830 marksman inquiry

quaboag · Jan 14, 2016

hello everyone!

I picked up one of these on the more economy side of purchases. It came only with the box, no papers or such. The date on the box label is 12-03-15. The interesting thing is the date code on the blade is for 2013.

My understanding is this model was released in 2014 and from what I've seen here the blades are marked with that years symbol. I assume this knife is re-bladed or re-boxed, sure doesn't seem like a knockoff to me. Has anyone ideas about this?

It was rattly loose in the lockup and would flick open easily with just twist of the wrist. Thanks to all here who gave me the knowledge how to tune the lock up. Bending the lockbar a skooch so it puts more pressure on the blade detente stopped the blade from deploying dangerously. Knowing what size hex to tinker with was a big help too.

Badhammer · Jan 15, 2016

Given that the 830 came out as new in 2014 I don't know that it would be too odd to have a blade made in late 2013. Perhaps the blade wasn't used right away. Did you purchase from a dealer or private party? Photos of the knife and box might provide some clues.

hengem · Jan 15, 2016

Sounds like you got a Shot Show sample or "first production run" That is the only way you would have gotten a blade with the the 2013 date code.

quaboag · Jan 15, 2016

I purchased the knife off a big auction site, probably from someone who sells a lot there. I'm a bit behind the times electronically, so no pictures just yet. My daughter promises to help me out by taking some shots with her device. At some point I'll be back to post images. Thank you for the responses! What a nice, fun little knife the marksman is!

quaboag · Jan 17, 2016

quaboag · Jan 17, 2016

Badhammer · Jan 17, 2016

My 830 is marked on the right side of the blade with the BOS 154CM like yours but it also has:

G&G Hawk
Collaboration

Yours doesn't have that. I did a search here on the forum and found one thread with two posts about fake 830 Markman on the bay but the photo in one of the posts was no longer active. From what I can see in your photos the lack of the extra wording is the only difference I can see so far. I got mine when they first came out from a Buck dealer so I know it's legit.

MT_Pokt · Jan 17, 2016

Mine also has the G&G Hawk print on it. The other difference I see as I have mine in hand is the profile of the 3 groves in his last photo. Mine is an2014.

What's up with the star after 154CM?

hengem · Jan 18, 2016

You, my friend have a Shot Show sample from 2014.
The lack of the G&G marking and the asterisk after the 154CM are tell tales. The asterisk denotes that the steel is not 154CM but 420HC
Those samples usually go to our sales reps for show and tell. Someone either mixed them up, or they felt like they could make a few bucks off the sample. You could hold onto the knife as it is rare and customers were not supposed to get them. Or you could return it so you have the high end steel and a better user.

Ferahgo · Jan 19, 2016

Interesting little tidbit of history there. If you can afford it, i would buy another and keep the one you have.

quaboag · Jan 19, 2016

thank you gents! I suppose I will put this away and maybe someday it'll be worth something. the marksman is a neat knife, but I just got a new momentum to play with today anyway.

madmath · Jan 24, 2016

hengem said:
You, my friend have a Shot Show sample from 2014.
The lack of the G&G marking and the asterisk after the 154CM are tell tales. The asterisk denotes that the steel is not 154CM but 420HC
Those samples usually go to our sales reps for show and tell. Someone either mixed them up, or they felt like they could make a few bucks off the sample. You could hold onto the knife as it is rare and customers were not supposed to get them. Or you could return it so you have the high end steel and a better user.

Is this official? I bought mine in The Netherlands and there is the G&G collaboration logo and the asterix.
Is this NOT 154cm steel?

hengem · Jan 25, 2016

Is this official? I bought mine in The Netherlands and there is the G&G collaboration logo and the asterix.
Is this NOT 154cm steel?

Correct. These samples should have never left Buck. They are strictly used for sales/show and tell tools. Good news is Buck would replace your knife with the real deal if you wanted a replacement. Bad news is you are a good distance away and may not be worth it to you....

madmath · Jan 26, 2016

Thanks for the answer. My first thought was to get it replaced but the second one is to keep it and get me later on another Marksman. A knife like this cannot be had normally.
Or Buck would insist to have it back and pay for the shipping costs to Buck and back to me.

I am also a small collector and have a nice collection among those are about twenty Buck knives.