BUCK COLLECTORS CLUB VERN TAYLOR STAR RT. BOX 40 home (916) 865-3631 ORLAND, CA 95963 work (916) 865-2825 FAX (196) 865-2011
NEWSLETTER NUMBER 8
OUR MEMBERSHIP IS NOW 210 SO THERE ARE STILL 40 CHARTER MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE. ONLY CHARTER MEMBERS ARE ELIGIBLE TO BUY THE CLUB KNIFE. THE FIRST 100 MEMBERS ARE FOUNDING MEMBERS AND ALL OF THE FIRST 250 ARE CHARTER MEMBERS. OVER 90% OF THE MEMBERS HAVE PURCHASED THEIR CLUB KNIFE AND WE HAVE SENT CLUB KNIVES TO MEMBERS IN IRELAND, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN AND SWEDEN.
IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED YOUR 1990 CLUB KNIFE AND HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED YOUR LETTER PROM CHUCK BUCK, IT SHOULD BE ENCLOSED WITH THIS NEWSLETTER. IF YOU GOT YOUR CLUB KNIFE SINCE NOV. 1, 1990, YOUR LETTER WILL BE ALONG SOON. PLEASE PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE CHECKLIST ENCLOSED, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY MEMBER HAS GOTTEN EVERY ITEM LISTED. THIS WILL ALSO GIVE US A CHANCE TO CHECK THE ACCURACY OF YOUR ADDRESS, THE SPELLING OF YOUR NAME ETC. IF YOU USE A MIDDLE NAME OR INITIAL, PLEASE ACCEPT OUR APOLOGY, WE JUST DIDN'T ALLOW FOR IT IN THE COMPUTER FILE AND IT WOULD BE A REAL JOB TO CHANGE IT NOW.
MODEL 531 NEWS; THERE ARE TWO DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT BLADE MARKS THAT APPEAR ON THE ORIGINAL 531; THE CLUB KNIVES ARE MARKED 531~ AS ARE MOST OF THE PRODUCTION KNIVES. THERE ARE SOME THAT BEAR A MARK THAT INDICATES 1989 AS THE YEAR OF MANUFACTURE INSTEAD OF THE SPECIAL 1988 MARK; IT LOOKS LIKE THIS: 53l'v' IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE, IT IS DEFINITELY MORE RARE THAN THE /.\ MARK. I AM ONLY AWARE OF ABOUT 19 OF THESE KNIVES. THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TWO KNIVES IS THE ORIENTATION OF THE LOCK WITHIN THE FRAME SO THE ONLY VISIBLE DIFFERENCE IS THE BLADE STAMP. IF YOU OPERATE BOTH KNIVES, THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY THE LOCK OPERATES IS SUBTLE BUT CAN BE NOTICED. THE CHANGE IN THE WAY THE LOCK WAS ORIENTED IN THE KNIFE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS WITH THE LOCK. AGAIN, IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, THE LOCK WAS FINE BUT BUCK KNIVES, AS A MAJOR CORPORATION, JUST COULD NOT TAKE ANY CHANCES. INCIDENTALLY, THE KNIVES PICTURED ON THE COVER OF THE SPECIAL FOLDER AND ON THE POSTER ARE PROTOTYPES ONLY; NO PRODUCTION KNIVES WERE MADE WITHOUT A YEAR MARK. (CONSULT NLf 4 FOR YEAR MARKS). THERE WERE SIX OF THE V' MARKED KNIVES IN THE CLUB KNIVES AND THEY ARE PUT ASIDE FOR YOU REAL BUCKLOCK (531) FANS. BUCK IS NOW IN PRODUCTION ON THE NEW MODEL 531 WHICH HAS A CONVENTIONAL LOCK BUT LOCATED AS A MID FRAME LOCK. THIS KNIFE LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE THE ORIGINAL 531 BUT IS A LITTLE THICKER AND VERY OBVIOUSLY HAS A DIFFERENT LOCKING MECHANISM. THE BLADE STAMP INDICATES THAT IT IS STILL A 531; THE KNIVES CURRENTLY BEING PRODUCED ARE MARKED 531 X SINCE THEY WERE MADE IN 1990. HENCEFORTH, I SHALL REFER TO THE ORIGINAL 531 AS THE SAWBY LOCK MODEL SINCE THE LOCK WAS INVENTED BY IDAHO CUSTOM KNIFE MAKER SCOTT SAWBY. SOME OF THESE UNUSUAL KNIVES ARE LISTED FOR SALE IN THE LIST.
