Help me identify a discontinued model! For Dad's 50th birthday!

P

paramedic.cj

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Oct 5, 2012
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Hey guys, Im new to the thread. I am trying to find a discontinued Buck model. My Father lost it while working many years ago..he cant remember the specific model number. (He says he thinks it was a 517) but when I look for that model I come up with nothing. The knife was a Buck for sure, and he describes it as a two blade lock back in which both blades opened out the same end, shiny finish with rosewood handles. The closest thing I can find is the copperhead model by Bear and Son.


http://www.bearandsoncutlery.com/clientuploads/directory/Products/2249rl_1.png



Does anyone know of a Buck model like this? I am trying to track one down for his 50th birthday.

Thanks in advance for any insight!
 
A Buck 382 trapper is really close. It's a little different than the knife in your link, but close. I'll let you know if I think of something even closer.
 
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The description sure doesn't ring a bell with me. The closest I can think of (other than the wood handled trapper mentioned above) are the jumbo trapper or the 317 but neither are lock backs and I don't recall any with rosewood handles. The wood handled trapper (382) isn't a lockback either and really hasn't been around long enough to have been lost "many years" ago.

I've seen a few two bladed 110's that are lock backs but I believe most were customs or very limited productions and not that readily available.

Jumbo trapper:

Jumbotrappersa.jpg


317:

317.jpg


317sa.jpg
 
That sounds like a 317 only I don't recall them being offered with rose wood handles and the blades don't lock. Should it be this model--- good luck on finding one. There are highly sought after and the sellers want a premium for them. I see them rarely at shows. Nice photos Dave. DM
 
If it was a lockback Buck knife with two blades on it.....only two come to mind. The 535 bucklock (the blades open on both ends). The other is the 428 Selector (only one of the two blades locked). Good luck with your search!
jb4570
 
The 317 is on my list because it is large enough to give me options, fits just right in my large hand and it is gorgeous. I've seen several 317 at shows over the past year. One looked as if it was kept in salt water and the other looked like it was much loved and little used. Both were reasonably priced to my mind. You don't need a lock if you aren't going to use it but instead admire its form, engineering and history.
 
oregon said:
The 317 is on my list because it is large enough to give me options, fits just right in my large hand and it is gorgeous. I've seen several 317 at shows over the past year. One looked as if it was kept in salt water and the other looked like it was much loved and little used. Both were reasonably priced to my mind. You don't need a lock if you aren't going to use it but instead admire its form, engineering and history.
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Truth be told, you don't need a lock at all. The first serious knife I ever owned was a Case folding hunter, almost a dead ringer for the 317. I carried that one for work and other things from 1971 until sometime in the mid to late 90's with never a problem because of the lack of a lock.
 
OK, well said.

I've given myself surgery with a functioning lock knife. The lock doesn't guaranteed that no accidental cutting will take place. A good locking knife does eliminate the pinch cut that can happen when the blade closes on a digit and against the handle.

Funny to me, while researching the ancient Shilin Cutter, I ran across a dialogue between two Japanese folding knife aficianados talking about their Shilin knives. They both owned them but one admitted that a Buck 110 was so much better and safer. They each told stories of how this, now only made in Taiwan by one 5th gen. man, Chinese slip joint had cut them severely (interpreted from Japanese via Google).

My cut happened decades ago while preparing a marshmallow/hot dog stick. I not only can't find the scar I can't recall which finger I opened. Testament to a sharp blade and the nurse who volunteered to bandage me out of the blue. Love those nurses.
 
Plumberdv said:
Truth be told, you don't need a lock at all.
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I can't disagree with you more on that pd. I find myself in plenty of awkward situations where a lock was necessary, therefore I won't bother with a non locking knife anymore. And no its not improper use! For example when using the knife to penetrate straight in, if you get a little outa line it will fold up on you.
 
Those 317 are nice. I never even knew Buck made them until a couple months ago. I was researching a Western folding hunter I bought off a freind. He found it in some junk he was clean out of a barn or something. It was rough. After cleaning up I thought it was a nice pattern. In my research I stumbled upon the 317 and thought WOW!!!!. Its funny I've had a Buck of some sort since I was a kid and never knew all the different pattterns I was missing out on.
 
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