Any help identifying this knife?

F

Fisting_Chili

Joined
Jan 13, 2010
Messages
151
masterexplorer.jpg


The blade says,
EXPLORER
MASTER
21-032
on one side and
440 Stainless
Japan
on the other.

Just curious because I actually have one of these that I bought from a knife shop in San Francisco on its last day of business, in the last 4 minutes of the place being open (fully on purpose). They wanted 120.00 for it and I gave them $66.00 cash. This was about 15 years ago.

I asked in another forum, but thought I'd ask here too.

Thanks!
 
Looks very much like a buck 184, but there are too obvious differences. I don't know what it might be.
 
eygen said:
Looks very much like a buck 184, but there are too obvious differences. I don't know what it might be.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it was a copy of the Buck Master, which even 15 years ago, I couldn't afford.

However, I believe it was still a well made knife because the store I bought it at, didn't sell "junk". Having a hard time tracking it down though!

Thanks
 
I think Explorer was a company that made quality knock-offs of Gerber knives about 20-25 years ago. I had an "Explorer Scout" (I think that's what it was), but it was an almost exact replica of the Gerber Mark I. The knife I had was actually a very good knife.
 
Kru03 said:
I think Explorer was a company that made quality knock-offs of Gerber knives about 20-25 years ago. I had an "Explorer Scout" (I think that's what it was), but it was an almost exact replica of the Gerber Mark I. The knife I had was actually a very good knife.
Click to expand...


My knife is a good one too. Have used it maaaany times camping. Was thinking of selling it though and had no idea how to describe it...lol
 
Hello,

I actually had the pleasure of winning this same knife on Ebay for an unbelievable low price. At first I was very skeptical about this knife, thinking it was just another cheapo copy of the Buckmaster 184, such as the Ramster one and other cheapo Chinese based knives. I was shocked that, when I got it, it had the very high quality that it did. IN doing reaearch on it, I found that the Explorer Master was made in Seki City, Japan, where many very high quality knives and copies of original knives are made and come from. I also learned that this particular knife, unlike the Buckmaster 184 which has a 420HC steel blade (420 steel that has had more carbon added to it) and aluminum handle and endcap, the Explorer Master knife is made with 440C steel blade and guard, and the handle and endcap is made with 300 series stainless steel. Seki, Japan marks all of their 440C steel blade knives with just the 440 number. They leave the "C" out of it. For whatever reason i don't know. All I know is I have knives made with 440 stainless steel. Believe me when I tell you there is a very big difference between those cheap 440A steel bladed knives, and the one on my Explorer Master. My Explorer Master takes and holds an edge like nobody's business.

Anyway, when I got this beautiful knife, the coating was old and worn off in areas despite the blade showing no signs at all of being touched on or sharpened. Anyway, I took the knife and had it totally bead blasted. Then I had it professionally sharpened to perfection; a hair shaving keen smooth edge. I then took my Explorer Master knife and had it re-bead blasted a 2nd time. After that I got home and I wrapped the handle in very beautiful dual color 550 lb. military grade para cord. I also added a strap of the same color para cord for a kanyard!! The result: An extremely awesome, beautiful looking high quality Explorer Master knife, identical to the famed Buckmaster 184. except I truly believe where Buck created the Buckmaster 184, it was Explorer that perfected it. I am now also having a high end leather sheath handmade for it. When that is made and I have it, I believe this knife and new handmade leather sheath will be worth at least 4 times what I paid for it. Wait... I don't believe that... I KNOW it will be! But it will never be for sale. This is a definite keeper knife!

So if you are lucky enough to of bought one of these knives, or own one, my suggestion is to hang onto it. Maybe take it and do like I did and have it restored. I have also learned that not many of these knives were made by Explorer. Even fewer than Buck's Buckmaster 184! But this is my input on it. I love my Explorer Master 21-032!
 
Necrothread revival.

If you like the knife, great. It just isn't an exact copy of the Buckmaster. I also won't be worth 4X what you paid for it because you fluffed the blade.

The Buckmaster became popular for a while because of Rambo movies, subsequent carry and use by people in the field resulted in it's quick fall from popularity.
 
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