Custom 505 for my best man

J

Jessero

Joined
Jan 12, 2011
Messages
168
Hey everyone,

I am going to be getting married on 10/31, and my best man is my future brother in law. He is one of two friends of mine that carry a knife regularly. His current EDC is a small pakka-wood handled liner lock with thumbstud that he had bought when he was in Alaska. Not sure of the brand, but the blade is unique for a pocket knife. I believe this, from Wikipedia, best describes it:

An ulu (Inuit woman's knife) knife is a sharpened segment of a circle. This blade type has no point, and has a handle in the middle. It is good for scraping, and sometimes chopping. The semi-circular version appears elsewhere in the world and is called a head knife. It is used in leatherworking both to scrape down leather (reducing thickness), and to make precise, rolling cuts for shapes other than straight lines. The circular version is a popular tool for slicing pizzas. One corner is placed at the edge of the pizza and the blade is rolled across in a diameter cut.
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So, anyway, from discussions he and I have had before, his tastes in a pocketknife are 1) small and 2) "classic" looking. Id like to get him a custom 505 as a keepsake gift. I am now having trouble deciding on what choices to make. Blade steel choices of 420HC in satin finish or mirror polish. I am thinking mirror polish will look classy- are there any downsides?
Handle material- im probably going to go with wood- either the heritage walnut or oak.
My biggest decision is what to get engraved... his name is nick, and they allow 11 characters. I am in serious need of advice here... you should see me trying to sign a sympathy card :) "Nick 2014"?
 
Initials and date. I think just initials and the date would mean something to him, but keeping it personal, without literally spelling it out.

I personally like satin, to keep it subtle, but that's just a preference.

Just how I would do it and should be taken with a grain of salt. :)
 
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Well, since you can build the knife on the website and have a pretty darn good idea what the actual will look like and what looks best to you, just start playing around and see. I do that all the time even when I'm not looking to buy.
 
Satin finish and heritage Walnut.
What kind of engraving do they give you, is it script or plain letters?
If it's basic plain letters I would leave the engraving off.
 
Buck has a really nice limited edition 505 this year. It has a stag handle and a Damascus blade. I have purchased one for myself and it is super sweet. I can't think of any 505 that would be more unique or special than this one.

2014Heritage505damascus_zpsd778b639.jpg
 
I also agree that a 503 is a far more useful size.
I sometimes pocket carry one.

Mirror polish..... I like it.... makes the blade seem to cut through stuff more smoothly, sort of more slippery.
I put a mirror polish on a few of my edc knives that had satin finish blades.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions! I do like the size of the 503 for myself personally... just not sure if he would like it. I was trying to feel him out one day, asking what looks better, my 503 and wood and brass 303, and he said the 303 because it is smaller. But then again, for all I know he may not even carry this, it may just end up being a keepsake and that's it. Hmmmm, decisions decisions...
 
Jessero said:
Thanks for all the suggestions! I do like the size of the 503 for myself personally... just not sure if he would like it. I was trying to feel him out one day, asking what looks better, my 503 and wood and brass 303, and he said the 303 because it is smaller. But then again, for all I know he may not even carry this, it may just end up being a keepsake and that's it. Hmmmm, decisions decisions...
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If you're not sure about the knife thing, get him a nice watch instead.
 
Jessero said:
Thanks for all the suggestions! I do like the size of the 503 for myself personally... just not sure if he would like it. I was trying to feel him out one day, asking what looks better, my 503 and wood and brass 303, and he said the 303 because it is smaller. But then again, for all I know he may not even carry this, it may just end up being a keepsake and that's it. Hmmmm, decisions decisions...
Click to expand...

You know your best man better than we do, so go with the 505 if you think it's more his speed.
 
Youbetcha. Just ordered a 505, mirror blade, oak scales, with his initials and the year. My first custom shop order- if its better than my normal factory 503, he is in for a great knife!
 
Well, it just arrived- absolutely beautiful, shiny, and perfectly made. I just know he is going to love it! This pic doesn't do it justice:

photo-1.jpg
 
Wow. That beautiful!
Initial and date huh?
What guy with immaculate taste recommended that??! ;) ;)
 
Congrats & nice knife. You and your best man are blessed, he especially so to have a friend like you.

I keep seeing these custom knives for best-men & groomsmen. Maybe I should go make some new friends so I can get in on it.

At my age, pall-bearer is about the only job I'll ever be offered. Does anyone give out custom knives for that?

Guess I'll have to turn to crashing weddings:-)
 
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