All About Pocket Knives

Posted: **Sun May 06, 2018 11:08 am**

My late cousin bought this Buck 105 Pathfinder on 28 JUN 66, it's a one line with a dot (no one is really sure what the dot means). My cousin was excellent at dating what he bought and keeping the boxes and paperwork. He passed away six weeks ago at the age of 88, a well liked and well respected gentleman. His wife gave me this knife, I sharpened it yesterday and fully intend to use it for the next few seasons (end of turkey and deer next fall). My cousin was my mentor and friend, I'm proud to own his Buck Knife. OH

Posted: **Sun May 06, 2018 11:19 am**

Bruce, what a wonderful gift to you to remember a special man! That is really great.

Treefarmer

Posted: **Sun May 06, 2018 11:22 am**

OH, that's pretty special in a bunch of ways. ____Dave

Posted: **Sun May 06, 2018 12:18 pm**

Nice OH, very nice all around.

Posted: **Sun May 06, 2018 2:47 pm**

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. I have been trying to find a picture of my cousin Mac, this is the best I can do; I took command of the 167th MP BN in JAN 1995. This picture is of all the former 167th MP BN commanders who attended the change of command ceremony, those in civilian clothes were retired. I'm the Major(P) in uniform on one side of the picture, my cousin Mac, the senior of this group (having retired as an ARNG Brigade Commanding General (BG) in 1986) is on the opposite side. We are lined up in order of command, but missing at least one former commander, maybe two - those were good days! OH

Posted: **Sun May 06, 2018 8:16 pm**

Very cool photo of a very special day, OH!

Why don't we have a "salute" smiley anyway?

My newest Buck is this 501 "Squire" from our very own AAPK stores. Why? Because I didn't have one.

The price was definitely right. My only issue with the knife, which was meant to be a user anyway, is that it has a slight bit of side-to-side wobble when the blade is locked open. Since I didn't pay much for the knife, I didn't want to bother the seller over it, but I am interested in seeing what the manufacturer can do. What is entailed by the fabled "Buck spa treatment" I've heard about so many times? What does it generally cost and what does that do for the knife? I'm not averse to touching up a venerable knife up for many future years of service at a nominal cost, and this one is in good shape to start with.

Posted: **Sun May 06, 2018 8:17 pm**

Old Hunter wrote:If the blade is 1/8" thick are you certain it isn't a Buck 105? OH

I'm not OH. The blade does not flex as you would expect a filet knife to flex. It's stout.

Posted: **Sun May 06, 2018 8:32 pm**

Old Hunter wrote:My late cousin bought this Buck 105 Pathfinder on 28 JUN 66, it's a one line with a dot (no one is really sure what the dot means). My cousin was excellent at dating what he bought and keeping the boxes and paperwork. He passed away six weeks ago at the age of 88, a well liked and well respected gentleman. His wife gave me this knife, I sharpened it yesterday and fully intend to use it for the next few seasons (end of turkey and deer next fall). My cousin was my mentor and friend, I'm proud to own his Buck Knife. OH

Sorry for your loss OH. I like how you will use that knife.

Posted: **Sun May 06, 2018 11:11 pm**

Steve, I just took this photo of the Buck 118, 105, and 121; these are older, tip down models from the mid 60’s to early 70’s. That era had much more knife to knife variance than we see in the modern era. Compare your knife to the 105 (center) and see if it doesn’t match up. OH

Posted: **Mon May 07, 2018 12:03 am**

Tsar Bomba wrote:Very cool photo of a very special day, OH!

Why don't we have a "salute" smiley anyway?

My newest Buck is this 501 "Squire" from our very own AAPK stores. Why? Because I didn't have one.

41216889284_d04e3229e6_k.jpg
The price was definitely right. My only issue with the knife, which was meant to be a user anyway, is that it has a slight bit of side-to-side wobble when the blade is locked open. Since I didn't pay much for the knife, I didn't want to bother the seller over it, but I am interested in seeing what the manufacturer can do. What is entailed by the fabled "Buck spa treatment" I've heard about so many times? What does it generally cost and what does that do for the knife? I'm not averse to touching up a venerable knife up for many future years of service at a nominal cost, and this one is in good shape to start with.

Tsar, the "spa treatment" consists of a good factory sharpening, cleaning, buffing, and if you ask them to they would probably do a general tightening. All for a princely sum of under $10 plus postage, sharpening alone costs $6.95; here is a link to their repair/sharpening form used by the warranty dept: https://www.buckknives.com/pdf/WarrantyForm_072016.pdf. I've sent in a couple of 110's with just "repair/sharpen as needed" on the form and got a shinier-than-new & factory sharp knife back in return; well worth the effort.

