The wonderful 703

The 703 has been one of my most carried pocket knives since I discovered this forum. As mentioned by others, it serves my daily needs quite well. And, if needs be, I have quick access to something larger if the task requires it.

Nowadays, I’m more low speed, high drag, so a smallish pocket knife is fine. :)

I will admit though, I’d really like to see a run of the 701 & 703 done with full flat grind, long pull main blade, and in a more higher end steel, from one of the vendors doing the Buck special orders. That’d be pretty sweet.

*Thought I’d add a pic of a 703 with a ‘87 704 blade in it. Pretty much like new. Just got it a couple weeks or so back. Little different. Right into my pocket. :)
 

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The Buck 703 was my "first love", so to speak, as far as pocket knives are concerned. I walked into a store in the early 1980's with some friends and I wasn't even looking for a knife. Saw the 700 series display case and just had to have a 703.

It was the first knife I ever owned that gave me that "warm fuzzy feeling" that we all look for in an EDC knife.

I don't have that knife anymore but I've acquired a few of them over the last 10 years. Best slip joint Buck ever made in my opinion.

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I love the 703. When I first seen one I wasn't sure about them because they didn't look like a traditional Buck pocket knife. For my 22 (I think) birthday my parents asked me what I wanted. I told them I would love a new Buck pocket knife. I picked a 703. A few years ago I was sharpening a church members 701 and realized how nice they were also. So I went on the bay and picked one up.
 
My grandfather carried a Buck 704 that was given to him by my mom for one of his birthdays. He loved that knife and wore the blade out on it, Buck replaced it and he started onto the new blade. It was his small game knife and his summer knife, he liked to carry a Bucklite come winter for some reason.

I loved his knife and wanted one just like, but I found the 703. I’ve always loved a stockman so it was a perfect fit. My grandfather hated a stockman, thought having so many blades would distract from the task, but when I showed him my 703 he was tickled pink. The idea that I had a knife similar to his made him smile.

I used mine for quite a while, but it was lost in a house fire and was never replaced. I ended up inheriting that 704, the 700 series holds a special place in my heart.
 
I’m a Buck folder collector. My all time favorite was the 300 series, (concentrated on 317 trailblazers, 319 Ranchers and 315 yachtsmans but have fine examples of all of the Camillus era Buck’s) then I fell for the 532 (honsestly you can’t get a better folder than a 532 just feels correct in my hand), 110’s and of course 112’s also. I had a Sawby phase then Sambar Stag consumed me..

I’m mostly keen on knives in their correct yellow beige boxes and sometimes the black boxes with a gold elastic tie. These are what I covet.

That said, every day I leave my house I slide my 835 Marksman with S35VN into my pocket. It’s practical, sharp and for a large knife rides light and very deep.
 
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sharkattacksw said:
Today I carried one of my 703s. That little knife did everything that I asked of it, no issues. It’s times like this that I really question the whole tactical/modern folder scene. Obviously, the tactical angle is definitely more of a mall ninja thing, although 99/100 tactical knife owners won’t admit it, lol.

As far as the modern folders go, I appreciate the design that goes into some of them, as well as the use of the various modern super steels.

But in the end, I end up thinking about my dad and great uncle and their knives. They managed to do just fine with simple knives of D2 or some other tool steel. And, chances are they used their knives for a lot more than most guys use theirs for today. Are super steels really needed to open mail, boxes from Amazon, bags of chip, slicing apples, etc. I know a lot of guys like to put themselves in the “hard use” category, but again, 99/100 guys will not admit that their modern tactical folders are nothing more than adult fidget toys/pocket jewelry.

Am I correct about in my thoughts? Anyone else agree?

Rant off...
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You are correct, sir.

Zieg
 
pjsjr said:
I will respectfully disagree with your thinking about the tactical/modern folder being more of a mall ninja thing. Military, law enforcement, firefighters and ETMs need a fast deploying, one handed or automatic knife. Even us old farts who find the opening of a slip joint difficult and painful enjoy the using of a knife that opens easily. I everyday carry the 898 Impact and am not a mall ninja just old. Preston
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This is a good argument. I got to try out Preston's auto folder during lunch one day and it impressed me. There's place for these knives, without a doubt.

And of course, I want one!

Zieg
 
We have talked about the 700's here but they went through some major design changes. It was mfg. as a up grade folder from the 300 series.
With script stamps and shields up to 85. Then block began to be used in 86. Liners, back-springs and bottoms of the bolsters were polished until 86. Around this time each blade was given it's own back spring and sanded finish. Brass bolsters were used in the late 80's. Stag was used from 87-94. At the same time the Custom Shop used this model for several projects (93). In 92 Buck phased in 420hc steel. IN 1994 these models were made with jigged bone. In 1999 Buck started to wind down this series. 2000 saw the first ones dropped from the
catalog. IN 2001 the 701 was dropped and the remaining in 2002. A 23 year old series comes to an end. Be glad if you have one of these models. DM
 
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My 703 is a 1989 model. I carried it regularly for years and years, but it hasn't seen a lot of pocket time lately. I got it out recently and was reminded what a great knife it is. The bolsters are a bit scuffed up; now days I prefer to carry in a pocket slip (Case suede slip shown) to minimize that kind of wear. I still have the original box in near-mint condition. Now, here's a problem -- yesterday I was in the local knife shop and saw a 1988 703. It even has the box. I think the knife is in even better shape than mine, but the box is pretty rough. I don't need it, but darn, it's tempting.

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I have one of the 703 with the old English script. Bought it because it was a classy knife but would still be an all around useful knife.

Unfortunately a sliver splintered off the wood scales and it is now put away somewhere with other knives in that place you won't forget but now I just can't recall where that place is located.
 
johnny twoshoes said:
Recent 700 series find for me.
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Beautiful knife and a fantastic find! I assume that has a separate spring for each blade??? Just yesterday when I was looking at a 1988 703 we were discussing what kind of wood was used for the covers. I guess this answers that: "birchwood".
 
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