What are your thoughts on the buck 501?

L

lightskyam

Joined
Mar 14, 2013
Messages
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I bought a buck 501 over a year ago and I would basically use it for opening packages, mail, cutting up boxes, and string. I noticed a few weeks back that when I held the knife perpendicular to the floor with the blade facing down, the blade would hang a little. I sent it to buck and they said the spring is being fixed and will be mailed back to me.
 
I have a few 501's that never find any pocket time. Just a little small for me.

I like the size of the discontinued 531 much better. I carry a 532 if I want a smaller knife that fits nicely in the pocket.
 
I've got a single example, it's the BCCI Heritage version and I love it. It is a small knife, but it fulfills its jobs handily; tends to go in my pocket when I am wearing slacks or need a slimmer profile knife.
 
I'm never with out it if I need something bigger I go to a fixed blade.
 
so it's considered a good knife? the reason i ask is, i'm new to the knife world, and when i was looking around just to buy something i picked the 501 from buck. i see alot of 110's out there, but is the 110 a better knife, or just different style and price range?
 
I like both the 110 and the 112 for normal carry but if I need the hip space for something else (CC) then either a 500 or 501 goes in the pocket.
 
375dave said:
I like both the 110 and the 112 for normal carry but if I need the hip space for something else (CC) then either a 500 or 501 goes in the pocket.
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so the 110 and 112 are just a bigger knife than the 501? how about the quality? is the 110 or 112 better quality than the 501?
 
lightskyam said:
so the 110 and 112 are just a bigger knife than the 501? how about the quality? is the 110 or 112 better quality than the 501?
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Ah, now the question makes more sense.
No.
The 110, the 112, and the 501 are all quality knives; the real difference is in the intended application. The 110 (hunter) and the 112 (ranger) are designed for and excel at outdoorsy/hunting ish type tasks. The 501 is a pocket knife, to me it is interchangeable with a slipjoint like the 301.
Quality: is equal, they are all great knives.
 
russde said:
Ah, now the question makes more sense.
No.
The 110, the 112, and the 501 are all quality knives; the real difference is in the intended application. The 110 (hunter) and the 112 (ranger) are designed for and excel at outdoorsy/hunting ish type tasks. The 501 is a pocket knife, to me it is interchangeable with a slipjoint like the 301.
Quality: is equal, they are all great knives.
Click to expand...

thanks everyone for the vote of confidence. i have no doubt that buck are great knives but my 501, which i hadn't been using harshly had to be sent back to buck for service. as i explained in my first post, the blade was hanging a bit and i wondered why it needed servicing after not being put through too much torture.
 
I can think of several reasons for the blade to hang ..
if it did not hang when new then wear on spring or black of blade most likely
I am sure it will be jest fine when it gets back
I know that buck likes to get knives back jest to see how they wore in use..
kinda like car makers used to like to get cars back with over 300k to see how they held up
 
Quality doesn't mean perfection. Nor is perfection achieved without mistakes.
 
lightskyam said:
I bought a buck 501 over a year ago and I would basically use it for opening packages, mail, cutting up boxes, and string. I noticed a few weeks back that when I held the knife perpendicular to the floor with the blade facing down, the blade would hang a little. I sent it to buck and they said the spring is being fixed and will be mailed back to me.
Click to expand...


I think your question is more about blade play and less about the 501 compared to other Bucks, no?

From what I've seen, you aren't the first to post to this forum with problems with blade play with their Buck. The search function may provide you with more insights. Buck moved from California to Idaho in 2005 and some regular posters to this forum (who know more about Bucks than I do, which isn't saying much) have asserted that the QC took a hit with the move, which is somewhat to be expected.

The head of Buck's QC department watches this forum and we know that these issues are of a high concern to them. One thing that has been incredibly consistent is Buck's commitment to customer satisfaction. While it's a bummer to have a knife loosen up with light to moderate use, I'm confident that Buck will make things right. Even with the best QC, you have to allow for materials on any hard good to fail occasionally.

(Edited to add: If you've been opening the knife by pinching the spine of the blade and flicking the frame open with a snap of your wrist, this may be culprit. Lockbacks aren't designed for this sort of harsh opening and it can lead to premature wear and tear to the blade/lockbar interface.)

Overall, I think Buck's quality is very good. Their production level knives might not have the "fit and finish" of top shelf customs or quasi-custom knives, but they have a great reputation for a good reason.

This said... I wouldn't expect their plastic framed lockers to be as robust as those with metal bolsters and liners and there are still open issues relative to premature development of vertical blade play under hard use (deformed bushing or pins, perhaps?). The folks from Buck have promised they will get an update out on that at some point.
 
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