2013 Kalinga Pro 419??

D

DDBTX

Joined
Sep 26, 2013
Messages
4
Greetings all, my first post on the forum. I signed in because a few months ago I discovered the Kalinga 419 folder and fell in love. Been a Buck man since guiding wilderness canoeing expeditions in Canada in the late 70s-early 80s.

But man the prices for those beauties!~ because they were discontinued a couple of years ago. Or so I though.

I finally pulled the trigger - a fellow on Ebay claiming to have bought "the last run" of them, now putting them up for sale. NIB. Even has a special price on 6. From Wisconsin, with 100% feedback on 794 sales.

Arrived today. It is like holding captured flame. Already cut myself so it is blooded too. What a design. wow.

But.

The blade has the 2013 date code (looks like an eye with upper brow and pupil) and the box has the date 9/13/2013 on its end label. Brand spankin' new?

So what's up? Are the kalingas coming back? Is this a pre-release? Is it a counterfit? Inquiring minds want to know.

Many thanks for all your posts, they have been a great help to me.
 
I haven't heard of them coming back, but you never know. There are no Kalinga folders listed on Buck's site.

Buck may have made a run of the 419's to use up stock they had left. I don't believe those are counterfeit.

I would say if that's one you've wanted for a long time that you must have been livin' right. :)

Welcome to the forum!!
 
Just got one of these last week myself but I had mine done by Wilde Bill Cody. Beautiful knife and will someday be on the SPS.
 
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Stumps said:
I haven't heard of them coming back, but you never know. There are no Kalinga folders listed on Buck's site.

Buck may have made a run of the 419's to use up stock they had left. I don't believe those are counterfeit.

I would say if that's one you've wanted for a long time that you must have been livin' right. :)

Welcome to the forum!!
Click to expand...

Thanks, Stumps. i appreciate your input.

Well that is a relief. I was a bit freaked there when I saw the 2013 blade date code and the label on the box; it looked like a Buck, and quacked like a Buck, and such. Box and labeling and etchings on the blade were all right. And was so darned sharp it had to be S30V. ;)

It was made on the same day we closed on our vacation/retirement land in Idaho. I think that is pretty cool!

So will the 2013 Kalingas be more collectible? Not that I am a knife collector, just mostly a user. That thing is a piece of art though.
 
I spoke to Billy Gates at Buck. He said they are a run of 256 Buck did for a customer. He also said there are no more available.
 
According to the pics the Bos stamp is there. I never thought I would be able to afford one of these when the prices jumped up. Now one is coming my way. My first pocket knife was a Buck 313 Muskrat, my first good sheath knife a 118. I still have both, very well worn. I was very lucky to obtain a new 408 at an excellent price last year and feel equally lucky to have found this recent last run, thanks DDBTX!. They are already worth more than the asking price. Which really doesn't matter, I have no plans of selling any of them :D.
 
Soleil, mine has the BOS, flame symbol and S30V engraving on one side, and on the other side of the blade has the 419 model number with this year's date code (2013, looks like an upper eyebrow and dot), and BUCK USA in a different locale on that side. Just like the older ones in all respects except a different date code.

ChicoMike, thanks for sharing that information. A run of 256 is not many, is it? I think that is pretty cool myself, especially as they are not made as a spark plug ad or something. Just a straight 419. Looks like you can still get 6 for $999.95, or $167 apiece. If ya need 6 that is.....

I am oddly conflicted now, because I wanted a Kalinga Pro as a "user" knife, to WORK as a skinner/carry blade, but now don't know whether to hook it on my belt or put it in a safe place for the grandkids' college fund.... I have been a Buck guy for so many decades because I just love using them; fpr example I recently dug out my old Buckmaster I bought new as an Army Ranger (3d Batt) many many moons ago in late 1985, by its stampings one of the ones made between July and Sept of 1985, been knocking around in a closet for 25 years or more, and discovered THAT one is a rare bird too. Except that I used it a bit. Hammered something with the butt cap end. Blade still has factory edge, i just took it to the field once and quickly found it was way too heavy to hook on my harness.
I guess I just have to laugh and accept the fact that I am a USER, not a collector.... which I think the Buck family appreciates, as much as they appreciate those of us who are collectors.
 
DDBTX, take a look at the Buck 103. It is a great fixed blade for your needs and small enough to carry easily. The steel will be the 420HC, no problem since Buck does it better than anyone. There is also the Buck 406 which is the large fixed Kalinga with rubber handles. Unfortunately that one is also recently discontinued and the price has doubled or tripled. The folding Kalinga also was made with rubber handles but it is also over $150 everywhere I have seen it.
 
Thanks. Soleil. I may be a day late and a few dollars short, as usual. Oh well, I have some fine steel anyway! It is all good!
 
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