All About Pocket Knives

Hey Folks.

This is my first time posting, so please forgive me for any formatting errors or any broken rules.

I recently broke my Buck 110 and went searching for a replacement in the meantime while the blade is replaced. I came across this blade and I've fallen in love with it, but there's just one problem. I found it at an Antique Store and the tag was illegible. Came in a handmade leather sheathe

I can't find any information on it, and the only person that's tried to identify it has just said it's a "Gas Station Buck", but I would argue that this is of nicer quality and better construction than any Buck I've ever had.

The edge is wicked sharp, and the scales are very nice feeling. I haven't had bone or stag, so I can't quite identify, but whatever it is, feels nice. The (lockback) action is extremely strong and firm with no play.

There is a "Rostfrei" marking, but as far as I know that just indicates that it's a stainless steel.

Would love to hear from somebody with greater knowledge than my own. Thanks for your time.

Welcome to AAPK. It is indeed a nice looking knife, and a shame the maker wasn’t proud enough of it to stamp their name on it. All I can tell you is that Rostfrei is German, and means stainless steel. It’s a fairly common stamp on knives of European origin whether German-made or not. When a maker marks a knife as being stainless, rostfrei, surgical steel, and so on but doesn’t specify the exact type of steel (440A, etc) that usually indicates a relatively cheap grade of stainless steel. That doesn’t mean it won’t make a suitable EDC. Just be aware of what you’re getting.

Someone who recognizes the knife’s maker may be along and enlighten us, so be patient and check back here for a few days, or until then.

Ken

That looks like a Japanese made knife to me. I’ve had similar. There have been some recent warehouse finds making their way into the market. Many were from Japanese masters or their team of knife builders. Some of these have no markings as well. Check out ePrague on Ebay to see many of these warehouse finds. You might find one just like it there. Hope this helps.

Not quite sure if I'm responding correctly, but thank you both for your input. I'm believing more and more that this may just be a one-off, or custom knife. No marking, handmade leather sheathe, etc.

It is indeed quite a nice finish, although I still don't know if it's bone or stag..

I will say that this knife feels much, much better than my Buck 110. Nicer than my Camillus KaBar, and nicer than my Edgemark 488.

I guess I'll have to see how well the metal holds up and if it takes a good edge or not. I'm still new to the knife thing, but I'm a leatherworker so they kinda go hand in hand.

Thanks!

BOOZLE110 wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 6:55 pm Not quite sure if I'm responding correctly, but thank you both for your input. I'm believing more and more that this may just be a one-off, or custom knife. No marking, handmade leather sheathe, etc.

It is indeed quite a nice finish, although I still don't know if it's bone or stag..

I will say that this knife feels much, much better than my Buck 110. Nicer than my Camillus KaBar, and nicer than my Edgemark 488.

I guess I'll have to see how well the metal holds up and if it takes a good edge or not. I'm still new to the knife thing, but I'm a leatherworker so they kinda go hand in hand.

Thanks!

That’s stag and it looks like some that I have seen on Japanese knives made in the 1980’s. They used a lot of fat stag and hafted the heck out of the bark on many of those. That’s what made me think it was Japanese in the first place. It’s a nice knife and should give you a lot of good use. Enjoy.

I don't know who made it either but it breathes quality and if it is Japanese steel, it is possibly very good.

I agree, that is definitely antler handles, probably Sambar Stag. You can see the pith on the end shot.
I do not know the maker.

Thanks for the response.

Yes, the handle seems to be the greatest feeling tool handle I have ever felt. I'm a leatherworker and own dozens upon dozens of expensive knives, but nothing quite this tier...

This is my first experience with stag, but I'm in love. I like it so much that I'm considering taking off the wooden handles on my other knives and replacing them with stag. Never done it before, but it seems like the process is simple enough (riveting, sanding, shaping)

Very, very nice feeling material. Not like anything else I've ever held. No wonder people go nuts over it. Now I'll have to track down some of the stuff in it's raw form!

BOOZLE110 wrote: ↑Fri May 17, 2024 12:40 pm Thanks for the response.

Yes, the handle seems to be the greatest feeling tool handle I have ever felt. I'm a leatherworker and own dozens upon dozens of expensive knives, but nothing quite this tier...

This is my first experience with stag, but I'm in love. I like it so much that I'm considering taking off the wooden handles on my other knives and replacing them with stag. Never done it before, but it seems like the process is simple enough (riveting, sanding, shaping)

Very, very nice feeling material. Not like anything else I've ever held. No wonder people go nuts over it. Now I'll have to track down some of the stuff in it's raw form!

Check out Culpeppers, they have every type of handle material you can imagine.