THE BIG NEWS FROM BUCK IS A NEW DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH WENGER, THE MAKER OF THE GENUINE SWISS ARMY KNIFE. BUCK WILL DISTRIBUTE THE WENGER RED SWISS ARMY KNIVES IN THE U.S. THROUGH THE EXISTING BUCK DEALERS AND WENGER IS MAKING A SHORT LINE OF KNIVES THAT HAVE A TEXTURED BLACK MATTE SCALES THAT SAY BUCK ON THE HANDLE. THEY WILL BE MARKETED UNDER THE NAME SWISSBUCK AND THEY LOOK ABSOLUTELY GREAT! YOU WILL SEE BOTH DISPLAYED ALONG WITH THE STANDARD BUCK KNIVES VERY SOON. THERE ARE TWO COMPANIES THAT MAKE SWISS ARMY KNIVES, THE OTHER COMPANY IS VICTORINOX. BOTH ARE LOCATED IN SWITZERLAND AND BOTH CAN LEGALLY USE THE RED SWISS FLAG ON THE KNIVES. ONLY VICTORINOX CAN USE THE TERM "ORIGINAL SWISS ARMY KNIFE" AND ONLY WENGER CAN SAY "THE GENUINE SWISS ARMY KNIFE". IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE WENGER KNIFE IS A LITTLE MORE INNOVATIVE AND HAS SOME DESIGN ADVANTAGES BUT THAT VICTORINOX HAS DONE A BETTER JOB OF MARKETING THE FAMILIAR LOOKING RED KNIVES. THE KNIVES MADE BY THE TWO COMPANIES ARE ALMOST INDISTINGUISHABLE TO THE CASUAL OBSERVER. NEWSLETTER NUMBER 8 PAGE 2
THERE ARE FOUR NEW YELLOWHORSB KNIVES OUT SINCE THE LAST NEWSLETTER. THE t112 WITH THE BLADE THAT LOOKS LIKE CHIPPED FLINT, THE "CHIEF HASTIN NAAT'AANI" (WHICH MEANS, MAN SPEAKING PEACE) IS AN EDITION OF 2500. THERE ARE TWO STATE KNIVES, TEXAS (WITH THE STATE OUTLINE INLAID IN THE HANDLE), AND CALIFORNIA. THE CALIFORNIA KNIFE HAS A GRIZZLY BEAR, LIKE THE STATE FLAG, ON IT. IN ADDITION DAVE DID AN ELK FOR SHARPER IMAGE AND AN EAGLE FOR J . C. PENNEY CO. THE CUTHAIR IS SHIPPING VERY SLOWLY AND THE SERIAL NUMBERS FROM 1 TO 100 HAVE NOT BEEN MADE YET. THAT IS AN UNUSUA.L WAY TO SERIALIZE A KNIFE BUT WHO WOULDN'T WAIT FOR A NUMBER BELOW 100? . THERE WILL BE SOME REALLY NEAT LIMITED EDITIONS OUT IN 1991 AND SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE WHAT THE NAME IMPLIES, "LIMITED". WE WILL HAVE A LOT MORE INFORMATION ON THESE IN THE NEXT ISSUE, ALONG WITH A 1991 SHOW CALENDAR.
