500 series wood handle question, What happened???

[guitar1580]

New member here. I really like the Buck Knight, Prince, and Squire locking knives. Sadly, I lost my mid 90's Knight. The wood on the handle was birchwood, I think, and treated with some kind of resin, making it very durable. My 2004 Squire is the same. Very dark, hard, shiny, wood handles with crisp edges.

I just got a 2006 Knight from ebay, to replace my old lost one, and was shocked and disappointed with the wood handles. They appear to be stained balsa wood, cheap looking, light dull finish, feels like I could scratch it with my fingernail... no crisp edges.

I know that some of the small knives are now made in China, but this one is stamped USA, or I would wonder. Does anyone know what type of wood is now used, and when this change took place. In my opinion, it's a fairly lame change to a good line of lockbacks. Any info about this would be greatly appreciated.

I think the pic below depicts the change in fit and finish.... my old Knight was like the Squire handles (top).

JP

[gino]

Sign of the times brother!
Even the shields they were using looked like foil paper.
I think there motto was "Quality, we dont need no stinkin quality"
go pre 90's and you should get what you want.

[guitar1580]

As I was just looking at differented models on SMKW website, such as the Knight, and the 110 Folding hunter, I notice that the Knight is now advertised with birchwood handles.

The cheaper basic 110 for $30 to $35 is labeled as "woodgrain", while the same sized folding hunter for around $10 more is advertised with chemically treated "birchwood".

I'm guessing "woodgrain" gets you the balsawood looking stuff shown in my pic above, where birchwood is like the older models. I'm not 100% sure, but it's something to watch for when buying new.

If anyone else knows, please chime in.

JP

[useem]

The cheaper basic 110 for $30 to $35 is labeled as "woodgrain", while the same sized folding hunter for around $10 more is advertised with chemically treated "birchwood".

JP[/quote] Which two knives are you comparing here? The 110 and what same sized folding hunter?

[guitar1580]

Here are the 2 knives I was referring to from the smkw website. Appear to be same size, diffference of either brass or nickel hardware...... and the different wood descriptions: "natural woodgrain" or "birchwood".

http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/pr ... KU=BU381NS

http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/pr ... SKU=BU3337

After getting the newer Knight with cheaper looking wood, I'm just trying to figure out what is what, if "natural woodgrain" means el~cheapo, compared to "birchwood".

I notice the slightly smaller Ranger is now listed as woodgrain, while the Knight is listed as birchwood.

http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/pr ... &SKU=BU246

http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/pr ... &SKU=BU394

The new prices are good, but I'm about ready to play it safe and buy older used models if I'm going to have to be concerned with getting substandard wood handles on new units.

JP

[300Bucks]

This is not my model area but till JB chimes in I will BS with the best of them.

Birchwood is new name for me....Unless stated otherwise Buck scales are resin impregnated wood. The recent past was plywood with nice face grain on it. The birch wood is the same wood found in the slipjoints called Dymondwood and in the Cherrywood slipjoint line. I believe it is birch resin impreg. ply .
The Dymondwoods have been found to be tough, I personally haven't had anybody tell me horror story.

At least once, handle the knife(s) at sporting goods/knife store before buying online. Just to see what it really looks like, those photos are professional made 'representations'...get my drift.

If you want to get deeper in the Buck slipjoint,liner lock world send me email or PM me and I can give you the contacts who know the 500,700 stuff......but I warn you lots of guys never escape the slippery slope of Buck collecting.

300Bucks