Who designed the Kalinga?

DeSotoSky

DeSotoSky

Gold Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2011
Messages
6,615
My morning ritual is to cruise the Bay while watching In the Heat of the NIght. There is a Kalinga for sale. Seller states it was designed by Frank Buck. That is a new one to me but it is not the kind of statement someone would put out randomly. Seller must know something about Buck's history to pull Frank's name out of the hat. On the other hand the seller attributes the knife with a 3-line upright tang stamp to 1969/70 production and describes it as having a "carbon fiber" handle. So the seller does not know some basic Buck model information. I think Frank died in 1974 and the Kalinga hits the stores in 1970 so there is historical overlap with Frank. It certainly would be possible, just never heard it.

Coming full circle, was Frank involved with the design of the Kalinga?
 
Last edited:
David Martin has explained this in a post way back and i was looking for it, but didnt find it but found this instead......from Makael from CJ....

Makael said:
CJ BuckModeratorModerator
898
Apr 14, 1999
The Kalinga (Model 401) was designed by my uncle Frank D. Buck. He was my father's younger brother and he passed away in 1974. His tastes were very flambouyant and while we made them the Kalinga was one of the most difficult knives to mass produce. My grandfather Al, thought another knife without such an aggressive sweeping blade was necessary for the line and designed the Akonua (model 402)

My grandfather's favorite knife was the Kalinga and he named his boat after that knife. We also made a Kalinga with Mastodon Ivory handles and engraved with Al's birthdate and the date of his death and sat it in his coffin for his viewing. That knife is in our display in our main hallway to this day.

I have had bikers tell me they like the knife for it's aggressive look and feel. I have had hunters tell me that the skinning sweep on the blade made it their favorite work knife. To each his own. I just know it is a beautiful knife.

CJ Buck
Buck Knives, Inc.
Click to expand...
 
Why thanks Jesse, that clinches it for me. I learned something new today.

If I recall my Buck family history correctly. Chuck saved his extra money for a house down payment and Frank spent his on a Corvette. That Vette was his downfall.
 
TAH said:
I learned something new today too. I didn't know jb's name was Jesse. Thanks Roger! Hello Jesse! 👍

Tom 🤠
Click to expand...
yes Sir. howdy. I did as well on Roger's post about Frank and his vette.

I prefer Al's akonua to the Kalinga for actual using myself. due to the blades angle and its less extravagant design. both are darn good lookers though.
 
I knew I had one somewhere, took awhile to find it this evening.
As I read and understand what jbmonkey posted. Frank Buck designed the Kalinga and his father Al designed the Akouna.
For an edition of 1,000 this knife does not show up on the market very often.

401.Al.Buck.Kalinga.012620 (1).JPG401.Al.Buck.Kalinga.012620 (2).JPG
 
Last edited:
The folding Kalinga is one I keep a eye out for just to try. Maybe a SPS will feature one this year. One of the bigger Buck mysteries is why certain knifes that had larger runs never or rarely are offered for sale. I've puzzled over that one for years in the case of certain 112's. Just this week a Yellowhorse 112 with a modern Jet Fighter inlay flew across the bay..
 
DeSotoSky said:
My morning ritual is to cruise the Bay while watching In the Heat of the NIght. There is a Kalinga for sale. Seller states it was designed by Frank Buck. That is a new one to me but it is not the kind of statement someone would put out randomly. Seller must know something about Buck's history to pull Frank's name out of the hat. On the other hand the seller attributes the knife with a 3-line upright tang stamp to 1969/70 production and describes it as having a "carbon fiber" handle. So the seller does not know some basic Buck model information. I think Frank died in 1974 and the Kalinga hits the stores in 1970 so there is historical overlap with Frank. It certainly would be possible, just never heard it.

Coming full circle, was Frank involved with the design of the Kalinga?
Click to expand...
Howdy y'all! I bought a Kalinga back in 1974 (I think). It says Buck Kalinga USA. Shortly after the sheath took a 90' dive from the crosstrees to Davy Jones's locker. I have no idea what I was doing 90' up from the oak deck with an unsheathed Kalinga. ha! But hey I was 19, what do you expect? ha! You do not want to drop a Kalinga, it'll take your damn leg off! Once while splitting firewood for a soak in my cast iron hot tub slipped & severed my thumbs retractor tendon. Tiny little poke that wouldn't stop bleeding. That was fun. A Kalinga is one solid full tang blade. Fifty years later it's not as pretty but still one helluva knife! Just got the notion to bring it out of the file cabinet, but I'm afraid of it! HA!
 
Howdy y'all! I bought a Kalinga back in 1974 (I think). It says Buck Kalinga USA. Shortly after the sheath took a 90' dive from the crosstrees to Davy Jones's locker. I have no idea what I was doing 90' up from the oak deck with an unsheathed Kalinga. ha! But hey I was 19, what do you expect? ha! You do not want to drop a Kalinga, it'll take your damn leg off! Once while splitting firewood for a soak in my cast iron hot tub slipped & severed my thumbs retractor tendon. Tiny little poke that wouldn't stop bleeding. That was fun. A Kalinga is one solid full tang blade. Fifty years later it's not as pretty but still one helluva knife! Just got the notion to bring it out of the file cabinet, but I'm afraid of it! HA!
 
Can anyone answer the origin of the knife’s name? Is it named after the Province of Kalinga, Philippines? My wife is from Kalinga, beautiful place.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top