Hard to work around that disappointment. . . I also like Buck's USA knives. You must, of course, spend your money in the way you think best. I like Great Eastern Cutlery for USA pocket folders. They use D2 tool steel and have really robust construction. Case also makes their knives in the USA, but they are somewhat lighter weight than GEC, which may be what you are looking for if the Buck 303 was your first choice. The Ontario Knife Company has some nice fixed blade knives, and Kershaw makes some fine ones -- I like the Leek, but both companies also have non-US manufacturing, and Kershaw does have Chinese made knives in its catalogue.

Edit: if you are looking for something pre-owned, but American made, you could check out allaboutpocketknives.com. It is the RFC of the pocket knife world and have a robust trading post.

 

Bought a Buck 303 Cadet on Amazon and when it arrived it said made in China on it. Emailed Buck and was told I received one of their outsourced knives. I'm very disappointed with this BS. On the Amazon order page and Buck's website, they brag made in USA. Not so I guess. I'll be returning it and am no longer a Buck customer. Sorry for my vent.

It was the seller who you should blame, for not being up front about the knife being made in China. The bulk of Buck's knives are made in the US

 

I've got a little Buck 373 pocket knife that I carry in my pocket every day. It was made in China and has proven to be a good little knife, especially for what I paid for it.

 

I wasn't taking the OP's post as a comment on Chinese knife quality. I thought it was more that he preferred to buy American. I will readily concede that there are well-made Chinese knives out there. But I think this is a different issue.

 

It's a shame so many iconic American items are now made in China. My two Buck knives were picked up nearly 50 years ago, and have served extremely well since then. I do have knives made in China but treasure my knives made here in the USA.

 

To the OP:
Did you check the model number? The USA model is Model #0303BKS-B. Sounds like the Amazon seller misrepresented the knife, not necessarily Buck Knives. I agree, knife shopping was easier when Bucks line was 100% domestic.

Buck has been bringing manufacturing back to the USA. The budget sets are still made in China.

 

Last I heard from Buck they have moved most of their production back to the States. The China made knives made people VERY unhappy and rather than take the flack they made the right choice to just sell at a bit higher price point and keep the made in America strength the used to have.

 

The Buck web site is pretty good about saying where each knife is made.

Buck sources some knives from Chi Com so that it can continue to be responsive to customers that want a cheap knife...and there are nearly an endless supply of folks that want cheap over anything else.

I've probably got 25 Buck knives in my collection and everyone of them are Made in the USA. Sure, I could have gotten similar looking knives Chi Com made for less money, but those Chi Com will never compare favorably to USA Made Bucks.

The Chi Com Bucks are a good bargain if you want cheap and are OK with outsourcing American jobs.

 

"The Chi Com Bucks are a good bargain if you want cheap and are OK with outsourcing American jobs."
This is so true. I find it amazing how people are wanting an increase in pay then gripe when the cost of everything goes up.
I look at the place of manufacture before a purchase. There are times when you have to but China made goods but not all the time. Think of what we are leaving our children.

 

Agreed. The same issue with buying online instead of the local shop.