Is this Buck knife worth buying (used 290)

M

MacTech

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Jan 7, 2006
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my local knife store has a used Buck 290 assisted opener, it's in somewhat rough cosmetic shape, lots of poket lint, and the assisted opening spring is a little laggy, it swings open about 3/4 of the way and needs to be thumbed all the way open, also, the point of the knife is a little squashed, looks like it has a tiny "blob" at the point, it's sharp, but doesn't come to a true point, the previous owner probably tried using it as a pry tool

they want $35 for it, the clerk claims the slow action is due to it being "dirty" and that a clean and lube job should fix it right up

it obviously needs a little work, yes i could get a new one for $45, but $35 for an assisted is a tempting price, even if it needs some work in putting a point back on the blade, i could care less about the cosmetic damage, i buy my knives to be *used* not to look pretty, plus the challenge of bringing a knife back into good working shape sounds tempting as well, and will give me something to use my Lansky kit on to reprofile

is this one worth it, or should i pass on it?
 
For ten bucks more I'd buy a new one. In general I do not buy used knives. Vintage is OK by me, but only if in unused condition.

Since you asked...
-B0b
 
Look around on the web, and you'll probably find a new one for 35.

I would never buy one of these "we're trying to follow the trend" knives from Buck. The only Buck knife I will ever own is a 112 or 110. All the other knives Buck makes are comparable in style to other knives, by other makers, that are better quality with better materials.

The 112 and 110, though, are truly where it's at in the traditional lockback world. They're the ones everyone else tries to live up to.

Peace.
 
better quality with better materials
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With the possible exception of the Mayo 172. (Unless you're comparing it against the sebenza then you're right. :D )
 
As long as i'm talking about Buck knives, there's one thing that annoys me about them....

the little section of glurge on the warranty card/paperwork, it's not professional to have a "God is our boss" snippet of glurge on the paperwork

i have no problem with Buck's products, and leaving my religious beliefs out of the matter, it just seems unprofessional to have that little snippet of glurge on the paperwork

Buck makes a good product, let it stand (or fall, as the case may be) on it's own merits

i'm happy with my convenient little Metro keyring knife/bottle opener , and i may end up buying the legendary 110, as it's a cool knife with a rich history, they just need to drop the glurge
 
MacTech: Well, maybe if more manufacturers were worried about their everlasting souls, we'd have less substandard, knock-offs, and other such products. Similiar proclimations were common at one time; trustworthy-ness, yah know.

As far as the used knife, never buy a knife that doesn't function correctly for anything more than scrap value. If it just needed cleaning, they should have done it.
 
35 bucks for a beat-up $43.95 (knifeworks.com) assisted opening knife that isn't opening properly.... No way, no how. As a matter of fact I think I would have had trouble not laughing at the guy when he quoted that price.

Spend the extra few bucks and get a new one. A friend of mine recently bought one of the Buck Rush 290's and I was surprised at how nice it was. Great fit and finish and the thin blade is a great little slicer.
 
MacTech said:
As long as i'm talking about Buck knives, there's one thing that annoys me about them....

the little section of glurge on the warranty card/paperwork, it's not professional to have a "God is our boss" snippet of glurge on the paperwork

i have no problem with Buck's products, and leaving my religious beliefs out of the matter, it just seems unprofessional to have that little snippet of glurge on the paperwork

Buck makes a good product, let it stand (or fall, as the case may be) on it's own merits

i'm happy with my convenient little Metro keyring knife/bottle opener , and i may end up buying the legendary 110, as it's a cool knife with a rich history, they just need to drop the glurge
Click to expand...


For years we have been bombarded withthe bulls__t about seperation of Church and State. Are you now telling me we have seperation of Church and knives?
 
A lot of people are put-off by the overt religious statements by Buck Knives. I don't mind them though, even as an outspoken athiest. I look at the Buck card as a gesture of good will, as useful as rubbing Buddah's tummy and as harmless as a Voodoo curse.

If there were religious statements on government documents or currency, now that would piss me off. :mad:

-Bob
 
Hair said:
It seems like it is in junker shape. I'd never spend my money on it. For only 10 dollars less than a new one, it is a rip off.
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Necro thread, but here goes. I forge handmade knives from fine steel and do chef's knives where the steel alone cost twice this knife and that is before it is forged, ground, heat treated, shaped and handled. The minimum on my knives is typically around $800--just from the hours. The one in my pocket is this one. I picked one up cheap while travelling for a deployment and later, at the farm and the forge it is my go to knife. Yeah it is 420HC and I would never use that in a chef knife or custom knife. But when I lost mine behind the seat of my tractor, I hit eBay today to buy a couple more. Takes an edge in minutes holds it for hours, light, easy to open and tough enough to not snap in hard use. In the service I was issued and presented Benchmade and Spyderco (I have at least a dozen). I love those, but they sit in their presentation boxes as collectors and I rock the cheap Buck 290. Piss on it all you see fit, but mine lacks paint -- worn smooth from use and sits tucked into the belt loop of my holster when I go to sleep.
 
Valt said:
Necro thread, but here goes. I forge handmade knives from fine steel and do chef's knives where the steel alone cost twice this knife and that is before it is forged, ground, heat treated, shaped and handled. The minimum on my knives is typically around $800--just from the hours. The one in my pocket is this one. I picked one up cheap while travelling for a deployment and later, at the farm and the forge it is my go to knife. Yeah it is 420HC and I would never use that in a chef knife or custom knife. But when I lost mine behind the seat of my tractor, I hit eBay today to buy a couple more. Takes an edge in minutes holds it for hours, light, easy to open and tough enough to not snap in hard use. In the service I was issued and presented Benchmade and Spyderco (I have at least a dozen). I love those, but they sit in their presentation boxes as collectors and I rock the cheap Buck 290. Piss on it all you see fit, but mine lacks paint -- worn smooth from use and sits tucked into the belt loop of my holster when I go to sleep.
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he hasn't been here since 2017 so isnt gonna read your post......
 
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