Buck 040 Onset... Good Buy or Good Bye?

timberweasel

timberweasel

Joined
Jan 5, 2011
Messages
6,194
I'll just cut to the chase: I think that the Buck 040 Onset is a good buy. Buck struggles a bit in the modern folder arena, at least to my personal taste and preference, but the 040 has a lot of good things going on with it:

-clean and simple design.
-quality materials including decent G10 and S45VN blade steel with the famous Bos HT.
-aggressive milling of the steel framelock gets this folder down to a svelte 4.5oz, AND they've included an over-travel stop--manufacturers don't always need to use titanium to make a good framelock, IMO.
-fairly deep carry pocket clip, not too funky-lookin', works well.
-well centered blade, excellent machining overall, nice stonewash on the framelock scale.
-made in USA.
-a surprisingly affordable $186.99 USD MSRP on Buck's website.

onset01.jpg

onset02.jpg

Nit-picks? Sure, a few, but no deal-breakers. My Onset has a too-tall (IMO) secondary bevel, and slightly sloppy edge. But it's sharp, ballpark symmetry, and this issue will be gone in a few sharpenings. I have large hands but I get solid 3.5 finger grip on the knife. I don't generally do lanyards or fobs, so the lack of a lanyard hole isn't an issue, but I could easily sneak an ungutted paracord loop around the tail standoff--no problem.

onset03.jpg

I think anyone on the fence about the Buck 040 Onset should pick one up. Good bang for the Buck... :cool::thumbsup:

Thanks for reading!

-Brett
 
I do like the design shape and size and the s45vn blade. My only holdback is the metal on half of the handle. I’ve never liked a metal handle especially in the winter cold. If it were a liner lock with full micarta handle like the vantage pro I would probably already have one. I guess I’ll stay with the large vantage pro.
 
Lesknife said:
I do like the design shape and size and the s45vn blade. My only holdback is the metal on half of the handle. I’ve never liked a metal handle especially in the winter cold. If it were a liner lock with full micarta handle like the vantage pro I would probably already have one. I guess I’ll stay with the large vantage pro.
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I don't think there's anything about the Onset that would change your mind about the half steel, half G10 design, Les. The Vantage is a decent knife, indeed. Glad you like yours! :cool::thumbsup:
 
I like mine but a few things I dont. the lock bar setup on mine has a weird angling on the blade tang, and will stop overtravel. might be a brilliant idear...might not be....guess I'll find out over time. it didn't open under blade spine pressure so it works as designed....im just not sure since it has no room to set in any further if it will lead to blade play later on under more use.

20211029_184115.jpg

the stop pin being in the blade and cutouts in the g10 one side and steel frame, the other side....im not sold on yet...once again might be great idear. Its similar to the vanguard setup on stop pin. im mentioning as i used a vantage pro to cut up sugar cane and it allowed the liner to seat deep from the wear in the stop cutout in the steel liners. i get wrong tool for the job...but ive used a 110lt and had no wear in the backlock from the same tasks. im worried it will create blade play over time. but im speculating and that can be very stupid thing to do ill admit. regardless ill find out....

all of that is nitpicking as mine was built well and had no blade play and used for normal cutting tasks should have no issues..and I could be way wrong on these design elements.

20211029_185206.jpg
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the price point i feel is too high. that 179 buys a lot of high quality folders, even ones made in America. at 135 to 155 range...it becomes a real competitor. once again personal feelings don't mean much.

I like the knife, and it feels a good size and bigger than it actually is....even though its not too big and thats a good thing, to me. its a good design....but the price point I feel is just too high.

the rest is me rambling and nitpicking but the price point I feel is just too high.

glad ya like yours though and I do like mine.....enough that I bought one, but im a Buck brand fan and not sure it will win over others who aren't fans at that higher price point. I could be very wrong though, wont deny that.
 
jbmonkey jbmonkey Some good points, JB.

I've seen the aggressive tang angle on other framelocks, most notoriously on my DPx HEST 2.0 which has lock-rock issues regardless. More important for the manufacturer to get their geometry right on the lock/tang interface, IMO. Time will tell how the Onset design holds up.

When it comes to price, I can only think of a few US-made framelock options; mostly the handful of Kershaws still made in USA.
 
timberweasel said:
jbmonkey jbmonkey Some good points, JB.

I've seen the aggressive tang angle on other framelocks, most notoriously on my DPx HEST 2.0 which has lock-rock issues regardless. More important for the manufacturer to get their geometry right on the lock/tang interface, IMO. Time will tell how the Onset design holds up.

When it comes to price, I can only think of a few US-made framelock options; mostly the handful of Kershaws still made in USA.
Click to expand...
true on framelocks....well the case new aluminum ones are much cheaper. but theyre aluminum with a steel insert. outside of frame locks as a random example the spyderco s45vn para 2...different lock but cheaper. for a not particular to a framelock buyer, say someone who wants high quality American made folder in this steel....it might be enough to sway them away, is kinda my point.
 
jbmonkey said:
I like mine but a few things I dont. the lock bar setup on mine has a weird angling on the blade tang, and will stop overtravel. might be a brilliant idear...might not be....guess I'll find out over time. it didn't open under blade spine pressure so it works as designed....im just not sure since it has no room to set in any further if it will lead to blade play later on under more use.

