Question re: Balboa Park 80 Year Commemorative 505

C

CRK1969

Joined
Jul 28, 2006
Messages
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I searched the forum but could find no mention of this knife.

So anyway, I was lucky enough to find a Buck I hadn't seen before... a 1995 commemorative 505 celebrating the 80 year anniversary of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park. There were only 1,000 of these made, and this is the first one I've seen.

My question is regarding the grip scales, which have the look and feel of a local wood - maybe oak? Can anyone confirm what exactly these grip scales were made of?

Thanks...
 
CRK1969 said:
I searched the forum but could find no mention of this knife.

So anyway, I was lucky enough to find a Buck I hadn't seen before... a 1995 commemorative 505 celebrating the 80 year anniversary of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park. There were only 1,000 of these made, and this is the first one I've seen.

My question is regarding the grip scales, which have the look and feel of a local wood - maybe oak? Can anyone confirm what exactly these grip scales were made of?

Thanks...
Click to expand...

Hi CRK,

Can you post a photo of the knife? I know there is a set of Duke 500's that commemorate Panama, one had gold etch and one had black pad print, they both have Oak scales.. Need to see a clear photo before I can help.
jb4570
 
jb4570 said:
Can you post a photo of the knife? I know there is a set of Duke 500's that commemorate Panama, one had gold etch and one had black pad print, they both have Oak scales.. Need to see a clear photo before I can help.
jb4570
Click to expand...

Hi JB,

This one does indeed have the black pad print. When did Buck make the gold etch? Anyway, I'm running low on light, but hopefully these will do...

Any suggestions for re-polishing the nickel silver bolsters - Mothers, maybe? Will Buck do it if I send it back in?

b505gs1.jpg

b505gs2.jpg
 
CRK1969 said:
Hi JB,

This one does indeed have the black pad print. When did Buck make the gold etch? Anyway, I'm running low on light, but hopefully these will do...

Any suggestions for re-polishing the nickel silver bolsters - Mothers, maybe? Will Buck do it if I send it back in?
Click to expand...

Hi CRK,

Can you do a photo with the blade open? Those photo's of your's are fine. However, I need to see the blade stamp and would love to see the full photo of the pad print.

Buck will polish the bolster for you, will cost about $7. The Gold etch version is the same design as the pad print, issued in 1995 and only 500 of the gold etch were made. I have only seen one set of these sold on ebay in the last 6 years, I should have bought them (snooze & you loose).
jb4570
 
I'll have to wait until tomorrow when I have light again, and will take a photo with the blade open and post it... Thanks, BTW... I like the knife, but can't say I like the idea of a pad print.

So oak it is, then?
 
CRK1969 said:
I'll have to wait until tomorrow when I have light again, and will take a photo with the blade open and post it... Thanks, BTW... I like the knife, but can't say I like the idea of a pad print.

So oak it is, then?
Click to expand...

That knife was commissioned by the San Diego Historical society. If I remember right the Oak was wood from part of something special and supplied by the historical society, it may have been from part of the old panama canal structure. I do like gold etch better than pad print. However, your knife is still way cool with it's historical history.

I have 3 other Buck Duke 500's with historical history. 1) Lady Liberty gold etch, Oak from the restoration of the statue. 2) Old Ironsides gold etch, teak wood from the restoration of the ships deck. 3) Old North Church gold etch, pine wood from the restoration of the church. You just have to love our history.
jb4570
 
thats a beautiful looking knife with a lot of history! I do not think that it would be a good idea to do any polishing of it. Just put it in the box and hide it, or put it behind some plexi-glass and display it...
 
jb4570 said:
That knife was commissioned by the San Diego Historical society. If I remember right the Oak was wood from part of something special and supplied by the historical society, it may have been from part of the old panama canal structure. I do like gold etch better than pad print. However, your knife is still way cool with it's historical history.
Click to expand...


Well that's interesting. I know the SDHS has played an integral part in restoring the Mission properties around town. I'm going to reach out to them to see if they can tell me where exactly the wood came from - it definitely has some age to it... That especially resonates with me as our family's history here dates back to the Portola-Serra Expedition of 1769 that resulted in the original Spanish settlement in SD.

Cool JB... thanks. :thumbup:
 
stealthchaser13 said:
thats a beautiful looking knife with a lot of history! I do not think that it would be a good idea to do any polishing of it. Just put it in the box and hide it, or put it behind some plexi-glass and display it...
Click to expand...

The wood will definitely be left "as is," but the bolsters could use (and will get) a little polishing, at which time it will go under glass. ;)
 
Well, I spoke with the librarian / records keeper at the SDHS today, and she said the knives were not commissioned by them, but rather made by Buck with their approval... She had no idea what the source of the wood may have been, and was going to check her records and call me back if she found out anything.

Maybe Joe Houser might know as the SDHS lead has run dry?
 
CRK1969 said:
Well, I spoke with the librarian / records keeper at the SDHS today, and she said the knives were not commissioned by them, but rather made by Buck with their approval... She had no idea what the source of the wood may have been, and was going to check her records and call me back if she found out anything.

Maybe Joe Houser might know as the SDHS lead has run dry?
Click to expand...

Hi CRK,

Still waiting for a photo of your knife with the blade open!

Here is a copy of info for these two Duke 500 LE's from the BCCI news letter about the knives in question.
SDHist500info.jpg

jb4570
 
Hi JB,

Here's two pics of the knife - one with the blade open, and a close-up of the pad print:

b505open.jpg

b505pp.jpg



Thanks for the BCCI newsletter info - I'll pass that on to the lady at the SDHS and see what she says...
 
Hi CRK,

That is just a fantastic Duke 500! Thanks for the photo's, I bet most of the folks here have never had a chance to see that LE version.

Just on an off chance I sent an email to the SD Historical Socitiy store asking if they had any of these still for sale. I let them know the knives were from 1995. I got a very nice reply.
Mr. Burton:



We don’t have anything like that for sale. There is only one person still here from that period and she said they have been long gone.



Sorry we couldn’t help you. Thank you for your inquiry.



Sincerely,

Trina Brewer



Trina Brewer | History Store Manager
SAN DIEGO HISTORY CENTER
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-232- 6203 ext. 113
Fax: 619-232- 6297
sdhs.store@sandiegohistory.org
www.sandiegohistory.org
jb4570
 
Howdy JB,

Thanks... :) I also spoke with the SDHS records librarian again today... she had found the notice put out by the SDHS in '95 where they announced the production of the knife as a "partnership" between the historical society and Buck. The wood is form the original building that stood where the Prado restaurant stands today, one of the original structures built in Balboa Park. :thumbup:
 
CRK1969 said:
Howdy JB,

Thanks... :) I also spoke with the SDHS records librarian again today... she had found the notice put out by the SDHS in '95 where they announced the production of the knife as a "partnership" between the historical society and Buck. The wood is form the original building that stood where the Prado restaurant stands today, one of the original structures built in Balboa Park. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I also did a web search of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. Very interesting, as the Panama-California connection is that the ships were stopping in San Diego as first stop after coming up through the canal. San Diego wanted some national media coverage to gain some tourist $$$$$ back in the day. So the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park was one of the tourist draws and was a big draw in 1915-1916. Silly me thinking the wood was from the canal when it's even better from the old park buildings, this is California (San Diego) history at it's best.

Thanks for sharing your knife. I'll find a set of those some day;).
jb4570
 
JB, I did see one of those Dukes at our 20yr. event in the display of the only founding member present . Gene Baehr, member # 34, he collect Dukes and 317's . Only I didn't know what I was looking at until now . Thanks . DM
 
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