Very Old Buck STones

J

JD Spydo

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Nov 20, 2004
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Back in 1976 we had a sporting good store close by called Casey's Sporting Goods. They were a national chain at the time. And they were a full line Buck dealer. I got several Buck knives from them during their tenure but I also got my very first set of Buck sharpening stones from them too.

They were Buck ARkansas Stones. One was a regular grade of novaculite and probably about a medium-fine grit. The other was a smaller, kind of milky-white, translucent looking stone. It was called the Buck Hard ARkansas STone. I still have both stones believe it or not. But in the last 4 to 5 years I've lost the factory cases for both of them and it really makes me mad too :mad: > Because I had kept them all those years.

The Hard Arkansas STone isn't very big but it puts one great edge on a small pocket knife blade.

I was wondering what all you Buck Experts might know about the history of their sharpening stones that they marketed during that era. I'm sure that Buck was getting them from one of the companies that mined the novaculite from Arkansas. But I was wondering if any of you had any info about whether their novaculite was a superior grade and worth collecting? I have other Buck sharpening tools as well that I picked up over the years. Their pocket sharpening steel is awesome :cool:

Also if any of you know of any historical websites on Bucks older products I would be appreciative.
 
JD, Good questions . Yes, these, Buck sharpening stones are very collectable items .
The first model Buck came out w/ was the 101 (catalogue # first mentioned) . Which was a grey carborundum stone 4"X1 3/4" later a beige color stone, same size put out by the same Carborundum Co. from about 1961-63 in Congress Street plant. In 1964 Buck catalog begans to state a model 131, (in Federal Blvd. plant)same size but now a Washita stone (cream w/brown specks)and the carborundum dropped . These models 130-138 of sharpeners ran thru the 80's in Magnolia Ave. plant later Weld Blvd. plant, El Cajon .
Trouble is these stones are not marked, so w/o the box you don't know which you have .
Its the info. on the box that dates the stone . (Describe yours) I have the one you speak of w/ paperwork and the company in Arkansas who mined those . The other you speak of is the model 137 a good sharpening steel . That one is stamped (please state) and depending on that can date it . The old English script is the first and would put it in late 70's which came w/ cream box and sheath . There is much more info. on these, Larry Oden wrote a article on this topic in the Sept. issue 2006 .
Now, to clear up some miss information . The grey hardware carborundum stones man made are not as hard as the Washita and could not sharpen Buck's 440C steel of that era . The natural Washita can but is slow . A simple google on the Mohls hardness scale will tell you it can .The Black Arkansas will sharpen even S30V just slow . So not all the man made stones are better sharpeners . The higher quality like Norton India stones and diamond yes will . Hope this helps . DM
 
ok time for me to learn ...
before i went to a system i like
i bought a set of buck tri-stones on a frame
have not used them and they are a tad dusty
and the plastic is dusty but they are new old stock
i dont need them and mostly will sell them so ...
what are they worth?

i figure they would be great for a display of what to sharpen a buck with
or with a display of old buck knives
but i dont want to do that..
 
Dave, That one is not mentioned in the 1979 or 80 catalog so its after that and could be a model 140 . Check and see . Does it have the box ? I do remember that one .Thanks DM
 
David Martin said:
Dave, That one is not mentioned in the 1979 or 80 catalog so its after that and could be a model 140 . Check and see . Does it have the box ? I do remember that one .Thanks DM
Click to expand...

I purchased both of these in the Summer of 1976. I am 55 now but I remember the very day I purchased those stones. When I bought them the salesman really bragged about the smaller white/milky/translucent. I bought the last one they had and he told me that those smaller Hard Arkansas Stones were hard for them to get. Seriously folks I can remember it that well.

There is a profound difference between the smaller Hard ARkansas Stone and the bigger one. I'll go to the storage unit this evening and measure both of them. I hope I can find those plastic/acrylic snap boxes that they came in new. It was a very interesting era back then. Because during the 70s Buck had the cult following and cult status that Spyderco seems to enjoy during this era. And you had to watch your Buck knife because people would go out of their way to steal them. Much more than they would now a days.

I also bought a bottle of Buck Sharpening oil that day too. Along with some fishing lures. That Casey's Sporting Goods was a great store for that time period.
 
