112 vs 500 bolster and pin

E

EagleIH

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Dec 5, 2009
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Just wondering about the strength of the pivot on these two knives. Is the pivot on the 500 stronger and less likely to develop blade play since the bolsters are made of stainless steel versus brass or nickel on the 112? Are the pins from both made from the same materials? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
 
I’ve seen many 112s in good hard use that are still as solid and secure as when new after years of use. Unless a person is using them for a pry bar, batoning or abuse they should last for decades if not a lifetime with proper care. I don’t have a 500 but I’m sure they are just as durable. I have a 501 that’s nickel bolstered and thinner than the 500 and it is rocksolid !
 
The bolsters of the 500 series knives were started w/ a stainless frame. But that changed. I'll check on the date. For now I will say in 1990. They have a nickle frame. Some 112's also have a nickle frame. As far as brass vs nickle there is little difference. Dm
 
David Martin said:
The bolsters of the 500 series knives were started w/ a stainless frame. But that changed. I'll check on the date. For now I will say in 1990. They have a nickle frame. Some 112's also have a nickle frame. As far as brass vs nickle there is little difference. Dm
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David pretty sure they are still stainless in the 500. Bucks website still lists them as stainless bolsters.

the 501 used to be stainless I thought and now is nickel silver.
 
I have a 500 and a 501 coming in the next 7 to 10 days and I'm curious if there will be a difference.

edit: and yes, the website clearly states stainless bolsters on the 500.
 
David Martin said:
The bolsters of the 500 series knives were started w/ a stainless frame. But that changed. I'll check on the date. For now I will say in 1990. They have a nickle frame. Some 112's also have a nickle frame. As far as brass vs nickle there is little difference. Dm
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Oh, wow. I thought they were still stainless, too. I know the rest of the 500 series is nickel, but I understood from Joe Hubbard in a previous discussion on this forum that the 500 bolsters were still stainless. Maybe I’m mistaken. If I can find that thread, I’ll try to post a link.
 
I just tried a 2010 Duke and a 2003 'T' 503 with a magnet and they both are nickle.
DM
 
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David Martin said:
I just tried a 2010 Duke and a 2003 'T' 503 with a magnet they both are nickle.
DM
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If you try a magnet on any of the 500 series older "Script" rear bolsters, you will find that none of them are magnetic. The folks at Buck, in previous threads discussing this same topic, confirmed the bolsters were made with 316 Stainless steel. 316 is generally non-magnetic.
 
Yes but I was checking the newer models. I just now checked a script stamp and the magnet won't adhere to that rear bolster. Some what on the nickle. Dm
 
The only way I've been able to tell if any given 500 series knife is NS or SS is to look at the bottom. In the photo, the 4 on the left are older and SS. The 2 on the right are newer and NS. The newer bolsters have a different color (slightly tarnished NS?) than the SS spacer sandwiched between them.

All model 503s from left to right: 1978-80 script, 1980-85 script, 1994, 1999, 2005, 2012

 
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The magnet is a decent indicator. My uncle uses a 112 to 'field dress' his deer. (gut)
He usually does 1-2 each year.. I have sharpened this knife thru the years and it still locks up solid. So, decent preformance. I carry my Duke for general use and it's still solid. It was a BCC offering w/ green micarta handles and s30v blade. DM
 
David Martin said:
The magnet is a decent indicator. My uncle uses a 112 to 'field dress' his deer. (gut)
He usually does 1-2 each year.. I have sharpened this knife thru the years and it still locks up solid. So, decent preformance. I carry my Duke for general use and it's still solid. It was a BCC offering w/ green micarta handles and s30v blade. DM
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Sir, did ya try the magnet on an older known stainless steel 500 to see if it stuck?

I checked a bunch of steel liner on various brands and the magnet didnt stick as they must be 300 series stainless and nonmagnetic. the magnet did stick on 420hc blades.
 
The 500 "Duke" is the only one in the 500 series to use Stainless Steel bolsters. Buck uses a sintered, coined 316 stainless steel. The 500 was discontinued from 2003-2012 in the dealer catalog and was only sold to the Boy Scouts or special orders. In 2002/2003 the remaining 500 series 501,503 and 505 was switched to nickel/silver liners and bolsters.
 
jbmonkey said:
Sir, did ya try the magnet on an older known stainless steel 500 to see if it stuck?

I checked a bunch of steel liner on various brands and the magnet didnt stick as they must be 300 series stainless and nonmagnetic. the magnet did stick on 420hc blades.
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Post # 12. DM
 
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