102 The Perfect Hiker's Knife

D

DocT

Joined
Mar 25, 2012
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For me, the perfect hiking knife needs to be light in weight but strong. Weight is very important and every ounce matters when hiking into back country carrying all you need on your back. A knife needs at least a 4 to 4.5 inch blade to be really useful and longer is too much.

Most knives with a 4 inch blade are far too heavy for hiking. Plus, not many makers make a knife that has a good weight to length to strength ratio. The Buck 102 is an amazingly svelte 2.5 oz without the sheath. Most knives this size are over 5 oz or much more. Some are nearly 8 oz. The 102 has a full length stick tang for strength. The blade shape is good for a wide range of uses. The Woodsman is aptly named.

Back when I was still hiking I carried a 102 that was originally my father's. It has a flap sheath and yet it does not rattle. I have thought of changing sheaths but have never gotten around to it. This particular knife has 4 spacers.

Even with my large hands I can still squeeze my fingers onto the smallish handle.

What a great knife. Hiker's and backpackers take note!
 
You are right, it really is light weight. And strong. It's a dandy little knife and worth talking about. Here's to the 102! :thumbup::thumbup:
 
A pair of 102's, almost 40 years apart. Has not changed much with time.

102BarrelNut010a.jpg
 
I've said it before and I'll say it again: the 102 is my favorite Buck fixed blade. I've shown this photo before, but so what. Here are most of my 102s. They cover the years from about 1957 to 2016.

Bert

102s.jpg
 
Nice collection of 102's, Bert!

I was thinking of getting one of the 5160 models. If I could find one in S30V for a reasonable price I would jump on it like a duck on a June Bug.

I wonder why Buck does not offer this knife in more options, regularly?
 
bertl said:
I've said it before and I'll say it again: the 102 is my favorite Buck fixed blade. I've shown this photo before, but so what. Here are most of my 102s. They cover the years from about 1957 to 2016.

Bert

View attachment 632454
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Bert,

How many variations of the 102 have there been?

I know the 440C black phenolic, 425m, and current 420HC with black phenolic. I am aware of the dymondwood rosewood and brass 420HC and the 5160 with black phenolic and brass, as well as the LL Bean leather stacked S30V. I have seen some listed as 902 and 802, also, but have no idea what these are. I know that there were different numbers of spacers in the older knives, some 4, some 3. How many other variations?
 
DocT, I only have one Buck 102 and have found it to be a fine little waterfowlers knife, cleaned a mess of ducks and one turkey with mine. Found it a tad small for turkey - now the 121 is a fine turkey cleaning knife. OH

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DocT,

I am not the person to ask about the number of variations for the 102. Maybe Matt will show up on the forum to give answers. The earliest I know of were the Lucite handles from the late 1940s to the early 1950s. These were followed by Lignum Vitae handles in the mid-1950s. From 1957-1961 Ebony was used and then replaced by the familiar Black Phenolic. From about 1961-1963 White Melamine was used also. There have been some limited editions made by Buck but sold by others, such as the Klinkhamer specials (either polished stag and cherry stained wood or polished stag and desert ironwood), and currently the 5160 steel knives for Copper+Clad. Most of the variations are Dymondwood handles with different colors of stain, and I am not sure how many of those were made. Currently, the Cocobolo stain is being used. Below, I have listed the variations I have as shown in the photo. Hopefully others can give more information.

Ebony (upper right)
Copper+Clad Brass Bolsters, 5160 steel (2nd from top)
Stacked Leather with Micarta spacers and mirror polished blade (5th right)
Klinkhamer polished Sambar Stage and Cherry Stained Wood (6th right)
Sambar Stag (7th right)
White Bone (8yh right)
Stacked Leather (L L Bean) (9th right)
Cocobolo Stain, Brass Bolsters(10th right)
Orange Stain (11th right)
Cherry Stain, Brass Bolsters (12th right)

View attachment 632523
 
Here are 5 variations of just 1-line 102's. These five Woodsmans represent a short time span, about 1961 to 1967, but each one is different in some way.

102.1-line.002_zps9dfiwcam.jpg
 
Thanks! That is very interesting. There are so many variations and even the pommel lengths look to have variations. There are variations in the thickness and style of the liners, and the blades even seem to have some differences (Unless that is due to sharpening).
So, besides all of that, there are steel choices of 440C, 425M, 420HC, 5160, S30V. Did I miss any?

Collecting 102's could be interesting. I really like that LL Bean. I missed on the other day trying to verify authenticity. I also like that ebony. When was that made? Also, what is the other stacked leather? Was it made for some company like the LL Bean? I do not recall it being a regular item.
 
There was a leather stacked 102 in the 2011 catalog, part of the Legacy Collection that year. Original MSRP was $180 and I remember seeing them sell for about $100 at the time.

102%20Stacked%20Leather%202011%20catalog_zpseqbnunfr.jpg
 
bertl said:
I've said it before and I'll say it again: the 102 is my favorite Buck fixed blade. I've shown this photo before, but so what. Here are most of my 102s. They cover the years from about 1957 to 2016.

Bert

View attachment 632454
Click to expand...

Holy schmoly,that's 102 heaven.LOL.

My brother and I just started seriously collecting Bucks last year.He's been on a tear and has made some really good buys but I beat him to the punch on a twin set of a 102 & 103 NIB.

He's still trying to trade me out of it.LOL.
 
Desoto, thanks for the info. I somehow missed that. Very nice. I wish they still made that version.

Sporting, that was a nice find. Why don't you post some pictures for our edification?
 
sporting, the twin set you purchased should have a '104' stamped on the back of it's sheath. That is Buck's first double knife set and it is called the 'Twin Set', model 104. Did you get the box and papers? What is the date of the knives? Buck has discountinued most of it's twin sets. So, getting one is really good. DM
 
DocT said:
Desoto, thanks for the info. I somehow missed that. Very nice. I wish they still made that version.

Sporting, that was a nice find. Why don't you post some pictures for our edification?
Click to expand...

I'll try and get a picture up tomorrow for the Sunday picture show.
 
David Martin said:
sporting, the twin set you purchased should have a '104' stamped on the back of it's sheath. That is Buck's first double knife set and it is called the 'Twin Set', model 104. Did you get the box and papers? What is the date of the knives? Buck has discountinued most of it's twin sets. So, getting one is really good. DM
Click to expand...

Yes I received the box and papers.It really was new,new.I don't know the date of these knives.I do know that I've wanted this set for a while and I paid top price because is was NIB.

PS: These knives have two fiber spacers at the hilt if this helps.I'll post pictures tomorrow and you'll be able to determine more at that time.
 
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