Buck’s latest stealth run dropped yesterday, the return of the special edition of the 501 Squire called the “Larrin.” This is a special variation named after metallurgist Larrin Thomas, so you can guess what sort of upgrade it brings to the blade.
A quick history lesson on the 501. This is a knife in the 110 Folding Hunter family, patterned after the famous folding knife but in a smaller size class. The 110’s unmistakable California clip, on the Squire, measures 2.75 inches, a marked step down from the original and an ideal size for lots of everyday carry or gent’s folder style needs. The Squire’s arcing handle is also a close math to the 110’s, but it only has a forward bolster whereas big brother has one on each end.
The main selling point of the Larrin, of course, is that it is made from MagnaCut blade steel, the knife-centric super steel developed by Larrin Thomas himself. We’ve sung MagnaCut’s praises many times here, and we’re not alone. The steel explored has been doing gangbusters, been turning up with increasing frequency in lineups all over the world – nearly every maker has implemented MagnaCut at least once or twice. However, the Larrin is the only knife model with Thomas’s own mark on the tang, the thick-rimmed glasses that are the Knife Steel Nerds logo.
The first stealth run of the Larrin dropped last summer; that one came with ebony scales. This second run marks the first time that the 501 Larrin has been available with cocobolo scales. It also comes with a clip slip, made from leather and emblazoned, like the blade, with the Knife Steel Nerds logo. The cocobolo Larrin actually released alongside a version with elk bone scales, but that one is already gone.
The cocobolo flavor probably won’t be around forever either, as its limited to 1000 pieces.
Knife in Featured Image: Buck Knives 501 “Larrin”
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