Buck question

[Isaac's Grandpa]

I picked up a Buck fixed blade in a pawn shop the other day and can't find any good info on it.

The blade is marked 194T with rosewood scales. The sheath is stamped 193. The only info I have found is a 194T end of production commemerative on a sale site but the one I have is not a commemerative. Any suggestions?

 

[Ron James]

I believe the 194 T is the Alpha Hunter, still being sold by Buck. You can go to their web site and get current values. The end of production run is from closing out their El Cajon, Ca shop and relocation to , I believe , Golden Colorado Other than the blade markings their is no difference in the El Cajon knives and the Golden,Co. knifes. ADDED: Thanks BCCL, Post Falls, that's the place, I should have known that as many Buck knifes that I own. Just too lazy to get up and check. I did go to the Buck Web site, the Alpha Hunter sales through Buck for 110 dollars with no gut hook and Rosewood..

 

[BCCL]

Your knife is a Buck "Alpha Hunter" model 194. The "T" is the Buck code for knives made in 2003.

Does yours have "ATS-34" stamped on the bade anywhere whit the Paul Bos logo? If not, then the steel is 420HC.

Buck left "El Cajon, CA" in 2005 to move to "Post Falls, ID".

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Buck 194 Alpha Hunter

The 194 Alpha hunter was (is?) made in several different steels.

The ones I've seen mentioned are

• 420HC
• 154CM
• ATS-34
• 12C27 Mod

The ones that aren't made of 420HC may have the Paul Bos logo:

etched on the blade.

Seen here on this blade, just above the steel designation:


As mentioned above, the "T" indicates made in 2003.

There's a chart of date codes out to 2022:


Hope this helps.

 

[Isaac's Grandpa]

It has the Paul Bos flame and some other markings. I don't have it handy right now. I guess I did ok for $20.

I think this makes #157. Kids should have fun once I hit room temp.

 

[TimboKhan]

I think you did great! Bos was the absolute man when it came to heat treating. As I so often am with knife stuff, I might be mistaken, but he retired here a couple years ago and I don't think he is doing any heat treat work at all.

 

[JShirley]

Bos company is still around, though...

 

[TimboKhan]

That is what I wasn't sure about. I assume that the famous Bos quality is still there?

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Turning Over The "Hat"

Paul Bos wore the heat treat hat for a lot of years.

He apprenticed a number of guys under close supervision for some years before he hung up his spurs.

He turned over the hat right and proper.

The Bos heat treat system lives on, and Buck still uses it for their upgraded steels.

They still accept send-in heat treat business.

Paul still shows up now and then. Hard to stay away, I guess.

Don't worry, the technology and methods are not lost, and the service is there for the long haul.

The legacy is intact.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Buck fixed a Canoe Knife I had bought from Amazon and even repolished the blades had when I opened it was razor sharp.

Case and Buck are tops.

 

[hso]

don't think he is doing any heat treat work at all.

He does, just not a lot and not just for anyone.