Number of Spacers on Fixed Blades

[Plumberdv]

Interesting. Then I take it that the pre-'86 with three spacers must be less common than the other versions? I don't have a large number of them (only eleven to look at) and they all either have four spacers or only two. All the four spacer models have the spacer that covers the entire top of the guard and isn't trimmed close to the handle.

[BG42EDGE]

Yes, that's my understanding on the pre-'86 with three spacers, especially in certain models.

Not extinct, but definitely on the endangered species list.

[mbjannusch]

Plum,
The way I understand this is that in early '81 Buck removed one of the finger guard spacers. In late '81 they removed the lower pommel spacer, leaving only two, one on the finger guard and one one the pommel. The removal of the spacers was because they weren't needed any longer. Spacers were used to true up the knife and with fine blanking and all of the mechanical process that the knife goes threw the hunan error is taken out of the equation. Spacers were now used just for looks and the reduction was a cost savings. So, the three spacer knives are fewer than any other, because they were made for such a short time.

[mbjannusch]

AS for the micarta spacers that extend all the way out. This seems to be hit and miss in most models but more uncommon in the 119s and 120s. I have seen and own both the 119 and 120 with spacers that extend all the way out but they were harder to find. I never could get a concrete answer as to when they started this practice. The reason was that the micarta began to seperate from the finger guard and it would get hung up on things. So many knives were returned for repairs that they thought it would be better if they just clipped them off instead of trying to re-glue them. This is another reason that Buck probably removed this spacer.

[Mitch W.]

I've got a 115 set (103 & 118) that has the micarta spacers to the end of the guard. Since we're discussing spacers, were there ever spacers on a 124?

[Plumberdv]

I've got a 115 set (103 & 118) that has the micarta spacers to the end of the guard. Since we're discussing spacers, were there ever spacers on a 124?

All I can say for sure is that I've not seen one that was a standard 124. Below is a picture of the only ones I have. You can discount the two end ones as they are an LE and one that was assembled (by Buck) using a blade sent in by a customer. The others are a wood handled 1991, a wood handled pre-86 and a micarta handled pre-86. As you can see, none have spacers except for the stag handled LE.

[mbjannusch]

I think the only 124/122 was the Nemo and they had white teflon spacers on one and bone hard fiber spacers on the later ones. Those were also knives of the late '60s, having the BUCK USA stamp. Sorry no pictures, those are out of my price range.

[Badhammer]

Badhammer, are the two spacers visible enough now?

I did my very best.

Haebbie

P.S.: Sometimes I am glad that I am a foreigner and that I don't always understand what is written here.
((Sometimes I'm too lazy to translate))

Thank you Haebbie, that's what was throwing me. The spacer next to the black handle was hard to see. Lost track of this thread and just found it. Since we're talking about spacers I have a 105 with four maroon/burgundy spacers just like the ones posted in these photos. It's a two line model (Buck over U.S.A. inverted) which I presume is 440C and from the 1970's?

[BG42EDGE]

Definitely the good old 440C. Spacers hard fiber means 1967 to late 1969. Micarta spacers, on your knife, could make it as late as part way through 1972.

[Badhammer]

Thank you. Not sure how to tell the difference between fiber and micarta? Perhaps I can take a decent photo and post it. The burgundy color is quite pronounced. This is without a doubt my favorite, "smaller" Buck fixed blade.

[BG42EDGE]

This has good pics of the old hard fiber spacers.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...val-camp-knife

[BG42EDGE]

Post #22 on this one has one good closeup of the newer Micarta spacers that started circa late '69-early '70.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...r#post10356565

[Badhammer]

Post #22 on this one has one good closeup of the newer Micarta spacers that started circa late '69-early '70.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...r#post10356565

Thanks. I'd say they are micarta.

[mbjannusch]

I'd say bone hard fiber looks similar to red bone, and micarta looks like red carbon fiber, its not but it does have the same similarities in texture.

[BG42EDGE]

Yes, and Micarta seems to have a zig zag texture to it, while the hard fiber seems to have a straight line type of texture.

The colors can vary some and sometimes look somewhat similar.

[mbjannusch]

Bone hard fiber all look alike, it's when you get into the micartas is where people get confused. Micarta can be anywhere from maroon to red and as dark as black.

[BG42EDGE]

True......it's like many other things with knives--the more of them you see in person, the better you get at identifying them.