JD, I was referencing the Tri-Hone 334 was speaking of . Is that what your talking about or a single stone (hard Arkansas) ? About that same time the same year I too bought a bottle of Buck honing oil and saw that stone . Wish I had bought it as well that day . Does that have a model 132 on the box ?DM
 
David Martin said:
JD, I was referencing the Tri-Hone 334 was speaking of . Is that what your talking about or a single stone (hard Arkansas) ? About that same time the same year I too bought a bottle of Buck honing oil and saw that stone . Wish I had bought it as well that day . Does that have a model 132 on the box ?DM
Click to expand...

No David this "hard Arkansas" Buck stone was an individual stone I purchased and it was in an acrylic snap box and it distinctly said "HARK ARkansas" on the box it came in and it was a smaller white/milky/translucent stone. And I got it out of the storage unit last night and the smaller one measures 1.25 inches by 2.75 inches.

Now the other the other one if I remember correctly said Washita on the acrylic snap box and it measures 4.25 inches by 1.50 inches. It is a multi-colored piece of novaculite that is sort of brownish with kind of a purple tint to it. It has streaks of white and lighter colors in it too.

If I ever locate one or both of those boxes that the stones came in new I'll let you all know. I haven't used either one of them in about 6 months or so. But that little Hard ARkansas stone would really put a razor edge on a small pocket knife blade. It is hard to sharpen something as big as a model 110 on it because of it's size.

I'm sort of surprised that Buck themselves didn't archive all of their past products. Hell these are so old they might even be museum pieces :D But needless to say Buck has been a quality company for as long as I can remember. I still use a Bucklite blade which I've had for a long time. It is the size of the 110 model. I use it as a kitchen companion down at the deer camp. I like it to cut cheese and summer sausage with as well as a general food knife. Some things never get old :D
 
There are larger Buck Hard Arkansas Stones (No. 135). However, I am not impressed by the quality of the stone. There are/were? much more uniform and finer Hard Arkansas Stones available. I have pictured both for comparison.




Telechronos:):):)
 
David Martin,
Heres some photos of my meager Buck sharpening pieces for your use in future discussions.
300Bucks
GreyStone.jpg

OtherGreyStone.jpg

Crocksticks.jpg

Steel2.jpg
 
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300 and Tele, thank you very much for posting those photos for your Buck sharpening models . JD yours is (the smaller Ark. stone) the model 130 a older and harder to find w/ the box and the other is the model 131 the Washita . Which is older and not easy to come by espically w/ the box . I had a 133 at one time . I've not had a 134 or 135 (Tele's) . I have 300's, 136 and 137 and have not owned the 147 . Which is from the 80's .
300, does your 137 have a wedge on one end ? What model is the pocket steel rod ? Nice 119 . Thanks again . DM
 
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hay 300 you culd put an edge on any thing with all that!
But
what could i expect the tri-stone set up to fetch on bad ebay week ?
i really dont want it now but
if not much will keep it as have 30 in it..
 
I also bought one of the sets like 300Bucks showed in the first picture of post #10. If I remember correctly, they were mined in Arkansas and called "Washita". The larger one was softer and the smaller one was a "hard" Arkansas.

I used it for many years and it served well. Still have it, but it is not as pristine as 300Bucks.

Peter
 
That acrylic snap box like "300 Bucks" showed in his thread was exactly like the one my stones came in new. Except the ones that came with my stones were smaller and only contained one stone each. That model #137 sharpening steel has been one of my most treasured field sharpening tools. I'm really surprised that wasn't a bigger seller than what it was because it truly is a good field sharpening tool. I'm curious as to when that complete kit with both stones and the bottle of honing oil was sold?

What puzzles me a bit is why Buck didn't get into some bigger sharpening equipment. Especially with the great line of fixed blades they had throughout the years.
 
JD, The model 133 (that 300 photographed) came out in 1968 or 70 . The 137 steel is a good sharpener . DM
 
Here is the oldest Buck stone I have seen. The worst part is that I bought it new which suggests that I am not a minor.





I'd be interested to know if anyone knows of one older than this model 101.

Telechronos:):):)
 
Might as well throw in a couple more including the small Buck Hard Arkansas Stone No. 130 and the 131 Washita.



Telechronos:):):)
 
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