500 Series: The change from stainless steel to nickel silver

m.and

m.and

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I've done a little research on the 500 series Buck knives and it looks like around 2001/2002 they changed the bolsters/liners from stainless steel to nickel silver on the 501, 503 and 505 (the 500 retained the steel construction).

Does anyone have any idea why? Cost savings, maybe?

I, myself, prefer the steel and I wish they would return to it as I'm not a fan of the way nickel silver tarnishes. I also wish they would bring back the burgundy Buckarta handles while they're at it.

Best,
Matthew
 
Can't answer your question as to why but for the benefit of others...
The 501, 503, and 505 are listed as stainless thru 2002, changing to N/S in the 2003 catalog.
 
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DeSotoSky said:
Can't answer your question as to why but for the benefit of others...
The 501, 503, and 505 are listed as stainless thru 2002, changing to N/S in the 2003 catalog.
Click to expand...

I also noted the change to nickel silver in the 2003 catalog, but I have seen several examples from 2001 and 2002 that definitely had NS bolsters. It's easy to see on the older models because of the contrast between the matte/tarnished NS frame and the shiny steel lockbar.

As with most things Buck, it doesn't seem to be exact.
 
m.and said:
I also noted the change to nickel silver in the 2003 catalog, but I have seen several examples from 2001 and 2002 that definitely had NS bolsters.
Click to expand...

Another example of the lag between change and notice in the catalog?

Bert
 
That actually brings up another oddity in the line: the 500 was never switched over to the nickel silver construction.
 
m.and said:
That actually brings up another oddity in the line: the 500 was never switched over to the nickel silver construction.
Click to expand...

As a big fan of the 500 series, I’ve often wondered this myself. Perhaps it is to save cost on the 501, 503, and 505. Perhaps the volume sold of the 500 is lower than the other models so they decided to keep the stainless bolsters on that one. I don’t know. This is all conjecture. I did notice that they took the 500 out of the catalog again. According to customer service, they’re not currently producing any knives in the 500 or 300 series, because that part of the factory is currently being used to produce other knives.
 
I hope that doesn't affect the custom shop. Finally got around to ordering my 501...
 
JD Bear said:
I hope that doesn't affect the custom shop. Finally got around to ordering my 501...
Click to expand...

I wouldn’t think so. The gentleman I spoke with in customer service said they hope to start producing them again later this year. He didn’t mention anything about the custom shop being effected.
 
Buck is producing a 500 without the rear bolster in the Bullet knives for Remington and they are still making the 500 Eagle Scout knife for
that award/ achievement. This model has been removed from the catalog before and stuff like this are still made. DM
 
The sales volume vs tooling cost on the model 500 was too great so we stayed with the stainless steel. The switch to nickle silver was prompted by production challenges with the SS.

Jeff
 
J Hubbard said:
The sales volume vs tooling cost on the model 500 was too great so we stayed with the stainless steel. The switch to nickle silver was prompted by production challenges with the SS.

Jeff
Click to expand...

Thanks, Mr. Hubbard. Mystery solved!
 
That sounds like Mr. Hubbard is saying, Buck went to a nickle frame. The article I read used 'sintered technology ' wording. I.e. powdered metal. Meaning tolerances are better. Still, one can easily find a stainless frame model as those were mfg. Over 20+ years. And its known those are strong. DM
 
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