This 117 Buck Knife is the first folding knife ever made by Hoyt and AL Buck back in 1946 to 1948 while working out of a small shop at his home at 1272 Morena Avenue in San Diego, CA. This first Buck Folding Knife is one of very few 117's ever made and was a full 16 to 17 years before Buck came out with there first production folder the 110 back in 1963 with 2000 made. This "cataloged" Buck knife is the most rare Buck Folding knife of all with only two others known to Bernard Levine author of 'Knives and Their Values'. I also know of two other 117 I don't know if there are the same two knives known to Bernard Levine or not. Hoyt Buck actually only made the blades for the 117 then he would put the blade in a new war surplus Camillus lifeboat sailor knife. Buck then put the 117 knife for sale in his 1948 catalog for $ 5.00 each, a lot of money at the time and most likely why only a very few knives of the type were ever created by the founders of Buck knives. The knife is not an unused example but is in very good shape and was carried by my father for years. He had cleaned one deer that I know of and a lot of small game but at the same time, I have heard this knife may be in the best shape of the knives known to exists.The blade is full at 3-1/2" and 4-3/8 overall with some pocket ware to the wood handle. My dad had a sporting goods store from 1946 to 1949 and was one of if not the first sporting goods store to ever sell Buck knives in the San Diego Ca. area. My dad passed away in 1968 and the knife was then passed on to me. It was the knife that sparked the love I have of knife collecting and to becoming a custom knife maker since 1981 till present. Levine said this knife is very valuable but would be very simple to counterfeit so do not pay a premium for one without having it authenticated. This knife was authenticated by Charles T. Buck back in 1982. It's also in " Knives and Their Values books by Bernard Levine and names me as the owner of this "authenticated" 117 rare Buck knife. This is the hollow ground clip blade that would reappear enlarged and redesigned as the Buck No. 110 Folding Knife 17 years later. Perhaps the best all around folding knives ever made by any knife co................................ This old Buck Folding Knife open and closes like new and has no side wobble...................Thanks so much for your interest............Tom George