Vintage Buck 501 question regarding pivot…

Nankbrown21

Nankbrown21

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Mar 17, 2022
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Hey all , I recently acquired a vintage script Buck 501, it is in like new condition. I was just playing around with her tonight after noticing the weak spring tension on the blade while it was closed , keep in mind the pivot was flush with the bolsters at this time … and I just squeezed the bolsters between the my right thumb and pointer fingers . Well it exposed the pivot on both sides of the bolster, is this common with this model of Buck Knife ? I would understand if I had put it in a vise or hit it with a mallet , but I simply squeezed ?F007E2AE-223A-4BB4-B0B2-A1D9C4D0A7E0.jpegCF42FDEA-5B8D-483D-A514-E92AECDB6875.jpeg
 
This is going to be an edc use for everything and anything knife borderline abusive …. So I can live with seeing the pivot pin, I guess my question is , is the pin going to move its way out of the knife eventually or is it fine the way it is ?
 
I think it would be OK. If it's going to be your edc just keep and eye on it. I would be suprised it it were to moved.
 
wackafew said:
I think it would be OK. If it's going to be your edc just keep and eye on it. I would be suprised it it were to moved.
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Just didn’t know if I should do some light peening around the edges of the pivot and a light polish or just leave it be
 
The pins are installed slightly over length and are retained by being slightly swelled on each side when they are set then the bolster/pin is ground & polished flush in finishing. it won't work its way out because of the slight swell on each side IMO. If your blade has slight side to side movement you could tighten it with a careful light tapy-tap each side with a drift on an anvil like surface. Cover with clear tape so you can see the pin but avoid scratching. I would use a drift the same size as the pin. Peen the entire pin to swell it, not around the edges. If the blade does not have any concerning side to play I would leave it be.
 
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DeSotoSky said:
The pins are installed slightly over length and are retained by being slightly swelled on each side when they are set then the bolster/pin is ground & polished flush in finishing. it won't work its way out because of the slight swell on each side IMO. If your blade has slight side to side movement you could tighten it with a careful light tapy-tap each side with a drift on an anvil like surface. Cover with clear tape so you can see the pin but avoid scratching. I would use a drift the same size as the pin. Peen the entire pin to swell it, not around the edges.
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No sir, no movement at all, I was just playing with it really… and pushed the bolsters together , if buck already peened them then I’m not gonna worry about it! Thank you !
 
Nankbrown21 said:
No sir, no movement at all, I was just playing with it really… and pushed the bolsters together , if buck already peened them then I’m not gonna worry about it! Thank you !
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Besides , I’m afraid this old steel that Buck used would damage my drift pins 😁
 
The early 500 series utilized stainless bolsters and pins. By 2002 the 501, 503 and 505 bolsters were changed to nickel silver, but the 500 Duke remains stainless to this day.

This 503 from 2012 has developed quite the patina on the NS bolsters, but not on the pins, which leads me to believe stainless pins have been used all along.




Here's a pivot pin that was removed from a 110 showing the mushrooming that happened during the peening process.



There almost zero chance your pivot will work its way out.
 
The 501 is my favorite Buck. Perfect size. That’s something I learned today is the pre 2002 models had stainless bolsters. Don’t often find them for sale on the secondary market save for eBay. Understandably so, as they don’t leave anyone’s pockets. Now I’ll have to keep my eyes open for an older version.
 
MattWRog said:
The 501 is my favorite Buck. Perfect size. That’s something I learned today is the pre 2002 models had stainless bolsters. Don’t often find them for sale on the secondary market save for eBay. Understandably so, as they don’t leave anyone’s pockets. Now I’ll have to keep my eyes open for an older version.
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The consensus was that the switchover to NS bolsters started in the 90's and was fully completed in 2002 for all 500 series models except the 500. Additional info can be read in this thread from a few years ago:

 
From what I have seen on the 501, and I can't speak for the other models. When they changed the bolsters in 1997 so that the slabs would be the same for either side, I have only seen NS on this design. This can also be noticed as the front bolster is shorter on the older model than the later model. I have a 95 that has the SS bolsters and a 98 with NS bolsters.
I wish they would go back to the SS bolsters!!! I have a very strong dislike for the tarnish on NS bolsters and the ease of scratching, compared to the SS.
 
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Somebody probably did a lot of prying with that knife causing the bolsters to spread on the pivot pin. The only way it would fall out is if it never got peened at all.
 
Thanks for the reply guys !! All very informative !! I’m just going to use it as is and keep an eye on things ! No biggie if I have to drift the pin at some point in time this is going to be a user !
 
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