I've a couple Buck 700 series questions.

Joe58

Joe58

Joined
Nov 11, 2002
Messages
1,969
Hi guys - I received a 700 set off eBay a few days back, done in brass. I was surprised actually cause I think I was the only bidder. I think only one of these were even used. Nice condition. But anyway, I searched for info on when these were offered in brass as opposed to the nickel silver normally seen.

I came across an old post from Joe Houser (from 2008 IRRC) which said the brass ones were only offered in 1986 & 87. The tang marks would bear this out I think as they all have the 86 < mark, with the exception of the 701, and the 709.

I'm assuming the 701 was a pre-86 blade being used up for the 86 run? I'm not sure, and wasn't able to find, just when the 700 series started production. So that's a question I'm hoping to get answered. I've a couple other 701's with the script Buck and shield combo, then one plain block lettered Buck with no year marks either.

The 709 has me confused as well. There's no year stamp, but a definite dot on the right side of the model number. I can't find a year where just one dot was used. Didn't they start with two dots when they went to year identifiers? The dot was stamped well done, and clearly intentional. And the two dot marked blades, the dots are along the bottom of the model numbers right? Least those I've seen.

The 701 in particular in brass is kinda cool actually. It's like a mini 110. :)

So I'm hoping my cruddy pictures will be good enough for the experts here.

Thanks!



 
Joe, Good questions that I don't see much. With this series the old English script stamp and shield were changed to block style in late 84 or 85. IN 86 the 3 bladed models were given each their own spring. So, look for that. In the late 80's Buck did a brass run on this series which could have been a limited edition, though not mention in their catalog.
The dot stamp--- who knows what it indicates. It could have been the switch to 425M steel or the added blade spring. On this series the blades and liners were polished until sometime in 1986. DM
 
Dots in and of themselves are not date codes. The are engineering change codes. If you know when and what the change was for a specific model they can then be used as a defacto date code. 2, 3, and 4 dot codes used on the models 110/112 are well understood but frequently misapplied to other models. I wont swear to it but I think in your case the dot most probably means that the blade was fine blanked. Good catch on those 700's.... I missed seeing them.
 
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Appreciate the help! (edit to change the question mark I typo'ed, my bad).

For those in the crowd like me....fine blanked means? :)
 
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Joe58 said:
For those in the crowd like me....fine blanked means? :)
Click to expand...

Blades can be formed in many ways including forging, laser cutting, and stamping. Fine blanking is an exacting method of stamping that allows the blades to be formed very close to final finished shape with little edge or thickness distortion. Googling "fine blanking" will get some good explanations.

There is some discussion of fine blanking in this long thread. Fast forward to post #95.....

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...12079099&highlight=fine+blanking#post12079099
 
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I never that the 700 series existed in brass. That's a real nice collection you have there. I do love brass.

Sorry, nothing informative to add. Just drooling.
 
I haven't been on in a week so I missed these. Those are cool. I never knew they existed in brass. I only own the 701 and 703 but think they are some of the classiest using knives ever made.
 
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