124 Production Process?

TAH

TAH

Joined
Jul 3, 2001
Messages
6,135
Last night, I was re-admiring my 70s Frontiersman and I'm still so impressed with the fit and finish of this knife. It is literally flawless. Everything is symmetrical and perfectly aligned. The transition from the Micarta into the guard and pommel is exceptional. Excluding the pins, there are 6 pieces to assemble, which leads to my question. Did/Do the 124s receive special production attention or are they just made on the line with all the other knives?


IMG_6608_zpscb3bc454.jpg
 
That's beautiful. I've never seen one in person, but that's just lovely.
 
Thanks kyhunt. Those are my thoughts too and I guess the reason for my question. :)
 
To my knowledge, they were made on the line along with other knives. Yours looks to be from mid 1973. A handsome one. DM
 
Thanks David. Not doubting you, but it seems this model would require a little more time and care with the Micarta slabs and two-piece pommel.

The paperwork in the box is dated 1977.
 
David Martin said:
Even though I looked it up. Your sheath is not a swivel? DM
Click to expand...

It is designed and constructed like a swivel sheath, but the rivet is so tight, the sheath doesn't swivel at all. Now you have my curiosity. What made you think my sheath is not a swivel? What does a swivel sheath look like?

David Martin said:
The guard and butt on your model must be aluminum. DM
Click to expand...

Correct.
 
Sweet looking 124! I remember wanting one of those so badly I could hardly stand it. I told my father, but he came home with a 120 instead. I have been happy with that. But, I hope to pick up an older 124 at some point, still.
 
Thanks Doc. By all means, pick one up if you can. You will not be disappointed. :thumbup:
 
In the 70s it was the same line as the 119 series
These days it is in a sister cell to the 119 family.
Basically same line as everything else.
 
Ok, I'll take the pictures to explain. I'm going to time myself this time just to verify how long it takes as we discussed this before. DM
 
This is the 2 snoopy sheaths close to that era. The left one a 119 from the 80's for a 119. It has 2 rivets holding the belt loop. The right sheath has only one rivet and is from a 124 of 1972. DM
 
Now the model 124. This 124 is from 1972 late or early 1973 as it has a lanyard hole and the guard and butt are stainless. Not aluminum. Also, note it has the squared handle shape. Which yours does not. DM
 
Here's a larger photo showing the entire knife with it's original sheath. All of correct era. According to the article written by Joe Houser from our Dec. 2006 newsletter. No 122's were made in 1972. ON 124's in this time frame both stainless and aluminum guards can be found. With a lanyard hole. By mid to late 1973 both the stainless guard and lanyard hole is gone. This educational effort took me 23 minutes from start to finish. DM
 
David,

Well worth your 23 minutes of effort. Thank you. My sheath is constructed like your 124 sheath with one rivet attaching the belt loop. My knife and sheath were new in the box and again, the rivet is so tight, the sheath will not swivel at all - even using force. Here's a question, what year did Buck add the small black rivet at the top of the stitching like on my sheath?
 
That I don't know. It was on the scalloped top 110 sheaths for the 2 dots. For those that would be 1974 or 75. But the model 124 didn't follow the buck pattern. DM
 
I just did a quick check on 10 fixed blade sheaths. None of the inverted 3 line stamps had that little rivet. On to the 3 liners read point up and none had it except the model 107. It was new in the box. Buck came out with that model in 1976. Which maybe close to the time frame of your 124. Atleast for the sheath. Your 'care papers' you know are printed in advance by the thousands and will have how many thousand next to the date. Which would reflect a close date for your knife. Could it have been made as early as 1976? I think so. Any earlier is a stretch. DM
 
That little black rivet could really help date the 124 if someone knew for sure when it was added.

At the very bottom left corner of my 'care paper', it reads 4/77. There are no other numbers anywhere. I just assumed the earliest my knife could be in 1977.
 
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