"The Buck Stops Here" (ca. 1930)

[Dave Hause]

"Buck" knife in current parlance seems to mean a fixed blade knife or
locking blade folder, but it seems to be of fairly recent vintage (the
company, which makes quite a high grade product, at
http://www.buckknives.com/ dates itself to 1902).  Is there reason to belive
the expression antedates the company?
Dave Hause, dwhause at jobe.net
Ft. Leonard Wood, MO
----- Original Message -----
From: "Laurence Horn" <laurence.horn at YALE.EDU>

One is that the "buck" in question that designated the current dealer
is (as I understand it, although that's not part of the HDAS entry)
the handle of a buck knife (with the blade presumably pointing away
from the dealer).