BuckTool collectors unite.

badwolf · **Reply #60 on:** November 07, 2011, 07:19:54 PM

Thank you Allan

The 355 model is that non locking then

if so it will have to go on my 'really need it must have at all costs and in place of more important things list' kinda in to my non locking MT's at the mo and being in the UK, just like to carry and use my MT's

THE_LONGBOW · **Reply #61 on:** November 08, 2011, 06:58:55 AM

Quote from: badwolf on November 07, 2011, 07:19:54 PM

Thank you Allan The 355 model is that non locking then if so it will have to go on my 'really need it must have at all costs and in place of more important things list' kinda in to my non locking MT's at the mo and being in the UK, just like to carry and use my MT's

The 355 BuckLite Tool and the 350 MiniBuck Tool are non locking. The 360 BuckTool is the only BuckTool that the implements lock. Other than color variations (350 MiniBuck Tool came in Black Oxide) these tool only came with the implements shown.

355 BuckLite Tool

350 MiniBuck Tool

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #62 on:** November 08, 2011, 02:02:41 PM

I love the BuckTool, and I would love to see it return- if anyone from Buck is reading this, BRING BACK THE BUCKTOOL, even if it is only a special run or limited release.

What makes the BuckTool special? Simple- it's innovative. When it came out during what I like to think of as the First Golden Age Of Multitools, a period in which everyone recognized the brilliance of the plier based tool Tim Leatherman had released and struggled to make thier own version, everyone was trying to solve the problems defined by the PST. The biggest issue was the exposed sheet metal edges, and the race was on to find a way around that- Schrade rotated the handles 90 degrees, Bear rotated them 180 degrees, SOG rotated the hinges 90 degrees or added awkward flaps and Gerber developed the sliding head plier concept. I think Buck's answer incorporated the best of these ideas by having the handles fold sideways, but opposite to eachother.

Was it another silly gimmick? I say no, because it allowed the convenience of opening the pliers one handed like the butterfly styled PST although without the rough edges. It allowed for a hand friendly ergonomic handle without the added bulk of the ST-1. The plier head wouldn't fold sideways during use like the ParaTool, and it didn't have extra pieces thrown in to try and cover it's own shortcomings like the Powerlock. The mechanism didn't waste as much space as the sliding mechanism on the Multiplier, and as if all that wasn't enough, it incorporated a very smooth, effective non-obtrusive lock mechanism- something that Schrade and Bear didn't manage to do, and most other companies like Leatherman and SOG showed how unimaginative they were by using an existing rocker type lock.

There were some drawbacks though- some of the stubby screwdrivers were a bit of a pain, the three sided phillips was a bit odd and if twisted the right way the plier head would start to fold, but how many of these other companies got it right the first time around?

Given that this design is almost 20 years old, imagine what 20 years of development and inoovation would have brought us today had Buck not killed the line and moved to China? Now with Buck bringing much of their line back in house, I think it's high time we saw an updated, USA made version of the 360.

Def

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #63 on:** November 08, 2011, 03:40:42 PM

I got an unused 360 recently, and it's certainly an interesting concept. The pliers are mechanically weaker than "conventional" multitools due to the way the heads are affixed to the handles and the orientation of the sheet metal at that point. As for the drivers and 3 winged Phillips, I don't feel they are much worse than a lot of multitools currently available - I'm thinking Gerber's 2.5D Phillips and the stubby drivers on the Juice line.

At this stage I'm undecided whether this tool is one I should put into use, or pass on unused for someone to keep as a safe queen. It's quirky - but I've yet to decide whther it's quirky in the right way or the wrong way for me personally - and for me it's a user or a loser

I'd like to see Buck have another shot at the plier based multitool market and be as innovative as before - although people generally expect a pliers based tool of this size to have heavier duty pliers than Buck offered previously. The X-Tract was another innovative tool which didnt fit my needs - big locking knife (not the best start for us Brits) and (again) lightweight pliers didn't tick my boxes, but it was fun to try out for a while. Alternatively if Victorinox won't bring out a line to rival the Juice, maybe Buck could

