Question age of Buck 503

[wing40]

Got a Buck 503 the other day that has no year markings. It is a 3 line tang stamp.
Buck in old time super script
503 nothing before or after and
USA.
I also understand the older bolsters are SS and the new are nickel silver?
Any help and info would be appreciated.

 

[STR]

If it has three pins in the handle and it looks like some kind of man made material like Micarta its one of the early ones. If 2 pins it came a little later and can still have that same man made looking material. If 2 pins and wood I believe that came a little later. Even still it is hard to tell. If you got one with three pins or an eary two pin model it may be 440C for the blade steel which is certainly more desireable to me than the current 420HC they use.

I never carried a 503 much and know more about the 501 because I probably had one of those in my pocket more years than any other knife I've ever owned. Lost that first one and bought another and lost it too. One of these days I would love to find another like that first three pin one I had from the mid to late 70s eary 80s. It was a good little knife. Still is really. I recall they called the 501 the Esquire back then but changed it to the Squire for legal reasons. I understand they still make it and the 503. I think the 503 is called the Prince.

STR

 

[Joe Houser]

We don't know for sure how to date the 503 yet but can add a little to STR's post. The micarta was used up until about 1980. The rocker rivet was used up intil about 1979 so it is possible to find the 503 with red micarta inlays and no visible rocker rivet.
Hope this helps.

 

[wing40]

Thanks for the info. It's a two pin wood for sure. The blade is perfect but I think the handles must be wore down because the rivets seem to protrude more than usual. Do you know when they started date coding the 503? I have seen some with a 110 like codes. Thanks Again.