703 Shield Question Please.....

Joe58

Joe58

Joined
Nov 11, 2002
Messages
1,969
This is a 703 located on the evil empire auction site I am bidding on. I'm curious about the lack of a shield on this one.

I know on some 703 models, and other models as well, the shield has come off and been lost. But, you can see, there isn't a cutout on the handle where the shield would have fit on this one, as I have shown here in one of the sellers pictures from the auction.

I'm curious if anyone knows that Buck has made runs and perhaps run out of shields and just didn't use them towards the end of finishing that years run? Or maybe it was rescaled at some time and just left blank by the factory. I have a 703 that was missing the shield in the cutout when I bought it. I had sent in for the spa and a shield replacement, I received a notice that they no longer had that years particular shield style and would use a different one. It was larger but they cut it to fit. Which was fine by me as it's a user anyway. I wonder now if I could have told them just to use a plain blank scale they might have. ?

Thanks!!

 
I too like the 700 series and have read an article or to about them in the club newsletter archives but I don't recall anything about no shield models being made. Seems like it wouldn't be easy for one to slip through but it could happen. Trying to think if I've seen anything similar on a 300 series?
 
I've purchased a 701 with the shield missing but the cut out was there. I procured a shield and it was a wee bit large but I carefully made it fit. I've done the same with a 300 series. I've not seen one that didn't have the cut area for the shield. One without the cut out could be toward the end of the series manufactoring. Or replaced handles. DM
 
Last edited:
I think there was a run of 700's about 2000 with no shields. I'm also not sure if all models were involved. It was the last hurrah for the 700 series. I have several in my collection.

I just did a quick check of my inventory. I have 4 with no shield.
701 1999
703 2001
705 1999
709 2000
 
Last edited:
After a little more research.
The 2000 catalog shows the 701,703,705, and 709 without shields.
The 704 was last shown in 1998
The 701 was last shown in 2000
They are all gone from the 2002 catalog.

2000%20catalog%20700s_zps96azx5dd.jpg
 
Last edited:
Ah, thanks for the help. Since I've gathered quite a few 703's now, I need to get them all together and sorted to see if I can have a representative from every year. I already have a brass 700 series complete. I'd think it shouldn't be too hard to get all the 703 years as they're still fairly plentiful. Then, after that, try to replace with NIB ones as I find them. Nice little project that shouldn't cost the farm as they say. Lol. Chasing Vic alox has just gotten way out of cost control, on my budget.
 
DeSotoSky said:
After a little more research.
The 2000 catalog shows the 701,703,705, and 709 without shields.
The 704 was last shown in 1998
The 701 was last shown in 2000
They are all gone from the 2002 catalog.

2000%20catalog%20700s_zps96azx5dd.jpg
Click to expand...

That catalog703 is interesting. Its the first time I've seen a 703 with that nail nick and blade shape. Looks like they took a 703 frame and used a 303 blade. All the 703s I've ever seen the nail nick was further up on the blade like the 701 in the catalog above it.
 
I assume that all the 700 series knives were 420HC steel, correct? I would also assume that the nail nick in the 703 was place where it was to make it easier to open the knife. It looks odd though.
 
No, the first blades on the 700 series were likely 440A. Then in 1982 the blades were 425M and Buck made them in house. By 1993 they were 420. DM
 
So was 2000 the first or only year the nail nick on the 703 like the 303 or does anyone know?
 
There is a completed auction that shows a 2001 model with the new nail nick location, and no shield.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top