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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
704 vs 503 vs 55
- Thread starter austin37
- Start date
Railsplitter
Gold Member
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- Oct 31, 2010
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- 7,925
I find the Drop Point blade of the 503 to be slightly more versatile than the Clip blade of the other two but that’s just my personal preference.
Not sure about the strongest but the 503 and 55 have locking blades so maybe one of those.
I like and own all three of them.
Not sure about the strongest but the 503 and 55 have locking blades so maybe one of those.
I like and own all three of them.
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2021
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You’re asking the hard questions in life!
This (re-bladed) 503 was my first or second Buck knife, given to me by my father somewhere around ‘91. I’ve carried it around the world and back, so I’m definitely biased. It’s by far my favorite.
But in this day and age where everyone carries a larger locking folder all the time, I find myself coming back to the 704 quite often to slip it in the pocket of my suit coat on Sundays to augment my Marksman, 112 Slim Pro, or whatever is riding in my pants pocket. Something about a slip joint.
The 55 pictured here is a user I picked up off eBay just to place it alongside the others and see for myself the answer to your very question. I’ve carried it a little, but I have the least experience with it. Fantastic knife that could easily be my favorite had I been introduced to it first. You can’t go wrong with any of them.
This (re-bladed) 503 was my first or second Buck knife, given to me by my father somewhere around ‘91. I’ve carried it around the world and back, so I’m definitely biased. It’s by far my favorite.
But in this day and age where everyone carries a larger locking folder all the time, I find myself coming back to the 704 quite often to slip it in the pocket of my suit coat on Sundays to augment my Marksman, 112 Slim Pro, or whatever is riding in my pants pocket. Something about a slip joint.
The 55 pictured here is a user I picked up off eBay just to place it alongside the others and see for myself the answer to your very question. I’ve carried it a little, but I have the least experience with it. Fantastic knife that could easily be my favorite had I been introduced to it first. You can’t go wrong with any of them.
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2018
- Messages
- 2,726
All three are plenty sturdy for their size and very little difference strength wise. I would say it’s going to come down to personal preference more than anything.
I have only the 55 and it is a great little knife only being limited by its relative small size to lighter duty tasks. I prefer a locking blade just for the added benefit of having it than not having that function but that’s just me and I prefer the 501 size because it gives me more handle to grasp.
I have only the 55 and it is a great little knife only being limited by its relative small size to lighter duty tasks. I prefer a locking blade just for the added benefit of having it than not having that function but that’s just me and I prefer the 501 size because it gives me more handle to grasp.
Railsplitter
Gold Member
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2010
- Messages
- 7,925
Yes, they were. I remember seeing the ad back then and also more recently somewhere in this forum.
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I have a few of the 700 series (mostly 703 and 701's) and they are bombproof. For many years when hunting, fishing, etc I carried a 701 as my "big knife" I never found it wanting for any chore. They are heavier than the 300 series however.