I'm not normally a fan of Chinese quality control practices (or lack thereof) but I must admit that I am impressed with the Nobleman for the money and perhaps a bit more.
I was looking for a cheap EDC for when I travel and really liked the blade shape and grind on this knife.
Lets start off with a few negatives...
1. The Buck packaging. Rather than show you the actual blade, you get a picture of it.
Although the picture is to scale and accurate, there is nothing like looking at the real deal.
2. The only place I can find "made in China" on the packaging is on the bar code. Not sure about the rest of you but, that is not the first place I look for information on a potential purchase. I can't really blame Buck, had I seen this beforehand I probably would not have given the knife a chance.
3. It is slick. No really, it is slick as in slippery. Not much to grab on to with this knife. If it weren't for the pocket clip, there wouldn't be much grip when flicking open the blade. There should at least been some grooves cut along the top surface of the handle and blade to give you something to grab on to.
4. 440A
On to the good stuff...
1. Have I mentioned that I really like the blade shape and grind? Nice belly with a very narrow edge.
2. This thing shaved out of the "box" so to speak. No work done on the blade since I bought this a few weeks ago and it is still shaving sharp. I have whittled some sticks, opened many boxes, and performed general tasks that are expected of an EDC and the blade contues to perform despite being labeled a 440A.
3. Fit and finish was the main surprise for me. The blade is centered between the scales and uses both bronze and nylon washers. I did a quick lube job on it and now it flicks open with very little effort. Surprisingly quick and solid.
4. Lock-up is quite good and the knife held up to the normal spine wack testing. The frame lock engages roughly 50 or so percent of the blade so there is plenty of room for it to wear in.
5. The pocket clip is mounted high enough on the knife to permit it to ride nice and low in the pocket. There is .5 inch or so that is exposed but not too bad in my opinion. The clip is snug enough to keep the knife secure but will not ruin your pants over time.
Overall, I say this knife is a good buy if you are looking for a low priced EDC that will stand up to light to moderate use. Once you get past the "made in China" bit, you will actually find a rather enjoyable knife.
I was looking for a cheap EDC for when I travel and really liked the blade shape and grind on this knife.
Lets start off with a few negatives...
1. The Buck packaging. Rather than show you the actual blade, you get a picture of it.
Although the picture is to scale and accurate, there is nothing like looking at the real deal.
2. The only place I can find "made in China" on the packaging is on the bar code. Not sure about the rest of you but, that is not the first place I look for information on a potential purchase. I can't really blame Buck, had I seen this beforehand I probably would not have given the knife a chance.
3. It is slick. No really, it is slick as in slippery. Not much to grab on to with this knife. If it weren't for the pocket clip, there wouldn't be much grip when flicking open the blade. There should at least been some grooves cut along the top surface of the handle and blade to give you something to grab on to.
4. 440A
On to the good stuff...
1. Have I mentioned that I really like the blade shape and grind? Nice belly with a very narrow edge.
2. This thing shaved out of the "box" so to speak. No work done on the blade since I bought this a few weeks ago and it is still shaving sharp. I have whittled some sticks, opened many boxes, and performed general tasks that are expected of an EDC and the blade contues to perform despite being labeled a 440A.
3. Fit and finish was the main surprise for me. The blade is centered between the scales and uses both bronze and nylon washers. I did a quick lube job on it and now it flicks open with very little effort. Surprisingly quick and solid.
4. Lock-up is quite good and the knife held up to the normal spine wack testing. The frame lock engages roughly 50 or so percent of the blade so there is plenty of room for it to wear in.
5. The pocket clip is mounted high enough on the knife to permit it to ride nice and low in the pocket. There is .5 inch or so that is exposed but not too bad in my opinion. The clip is snug enough to keep the knife secure but will not ruin your pants over time.
Overall, I say this knife is a good buy if you are looking for a low priced EDC that will stand up to light to moderate use. Once you get past the "made in China" bit, you will actually find a rather enjoyable knife.
