Hello all, here is something cool to read, it's all about Bucklites... By Steve Sullivan a BCCI member... I'm sure some of you already have...
Steve sold all his Bucklites a few weeks ago on the bay in big lots... I'm sure some of you seen them on there... But he did keep about
4 or 5 of them... He had a nice collection of over 130 of them... I did buy a few of them before he put them on the bay...
Thanks to Steve (Skelator88)... Thanks again Steve... I sure hope you don't stop collecting... You sure could find some sweet knives...
You always had some beautiful knives to share on the SPS... Anyway have a look and post some pictures of some Bucklites... ITE...
Part 1...
The BuckLite: A Technical and Personal History
by Steve Sullivan
In 1971, GE Plastics introduced Valox, a new polyester resin designed for making injection-molded plastic components. It combined excellent electrical properties, high strength due to low water absorption, and very good heat resistance. Valox immediately became widely used by manufacturers of everything from power plugs and electronic components to car parts and home appliances. Throughout the 1970s, companies used polybutylene terephthalate polymers like Valox because they allowed for easy molding of strong, lightweight, oddly-shaped components. In addition to an ability to withstand harsh chemicals, Valox also delivered very high color stability, which led to its widespread use in the making of consumer products. Until the invention of liquid crystal polymers for optical applications in the mid-1980s, Valox represented the state of the art in modern, space age, engineering-quality thermoplastics.
In the early 1980s, Buck engineers were looking for a new handle material that would allow them to achieve several important goals as the company's product line expanded. First, they needed a material that would allow for lighter weight knives. Second, this new material had to deliver the same strength and rugged durability for which Buck knives were already well known. Finally, it had to allow Buck designers a way to deliver new, modern-looking knives that could be delivered at lower price points, thus expanding the market. GE's Valox was the clear choice, and the BuckLite was born.
First introduced in 1984, the BuckLite family of knives started small, with just three models in two handle colors. The model 422 BuckLite was fashioned after the finger-grooved 112 Ranger and used the same modified clip style blade of that model. The handle surface of these first generation BuckLites featured a very small crosshatch pattern to improve grip, with the finger-grooved side and back edge left smooth. All of the first three models were available in a rich, dark, "chocolate bar brown" color and the 422 was also offered in olive drab. These new knives came standard with an entirely new sheath design to boot, essentially a canvas pouch with a belt loop sewn into the upper half and a Velcro closure at the top. The brown knives came standard with a tan and brown sheath, and the olive drab model 422 came with a green camouflage sheath. Both sold for $12.35, and sold quite well.
The model 424 BuckLite II was essentially a thermoplastic handle version of the 501 Esquire, and used the same size and style drop point blade. Overall length of the BuckLite II was 3.75 inches, just like the 501, but sold for seven dollars less. This made for an extremely light, affordable, and very compact folding knife, and extended the BuckLite family "down-market" just enough to address the needs of the penny pinchers or those simply looking for a little less blade to clang around in their pocket. The 424 is clearly the direct ancestor of the 425 MiniBuck, which was introduced in 1987, and this earlier model helped verify that a large market existed for very small and inexpensive blades.
Part 1...
