My Very First Custom 112

I got the scoop on the 512 Raptor from the original source of this variation. .Bruce Dollenger (sp?) sent me the story.
" I had been at a knife show where I had displayed my Sawby collection. I looked at the Sway and the 112 and I thought ' What What would a 112 with a 532 blade look like? ' I liked what I saw and Leroy liked it so much he built several and showed them to Chuck who also liked it . Began to look like Buck would it in production. I was disappointed to learn the project got shot down- still have no idea who put the halt on it . In the meantime about 50 were made with all kinds of handle materials and blades (ATS-34,420 HC and Damascus) I still have 2 both with Auburn Stag..One with Damascus and one with ATS-34 .
I know there were a couple with Ram Horn,Water Buffalo horn,Mastodon Ivory and Camel bone .But most were Stag.
Now you have the story of the 512 Raptor Enjoy ! Bruce "
I was so glad to get the true story of this odd cool 112!!
 
Still does not resolve the issue as to what blade was used so I went directly to the source which would be LR. The answer to the question is that it is a 112 frame (obviously) with a 500 blade, hence the model "number" 512 - 5 from the 500 and 12 from the 112.
 
Well I did read in old threads that Chuck tried to modify 500 blades to make a drop point 112...and Leroy said they were rare.I thought I had found one a few months back that a eBay seller who lists really odd Buck blades, knives and parts. It had a Custom tang stamp and signs of modifications. .But Bruce is a respected BCCI member and the only person I know of that listed a 'Raptor 512' in eBay . But I think we both could be right. In a old thread on Drop point 112's around 2002 Chuck said him and Leroy worked to make some with a modified 500 blade that is why I was so excited to possibly have a 112 drop point blade that he touched himself . So I know 500 blades were put in 112's before 2002 . As far as I know from posts by my brother Dave from 2009 when he talked about buying the 112 in question from Leroy that he took to a show in 2009 in Oregon and Bruce's stament the 'Raptor ' was made then too when he laid a 532 blade on a 112 frame and liked the look , It's possible 500 blades were used I guess but in 2009 in Oregon a 532 blade was used . Bruce was clear about that. The last thing I would want is to create controversy here. .. I am just crazy about oddball 112's and in particular drop point 112's and have been afflicted with this condition for a long ,long time..
 
Last edited:
That looks awesome! Here is a 112 story you will like.
I went to a flea market and they had a dirty old 112 in a glass case. Asked to see it and when I opened it, it was a 1974-1980 for $15, but the blade was completely sharpened down and the wood looked like it was covered in old fish and worm guts. I thought about buying it and probably should have but I have several from that date period so I passed. Every few months I'd check that guys case and there was never anything new and what I thought was that same 112 was always still there and I never asked to look at it again. About a year later, I decided to look it over one more time, maybe it wasn't as bad as I thought and when I looked at it this time, it was a different 112. What I thought was the same 112 was a first version, but I guess its a category 2? It has the wood rather than the micarta. It was too looked like it had been in a tackle box for all it's life, but it cleaned up to look like new and doesn't look to have been sharpened. It was also only $15, sometime during the year I guess he sold the other and replaced it with this one, no telling how long it had sat in the case.
Not a very first, but the earliest I have found so far.
 
Clint, I will add further to the confusion. I have three of the "512 Raptors" and all three have different blade. One has a blade exactly like yours which I am almost certain is a 500; the second has a 450 blade that has been reprofiled to resemble the 532, and the third has a damascus blade that is stamped RRR or Leory Remer that I believe is a blade made by Grant Leavitt with Snake River Knives. To make a long story short, I think there was a great deal of experimentation going on during this time.
 
pjsjr said:
Tin Sue, are we going to get pictures...I'm short on imagination today:D:p:D. Preston
Click to expand...

Not until I can figure out how to post photos; like some others here, I am photo challenged to say the least.
 
