What is the most "Muggle Friendly" Buck Knife?

DrMegabyte

DrMegabyte

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My brother and I were debating the other night about which Buck knife, in the current catalog, is least likely to get an adverse reaction when you take it out in a public setting. Or as we put it: the least likely to upset the muggles. :cool:

We agreed that all the fixed blades are out ...

We agree that if you decide to carry a small, one hand opener like the mini-Spitfire or the Small Vantage, it is best to open it two handed when among muggles.

We agreed the "tiny knives" like the deuce / toothpick / solo are too small to be useful for EDC so ruled them out ...

In the end ... my vote was for the 303 Cadet as it certainly isn't "tactical" and it looks like, "that knife grandpa had." His vote was for the 389 Canoe as "just like the knife I had (or my brother had) as a kid."

The Trapper was a compromise we both agree could work ... So while we disagreed on the order, we did agree that the "top three least likely to panic the knife-phobic would the a 303, a 389, and a 382."

Thoughts?
 
In general terms, I'd also agree a small / medium stockman or jack would be the least to garner attention in a public setting. For some time before my father passed away a few years ago, I would accompany him to his doctor appointments. On two different occasions, I noticed other patrons using folding knives to 'clean their nails' in the waiting room. There was a stark contrast in my impression between them.

In the first, while sitting with my father in a waiting room full of senior citizens, I'd noticed ONE individual who was younger, maybe 30s or early 40s, using a large tactical liner lock or frame lock folder to 'clean his nails', all while scanning around the room to see who was noticing. When he'd opened the blade, the loud 'CLACK' of the lock engaging was impossible to ignore in that quiet waiting room. I shook my head over that one.

In the 2nd example, at my father's dermatologist appointment, I noticed a relatively older gentleman, maybe 60s or 70s, very subtly reach into his pocket and produce what I perceived as a small stockman or jack. The handle was fully concealed within his palm and he very discreetly unfolded the clip blade and quickly cleaned a nail or two with it, then immediately and quietly folded the blade shut and slipped it back into his pocket. It occurred to me in watching this, there's also a certain knife-handling etiquette that can be very discreet in a public setting. That impressed me.
 
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wonderboy1377s said:
I carry a 55 pretty frequently and it works well for my edc needs.
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I like the idea of this ... but I think the 503 would be slightly less likely to raise an eyebrow ... The 503 Prince features brushed nickel silver bolsters paired with its woodgrain scales. Nickel silver looks more like a premium pen, a watch, or high-end pocket jewelry than the brass on the 055. The drop point blade isn't "pointy" as the clip point on the 055. Overall, the 503 looks elegant rather than miniature "hunting gear."

I love my 055 and carry it often, but in the "don't alarm the muggles" conversation, the 503 wins ...

In fact, since it came up, I'd put the 503 and the 303, my original #1, at a tie in this "least likely to cause alarm" ranking ...
 
DrMegabyte said:
I like the idea of this ... but I think the 503 would be slightly less likely to raise an eyebrow ... The 503 Prince features brushed nickel silver bolsters paired with its woodgrain scales. Nickel silver looks more like a premium pen, a watch, or high-end pocket jewelry than the brass on the 055. The drop point blade isn't "pointy" as the clip point on the 055. Overall, the 503 looks elegant rather than miniature "hunting gear."

I love my 055 and carry it often, but in the "don't alarm the muggles" conversation, the 503 wins ...

In fact, since it came up, I'd put the 503 and the 303, my original #1, at a tie in this "least likely to cause alarm" ranking ...
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I like the 503 as an option also! I know they aren’t regular production but my most carried 55’s are nickel silver( one with mammoth and the other with carbon fiber) and do like the clip over the drop point for use in this small of knife. I do understand how the drop point is less pointy looking so maybe slightly less intimidating.

 
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I feel comfortable carrying a 501 squire pretty much anywhere. I really try not to go smaller. A single or two blade 301 or 302 is also great.
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Interesting topic and one I can relate to. I deliver dental prosthetics to dentist offices as a part time job. They are transported in small boxes and every once in a while I have to open a box to make sure the prosthetic inside is for one of their patients.

This usually takes place at the front desk where there are customers (patients) in the waiting room and employees at the desk.