THERE WILL BE SOME NEAT PRIZES FOR THE BEST BOCK COLLECTION AT A NUMBER OF REGIONAL SHOWS THIS COMING YEAR. ONE OF OUR MEMBERS, RAY SANDERSON OF YAKIMA WASHINGTON, HAS DONATED A CUSTOMIZED BUCK 426 FOR THE BEST BUCK COLLECTION AT THE OREGON KNIFE SHOW. I HAVE SEEN SOME OF RAY'S WORK AND IT IS REALI,Y NEAT AND UNUSUAL. BUCK WILL BE ADDING A PLAQUE AND $100 PRIZE MONEY TO THE CUSTOMIZED KNIFE RAY DONATED SO PUT APRIL 13th & 14th ON YOUR CALENDAR TO BE IN EUGENE OREGON IF YOU CAN. THIS SHOW IS ORGANIZED BY BERNIE LEVINE. HE DOES FREE APPRAISALS AND IDENTIFICATIONS AT THE SHOW, THAT DRAWS PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE HIS NAME FROM LEVINES GUIDE TO KNIVES AND FROM HIS REGULAR COLUMN IN KNIFE WORLD • IF YOU DON'T HAVE A COPY OF BERNIE'S BOOK I SUGGEST YOU SEND $25 TO HIM AT P.O. BOX 2404 EUGENE, OREGON 97402 FOR AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY (IT'S $23.95 IN THE STORES FOR A PLAIN ONE). THE INFORMATION ON BUCK KNIVES THAT APPEARS IN THIS BOOK DOES NOT APPEAR IN ANY OTHER PUBLICATION.
GET YOUR COLLECTIONS ORGANIZED AND LABELED PROPERLY, WE'RE GOING TO OFFER PRIZES AT SEVERAL OTHER SHOWS IN 1991 AND A GRAND PRIZE OF A KNIFE FROM THE BUCK CUSTOM SHOP AT THE BLADE SHOW IN KNOXVILLE IN MAY. WE WILL ALSO HAVE A MEMBERSHIP MEETING AT THE BLADE SHOW. I URGE EVERYONE WHO CAN POSSIBLY MAKE IT TO GET TO KNOXVILLE ON THE WEEKEND OF MAY 19th FOR THIS SHOW. I THINK IT IS THE BEST OF ALL OF THE KNIFE SHOWS. THE SEMINARS AND DEMONSTRATIONS AT THE BLADE SHOW WILL AMAZE AND ENTERTAIN YOU. IF YOU WANT TO SEE A COMPETITION FOR BUCK COLLECTIONS AT A SPECIFIC SHOW, CONTACT US RIGHT AWAY. WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER PRIZES AT A MINIMUM OF FIVE SHOWS AND A MAXIMUM OF ABOUT TEN. THE ONLY SHOWS DEFINITELY SCHEDULED AT THIS TIME ARE THE TWO MENTIONED ABOVE AND THE SAN JOSE CUSTOM KNIFE SHOW IN SAN JOSE , CALIFORNIA. AT LEAST ONE IN THE MIDWEST AND ONE IN THE NORTHEAST ARE NEEDED BUT WE WANT TO PICK THE BEST ATTENDED SHOWS POSSIBLE.
BUCK WILL BE DOING THE BIG SHOW OF THE YEAR, THE S.H.O.T. SHOW, IN DALLAS ON JANUARY 10-11-12; THIS IS A TRADE ONLY SHOW BUT IF YOU HAVE A FRIEND WHO'S A DEALER YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET IN. THE NEW SWISSBUCKS WILL BE INTRODUCED THERE, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER NEW PRODUCTS .
