When was this LE Duke made?

Plumberdv

Plumberdv

Joined
Sep 26, 2008
Messages
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I just picked this up and I hope someone can tell me when it was made. It's mastadon ivory with mosaic pins.

I just love the fossil ivory and teeth for inlays!
 

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I really like that knife. 500's are a favorite of mine too.
Who was it that got you started on "the Duke?"
 
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I'm partial to the Dukes anyway and this one is great. The other side is clean too, no cracking.
 
B500-LE1-0 from 2007. Mastodon ivory, mosaic pins, mirrored 420hc, nickle-silver frame, distressed black leather flap-over sheath, and black LE box with certificates.
Not serial numbered.


Dave
 
When mine was new a crack was visible..... now I can catch a fingernail on it. Maybe some baby oil will keep it soft?

Dave
 
gd526 said:
B500-LE1-0 from 2007. Mastodon ivory, mosaic pins, mirrored 420hc, nickle-silver frame, distressed black leather flap-over sheath, and black LE box with certificates.
Not serial numbered.


Dave
Click to expand...

This one is serial numbered, 371 of 1000.:confused:
 

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gd526 said:
When mine was new a crack was visible..... now I can catch a fingernail on it. Maybe some baby oil will keep it soft?

Dave
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Hmmm, don't know, but I doubt it would hurt it. If it's Ok to rub on a baby's butt, I shouldn't hurt 10,000 year old ivory! Anyone else have any suggestions?
 
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gd526 said:
When mine was new a crack was visible..... now I can catch a fingernail on it. Maybe some baby oil will keep it soft?

Dave
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Ok folks,

E Ivory is very porous and can shrink thus crack. I guess even the old M Ivory can do the same.

Here is a paragraph from an old book "Knives & Knifemakers", by Sid Latham.

"As to the hazards of ivory cracking and splitting, Miller uses baby oil and nose oil that comes from just rubbing the handle against the side of his nose, as he does with a pipe to bring out the grain. The oil seems to feed the pores of ivory and gives excellent protection against cracking."

So it looks like we can lessen the chance of cracking by oiling the ivory often! At least it will give me an excuse to handle some of my knives more often;). Now where is that baby oil?
jb4570
 
WOW...nice knife Dave. 500's are one of my favorites as well. Wish I had more of them:D

Just about ANY mineral oil is fine. A lot of folks like Camelia oil. Try to avoid drastic humidity changes.

Peter
 
peterinct said:
WOW...nice knife Dave. 500's are one of my favorites as well. Wish I had more of them:D

Just about ANY mineral oil is fine. A lot of folks like Camelia oil. Try to avoid drastic humidity changes.

Peter
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Thanks, here's some (but not all) of my others. I have about 6 more that I haven't taken pictures of yet.

Dukefamily.jpg
 
Since you are much more of an expert on the Dukes than I, Dave, perhaps you can help with one I just received as a gift? It is a finger-grooved sambar stag 500 in the western sytle sheath, pre-date stamped, with blade etching. The laser-etch is of a grizzly and written on the blade is "LIMITED BUCK" "GRIZZLY" "1 OF 250" and on the opposite side is stapmed with the serial number 187 in older block stamping as from the old Custom Shop days with Leroy and Byron and Bill.
Ever seen such and animal, Dave?

Dave
 
Got a picture? I'm sure no expert, I just have a few of them. The one you have rings a bell, but I can't find any reference to it when I did a search here. There was one thread with a link to a long expired ebay auction for one that sounded like it.

I'll bet someone else will come along that does know and will chime in.
 
GD, Buck went to the block style stamping on that model in 84 . So, with no year date its probably 84-85 .Sometimes those guys put their initals on them, look close you may find them . Plumber thanks for the photo of your 500's . In the photo, the bottom row, third one from the left, has etching/writing on it . What does it read ? The 500's are one of my favorites as well . DM
 
David Martin said:
GD, Buck went to the block style stamping on that model in 84 . So, with no year date its probably 84-85 .Sometimes those guys put their initals on them, look close you may find them . Plumber thanks for the photo of your 500's . In the photo, the bottom row, third one from the left, has etching/writing on it . What does it read ? The 500's are one of my favorites as well . DM
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David, that one is an Arizona Highway Patrol model. The blade is etched "Arizona Highway Patrol-50 Year Commemorative-1931-1981" It has the old script "Buck" tang stamp.It has the micarta inlays and a gold AHP shield on the bolster.
 
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