Last edited:
D-Rig helped me post pictures for this thread lol ! The more I learn about the 512 the more I think it's a great blade variation. If you search just 512 you can see it's first seen in 2009 or so. Leroy has made quite a few! Bruce messaged me and told me that Leroy called it a Raptor and he came up with 512...I bet because of this thread he will be making a few more this year lol ! I would love to see one of his bare headed file worked one's from that time. If I ever want get some kind of windfall I'll have one made like that, perhaps slightly thinned. I'm surprised no one has commented on the fact that Mr Dowdy is going to be a 'official' Buck customizer or at least be contacted with Buck. I'm not familiar with the details of that but it was important to me especially having him do such a high quality knife personally for my first-ever custom. I treasure this one like my early Lacy ..that was before he received knives directly from Buck too..
 
D-RIG said:
2gw0Sgf.jpg

pt2oB6I.jpg

HMj0NSn.jpg

tVQ3KgJ.jpg

2LAau0C.jpg
Click to expand...
Thanks for pisting for clint D.
I do recall buying that knife from Leroy. Kinda have a touch o CRS but best i recall he had 2 or 3 at the start of the show that i looked at and later he called me over and said it was the last one. I said was kinda low on buck coupons but he said a lota work went in to it and he didn't think he would make any more so it was a get it now or it gone forever... so I bought it ...
I kinda wished I had gotten a much more fancy go to meeting looking one but glad I did get it. He called it a rapter then tho I said it looked like a 112 with a 532 blade and that is what it was suppsed to look like ...
I did ask if it was a 532 blade or what and he said "could be" and smiled when I said "but they are not interchangeable" and said "But I can do majic with them ..." l later asked if he could maje me another one after bucksway got the lne from me and he said sorry but its too much work...
Glad it is looking good bro...
Ugh btw : did ya ecers pay me fer that ? If not jest send it in back to me...
 
Too bad it's a 110....I do like the curves as it's fluid looking and goes well with the bolsters silver squares .I'm going to have David make me a 113 fixed blade similar to my 112 when the Buck budget is recovered lol!
 
110 Dave said:
Thanks for pisting for clint D.
I do recall buying that knife from Leroy. Kinda have a touch o CRS but best i recall he had 2 or 3 at the start of the show that i looked at and later he called me over and said it was the last one. I said was kinda low on buck coupons but he said a lota work went in to it and he didn't think he would make any more so it was a get it now or it gone forever... so I bought it ...
I kinda wished I had gotten a much more fancy go to meeting looking one but glad I did get it. He called it a rapter then tho I said it looked like a 112 with a 532 blade and that is what it was suppsed to look like ...
I did ask if it was a 532 blade or what and he said "could be" and smiled when I said "but they are not interchangeable" and said "But I can do majic with them ..." l later asked if he could maje me another one after bucksway got the lne from me and he said sorry but its too much work...
Glad it is looking good bro...
Ugh btw : did ya ecers pay me fer that ? If not jest send it in back to me...
Click to expand...
110 Dave. Pisting? Some of your posts are hill Billy and some arent. Lol.
 
My Brother has a history of shed juice and a massive inability to use spellcheck..I'm hoping one sweet day he will use Google voice typing but till then ..
 
I think everyone here just loves to get a new Buck in the mailbox and recently I got a care package from David Dowdy with one of the new 524 Alumni he had enhanced! He also sent me a cup with a picture of my custom and used my 112 on his cards..I felt really honored he chose my knife to represent his work. My wife KathyJo claimed it lol! D-Rig is kind enough to help a picture challenged and yall will see how cool the new Alumni looks..
 
I don't know how I did it but I have been misspelling David's last name. The correct spelling is Dowdy. I was surprised at how much the little dot pattern on the 524 gave it such a cool look..
 
I was looking on The Bay for odd 112's yesterday and seen a few that were similar to mine. Quite a few Case and other brands too..So Mr Dowdy lists some of his knives every 6 months or so and in the description of a 110 he talks a little about his work/contract with Buck and the design he will be doing for them. I'm really excited Buck is going to showcase his designs and knives! I haven't revisited this thread and I hoppe it's not quite a zombie lol!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top