Pro! I totally agree with everything you have said here. With the fit and finish issues squared away we are left with a very functional EDC knife that offers some great benefits to the user. I would love to get my hands on the Pro version of the small Vantage, it would make a really nice little urban EDC. A great blade, nice and easy to carry, people friendly and built to last. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving the nice comment – take care!
Dan
How does the Buck Vantage Pro and the Buck Paradigm Pro compare to one another? They both seem like great EDC/Gentlemen Folders.
Peter,
Excellent question. To be completely honest I have no idea. On paper I would expect the Paradigm to be a nicer knife, but without handling one I couldn’t tell you how or why. Of course, the Paradigmn has the “shift assist” assisted opening technology and some aluminum bolsters – but my main interest would be in the overall level of fit and finish. The Paradigm is definitely a knife I want to check out in the future. Unfortunately it’s going to take a little time before I can get to it. Thanks for the great question and sorry I couldn’t provide more information.
Dan
Bought the least expensive Vantage a couple years back and it was so off center that I threw it in a drawer until mailing it back to Buck today for repair. Hope it comes back in good shape as I was really looking foward to carrying that knife daily. Also, why is it “EDC” when everyday is one word?
Got the small Select. I thought it is too small but when I saw it in actual it wasn’t that small. In fact it is the perfect size I was looking for. Didn’t realize that the blade was off-center when folded until I saw this review. Fixed it by tightening the pivot screw until the blade is centered. Didn’t affect the blade deployment by flicking, no additional effort required.
Nice, man. Enjoy.
Dan
Hi Dan, like your review, great write up as always.
I bump into this knife recently on the web and intrigued by the knife quality and the pricing.
The handle design looks good to me. Do you find it comfortable to hold, allowing different gripping styles and not slippery even when wet?
Thanks!
Thanks for the review was really fun to read up on it as i had owned a vantage pro in the past.
However my experience with it were really not good.
I must have bought an earlier version cause i had all the problems with it.
From blade rubbing against its liners to the edge of the tip blunting out on its back spacer. And the final nail in that coffin was the screws holding the steel liners together were soo small they simply stripped the threading and the handle would no longer hold together.
Even the cool buck logo fell off as if it wanted nothing to do with this knife.
Really disappointed in the product and brand. I am in Canada so sending this knife back simply to see if they honor the warranty is not necessarily a good idea as having knifes sent from the usa to canada never really workout for me because of my country
Not good that you had all those problems. Buck knives have a lifetime warranty. They likely would have fixed all those issues for free or just send you a new knife.