At least we know they'd do something different with the challenge and be prepared to start with a blank canvas, and I do respect Buck for that

David · **Reply #64 on:** November 08, 2011, 05:06:18 PM

Grant you bring up some good points buddy. One thing I`ve noticed and I been guilty of myself at times is that we some times pass judgement about these older tools without considering the times in which they were developed. The BuckTool I got yesterday is a later production one I think and it has a regular Phillips driver not three sided and a lanyard attachment instead of the smaller Phillips driver. I`ve should have two more in of eariler production in a day or two so will post some comparision pics later.

scrappy · **Reply #65 on:** November 08, 2011, 07:46:17 PM

Nice score David
They are behind the times and.not my edc but for their time they were innovative. And the quality is great. Very sharp blades

badwolf · **Reply #66 on:** November 08, 2011, 08:05:48 PM

Thanks Longbow for posting those pics, I'm rather interested in getting a 355, its on the list now. thanks Grant for that interesting read. As I said, these really do ooze quality, I didn't realise how old they wear

would also like to see these remade, very nice MT

50ft-trad if you decide to pass it on please PM as I'd like to see and try one of these even though its a locking one as I too like use or lose

THE_LONGBOW · **Reply #67 on:** November 09, 2011, 02:17:16 AM

I have discussed the BuckTool with a Buck Knives employee. One of the reasons the BT was discontinued is that Buck had to pay "royalties" on the design of the BT, and it became cost prohibitive to continue producing the BT and stay competitive in the Multitool market. During the time the BT was manufactured the market was being flooded with new Multitools and Buck Knives felt it could no longer compete with other manufacturers. I really doubt Buck would ever do another Multitool run, as I understand it that when Buck Knives run out of warranty parts for the tools that will be the end. I know they have very few parts left for the tools now.

Gareth · **Reply #68 on:** November 09, 2011, 10:58:32 PM

Very interesting.

Any idea who they were paying the royalties too?

Ombudsman · **Reply #69 on:** November 09, 2011, 11:30:22 PM

Quote from: Gareth on November 09, 2011, 10:58:32 PM

Very interesting. Any idea who they were paying the royalties too?

Brett P Seber from SeberTech (now IDL Tools) and a bunch of guys according to the patent:

http://www.google.com/patents?id=M-4IAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract#v=onepage&q&f=false

Gareth · **Reply #70 on:** November 09, 2011, 11:55:20 PM

cheers Ombudsman.

David · **Reply #71 on:** November 10, 2011, 12:59:11 AM

Here are a few comparision pics of some differences in the BuckTool. In descending order the first pic shows the plier head differences pointed out by Bob earlier in this thread. From left to right the second pic shows the older plier head is a little beefer looking.

David · **Reply #72 on:** November 10, 2011, 01:08:11 AM

The third pic shows the newer BuckTool ( bottom tool ) has a different tool set. The Phillips is four sided not three. The small Phillips is replaced by a lanyard attachment. From right to left the the fourth pic shows the two different sheaths the BuckTool 360 came with.

David · **Reply #73 on:** November 10, 2011, 01:15:08 AM

One other thing I noticed about the later produced BuckTool 360 is the handles are stouter and dont flex as much as the earlier examples. At least with the one I have.

J-sews · **Reply #74 on:** November 10, 2011, 04:25:45 AM

Quote from: David on November 10, 2011, 01:15:08 AM

One other thing I noticed about the later produced BuckTool 360 is the handles are stouter and dont flex as much as the earlier examples. At least with the one I have.

Can you tell what change made them stouter David? (I'm on the road right now and can't look myself)

David · **Reply #75 on:** November 10, 2011, 05:24:46 AM

Quote from: J-sews on November 10, 2011, 04:25:45 AM

Quote from: David on November 10, 2011, 01:15:08 AM
One other thing I noticed about the later produced BuckTool 360 is the handles are stouter and dont flex as much as the earlier examples. At least with the one I have.

Can you tell what change made them stouter David? (I'm on the road right now and can't look myself)

Bob, I cant really see a change that would make them stouter. Maybe its just the way this one got put together.