Posted: **Mon May 07, 2018 12:57 am**

Old Hunter wrote:Steve, I just took this photo of the Buck 118, 105, and 121; these are older, tip down models from the mid 60’s to early 70’s. That era had much more knife to knife variance than we see in the modern era. Compare your knife to the 105 (center) and see if it doesn’t match up. OH

It looks like it could be either, OH. The blade measures 5 inches from the guard. The sheath isn't stamped with a model number. However, if the 121 blade flexes as a filet blade should and mine doesn't, it must be a 105, if the blade lengths are the same. Thanks for your help.

Posted: **Mon May 07, 2018 1:23 am**

Steve, just measured 3 of my Buck 121 (all pre-date code knives) - two measure 5-7/16" (my most worn two) and the oldest one (least used) measures 5-9/16". I have one Buck 105 in the house (a 1976 vintage knife) - it measures 5-1/16". You've got a Buck 105 Pathfinder. Early Buck 121 knives flexed, they got progressively thicker until it became the 121 Guide and was no longer the 121 Fisherman model. OH

Posted: **Mon May 07, 2018 1:26 am**

Tony, nice Buck 501. I have an early one, named the Esquire, which I carry occasionally - IMO it's the best of the pocketable lockbacks. OH

Posted: **Mon May 07, 2018 4:39 am**

Baykeeper wrote:Tsar, the "spa treatment" consists of a good factory sharpening, cleaning, buffing, and if you ask them to they would probably do a general tightening. All for a princely sum of under $10 plus postage, sharpening alone costs $6.95; here is a link to their repair/sharpening form used by the warranty dept: https://www.buckknives.com/pdf/WarrantyForm_072016.pdf. I've sent in a couple of 110's with just "repair/sharpen as needed" on the form and got a shinier-than-new & factory sharp knife back in return; well worth the effort.

That's great news and money well worth spending, thanks for the info!

I suspect I'll take the time to send this 501 in to the "spa" as well as one or two others I may have that could use a little TLC.

Old Hunter wrote:Tony, nice Buck 501. I have an early one, named the Esquire, which I carry occasionally - IMO it's the best of the pocketable lockbacks. OH

I can see why, OH. How old is the Esquire? I'm really only familiar with the dating of 110s, 112s and a few of the 3xx and 7xx slipjoints. I'm still uncovering tidbits about Buck history all the time. I was surprised at how the 501 vanishes in the pocket considering it came with a belt sheath!

Posted: **Mon May 07, 2018 12:14 pm**

The 501 Esquire was the original variation and name for the Buck 501. It has Olde English script on the tang stamp and deep red Micarta scales. The very first issued had an exposed rocker pin, but that didn’t last long. IIRC the date on the knives with these features was early 1980’s. OH

Posted: **Mon May 07, 2018 10:49 pm**

OH, I think you are correct, its a 105.

Those 501's look very pocket friendly.

Posted: **Mon May 14, 2018 10:55 pm**

$20 E-bay 500 that I modified to a bare head. Those steel bolsters were harder than I anticipated and the seller didn't mention that the liners were bent and it wouldn't snap closed. A bit of a challenge for my first try. The walnut for the covers came from a friend who died last year and the inspiration came from you guys. Next I'll bare head a 112.

Posted: **Tue Jun 12, 2018 12:38 am**

Sorry no pics but I have a 110 from around 2012. Grabbed at Kmart for $25, its mint. Before that, is my fixed blade hunting knife, unknown # from around 2005 Walmart camo. knife. Its unused in a homemade kydex sheath. 110 in a unnamed leather sheath.

Posted: **Wed Jun 13, 2018 10:28 am**

Bastler wrote:$20 E-bay 500 that I modified to a bare head. Those steel bolsters were harder than I anticipated and the seller didn't mention that the liners were bent and it wouldn't snap closed. A bit of a challenge for my first try. The walnut for the covers came from a friend who died last year and the inspiration came from you guys. Next I'll bare head a 112.

DSCF0302 (2).JPG

Nice job on the Barehead.

Posted: **Wed Jun 13, 2018 11:43 am**

Bastler, very nice job (especially for a first mod) - you made lemonade! OH

Posted: **Thu Jun 14, 2018 12:45 am**

Thanks for the kind words. Here's a 112 bare head with micarta covers. I still have a lot to learn.

Posted: **Fri Jun 15, 2018 11:15 am**

Bought a Buck 524 Alumni to carry in my blue suit pocket pants a couple weeks ago, been carrying it since last Saturday - you'd never know its there. These three SFO of the new Buck 110 LT "Smoke Jumper" came in the mail yesterday from SK Blades; blade made of CPM-154 steel - going to try one soon. OH

Posted: **Sun Jun 17, 2018 11:38 pm**

FINALLY I came across a 301

why cause I didn't have one

Posted: **Mon Jun 18, 2018 4:44 am**

garddogg56 wrote:FINALLY I came across a 301 why cause I didn't have one

That one looks to be in very good condition, good find, arguably the best Stockman patterned knife ever made.

Posted: **Mon Jun 18, 2018 10:48 am**

Congrats Dogg, the first Stockman I ever owned (1973) was a Buck 301 - I'm still a confirmed Buck man and still own that 301. OH

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