Buck 497 Ergo Hunter Pre-production Sample

[Culprit99]

Happy Saturday !

Here’s a rare prototype/pre-production sample of a Buck 497 Ergo Hunter with Rosewood handle. While the production knives were made with Sandvik 12C27 Mod steel, the asterisk on this early sample indicates it was made with 420HC as a prototype. What a gorgeous knife!

The third picture below is a profile of the handle showing how it got its name Ergo Hunter.

 

[Midnight Rider]

This thread deserves more than one post. That knife is a beauty. I'd never heard of that model before. How does it feel in hand?

 

[Culprit99]

The irony is that I’m a lefty. LOL! It doesn’t feel bad in my left hand at all, but it feels great in my right - like it just melts into my grip. It really is a gorgeous knife! I remember hearing about them when they were made, but never heard much about them and never saw one in person.

 

[jbmonkey]

I got some of these and rubber handled version on a clearance long ago. they're interesting knives. maybe ahead of their time when they were out.

cool find.....you're digging up some interesting stuff lately......

 

[Culprit99]

I got some of these and rubber handled version on a clearance long ago. they're interesting knives. maybe ahead of their time when they were out.

cool find.....you're digging up some interesting stuff lately.....

I never thought about it being ahead of it's time, but that's a good way to put it. That was a neat time, for sure, with the growth of liner locks being a new departure from lockbacks, and models like the folding alpha, folding Ergo, etc. before folders started coming with a pocket clip and no belt sheath.

Speaking of which, I recently picked up a 597 folding Ergo as well - I need to get some pictures of that posted. I also need to stop digging stuff up - I think I've already blown my knife budget for the year! LOL!

 

[Culprit99]

Happy Knife Day! I was fortunate to be able to add a SECOND salesman sample/prototype ErgoHunter to the collection - this one with a gut hook!