A Couple of Bucks

kwselke · #1 06-20-2018, 11:48 PM

The first Buck knife I ever had was a Model 500 Duke 3" drop point blade back lock that my ex gave me for Christmas 1988. I was very pleased with it, but I lost it a little over two years later. I replaced it with a Buck Model 501 Squire which had a 2 3/4" blade, because it was cheaper and a bit lighter. A couple of more years go by and I lose the Squire. These were expensive knives for me, so I replaced that one with a Model 503 Prince which comes with a 2 1/2" blade. By the time I lost the Squire I had won a Bucklite Model 444 at a Ducks Unlimited banquet. It was plastic, paid for, and cheap. It was embossed with the DU logo which made it unique, and had a similar blade design to the 501 Squire. Never lost the plastic handled knife... wore it out.

Last year I found a deal on Model 503 and bought it. Last week I found a deal on a Model 500 and Model 501 and bought them. They arrived today.

The 500 series knives were meant to be a gentleman's lock back knives. Lighter and thinner than the Models 110 and 112, with drop point blades and silver bolsters. The 500 Duke weighs 4.7 ounces compared to a Model 110 Ranger at 6.1 ounces. The Model 501 Squire is a pocket friendly 2.8 ounces. The 500 and the 501 came with leather belt sheathes. They are small enough for me to pocket carry them, which may be why they were lost.

In one picture I stuck in my 503 Prince. The final picture Includes my drop point Models 110 and 112.

I guess I should look for a 505 Knight to round out the Buck nobility.

HOUSTON RICK · #2 06-21-2018, 12:44 AM

I can't take pictures of my newer knives until the wife leaves town - she would say that I have too many. As if that were possible!

In downtown Houston there is a long time daily panhandler who sticks hand out and just says "a couple of bucks" I thought this might be about him.

Some of them

kwselke · #3 06-21-2018, 07:34 PM

In my post above I mentioned a plastic Buck Model 444. I won it along with a Bucklite multitool and a nylon sheath in a raffle at a Ducks Unlimited banquet in 1999. Of the dozens of DU banquets I've attended and hundreds of raffles entered this is the only raffle I ever won. I stuck the sheath with tools in my desk draw.

Around 2002 I lost my old Model 503 and pulled the plastic Model 444 out of the sheath and it became my everyday carry knife for the next six years. It got used a lot and finally the back-lock would not hold the blade locked open while in use. I retired the knife back into the sheath with the multitool.

Fast forward to January of this year. I had added a few Bucks to my blossoming collection and was reviewing Buck's Forever Warranty and their SPA (Sharpen/Polish/Adjust) Treatment. I thought what the heck and sent the old plastic knife in with a check for $7. I requested the SPA treatment and pointed out the lock issue. About a month later they sent me a note saying my 444 was a discontinued model and parts were not available, so they could not fix it. Along with the letter was my un-cashed check and a brand new Buck Model 364 2 3/4" drop point, backlock, one handed opener with removable pocket clip. All the sentiment I had for that old Model 444 was transferred to this new knife in my heart and mind.

When Buck says their knives come with a Forever Warranty, it applies to the cheapies too.

By the way the Model 364 is a nice little basic pocket knife. It street price is in the $15 to $20 range. It is US made. In my opinion it is a better choice than most Chinese made knives in that price range.