Buck 503; I've had a knife epiphany!

S

sharkattacksw

Joined
Aug 4, 2008
Messages
620
Hey guys,

I've had somewhat of a knife epiphany, so to speak. I carry a knife with me nearly every single day. More often than not, I'll grab my Spyderco PM2. However, the last several weeks, I've been carrying a knife that I've not carried in a long time; my Buck 503. After carrying it for several weeks, I've come to realize that it's most likely all the knife I could ever need on a day to day basis. It did everything that I needed a knife to do, with ease. I might be like most guys here (or at least the guys here who'll admit it, haha) in that I use my knife for typical EDC tasks: opening mail, cutting open packages, cutting an apple at lunchtime, trimming an odd fingernail (haha), etc. I'm not a "hard user", I don't chop down trees with my knife, I don't use it as a tactical/self defense weapon, I don't use it for work, I don't cut down loads of boxes (that's what box cutters are for, haha), etc. I'm a regular guy who has the occasion to use a knife from time to time in my daily life.

I almost feel "silly" or "funny" for carrying a much larger knife like the PM2 for my EDC tasks. I know some guys like the feel of a larger knife, and that's cool-I get it. I appreciate the workings and design of the PM2 as well. But for me, a knife is not a piece of pocket jewelry. It's a tool. One that is taken out and used when needed, and put back when not. I don't play with my knives, they aren't a fidget plaything. I simply appreciate the knife for what it is; a cutting tool.

The 503 is so simple, yet elegant in design. I've thought about getting a 501 as well. I had one as a kid and wish I still had it. It was my first nice knife. I might go ahead and buy one, just for nostalgia.

So that's my knife "rant" for today. Has anyone else had a similar knife epiphany?
 
not really. i always have a swiss army in my pocket. more for the screwdrivers and clippers than the knives. sure wish i had a buck version instead of my swiss one. also have a pocket clipped larger folder in the same pocket. right now its my custom 110 with clip. i find in my uses a larger folder comes in handy more than smaller bladed folders.

its good you found what ya need and like. everyone is different and runs into different tasks.
 
Thanks for sharing. Personally I fit the same mold as yourself when it comes to my everyday usage. That being said I carry a knife as much for those needs that might arise as I do for the ones that do. Usually it's something clipped in my pocket with a 3"-4" blade. Other times it's a much smaller slip joint.

Regardless of brand or model I can't recall an instance where I didn't have enough knife. About the only thing I don't carry is a fixed blade and or a folder in a belt sheath. Just doesn't work for me working a desk most days.
 
Great choice for a very capable knife. I too carry the 503 daily and occasionally it's clip-blade brother, the 55. I do use mine at work in all aspects of shipping and receiving. I like to keep a thin, razor edge and need to touch it up on the Spyderco Sharpmaker after a hard day's work. I carry a newer version with 420HC blade steel, but have an older one with 440C that I can't bring myself to edc. I would love to see Buck offer the 503 size knife in S30V. An FRN handled version would be awesome too! I've found this size knife fits really well in the jeans watch pocket.
 
Great post! I'm in the same boat. And I too have been carrying a 503 since I picked it up a couple months ago. Really like the size and versatility. Wish they had other handle options (micarta!!!).
 
The earliest 503's had red micarta scales, called Buckarta, from about '77-80. If my timeline is correct, they would have 440c stainless steel as well.
 
sharkattacksw said:
Hey guys,

I've had somewhat of a knife epiphany, so to speak. I carry a knife with me nearly every single day. More often than not, I'll grab my Spyderco PM2. However, the last several weeks, I've been carrying a knife that I've not carried in a long time; my Buck 503. After carrying it for several weeks, I've come to realize that it's most likely all the knife I could ever need on a day to day basis. It did everything that I needed a knife to do, with ease. I might be like most guys here (or at least the guys here who'll admit it, haha) in that I use my knife for typical EDC tasks: opening mail, cutting open packages, cutting an apple at lunchtime, trimming an odd fingernail (haha), etc. I'm not a "hard user", I don't chop down trees with my knife, I don't use it as a tactical/self defense weapon, I don't use it for work, I don't cut down loads of boxes (that's what box cutters are for, haha), etc. I'm a regular guy who has the occasion to use a knife from time to time in my daily life.

