Buck 501V

[hstdist]

What is the difference over a regular 501

 

[jbmonkey]

id assume the "v" is just the date stamp, as in made in 1989 being the "v".

 

[DeSotoSky]

Expanding on jbmonkey's answer, the 501 was introduced in 1975. In 1986 Buck started stamping a date code symbol on the tang, usually right after the model number. You can find a chart of date code symbols near the top of this forum page as a sticky.

 

[David Martin]

Yes, with that date code the blade steel would be 425m. A good steel.
hstdist, welcome to the Buck forum. DM