View attachment 1677730

the stop pin being in the blade and cutouts in the g10 one side and steel frame, the other side....im not sold on yet...once again might be great idear. Its similar to the vanguard setup on stop pin. im mentioning as i used a vantage pro to cut up sugar cane and it allowed the liner to seat deep from the wear in the stop cutout in the steel liners. i get wrong tool for the job...but ive used a 110lt and had no wear in the backlock from the same tasks. im worried it will create blade play over time. but im speculating and that can be very stupid thing to do ill admit. regardless ill find out....

all of that is nitpicking as mine was built well and had no blade play and used for normal cutting tasks should have no issues..and I could be way wrong on these design elements.

View attachment 1677731
View attachment 1677732
View attachment 1677733

the price point i feel is too high. that 179 buys a lot of high quality folders, even ones made in America. at 135 to 155 range...it becomes a real competitor. once again personal feelings don't mean much.

I like the knife, and it feels a good size and bigger than it actually is....even though its not too big and thats a good thing, to me. its a good design....but the price point I feel is just too high.

the rest is me rambling and nitpicking but the price point I feel is just too high.

glad ya like yours though and I do like mine.....enough that I bought one, but im a Buck brand fan and not sure it will win over others who aren't fans at that higher price point. I could be very wrong though, wont deny that.
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Good review JB. I want to love the Onset. I was hoping for titanium frame with G10 side.
 
jbmonkey said:
true on framelocks....well the case new aluminum ones are much cheaper. but theyre aluminum with a steel insert. outside of frame locks as a random example the spyderco s45vn para 2...different lock but cheaper. for a not particular to a framelock buyer, say someone who wants high quality American made folder in this steel....it might be enough to sway them away, is kinda my point.
Click to expand...

I'd forgotten about Case. Some good lookin' designs...
 
I did a little shop-looking and it would appear that the Onset is going for $179.99 USD on most big vendor sites. I had imagined a deeper online discount, but it seems this is not the case. :(

I paid about $60 less for my Buck 841 Sprint Pro and about $50 more for my Buck 110 LC. Pricing the Onset between these two seems about right, IMO.

But, yeah, the value plummets compared to knives like the ESEE Avispa or Zancudo D2 framelocks which can be had for less than $40 USD. The value nose-dives even more next to the expectations set by the quality China-made manufacturers (Civivi, Bestech, Kizer, et al.) who'd give you titanium and carbon fiber on top of a premium steel for the same price.
 
timberweasel said:
I did a little shop-looking and it would appear that the Onset is going for $179.99 USD on most big vendor sites. I had imagined a deeper online discount, but it seems this is not the case. :(

I paid about $60 less for my Buck 841 Sprint Pro and about $50 more for my Buck 110 LC. Pricing the Onset between these two seems about right, IMO.

But, yeah, the value plummets compared to knives like the ESEE Avispa or Zancudo D2 framelocks which can be had for less than $40 USD. The value nose-dives even more next to the expectations set by the quality China-made manufacturers (Civivi, Bestech, Kizer, et al.) who'd give you titanium and carbon fiber on top of a premium steel for the same price.
Click to expand...
What about benchmade and spyderco too. I have a Buck sprint Pro, paid $109. that is plenty good enough for me on a modern folder from Buck.
 
timberweasel said:
I did a little shop-looking and it would appear that the Onset is going for $179.99 USD on most big vendor sites. I had imagined a deeper online discount, but it seems this is not the case. :(

I paid about $60 less for my Buck 841 Sprint Pro and about $50 more for my Buck 110 LC. Pricing the Onset between these two seems about right, IMO.

But, yeah, the value plummets compared to knives like the ESEE Avispa or Zancudo D2 framelocks which can be had for less than $40 USD. The value nose-dives even more next to the expectations set by the quality China-made manufacturers (Civivi, Bestech, Kizer, et al.) who'd give you titanium and carbon fiber on top of a premium steel for the same price.
Click to expand...

Its hard to compare knives from China to US made or world made and use materials as the common ground. Labor, wages play into why they are less money. Not wanting to get political but its not comparable at all.
Too many cloned products from that place. Its a joke.
 
Makael said:
Its hard to compare knives from China to US made or world made and use materials as the common ground. Labor, wages play into why they are less money. Not wanting to get political but its not comparable at all.
Too many cloned products from that place. Its a joke.
Click to expand...
Agreed.
I REFUSE to spend my hobby money on stuff from that country.
I've been tempted with the Selkirk, but just cannot bring myself to do it.

I think I would resent it if I ever did.
I'll let all the pseudo -patriots do it.
 
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