Heads Up -- Buck Knives Factory Sale

[ArfinGreebly]

Sorry, I meant to post this Friday and things just got away from me.

For those of you living in the Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Liberty Lake area (and that would include you guys up in Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry), Buck knives is hosting one of their factory inventory sales this coming week.

Unlike the inventory sales they've held in the past at the Greyhound Center, this sale will be for the entire week (rather than one day), and it will be held at their factory location at 660 S. Lochsa Street, Post Falls, Idaho.

The sale will be Monday-Friday, 10:00AM to 6:00PM, and be operated out of the facory retail store. (Note, I have somewhat conflicting data from another source that suggests the hours will be 10:00AM to 4:00PM.)

Discounts from 20% to 60% are common at these sales, and I must confess they are the main reason I no longer have an accurate count of how many Buck knives I own.


Oh, and BTW, it looks like Buck and the NRA are collaborating on a knife. Press release here.

"We listened to our membership when they said they wanted us to offer a USA made incentive,” stated Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the NRA. “We know from previous programs that knives are very popular among our membership. When it came to making a decision of which brand we wanted to offer, Buck Knives was at the top of the list,” he said.

Hot Damn.

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

Bout time the NRA came around on that.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Hours Confirmed

I called and confirmed the hours today.

10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

I managed to fly by there this evening on the way home. Got to spend about 15 minutes in the shop before they closed.

Man, I hate being broke.

They've got Stockman and Cadet knives ("factory blems") for $15. The "blemishes" are, in many cases, so small you have to have them pointed out. That's a $50 and a $40 knife for $15. *Sigh*

They have the new "PaperStone" handled Buck 110 and 112. These are real, full sized, standard steel, grind, temper, etc., but with a very lightweight synthetic handle with really nice ergos. Deep red/maroon and dark green handles. Oh, man. The answer for those who love the 110 & 112 but don't like the carry weight.

I finally got to handle the new Paradigm. It's the size of the Vantage, but a bit heavier. The new "shift lock" mechanism integrates almost invisibly into the front bolster. The ASAP opening assist pops the blade open with surprising energy; make sure you have a good grip before gently pushing the flip tab.

Very nice. Must have. (I believe, with the discounts, I may "receive" one of these for Father's Day.)



Handled a Vanguard, with white bone handle. Nice hunting knife. Wide four-inch blade, well balanced and fitted for hunting bigger stuff. I wonder if the budget will allow one of those . . . ?


For anyone planning to go, you should note that they're seeing heavy morning traffic, lighter afternoon traffic. When I got there at 5:45, there were only five of us. Earlier in the day, they were mobbed, and had personnel directing traffic, allowing just so many at a time into the store.

So, gotta talk to the boss tomorrow and see if he'll approve an afternoon of hooky.

 

[A_Matthew]

That's awesome! I'm going to have to swing by there sometime within the next 15 hours or so.

My brother took advantage of one of those sales about a year ago. Got a ~$90 knife for $25. I think he got it so cheap because they were being discontinued. No problems or anything.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Contact!

Well, despite schedule pressures, I did manage to wind up at the factory today just before closing.

On instructions from my wife (in the name of Father's Day), I diligently perused the selection and chose [STRIKE]a couple[/STRIKE] . . . [STRIKE]a few [/STRIKE]. . . okay, several items.

For about the price of one or two pieces, I came home with . . . let's see . . . a Pathfinder, a couple of EcoLite Rangers, a pair of EcoLite Folding Hunters, two BuckLites (orange), twin Vantage Selects, and a Paradigm Avid (pair o' dimes?).

The EcoLites (MSRP $42 & $45) were all $10, because of a minor blemish on the handle. The BuckLites (MSRP $30?) were all $8 due to a small black mark where the orange handle met the ricasso. The Vantage Selects (MSRP $35) were all $10 due to a minor handle finishing blem.

The Pathfinder and the Paradigm were non-blems, and were $29 and $60 respectively.

Oh, and I forgot one -- a yellow handled 301 Stockman (MSRP $50) with minor handle blemish, $15.


This evening, I used the Pathfinder to hack up a number of Top Round roasts that I got on sale for $2.68/lb. That thing is a delight to use. Very slicy. The handle is just right for my medium hands, and the extra inch of pointy steel doesn't get in my way. I can highly recommend the 105 Pathfinder.


The BuckLite (orange) fixed blade knives are ideal for smaller hands. If you have a kid you're teaching to hunt, this is a very capable hunter/skinner. Heck, it would serve well for an adult.


The Paradigm is even snappier opening than the previous generation of Buck's ASAP designs. Snappier than the Rush and Sirius. A seriously energetic little bugger. The "shift lock" is cool. Locks the knife closed. Locks the knife open. The only "down side" is that the lock is positioned so that it favors right handed people. A lefty can certainly use it, but instead of using a thumb to slide the latch, you'd use the middle finger.

I will try the Paradigm with the clip for a while, but my hunch is that I will wind up removing it, as I did with the Vantage.


All in all, a most satisfying visit to the Buck factory.

 

[TomADC]

Years ago when Buck was here in El Cajon I had a good friend that let us know when that sale was going to be, bought many a buck knife there.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Closing Time

Made one final pass this evening.

I was hoping to pick up an extra Vantage Avid (really like the one I have), but they were all out.

They had the Pro and Select, but no more Avids.

So, to drown my sorrows, I picked up a pair of (blem) Selects.

I don't yet know what to make of the PaperStone that's being used on the new Selects. It's kind of "G-10 rough" but lighter. The stuff used on the EcoLite 110 & 112 is smooth and sleek, easy on the hand.

We'll just have to see how the rougher version on the Vantage Select works out.


Oh -- while I was milling about, I recognized a face from the Blade show photos over on BladeForums. Joe Houser got back today (Hi, Joe!). 'Course, he don't know me from Adam, but he got a "hi" anyway.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Cool Haul!