501 in elk

[JD Bear]

Hello all. I was wondering if you guys could help me with something. I'm thinking about getting a 501 from the custom shop with some elk handles. I really want a nicer 501 since it's one of the knives I rarely swap out and I almost always have one in my pocket. I've been going back and forth between elk and ironwood and wouldn't mind some input on these materials (especially elk). If there are any pictures floating around that'd be cool too...

 

[Haebbie]

Pictures all eaten by Photobucket. Sorry.

Haebbie

 

[BuckShack]

I have neither, but would like both. I would go with the Elk if I had the choice. It looks really special on the Buck website.

 

[bucksway]

Highly figured Ironwood looks better to me than plain Elk...and vice versa. On a smaller handle like the 501 your chance of getting Elk with a lot of bark or character is less than Ironwood I would think but I've not seen many smaller Bucks with Elk..It would be nice if you could get a pic of both before you ordered but that is possible only by someone like Leroy. .

 

[JD Bear]

Highly figured Ironwood looks better to me than plain Elk...and vice versa. On a smaller handle like the 501 your chance of getting Elk with a lot of bark or character is less than Ironwood I would think but I've not seen many smaller Bucks with Elk..It would be nice if you could get a pic of both before you ordered but that is possible only by someone like Leroy. .

That's exactly what I was thinking. I would definitely want some texture and some brown coloring in there but the size could be an issue. I don't think I could go wrong with either though. I still don't know what it is about the 501 that gets me. I love that little knife....

 

[Jeff O]

I have one in elk, pictures couldn't do it justice. I don't think you would be disappointed.

 

[Old Biker]

Here is a picture of a 503 in elk. It might help give you an idea what a 501 in elk might look like.

O.B.

 

[JD Bear]

Here is a picture of a 503 in elk. It might help give you an idea what a 501 in elk might look like.

O.B.

Thanks for the picture O.B.. That's exactly what I would want it to look like. Good color and good texture. Nice piece my friend

 

[jb4570]

Working night shift overtime tonight. I'll find some Elk scale shots for you in the next day or so. I don't have a 501 with ironwood. I do have a little 55 in ironwood. We will see what I can find.

JB

 

[JD Bear]

Working night shift overtime tonight. I'll find some Elk scale shots for you in the next day or so. I don't have a 501 with ironwood. I do have a little 55 in ironwood. We will see what I can find.

JB

Awesome...thanks JB

 

[DocT]

I would vote for the Elk. It might be a tad heavier than the ironwood, however, but not by much. I like the way it looks and it is immediate bragging rights.

 

[VorpalRain]

Thanks for the picture O.B.. That's exactly what I would want it to look like. Good color and good texture. Nice piece my friend

The problem with elk and the "Custom" shop is you have no idea what you might get. I've see a few people here complain about what they got......to the point of returning the knife and getting a better one or getting their money back.
I'd advise doing a lot of phone work and talking to the people who work on them about your order......it may get you a better knife on the first go round.
I assume you would not be happy getting slabs that are mostly white with a couple spots of brown in the middle.

 

[JD Bear]

The problem with elk and the "Custom" shop is you have no idea what you might get. I've see a few people here complain about what they got......to the point of returning the knife and getting a better one or getting their money back.
I'd advise doing a lot of phone work and talking to the people who work on them about your order......it may get you a better knife on the first go round.
I assume you would not be happy getting slabs that are mostly white with a couple spots of brown in the middle.

You're right about not wanting boring white handles. I didn't know you could make contact in advance to square away something like that. I'd be worth a shot. I had an issue with a replacement 110 I got with less than attractive slabs. I was able to get it taken care of and get my original back, but as much as I like stag and elk some looks better than others...

 

[jb4570]

Ok, here is going to be a few shots of of knives at first that are not 501's but a photo of nice elk scale's, then a photo of nice Ironwood scale's. Then some shots of 501 LE's and some factory issued knives, Elk, Sambar, and one wormwood picked bone for contrast.

Nice Elk

Nice Ironwood

Here are the 501's and one 503 added with Elk



JB

 

[jb4570]

Here is a good old zombie thread to read and get some good insight on stag scales. Sorry that the images were killed by that sorry company called photobucket so the fantastic images are gone, but the readable information is still there.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/what-do-you-think-about-stag.651160/

JB

 

[bucksway]

I really like the looks of a bare headed 500 series! It just seems to give a smaller knife more character and to me improves the look of the horn. .Is that even a option in the Custom Shop? If so I'd have one made like that. That little extra length of horn just looks good even on a 112 ..

 

[JD Bear]

Those are fantastic pictures JB! I appreciate you sharing them. Man that elk looks so good. I think I know which was I'm leaning

I agree with bucksway on the bare heads. I wish that was an option for the 500 series, the 110 and the 112. I think it completely changes the look of the knives.

 

[300Bucks]

Wow, Zombie thread makes we worry I may next to disappear. Some are lurkers not gone. Darn photo fubar.

Has anyone else had the thought that too many Buck stag scales are not carefully matched. Especially elk. I only have a few but too many will have a really good side and then one that is 'less' good. Or, in the least, not matched with each other. Wonder if anyone tries to match them during construction ? I have one 503 and it is close match side to side. Don't know if that helps JD, maybe stimulate him to call and talk about a custom 'assurance' on matching sides. I am not an expert but have used a brown sharpie to equalize sides a touch on a couple of 300s.

 

[JD Bear]

Wow, Zombie thread makes we worry I may next to disappear. Some are lurkers not gone. Darn photo fubar.

Has anyone else had the thought that too many Buck stag scales are not carefully matched. Especially elk. I only have a few but too many will have a really good side and then one that is 'less' good. Or, in the least, not matched with each other. Wonder if anyone tries to match them during construction ? I have one 503 and it is close match side to side. Don't know if that helps JD, maybe stimulate him to call and talk about a custom 'assurance' on matching sides. I am not an expert but have used a brown sharpie to equalize sides a touch on a couple of 300s.

I might give them a call and see if they would consider a request for matching scales with some character. I wouldn't hold it against Buck if it was a "get what you get" situation, but I don't know if I want to risk it when I like the ironwood as well. I'm sure I could eventually get both...key word is eventually cause that's a lot of coin for me to drop. I'm going to let wifey know that's what I would like as a Christmas gift so I have to hurry and decide...

 

[VorpalRain]

If they say it's "you get what you get"........just make it clear that they're going to "get what you get" BACK if slabs are mismatched and don't show a lot of bark.

They don't like returns any more than we do. The silent wheels get no grease and it's our choice to be silent......a bad choice.