I almost feel "silly" or "funny" for carrying a much larger knife like the PM2 for my EDC tasks. I know some guys like the feel of a larger knife, and that's cool-I get it. I appreciate the workings and design of the PM2 as well. But for me, a knife is not a piece of pocket jewelry. It's a tool. One that is taken out and used when needed, and put back when not. I don't play with my knives, they aren't a fidget plaything. I simply appreciate the knife for what it is; a cutting tool.

The 503 is so simple, yet elegant in design. I've thought about getting a 501 as well. I had one as a kid and wish I still had it. It was my first nice knife. I might go ahead and buy one, just for nostalgia.

So that's my knife "rant" for today. Has anyone else had a similar knife epiphany?
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I'm exactly with you.
Same thing happened to me with a peanut. I may feel a bit silly sometimes knowing how much more blade I'm carrying than I actually need, however that isn't going to stop me from carrying my 119 special when it gets here.
I'm a knife nut, I may not need as many changes blade as I'm carrying but it get over it because I'm carrying what I like.
 
My biggest knife epiphany was when I had a nice LE in my hand and was wondering if I should use it or not and my wife said "Who are you saving it for? " ...I realized then that it was ok if I wanted too! The second was it was ok to keep a big fixed bladed Buck in my car. .I call all of them my 'Truck Bucks' . I really like the big Buck knives but in truth have no real need for them day to day. My very first Buck knife I remember was a Prince that my wife snapped off the blade opening a can of peas. ..I wish I had not tossed it now that I collect them.
 
I feel the same way about my 501. I've said before that's it's probably the only knife I've taken to immediately. I have it with me almost everyday. I usually have a 110 or 112 on my belt at the same time though. But, I completely understand what you're saying :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
I like carrying smaller knives like this on a daily basis because they are a whole lot more useful than a larger knife like a Manix 2 or a Para Military 2. I had a 501 in stag that was stolen from me that was my favorite pocket knife, still to this day.
 
It's really an odd thing. I've been getting my PM2 collection ready to sell. I guess I had "fun" owning them and carrying them, but in the end I really didn't use them nearly as much as I use my smaller blades. It seems whether I'm in the garage, out and about, or at work, the smaller blades are the ones that I grab first. I've used some larger blades from time to time, but it was really "just because" not because I needed the longer blade.

So yes, the novelty of larger blades has officially worn off. I'm definitely not throwing shade towards the guys who really need a full 3.5-4" blade for their daily work needs. More power to you. But for me (and probably a lot more than are willing to admit) a 3" or less blade is more than enough.
 
I hear ya! My most carried Buck is a 55. My grandad worked with his hands his whole life, installing glass and doing carpentry. He hunted and fished constantly. His pocketknife of choice? A simple barlow. I figure I ought to be able to hack my way through modern life as an urban desk-jockey with a quality knife that rides unobtrusively in my pocket.
 
mnblade said:
I hear ya! My most carried Buck is a 55. My grandad worked with his hands his whole life, installing glass and doing carpentry. He hunted and fished constantly. His pocketknife of choice? A simple barlow. I figure I ought to be able to hack my way through modern life as an urban desk-jockey with a quality knife that rides unobtrusively in my pocket.
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Very true. I guess that's what I don't get about the guys who carry large, heavy duty, "hard use", tactical knives. WTH are you doing on a daily basis that you need that? Again, I get that it's "fun" to carry stuff like that from time to time, but the whole EDC "culture" has gotten completely out of hand. Guys post pics of their "pocket dumps" online, (whoever came up with that trend needs to go hang themselves) and the amount of crap that guys are carrying, if they aren't lying, is insane. Two or three knives, a multitool, a flashlights, a lighter, a notepad & pen, etc. I simply don't get it. Like you said, our dads and granddads worked harder (most likely) than we do, hunted & fished and camped a lot and managed to get by with knives that most of the serious knife guys would ha-ha for days. Oh well. To each their own. I need to cut up my orange for my breakfast now. I'll use my Benchmade Adamas, but I'm not sure. I might have to touch up the mirror polished edge afterwards...... (I'm betting my Dragonfly will work just fine!)
 
I go through cycles where I carry a stockman pattern or an occasional 110 or 112, sometimes even a tactical pattern but my go to knife for a small lockback has always been one of my trusty 503's and occasionally a 501. Carrying my custom shop stag 503 today.

buck_503.jpg
 
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