196 Mini Alpha Hunter in BOS S30V

[bleaman225]

Hi guys, this is my first post here on BF. I wish my first post could be something more productive but I have searched around and can't seem to find the answer I'm looking for so here it goes anyways. I am looking for info on this unground, blade blank I received as a gift from my former boss. I did find this old thread...

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...BOS-S30V-mini-alpha-hunter?highlight=buck+196

But the pics are no longer showing up and I wanted to reference my blade. Here's the story on it.

I formerly worked as a maintenance mechanic for a company that specializes in PVD and CVD coatings. They had, and may still have, a long standing contract with Buck for TiN and TiCN coatings (maybe others, I don't remember). The machine shop supervisor had this blade blank laying around his office the whole time I worked there. I often asked him about it because the blade design always struck me. So when it came to my 5 year anniversary, I was excited to find this taped to my bonus check. I've held onto it for a couple years and just rediscovered it in a drawer.

So I know that this is a real Buck blade due to the contract they had. All markings are stamped in the blade and the titanium carbon nitride seems to be what could have come on this blade. So would that make this a Cabela's "Alaskan Guide" or were there other versions of the 196 in this combo? I suspect it is a sample of the AK Guide without the gold emblem. Does anyone know where I can find more info on these? I would like to know more about this thing. Thanks!!

Edit: Blemish on the blade is from a water spot left on the material prior to coating. In case you were wondering...

 

[Plumberdv]

Here's the knife in the thread you linked to. The Bos "stamp" is different than yours. It appears to be and the website says it is lasered and not stamped.

 

[jb4570]

Hi Bleaman,

I'd say you already know what the 196 blank was going to be. The only TiN coated S30V knife is the special order for Cableas. So your blank and the history that you know nailed it, it was a blem that your old boss kept. It's most likely stolen property of Buck's.....You better send it back now that you have made it public! LOL

Any way, the AG 196's sold at Cabelas came with a few scale offerings. The top knife in the photo below is a Sambar stag AG 196.

jb4570

 

[BG42EDGE]

Send it to one of our talented Forum Knife Manglers and have him polish it up and sharpen it and put some fine scales of your choice on it.

It's already collectible, since the Buck S30V is claimed to be too fragile for stamping and they engrave the information on the blade instead of stamping it. Stamped Buck S30V is history.

It will turn out to be a real nice knife if you like the style.

 

[bleaman225]

jb, I thought I had it narrowed down to the AG, just wasn't certain it was the only 196 Buck did like this. Thanks for confirming. As far as stolen property.... SHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Edit: Nice collection BTW

Hi Bleaman,

I'd say you already know what the 196 blank was going to be. The only TiN coated S30V knife is the special order for Cableas. So your blank and the history that you know nailed it, it was a blem that your old boss kept. It's most likely stolen property of Buck's.....You better send it back now that you have made it public! LOL

Any way, the AG 196's sold at Cabelas came with a few scale offerings. The top knife in the photo below is a Sambar stag AG 196.

BG42, That is precisely what I was planning on. I'll check around the site. I do like the style, a lot actually. Interesting that they don't stamp the s30v anymore.

Send it to one of our talented Forum Knife Manglers and have him polish it up and sharpen it and put some fine scales of your choice on it.

It's already collectible, since the Buck S30V is claimed to be too fragile for stamping and they engrave the information on the blade instead of stamping it. Stamped Buck S30V is history.

It will turn out to be a real nice knife if you like the style.