All About Pocket Knives

I don’t know anything about Buck knives, could you help me out?

Looks like the Tempest model. I believe it is discontinued. Made in the USA.

Nice knife.

Pattern number 296?? other covered by the handles. Thanks for the info. Harold

stockman wrote: ↑Fri Apr 03, 2026 8:44 pm Pattern number 296?? other covered by the handles. Thanks for the info. Harold

Yep. 296. The part that is covered would be the date code.

Thanks Rick. Date Code looks like a squiggly line could not find it in the date code chart. Harold

No problem, Harold. Maybe this screenshot from the Buck website will help.

Rick, PM sent, J.O'.

Picture of date code, I couldn’t find this one. Harold

stockman wrote: ↑Tue Apr 28, 2026 11:04 pm Picture of date code, I couldn’t find this one. Harold

Harold, that is not the date code my friend. It means that the blade steel is 154CM with the Paul Bos heat treat that Buck uses.

Rick I knew that part, I thought the little squiggles in behind was the date code. Thanks for your help. I’ve had a few Buck knife, but don’t know about them. Harold

stockman wrote: ↑Tue Apr 28, 2026 11:29 pm Rick I knew that part, I thought the little squiggles on behind was the date code. Thanks for your help. I’ve had a few Buck knife, but don’t know about them. Harold

The date code would be next to the 6 in the 296 model number on the other side of the tang. I can just barely see a tiny piece of it in your second picture.

When you mentioned that it was a squiggly line I thought you had gotten a good look at it. Based on the tiny part of it that I can see, it looks like it’s one of the date codes from 2023 or 2024 in my chart above which also look like squiggly lines.

I wonder if you could see it through the handle cutout with the blade closed.

Thanks Rick, could see some of the mark, I think you are right on the date. I appreciate your help. Thanks again Harold.