Bruce909 · **Reply #76 on:** November 10, 2011, 05:28:15 AM

Quote from: Ombudsman on November 09, 2011, 11:30:22 PM

Quote from: Gareth on November 09, 2011, 10:58:32 PM
Very interesting. Any idea who they were paying the royalties too?

Brett P Seber from SeberTech (now IDL Tools) and a bunch of guys according to the patent:

http://www.google.com/patents?id=M-4IAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract#v=onepage&q&f=false

I'm betting that all the people listed in the patent application had (have) agreements with the Assignee Buck Knives, Inc. Brett Seber is probably one of casualties of Buck Knives moving North...actually a casualty of the Workers Compensation problems that drove Buck from Southern California. Many of the former Buck employees did not follow the company to Idaho. Not that you could blame them.

When I spoke to Buck Knives about getting one of my Bucktools fixed they said they did not have the lock component but if I sent it in they would see what they could do. I asked why they quit making the Bucktool and I was told that they were stopped by Leatherman because of a patent issue. Makes sense since Leatherman, Frazer and Collins are all listed in the patent document.

Bruce

David · **Reply #77 on:** November 22, 2011, 06:49:27 AM

Latest BuckTools 360 w/clip, 355, 350.

MultiMat · **Reply #78 on:** November 22, 2011, 08:07:29 AM

David that pocket clip Buck is a great pick up mate

, you do not see many for sale.

David · **Reply #79 on:** November 22, 2011, 08:54:25 AM

Mat I`m surprised I won that pocket clip 360. I guess the big dogs were napping.

I really do like the BuckLite if it wasn`t a NIB I`d be carrying that tool. The MiniBuck is well, mini. Smaller than I thought it would be. Still kinda

tool.

THE_LONGBOW · **Reply #80 on:** November 23, 2011, 02:38:21 AM

Quote from: David on November 22, 2011, 08:54:25 AM

Mat I`m surprised I won that pocket clip 360. I guess the big dogs were napping. I really do like the BuckLite if it wasn`t a NIB I`d be carrying that tool. The MiniBuck is well, mini. Smaller than I thought it would be. Still kinda tool.

I watched the 360 clip but I already had one so I let it go. If you watch you can pick up a 355 Bucklite tool for under $20. I got a new Bucklite tool for $20 shipped in September. If they go low I will bid on them so watch out.

J-sews · **Reply #81 on:** November 24, 2011, 02:43:41 AM

Congrats at finally landing the 360CL David!

I know you've been after one for awhile.

AHB · **Reply #82 on:** November 24, 2011, 06:44:08 AM

Quote from: J-sews on November 24, 2011, 02:43:41 AM

Congrats at finally landing the 360CL David! I know you've been after one for awhile.

+1

I still need to get those three myself..

THE_LONGBOW · **Reply #83 on:** December 11, 2011, 11:52:57 PM

Another 360 BuckTool checked off of the list. I picked this one up while fishing on the Bay

360 BuuckTool 5 Notch Wire Stripper

badwolf · **Reply #84 on:** December 12, 2011, 12:37:23 AM

that's one uber

blade

J-sews · **Reply #85 on:** December 12, 2011, 01:24:49 AM

Nice!

So what 360 models are you still hoping to get?

THE_LONGBOW · **Reply #86 on:** December 12, 2011, 05:16:18 AM

Quote from: J-sews on December 12, 2011, 01:24:49 AM

Nice! So what 360 models are you still hoping to get?

The one that I feel will round out my collection is a 360 Harley Davidson with bit set. I have only seen pictures of this one. The tool has Harley Davidson etched on the handle.

David · **Reply #87 on:** December 12, 2011, 06:35:12 AM

Nice score LB.

I passed on one of those earlier today as I was afer another tool.

David · **Reply #88 on:** December 24, 2011, 11:23:07 PM

Bucktool 360 w/file.

J-sews · **Reply #89 on:** December 25, 2011, 01:13:46 AM

Another nice one David

Here's a Harley Davidson one, just to taunt The_Longbow with

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