Need info on my Buck 639+

H

hazy

Joined
Mar 1, 2013
Messages
328
Hey everyone, I was just hoping someone in here could give me some info on my Buck 639+. I was just hoping to get a few quick facts like what the steel is that they used on this model and if its good steel, also if people generally find this to be a good knife for basic camping needs. Also wondering if its a full tang and if anyone has any idea idea what the original msrp was that would be great too. Basically any info on it would be awesome, its surprisingly hard to find info about this knife for some reason, can't even find a wikipedia page on it.

Thanks for any help.

Here's a couple of pics, sorry for low quality I took it with my cell phone.

buckc1.jpg

buckc3.jpg
 
I believe your knife to be made in 1991 and the steel is 425m.I think they stopped production of these knives in 1993 ?

Someone with more info will comment shortly

Steve
 
No info. is strange when this model has been posted here before and recently in the Maintenance Forum and discussed. Thats an odd model and only made for about 7-8yrs.. It appears in Buck's 87 catalog as 'Now 5 fixed blade models available with kraton handles' with your model 639 in the photo. By 1994 only two models appear in the catalog. So, it's winding down. Yours has a blade of 425M steel a good edge holder. You did some nice photos. DM
 
The cost for one of them to the dealer in 1991 was $30.99 with an MSRP of $61.98.
 
Thanks for the info guys that's exactly what I was hoping to find out.

David Martin said:
No info. is strange when this model has been posted here before and recently in the Maintenance Forum and discussed. Thats an odd model and only made for about 7-8yrs.. It appears in Buck's 87 catalog as 'Now 5 fixed blade models available with kraton handles' with your model 639 in the photo. By 1994 only two models appear in the catalog. So, it's winding down. Yours has a blade of 425M steel a good edge holder. You did some nice photos. DM
Click to expand...

Hey DM I was actually the one who posted about it in the maintenance forum a month or two ago about cleaning it up, you and someone else helped me out a lot in that thread. I just wanted to try to find out definitively as much as I could about the knife because my google searches always seem to turn up squat. Thanks for the info though I appreciate it.

Edit 1: Anyone know if this is a full tang or not?

Edit 2: I just realized why my searches are always so useless I normally searched "Buck 639+" or some variation including the plus sign which upon looking at the date codes I found out is just a notation for the 1991 production date. Once I searched "Buck 639" without the plus I was able to find some more useful information. It's kind of funny how much that little symbol affected the results.
 
Last edited:
hazy said:
Thanks for the info guys that's exactly what I was hoping to find out.
Hey DM I was actually the one who posted about it in the maintenance forum a month or two ago about cleaning it up, you and someone else helped me out a lot in that thread. I just wanted to try to find out definitively as much as I could about the knife because my google searches always seem to turn up squat. Thanks for the info though I appreciate it.
Edit 1: Anyone know if this is a full tang or not?

Edit 2: I just realized why my searches are always so useless I normally searched "Buck 639+" or some variation including the plus sign which upon looking at the date codes I found out is just a notation for the 1991 production date. Once I searched "Buck 639" without the plus I was able to find some more useful information. It's kind of funny how much that little symbol affected the results.
Click to expand...
Thats what I was meaning as I knew it was you I had looked up all the information for.
You model is indeed not a full tang. If so you'd be able to see it at the edges of the handle. It is a hidden tang some refer to it as a rat tail tang and does run the length of the handle. Which is somewhat different than a partial tang. Hope this helps you understand the difference. DM
 
David Martin said:
Thats what I was meaning as I knew it was you I had looked up all the information for.
You model is indeed not a full tang. If so you'd be able to see it at the edges of the handle. It is a hidden tang some refer to it as a rat tail tang and does run the length of the handle. Which is somewhat different than a partial tang. Hope this helps you understand the difference. DM
Click to expand...

Thanks DM that does help, I am thinking about maybe some day getting a different handle made for it but for now the kraton one seems fine.
 
May already know this, but a cool trick to do, is run a magnet down the handle and it will give you an idea of how long of a rat tail tang it has.
 
Maybe not. Because a magnet will not adhere to all stainless steels. It depends on their properties. DM
 
hazy said:
Thanks DM that does help, I am thinking about maybe some day getting a different handle made for it but for now the kraton one seems fine.
Click to expand...

They can be really cool with an upgraded handle and polished blade.

Custom639and119setb.jpg
 
Yes, David, they aren't shown often. Here's the other one without saw teeth.

The wood handled 639 is a great knife.

Haebbie

Buck639.jpg
 
That one even has the old English stamp and no year date code. You gents in Europe get to see models we don't here in the states. Cool, DM
 
Well, David, I bought them in the United States.
Internet makes it possible ;) :)

Haebbie
 
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