WE CONTINUE TO HOLD THE CLUB KNIFE FOR THE FEW MEMBERS THAT DID NOT ORDER ONE , WE WILL KEEP THEM UNTIL ALL THE CHARTER MEMBERSHIPS ARE FILLED AND THEN THEY WILL BE OFFERED TO OTHER MEMBERS. THERE WILL NOT BE ANY MORE THAN 250 OF THE SERIALIZED CLUB KNIVES MADE. PERIOD. THERE WILL BE A TOTAL OF 12 KNIVES WITHOU~ SERIAL NUMBERS; THIS INCLUDES THE ONES WITH THE 1989 MARKING (MENTIONED EARLIER) AND 5 KNIVES THAT WERE SLIGHTLY FLAWED AND ARE BEING SOLD THROUGH THE PARKER KNIFE CATALOG . WE MADE THE DECISION TO SELL THESE KNIVES OUTSIDE THE CLUB SIMPLY FOR THE ADVERTISING VALUE, FOR THE CLUB, TO BE GAINED BY BEING IN A CATALOG THAT IS WIDELY DISTRIBUTED. SOME OF THESE KNIVES HAVE SOLD AT $399 SO THAT SHOULD GIVE YOU AN IDEA WHAT THE AUTHENTICATED AND SERIALIZED ONE IS REALLY WORTH . THREE VERY PERCEPTIVE KNIFE SHOW DEALERS HAVE BEEN QUIETLY BUYING UP EVERY SAWBY 531 THAT HAS BEEN OFFERED FOR SALE. THEY MUST RECOGNIZE A POTENTIAL. NEWSLETTER NUMBER 8 PAGE 3
SOME OF THE NEW ITEMS COMING OUT NEXT YEAR ARE KNIVES TO LOOK FOR AND ADD TO A COLLECTION AND SOME OF THEM ARE PURELY UTILITY KNIVES. AMONG THE COLLECTIBLE ITEMS WILL BE: l.A COPY OF THE OLD MARBLE SKINNER. THE FIRST OF THESE WILL HAVE A LEATHER HANDLE (A FIRST FOR BUCK) AND WILL BE MADE EXCLUSIVELY. FOR CABELLA'S. 2.THE # 110 AND # 112 WILL BE OFFERED IN WHITE BONE WITH FINGER GROOVED HANDLES. 3.AN "ULTRA" SERIES IS BEING DONE FOR HARLEY DAVIDSON. THIS IS THE SAME KNIFE THAT WE KNOW AS THE BLACK HILLS BOWIE BUT IT WILL HAVE A GOLD BLADE AND A VERY EXOTIC HANDLE OF PEARL AND STINGRAY SKIN. 4.THE STURGIS BOWIE, {FOR HARLEY DAVIDSON) ON THE STANDARD 903 BOWIE BLADE 5.A 1991 HARLEY DAVIDSON BOWIE, MORE DETAILS LATER BUT PROBABLY IT WILL BE ON THE SAME BADE AS THE 85th ANNIVERSARY BOWIE 6.THE BUCKLOCK 2 WILL ALSO NOW BE MADE WITH A MID FRAME CONVENTIONAL LOCK, THIS IS THE TWO BLADED SAWBY LOCK KNIFE PICTURED IN THE 1988 CATALOG AND ON THE POSTER AND FOLDER. THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS KNIFE WILL FOCUS ATTENTION ON THE FACT THAT THE LOCK WAS CHANGED AND MAKES THE ORIGINAL SAWBY VERSION EVEN MORE VALUABLE, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE. 7.A NEW TRAPPER MODEL IS NOW BEING SHIPPED. IT IS A SMALLER VERSION OF THIS VENERATED DESIGN AND IT IS DESIGNATED AS A #312, THIS KNIFE IS MADE ENTIRELY IN THE EL CAJON PLANT. REMEMBER THAT BUCK'S TRAPPER {MODEL #311) KNIFE HAS ALWAYS BEEN MADE BY CAMILLUS. 8.A FULL SIZE TRAPPER WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE SPRING, IT WILL BE CALLED A #314 AND IT ALSO WILL BE A CALIFORNIA MADE KNIFE.
UTILITY ITEMS WILL BE: I.THE SELECTOR (CHANGEABLE BLADE) WILL BE OFFERED IN GREEN, BLACK AND ORANGE IN A SINGLE BLADE VERSION, SEVERAL NEW BLADES WILL BE ADDED. 2.THE TRU BLUE FOLDING FILLET KNIFE WILL BE MADE WITH A VALOX HANDLE, WHICH IS MUCH LIGHTER THAN THE KRATON HANDLE. THE ORIGINAL WILL BE RETAINED ALS O.
