Hi Dave,
That gold etch Duke 500 was issued in 1984. There were 3 different versions/issues.
One of the issues had no dog and 1000 of them were made.
One of the issues had a small dog and 2500 of them were made.
One of the issues had a large dog and 2000 of them were made (your's and mine)
As for the dot.....do a search, this topic was talked about here some time ago and Larry O provided the answer.
I know there is another thread out in the big ciber limbo, but, I can't find it. here is data from an old thread from LO
Here is a better link with better info
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127311&highlight=500
Larry Oden
Registered User Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Peru, Indiana
Posts: 789
Martin,
If the handle inlays are burgundy micarta, your 500 series knife with the script three line tang stamp would be prior to 1981. At about that time, they switched to impregnated birch inlays. The script tang stamp remained in use until about 1985 (give or take a bit) when Buck switched to a block letter tang stamp. Some of these block letter tang stamps also incorporated a dot after the model number. A very few have a dot before AND after the model number (I have only seen a 500 marked this way). The significance of the dot(s) remains unclear.
jb4570
That's a nice 500 Dave,beautiful scene etched on the blade.:thumbup:
