History of the M124 Frontiersman?

I suspect that much of the rust and corrosion problems can be linked to neglect as much as the steel type. I've lived next to the Pacific ocean since 1957 and have fished it since the mid-70's. Basiclly the life of any equipment used in salt water depends on how it's taken care of. I carried an old Case folding hunter (carbon steel) similar to the 317 for years on fishing trips but on all but one occasion, washed it good afterwards in fresh water along with my other tackle. It lasted without rusting or corroding for years. I have to say that ended the day it and myself got totally soaked on a very rough day. By the time the boat got us back to the dock I was so sea sick :barf: that the only thing I could think of was getting a shower and going to bed. A couple of days later, the knife was rusted shut!

Had the divers that did buy and use them take the time to simply give them a good hosing off or soaking for a short time in fresh water, they would last. I know from personal experience that if I hose off the SS guides and reel seats on the rods I use after I get home, no rust forms. If not, it doesn't take long for rust and corrosion to take over. Same for the reels, although those require an occasional tear down and an internal cleaning.

Perhaps Buck should have made the Nemo a handleless knife similar to the Buckmaster LT. No hidden places for the salt to get trapped in and simple to wash down.
 
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Plumber, I agree. This would have made a huge difference as 440C is a good steel for this application. DM
 
sitflyer said:
As a diver, most dive knives today are on the smallish size...3"-4" blade...and high alloy stainless with molded handles and snap in sheath design. Titanium blades are in use as well. There really wouldn't be much of a market for a 124 size knife in the dive world...if there ever was...
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Well, back in the day......there was more of a market for all big knives. Walt Disney helped a lot.

The kids from the fifties who had watched the Davy Crockett movies and owned a Davy Crockett coonskin hat were growing up and wanted a big knife like him so they could "kill them a b'ar."

There was also a lot more romance in the diving world.....Disney again...."20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" gave us battles with sharks and giant squid and bad guys and anybody who donned underwater gear wanted a really big knife.

It's all different now.

(Except that 440C still doesn't have the rust resistance to be a saltwater dive knife.)

But people are embarrassed to carry a big knife these days.......I guess we've gotten too civilized.
 
I still maintain that just about any steel will last if it's taken care of just as my carbon steel blades proved until I failed to clean it afterwards.
 
Very true, Dave......but it makes no difference.

People just tend not to take care of their stuff.

It's just human nature, especially with the younger set.

Or......accidents happen, like your unintentional neglect of the Case folding hunter.

The demand is for knives made of steels that don't need much, if any, care.

The Nemo was a bad fit with the "Forever" warranty.
 
I think it’s like a quarter pound patty. Measured before or after it was made.

Because they are hand ground there is a variety of lengths on every Buck model. They start with a 7” blank and end up with a 6.5” blade. Then call it 6.25” so if you actually measure it you don’t complain.

I’m thinking they were never really a full 7” blade.
 
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