TRENDS DO NOT LOOK FOR MUCH MORE IN THE WAY OF DAMASCUS FROM BUCK, THE #110 SERIES IN DAMASCUS WILL BE RETAINED BUT LIKELIHOOD OF ANY OTHER PRODUCTION KNIVES COMING OUT IN DAMASCUS IS VERY LOW. CUSTOM KNIVES WILL, OF COURSE, CONTINUE TO BE MADE IN THIS FINE STEEL.
MASTODON IVORY WILL BECOME EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE AND MORE UNIQUE THAN IT IS NOW AS IT BECOMES HARDER AND HARDER TO GET. BUCK HAS PROBABLY MADE MORE KNIVES WITH MASTODON HANDLES THAN ALL OTHER MANUFACTURERS COMBINED BUT THERE JUST ISN'T ANY MORE COMING OUT OF ALASKA. PART OF THIS IS DUE TO THE GOLD MINING RESTRICTIONS NOW BEING ENFORCED , MOST OF THE IVORY DISCOVERIES WERE INCIDENTAL TO THE GOLD MINING.
THE SWISS ARMY KNIVES ARE ONLY A BEGINNING IN THE DIRECTION OF DIVERSIFICATION. LOOK FOR GERMAN MADE KNIVES BY 1992 TO FILL OUT THE LOWER END OF THE PRICE SPECTRUM FOR BUCK. NOT LOW END, JUST LOWER THAN THE AMERICAN MADE BUCK KNIVES YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH. DO NOT LOOK FOR ANYTHING FROM BUCK THAT IS MADE IN JAPAN, TAIWAN OR CHINA. THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS A PAIR OF JAPANESE GAME SHEARS MADE BY SEKI. JAPAN IMPORTS A LOT OF BUCK KNIVES, THEY ARE A REAL STATUS SYMBOL THERE. BUCK IS SO QUALITY CONSCIOUS THEY JUST ARE NOT LIKELY TO IMPORT FROM THE PACIFIC RIM AT THIS TIME.
LOOK FOR MORE KNIVES FROM BUCK THAT ARE REALLY MADE FOR THE COLLECTOR AND MORE ATTENTION TO THE INDUSTRY WIDE PROBLEM OF DUMPING TOO MANY KNIVES ON THE MARKET. BUCK REALIZES THAT THE KNIFE COLLECTOR MARKET IS GROWING BUT THEY ARE VERY COGNIZANT OF THE PROBLEMS THAT OCCUR WHEN TOO MANY OF ONE KNIFE ARE MADE. WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO SEE EVERY KNIFE LIMITED TO 250 {AS LONG AS WE HAVE ONE) BUT THE REALISTIC FIGURE SEEMS TO BE AROUND 1500 FOR BUCK LIMITED EDITIONS. NEWSLETTER NUMBER 8 PAGE 4
THIS SECTION OF THE NEWSLETTER IS DEVOTED TO CORRECTING PREVIOUS EDITIONS OR AMPLIFYING STATEMENTS MADE IN THEM • THE NUMBER TO THE LEFT INDICATE THE ORIGINAL NEWSLETTER NUMBER.
