Is this a Buck knife

Hoyt Buck produced the first Buck Knife in 1902. Hoyt and his son Al moved to San Diego and set up shop as H.H. Buck & Son in 1947. Al Buck revolutionized the knife industry in 1964 with the infamous Model 110 Folding Hunter. The company's innovative history and attention to quality have made for many great collectible knives.
Post Reply
FreePress
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Jun 07, 2008 12:39 am

Is this a Buck knife

Post by FreePress »

I recently attended an auction in West Virginia where, for the princely sum of $5, I purchased a lot of four very modest folding knives. At the bottom of the little box was the badly corroded folder show in this post. Lost in the surf, lost in a sunken boat, lost in a lake or river? Who knows? Regardless, I've yielded to the challenge of trying to resurrect this knife and seek assistance from AAPK readers.

If the blade tang ever contained any markings, they are long gone. I cut through the pins in order to clean the brass parts and can find no internal markings of any kind. Overall, the knife is 4 inches long, and the blade is 2 3/4 inches.

Is it possible for a rookie collector like me to purchase a replacement blade, back spring and other parts necessary to complete the restoration? I'd like to try making replacement scales from tight-grained hardwood, so I'm mostly looking for the steel replacement items. What are sources for this type of shopping?

Thanks to one and all who might offer assistance. Photos associated with this post show the current status of my restoration efforts.
Attachments
My auction find in its current state of restoration.
My auction find in its current state of restoration.
User avatar
Iron Hoarder
Posts: 1808
Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 3:03 pm
Location: Chertsey, Surrey, UK
Contact:

Re: Is this a Buck knife

Post by Iron Hoarder »

Good luck with that one. You'll need a new spring as well. It looks a bit Buckish but there were many that looked the same.
I measure my collection by the ton.
Whoever dies with the most tools wins......Now accepting donations.
User avatar
knifetime
Posts: 1986
Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:28 am
Location: Ohio

Re: Is this a Buck knife

Post by knifetime »

I can tell from the way the bolster are not one piece with the frame it is not a Buck.
-"...and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby If the iron be blunt,and he do not whet the edge,then must he put to more strength....Ecclesiastes 10 10 ;So the good book says
sharpen your knife !!!
FreePress
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Jun 07, 2008 12:39 am

Re: Is this a Buck knife

Post by FreePress »

Hello Iron Hoarder and Knifetime: Thanks for your assessments. I don't think I can make this project my life's work, but I'm going to stick with it at least for now. All of this adds to my knowledge of edged tools and the people who understand and appreciate their value.
knives-are-quiet

Re: Is this a Buck knife

Post by knives-are-quiet »

Looks like it could be a Schrade LB5 Lock back.
You would have to find out which brand it is first.
Then maybe you could get a couple of parts knives off eBay and put together a functional knife.
To me it would not be worth it unless that knife had some sort of sentimental value to it.

JW
Diamondtim
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 10:42 pm

Re: Is this a Buck knife

Post by Diamondtim »

There are blank blades to be had on ebay.

Good Luck.
Share the Love,

Diamondtim
300Bucks
Posts: 244
Joined: Wed May 13, 2009 2:59 am

Re: Is this a Buck knife

Post by 300Bucks »

Granted I am not a expert in the Buck 110 world, but I would be willing to bet it is NOT a 110.

I will also go with a Schrade, the bolsters and and pin holes are wrong for a 110.

300Bucks
FreePress
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Jun 07, 2008 12:39 am

Re: Is this a Buck knife

Post by FreePress »

Looks like that popular auction site that everyone loves/hates can provide an affordable source for an LB5 blade blank. Is it possible to fabricate the needed springs? Meanwhile, I'm watching the marketplace for a junker version of an LB5 that would have a main spring and the little leaf spring. Some day, this auction find might live to once again cut a slice of cheese. Thanks to everyone for your help and encouragement.
User avatar
knifetime
Posts: 1986
Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:28 am
Location: Ohio

Re: Is this a Buck knife

Post by knifetime »

300Bucks wrote:Granted I am not a expert in the Buck 110 world, but I would be willing to bet it is NOT a 110.

I will also go with a Schrade, the bolsters and and pin holes are wrong for a 110.

300Bucks
It is not a Buck for sure. Schrade maybe? Good project knife.
-"...and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby If the iron be blunt,and he do not whet the edge,then must he put to more strength....Ecclesiastes 10 10 ;So the good book says
sharpen your knife !!!
User avatar
orvet
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 19901
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 6:23 am
Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon

Re: Is this a Buck knife

Post by orvet »

As a Schrade guy I would say it is an LB7, from the looks of it. The outline of the frame is a dead giveaway.
If the frame is 5", it is a LB7. If the frame measures 3-34/" it is an LB5.
There are slight differences between the LB7 & LB5 in the shape of the frame, but not a lot, mostly just size.

You can make a spring out of spring steel. You can buy it from some suppliers or you can scavenge some. A good source is spring clamps used to clampwood while gluing.

My PC is in the shop now so I don't have access to my pics, but when I get it back I can give you the dimensions of the spring & pics of an LB7 apart.

Sounds like a fun project!
Dale
AAPK Administrator

Please visit my AAPK store: www.allaboutpocketknives.com/orvet

Job 13:15

"Buy more ammo!" - Johnnie Fain
“Evil is Powerless If The Good are Unafraid.” – Ronald Reagan
Post Reply

Return to “Buck Knife Collector's Forum”