103/110 Question

M

Mitch W.

Joined
Aug 11, 2010
Messages
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How does one tell the difference between a 1 line inverted 103 and an original 110? Does it have a barrel nut or some other obvious feature?
 
I believe the 110 was changed after they went to a pinned tang. So, yes the 110 was a barrel nut.
 
The 110 handle was done in antler, lignum vitae, melamine and black phenolic all with barrel nut accompanied w/ a brown sheath. THE 103 model handle was done in melamine and black phenolic with barrel nut accompanied w/ a black sheath. The model number changed to 103 sometime in 1962 or 63. The tang pin configuration came about in May 1963 and the white melamine was dropped at about this time. Without the sheath it would be hard to determine. DM
 
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Changing a model number from 110 to 103 and neither knife has a model number stamped on it.......

They sure know how to make it interesting for the collector.

:D
 
I had a look in the early catalogs and the model # was changed in the 1962-'63 catalog, The barrel nut knives were discontinued in may of '63. So, without having referencing material I was pretty close. MJ
 
One thing to keep in mind is that during this time, no one thought for a second that Buck knives would be collected someday. They were thought of as a tool that would be used and used hard. If I could go back in time and tweak a few things, I would bring my warped collectors brain with me to make sure things were documented and followed a little closer to logic. Of course I would have been glued to the floor by the crew so they could go about the business of keeping up with orders!
It was a growing time for Buck and they would try new things on the fly. If someone had an idea that they thought might help improve a knife, they would make up a tray. If it got the thumbs up, it became how we did it from now until the next change. If it got the thumbs down, it became a peculiar variation that us knife knuts scratch our heads about and pay too much money for today. :rolleyes:
 
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