#1 STONEWALL JACKSON #110 500 MADE #1 SPORTS AFIELD #103 1000 MADE #2 THE HARLEY DAGGER IS PROBABLY HARDER TO FIND THAN I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT #3 THE STERLING SILVER DAGGER W/IVORY HANDLES TURNED OUT TO BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE, A TOTAL OF 16 WERE MADE, INCLUDING THE PROTOTYPES #4 RIGHT ON ABOUT THE CLASSICS, MINT ONES ARE TOUGH TO FIND #4 MODEL #186 TITANIUM - IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND IN NEW CONDITION, THAT'S THE REASON I SQUIRRELED SOME AWAY. THIS IS AN IMMENSELY POPULAR KNIFE. #5 525AT1 TROUT WAS NOT DROPPED
MOST OVERLOOKED POSSIBILITIES
#1 ON MY LIST IS THE VERY EARLY BUCK FIXED BLADE KNIVES. THERE JUST WERE SO FEW MADE THAT THEY RANK RIGHT ALONG WITH SCAGEL KNIVES IN RARITY. REMEMBER THAT NOBODY COLLECTED KNIVES IN 1943, THEY ALL GOT USED AND MOST GOT USED UP! #2 ON MY LIST IS THE FIXED BLADE KNIVES MADE FROM 1961 TO 1968, ESPECIALLY THE BARREL NUT MODELS (NO PIN THROUGH THE BUTT, TANG WAS THREADED, SCREWS INTO BUTT) RIGHT ALONG WITH THIS IS ANY 110 IN FINE CONDITION THAT DOES NOT HAVE A MODEL NUMBER STAMPED ON THE TANG. THESE ARE DESCRIBED IN LEVINE'S GUIDE TO KNIVES #3 IS THE SMALL QUANTITY LIMITED EDITIONS (500 OR LESS) AND EARLY HARLEY KNIVES
MEMBERSHIP CARDS ARE BEING MADE NOW AND WILL BE MAILED AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. THEY ARE METAL PLAQUES, ABOUT 5" x 7", AND SUITABLE TO PLACE ON YOUR TABLE AT A KNIFE SHOW OR TO HANG ON YOUR WALL. THEY WILL COME WITH A PLASTIC HOLDER SO THEY WILL STAND UP ON A TABLE. THEY WILL BE SENT TO ALL MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING.
BUCK COLLECTORS CLUB SHIRTS THE ENCLOSED FLYER ON THE CLUB SHIRTS IS PRETTY WELL SELF EXPLANATORY EXCEPT THAT IT DOESN'T SAY THAT THIS WAS ALL PUT TOGETHER BY ONE OF OUR VERY ACTIVE MEMBERS, PAUL LENTZ, OF CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA. PAUL WILL SHIP THE SHIRTS FROM HIS OFFICE BUT HE'S NOT SET UP TO ACCEPT MC/VISA LIKE WE ARE SO WE'LL HANDLE THE PAYMENTS AND CALL PAUL SO HE CAN SHIP THEM. I HAVE A SAMPLE AND THEY ARE REALLY FIRST CLASS. IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO ASK YOU IF YOU COLLECT BUCK KNIVES JUST WEAR ONE OF THESE TO THE NEXT SHOW, (OR TO A SWAP MEET!!).
KNIVES FOR SALE IN ADDITION TO THE KNIVES ON THE ENCLOSED LIST, WE HAVE A SPECIAL OFFER TO CLUB MEMBERS ON THE NORTH CAROLINA KNIFE. AS ANNOUNCED IN LETTER #5, IT IS AVAILABLE FROM TOBIAS GUN SHOP / RT.l BOX 210 / ALBERMARLE, NC 28001. THE PRICE OF THIS UNUSUAL MODEL 112 IS $160 BUT CLUB MEMBERS CAN GET A 10% DISCOUNT BY GIVING THEIR BUCK COLLECTORS CLUB NUMBER WHEN THEY ORDER . MEMBERS WHO ALREADY HAVE ORDERED ONE CAN GET A FREE GIFT EQUIVALENT TO THE $16 DISCOUNT SIMPLY BY DROPPING A NOTE TO TOBIAS AND IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES.
YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT TELEPHONE NUMBERS LISTED ON DIFFERENT NEWSLETTERS. YOU MAY USE EITHER NUMBER BUT ON THE TOP OF THIS LETTER THEY ARE IDENTIFIED BY HOME AND OFFICE NUMBERS. YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET ME PERSONALLY ON THE HOME NUMBER. THIS IS IMPORTANT IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT A KNIFE BUT IF YOU JUST WANT TO GET INFORMATION TO ME USE THE OFFICE NUMBER, YOU MIGHT CATCH ME THERE ANYWAY. CALLS TO MY HOME ARE FINE, AND I'M AN EARLY RISER BUT REMEMBER THAT I AM IN THE PACIFIC TIME ZONE SO PLEASE DON ' T CALL ME WHEN IT ' S 7:00am IN VIRGINIA! GENERALLY, I GET TO MY HOME OFFICE DESK ABOUT 6:00am PST.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO COMPLETE THE ENCLOSED FORM IF ANY INFORMATION IS INCORRECT