Buck Vantage Pro Small Liner Lock Knife (2.625" Satin S30V) 0342BKS

4 star review is accurate

Nice design, execution not quite perfect.

-As other reviewers have mentioned my blade has the slightest bit of damage where it appears to contact the back spacer. I'm not going to return it and I imagine this will be rectified by the first good sharpening, as the contact is SLIGHT, but this is a design flaw that should have been caught. Blade is sharp, steel is good, and… read more I LOVE the thickness of the spine. I anticipate this blade holding up very well. Like another reviewer, I would have appreciated a little bit of jimping on the spine, partly for the next reason...

-It's small. Dimensions are listed so this isn't truly a con, but the flipper tab eats up 3/4" of handle and really leaves a hair under 3" of usable grip. Even as a person with small hands it's difficult to get a full grip. The G10 is grippy, but that and the flipper tab alone aren't enough to give me full confidence my hand wouldn't slide up the blade under heavy use.

-I'm a fan of a small flipper tab, but this one is just smidge too small. I could loosen the action, but I don't believe it's too tight, it's just hard to get enough purchase to fully open the blade. You can overcome this with a bit of wrist flick, but between this and the grip issue I think it should have been just a little more substantial.

I'm not a Civivi fan boy, but for virtually the same price point I'd have to recommend the Elementum flipper. Similar drop point design, similar materials, approximately 5/8" longer overall but with 3/8" more of usable handle, perfect secure grip, and a fantastic action. Overall simply executed better in virtually every way. The only features I prefer on this knife vs the Elementum is that the spine starts at a hair over 1/8" thickness vs 3/16" on the Elementum, and the Elementum has a PRONOUNCED hollow grind. I would anticipate the flatter, thicker Vantage will be more durable with heavy use.

---

Cancel Comment

Good design, Poor quality control

Nice contoured handles and deep carry clip. The one I received had an extremely early liner lock-up, so it did not lock at all. Unfortunately had to return it due to this defect.

---

Cancel Comment

Despite a chipped blade

I ordered this knife about 8 months ago and figured it was time to give you some insight. When the knife came in the mail I opened and started flicking it out getting use to the flipper tab and at some point during this it had chipped the blade and it seemed to have came into contact with the spacer inside the frame. I was going to return it but decided to resharpen the blade and… read more since then I have not had a blade chip from the spacer. The blade sharpened very quickly and has held an edge well. The pocket clip is deep carry but not jeans or thick clothing friendly. If I had anything bad to say it would be 3 things.

1. Wish there was some jimping to the back of the blade for better traction

2. The scales are kinda thick for such a small knife. would like to see them trimmed down

3.flipper tab a bit longer.

---

Cancel Comment

A little on the small side

This is great for people with smaller hands. I give this 4 stars because it was a gift! Everything else is classic Buck Knives though. Great work and made in USA!!!

---

Cancel Comment

Shockingly good

It has gotten to the point now where the knife aficionados are looking only toward higher end brands like Spyderdo, Emerson, etc. They are not doing themselves any favors be eliminating the lower priced makers like Buck, Kershaw and Gerber, as they are starting to make knives in the USA again and out of excellent materials.

I bought the "Alaska Guide" version of this knife,… read more with the DLC coating, rosewood handle inserts and S30V, and it is just superb. I just did a YouTube review on it; user Jeremy D.

In short though, it is a great pocket clip carry knife. The clip is deep carry, and it screws to the end of the knife so there aren't unsightly screw holes all over the side of the knife. The width of the knife isn't too much, so it doesn't hog width in your pocket. It fills the hands a lot more than something like a Delica, but without feeling thick in the pocket.

The frame lock is better suited to righties, but lefties can probably handle it too. The action is not loose. It either requires a firm flick of the flipper or a light flick and a small bit of wrist action. You won't find it lacking, in practice. Although I'm already flush with 3 to 3-1/4" folders, I find myself wanting to go back for the Large one as well...

---

Cancel Comment

Good Little EDC

Wanted a cheap entry point to S30V steel, and this knife hasn't disappointed so far. Deep carry pocket clip fits nicely in the pocket (after I flexed it a little to loosen it up). Not the fasted flipper, but once you break it in, it opens decently.

---

Cancel Comment

Essential and Functional EDC

Bought this knife for my father since he usually carries small Bucks, and his previous one was sharpened so much the blade was about half the size.

This knife is the perfect size to carry everyday with its deep pocket clip. The s30v blade is of great quality and locks up tight and holds it's edge very well.

The flipping action doesn't perform as smooth as I would've… read more liked and takes a little assistance from the wrist.

Overall, a well-priced EDC folder from Buck.

---

Cancel Comment

A nice knife...

So this is a quality knife. It leaves a little to be desired as a "flipper", though. The flipping action is not smooth and required a little getting used to and a pretty decent amount of wrist flick. That aside, it comes with great steel, but I didn't find mine to be razor sharp from the factory. The pocket clip is great and allows comfortable carry. By no means is this a bad knife.… read more It's a Buck and is USA made, so in the long run it'll hold up.

---

Cancel Comment