Help me with a date on this Akonua

Plumberdv

Plumberdv

Joined
Sep 26, 2008
Messages
8,160
I just got this one and was hoping someoe could give me an idea when it was made. It came in a nice wooden display case with a glass top but no paperwork. It has a number 235 on the tang which is supposed to be #235 of 500 made.

Akouna.jpg


Akonuatang.jpg
 
edbeau said:
Nice knife. Is the handle made of a dark wood?
Click to expand...

Yes, it's a very dark, straight grained wood. It's so dark you can barely see the grain. The previous owner bought it at a gun show and there was no paperwork with it when he bought it, so no help there.
 
That is a knife from the old custom shop. That was made specifically for a customer, and should be recorded in the old custom shop records. I doubt it was "of 500".
 
Scott Hartman said:
That is a knife from the old custom shop. That was made specifically for a customer, and should be recorded in the old custom shop records. I doubt it was "of 500".
Click to expand...

Hmmm, if it was made specifically for someone, I wonder what the 235 on the tang signifies?

How about this one? Just picked it up too.

ClassicAkonua.jpg
 
Last edited:
Pdave, this one is just as nice... I like the dark wood one more... Custom knife #235/500 may be 300... :thumbup: ...
 
ItsTooEarly said:
Pdave, this one is just as nice... I like the dark wood one more... Custom knife #235/500 may be 300... :thumbup: ...
Click to expand...

Actually Armand, the wood in it isn't very pretty. It's just too dark, I don't know if it's the wood itself or the stain that was used. I might just have to redo it myself and see if I can get the grain and real beauty of the wood (if there is any) to show up.
 
Plumber, The guard is the give away.Its the very new style.The Akonua normally was made using 3 pins.Like the one in the second picture you posted.I think it was discontinued in 98 or 99.Great knife anyway you
slice it.Thanks for posting the pictures.DM
 
The tang stamp is from the old custom shop, 3 digit numbers denote employee service awards, four digit numbers indicate regular custom shop knives.
 
That's interesting and it makes it more special to me than if it was a one of 500. I wonder if Joe or someone at Buck would be able and willing to track down the number and let me know who it was made for and what for?
 
The box shown in the photo is the same as mine (from 1974) and does not have that guard.That style guard was ONLY used from 1981-85. Which would coincide with the time of Custom Shop.I've talked w/ those guys and they said, in the early days they would just go get a knife off the production line and dress it up in the Custom Shop.I think that is what yours is.Most likely from 1981 and with 440C steel.The Custom Shop used that steel mostly.That same box was used until it was discontinued in 1997.I've seen a Akouna dated 1998 that did not have that box.My handle has black micarta.DM
 
David Martin said:
The box shown in the photo is the same as mine (from 1974) and does not have that guard.That style guard was ONLY used from 1981-85. Which would coincide with the time of Custom Shop.I've talked w/ those guys and they said, in the early days they would just go get a knife off the production line and dress it up in the Custom Shop.I think that is what yours is.Most likely from 1981 and with 440C steel.The Custom Shop used that steel mostly.That same box was used until it was discontinued in 1997.I've seen a Akouna dated 1998 that did not have that box.My handle has black micarta.DM
Click to expand...

Thanks David, I've sent Joe an e-mail asking that when and if he has the time, to research the first one for me. It would be interesting to know who and what it was for if it's an award knife.
 
I checked the custom log book and number 0235 was "probably" a mother of pearl handled 402 made in 1991. This entry is not your knife.
I also checked the employee service award log, which is not complete, and it does not show a 402 serialized 235.
I doubt it was part of a run of knives because if it were, the number would be 235/xxx.

I suppose it could be an early custom shop knife. I heard those early ones only had 3 digits to the serial number.
Sorry I dont have anything concrete for you, that knife is a real mystery.:confused:
 
Thanks for looking into it Joe, I appreciate you taking the time. At least I know I won't be running into it's clone everytime I turn around.:thumbup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top