Buck Knife 170T

vontar · May 26, 2015

I found this Buck Knife at a yard sale. Now I am trying to figure out what I found. I searched Ebay and a few places and haven't found this exact knife.

on the blade, is says BUCK USA. on the tang says 170T or 17oT, but I believe it is a 0.

It has Alcoa on the handle and pocket clip on the back side.

I am guessing it has something do with the factories in the City of Alcoa TN just south of here but I could be completely wrong about that.

Is this a pretty good knife or a collector I should keep new? Blade still has the factory edge and I don't believe it has ever been used.

Is that T the date code for 2003 maybe?

jb4570 · May 27, 2015

That 170 is called a Lightning. The T = 2003 date of MFG.

jb4570

Haebbie · May 27, 2015

Alcoa is:

"A global leader in lightweight metals
engineering and manufacturing, innovating
multi-material solutions that advance our world".

Haebbie

Old Hunter · May 27, 2015

Welcome to the Buck Forum vontar, nice Buck Knife! Many companies give award knives to their employees for service, safety, or performance reasons - I think your guess concerning the plants in your area is correct. This is a Buck 110 with a Weyerhaeuer blade etch, given as an incentive knife at one of the several Weyerhaeuser plants in my area. I saw one for sale with CSX (railroad) etched on the blade yesterday. OH

300Bucks · May 27, 2015

Everyone who does not know this read this note just for FYI......'to a collector a knife is more valuable if it comes in its original box.'

In this post vontar has a nice lightning. Which some Alcoa division had Buck run a special order with symbol and then gave out as awards. At one time the minimum was 100 knives, but I think it went up. Special marked knives have some interest to folks who collect that model of knife, boxes only add value. Maybe someone who collects Lightnings will contact you if they are interested.
I know they also came in versions that had nice colored fish scenes on the scale. I particularly remember a nice trout image. 300

kyhunt · May 28, 2015

Interesting. I never seen one of those before.

edbeau · May 31, 2015

My three Lightnings, the one I had customized.

Joe58 · May 31, 2015

kyhunt said:
Interesting. I never seen one of those before.

I hadn't seen one before either. Interesting. Always more to learn. Perhaps I'm way off, but to me, the blade shape reminds me of the Spitfire. A knife I was quite surprised to discover I really like. Now there's another knife I need to look for. Lol.

Pack Rat · May 31, 2015

The 170 and its slightly larger brother the 175 are liner lockers and are as silky smooth opening and closing as the Alpha folders. Easy one hand opening/closing. Came in several flavors..

I carry one or the other frequently depending on what I am wearing

\

One of the black ones didn't come with a clip. The other red one is awol... The silver one was poorly sharpened by some previous owner. One black and the red are unused in the boxes. A bit shelf worn boxes.

vontar · Jun 3, 2015

Thanks for all the info. For now going to keep this one new and in my small collection. I work with a few guys that have parents that work at Alcoa, never know one of them might want it as a gift same day.