I have several small knives that I rotate for this purpose but when it’s a Buck knife it’s this tiny little 505. I’m basically a guest in their office and I also represent the lab that I work for. I figure nobody in that office needs or wants to see me flick open the larger knife in my pocket. I am after all, just opening a small box.
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1911bphil said:
I carry a Buck 307 everyday at work. No one has ever said anything negative about it as far as I know.
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Years ago, I attended an exhibition of raptors at a public library in my community. They had live examples of owls, hawks and also a tame raven, all of which were rescued birds which had been treated for permanent injuries like broken wings and weren't able to fly anymore. I was there taking photos of the birds, and I was standing close to a bookcase immediately behind me. At the conclusion of the exhibition, they asked for donations for the library. I reached into my back pocket for my wallet. At the time, I was also carrying my Buck 307 vertically alongside my wallet and the knife got pulled out of my pocket when I extracted it. The knife fell onto a shelf in the bookcase behind me and I hadn't realized it. A gentleman to my left noticed I'd dropped the knife and alerted me to it, pointing in the direction of the bookcase. The room was full of people of all sorts, including young children. And nobody seemed alarmed by the fact that I'd dropped the knife. At least on that occasion, the 307 became a little more 'civilized' EDC in my perception, and it was comforting to me in realizing that.
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Railsplitter said:
I have several small knives that I rotate for this purpose but when it’s a Buck knife it’s this tiny little 505. I’m basically a guest in their office and I also represent the lab that I work for.
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If the 505 Knight or any of its related cousins that used the now discontinued 1 & 7/8th inch blade, like the 525 Gent, were still in the catalog, they would easily run the "least likely to provoke the muggles" hands down!

But, at least in the rules me and my brother set, it has to be in the current catalog.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
Years ago, I was attending an exhibition of raptors at a public library in my community. They had live examples of owls, hawks and also a tame raven, all of which were rescued birds which had been treated for permanent injuries like broken wings and weren't able to fly anymore. I was there taking photos of the birds, and I was standing close to a bookcase immediately behind me. At the conclusion of the exhibition, they asked for donations for the library. I reached into my back pocket for my wallet. At the time, I was also carrying my Buck 307 vertically alongside my wallet and the knife got pulled out of my pocket when I extracted it. The knife fell onto a shelf in the bookcase behind me and I hadn't realized it. A gentleman to my left noticed I'd dropped the knife and alerted me to it, pointing in the direction of the bookcase. The room was full of people of all sorts, including young children. And nobody seemed alarmed by the fact that I'd dropped the knife. At least on that occasion, the 307 became a little more 'civilized' EDC in my perception, and it was comforting to me in realizing that.
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Pretty sure I've had an occasional 303 or Case peanut fall out at church. It doesn't happen often, but some of my summertime shorts have terrible pockets. Once a church grandma spotted a knife under my chair in the fellowship hall. She acted like I'd dropped a pencil or something else innocuous.

I'm in the suburbs, so a large modern knife might raise some eyebrows. Maybe? I generally carry smaller slippies so I don't really know where the line is.
 
FranklinG said:
Pretty sure I've had an occasional 303 or Case peanut fall out at church. It doesn't happen often, but some of my summertime shorts have terrible pockets. Once a church grandma spotted a knife under my chair in the fellowship hall. She acted like I'd dropped a pencil or something else innocuous.

I'm in the suburbs, so a large modern knife might raise some eyebrows. Maybe? I generally carry smaller slippies so I don't really know where the line is.
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I'd dropped another knife in the same manner as I'd mentioned previously. Was at Costco one morning, and just after I'd displayed my membership card entering the store, I reached for my wallet to put the card back in. On that morning, I was carrying a Queen Country Cousin (small sodbuster style traditional). As I pulled the wallet out of my pocket, the knife got dragged out and dropped to the concrete floor, skittering several feet in the process. A woman walking behind me immediately picked it up and handed it back to me and she said, "My husband does the SAME THING!" That made me laugh and I was especially glad that she understood. 😄
 
DrMegabyte said:
If the 505 Knight or any of its related cousins that used the now discontinued 1 & 7/8th inch blade, like the 525 Gent, were still in the catalog, they would easily run the "least likely to provoke the muggles" hands down!

But, at least in the rules me and my brother set, it has to be in the current catalog.
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My apologies. I certainly did overlook that in your post.
 
I agree the 303 cadet is probably a good size for most occasions in urban public settings. Im in metro Wichita area this weekend for my grandson’s graduation and I have both my 303 cadet and a large vantage pro . When im around the city folks I use the cadet but when its just my family I use the vantage.

Back home in the small rural town I live in you commonly see large knives like the 110 and quite a few 105 pathfinder fixed blades on hip carry. Lots of farmers and ranchers out here need a large knife for their work and no body thinks twice about it. I think it mostly depends on the cultural mindset in the particular area and what people are accustomed to. And of course it matters how you go about using a knife large or small. If you’re more discreet and not flashing it around to draw attention it will probably go un noticed.
Edit to 105 not 501. 😆
 
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Lesknife......I agree with your logic of what knife to carry when & where, but I didn't recognize the Buck 501 you mentioned and scratched my head a bit. Looked it up and the Buck 105 showed up.
I bought one of the last Buck 105 Pro's [ green Micarta handle, 35svn steel ] last summer (from Buck).
A great knife for sure !
 
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