Buckmaster Wire Cutter

P

porterkids

Joined
Feb 10, 2000
Messages
96
Thought I'd share a photo of one of my latest finds. This is a prototype bolt-on wire cutter for the Buck 184 Buckmaster. These were made back in the mid-1980s when Buck was trying to get a contract with the SEALs for the Buckmaster knife. Only a handful were made.

buck.jpg
 
Porterkids,
Nice find, that's one I haven't seen...
How does the wire cutter gizmo work? It doesn't appear to use the knife blade. What's the metal rod for? What are the markings on the blade? How come three nylon pouches, does the rod fit it one of them, is there a compass in one?
Inquiring minds....:D
Thanks, Mike
 
Hi Mike,

The photo I posted is the one the previous owner of this piece had sent me. I haven't photographed it yet myself. The reason for the three pouches is that he included the two spares that he had in the group. They do not go with this knife and are already covering naked scabbards in my collection. The blade carries the standard 1986 markings. This isn't really an appropriate knife for this scabbard, it's just the one that came with it.

The rod alongside the scabbard is actually connected to the scabbard. It pivots near the bottom of the scabbard body and is the lever arm for the wire cutter. I'll take and post some additional pictures over the weekend.
 
porterkids said:
The rod alongside the scabbard is actually connected to the scabbard. It pivots near the bottom of the scabbard body and is the lever arm for the wire cutter. I'll take and post some additional pictures over the weekend.
Click to expand...

On taking a closer look at the photo I can see the rivet...looking forward to more pictures...:thumbup:
 
when in my teens i thought that the ultimate knife was the Buckmaster, every time i went to the knife shop to see it they had to wipe the drool off the glass. finally i saved up to get one and and took it home and showed it off with great pride.

i must have had it about 3 years or so and found myself carrying it less and less, after all, it was one heavy knife. also, the saw on the spine didnt work quite as well as i had hoped. and, in my innocent youth , i thought i would be able to use the "grapling hook" feature all the time... the knife and sheath cost me so much, there was no way i was gonna risk hurting the knife and sheath!

It was killing me that i had a knife so cool (to me at that age) that i was afraid to use it so i put it up for sale and got what i payed for it and bought a .22 for it. Now i can look back at my first serious, expensive knife and kick the heck outta myself for selling it!! LOL

Now i own a Buck/Strider ML Spear Point Blade that i was lucky to get on sale for $100 that can be a sutable replacement for my long lost knife. in some ways i think its how the Buckmaster should have been.

Buck has given me, and now my sons, even my wife some great knives for our outdoors adventures. --- Eric
 
That is a neat piece of Buckmaster history! I have a Buckmaster and it is probably my favorite knife. Thanks for sharing porterkids,
 
I've been trying to post additional pictures but the insert image tab doesn't seem to be working. I'll try again tomorrow.
 
porterkids said:
I've been trying to post additional pictures but the insert image tab doesn't seem to be working. I'll try again tomorrow.
Click to expand...

I think you have to upgrade your forum membership to "Basic" or "Gold" to post pictures directly from bladeforums.
 
porterkids said:
I've been trying to post additional pictures but the insert image tab doesn't seem to be working. I'll try again tomorrow.
Click to expand...

You don't need to use the tab (I never do). Just use the bracketIMGbracket and bracketslashIMGbracket codes...(I can't post the exact terms because the software would convert them)... :D

It would be like this but *without* the asterisks... [*IMG*]pic URL here [*/IMG*]
 
Porter..that is an excellent find. That sheath was made by Phrobis...a company in Oceanside that was known within the military community for making custom gear like silencers etc...

Our challenge often was to figure out how to efficiently manufacture what they were able to machine.

Very creative bunch although ended up being a very high maintenance bunch as business partners.
 
Hello CJ,

Yes, Mickey often spoke of the differences in philosphy between himself and Buck Knives. Manufacturing cost was not something he felt was a major factor to consider.
 
Porterkids,
Thanks for the additional photos. Very ingenious design. Were these cutters ever put into production, or, are there a just a few prototypes out there?

Great find, thanks for sharing it......:thumbup::thumbup:....Mike
 
Hi Mike,

These were never put into production. As far as I now, there were only 5 or 6 of these made. As CJ mentioned above, these were made by Phrobis, the same company that designed the US M9 bayonet.
 
Man that is great. I never knew this was even made. Now I have to add it to my I need this for my Buckmaster collection.
 
Ahoy! "porterskids", that's one great catch.
It's not everyday that top secret projects get revealed.
But that proto SEAL knife-system must probably weigh a full ton on land (blade, anchoring pins/grappling hooks, sheath, wire-cutter and all).
No doubt a great help for an express dive into "the deep blue"...
A wonderful conversation piece though.
Makes me wonder just how many more deep secrets the Buckmaster holds...
 
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