From BCCI newsletter May 2007 by Joe Houser...
The 401 Kalinga was first introduced in 1970. Theearliest pictures we have show a two line stamp,BUCK, U.S.A. Although it is likely that the one inthe picture is the ONLY 401 with a two line stamp, Imention it here just in case you have one in your collection. I have never seen another like it so in eithercase, it is a very rare variation. The more commonstamping is BUCK, KALINGA, U.S.A. The stampwill be in the inverted position, read with the tippointed down, on the first versions. The handles willbe of a wide grain black micarta. Sometimes it willeven appear to be more of a grey color. These kniveswill be in the hinged box. It is likely that this type ofbox was used up until about 1985, and then a new 2piece box was used.The 402 Akonua was introduced in about 1972. Fromthe few records that we have, it appears as though the402 was started in 1971 but Buck did not actuallyship any until 1972. I have no evidence of a two lineAkonua and it is not very likely that one exists. Thefirst known variation of the 402 is the same as thethree line 401. It will be marked with an invertedBUCK, AKONUA, U.S.A. and have the same widegrained micarta handles. From this point on, bothmodels share the same path. The only difference isthat the 402 was never offered in a hinged box.Sometime shortly after the introduction of the 402,the stamp on both models was changed to the standard 3 line read with the tip pointed up. The handlewill now be the more familiar tight grained blackmicarta. These minor changes probably occurred inabout 1973. This configuration went basicallyunchanged on both models up until sometime in 1981when the handle was changed to “ImpregnatedBirch”.The only exception to this would be the curious burgundy micarta versions seen from time to time but wewill talk about those later.I was able to locate and study old blueprints of the401 and 402 and they documented several majorchanges to both knives that occurred during 1980 and1981. One important thing to remember is that whenBuck changed the way they made a knife, this changedid not always make it to the blueprint right away sowe need to take this info with a grain of salt. Theblueprint indicated that in early 1980 there was achange in the shape of the brass guard. Take a look ata 401 with a micarta handle and one with Birch andyou will see this difference in the “hook” portion ofthe guard. It is much more pointed on the micartahandled knife.Then the blueprint mentions a mid 1981 change from440C to 425mod steel, and the change from blackmicarta to Laminated birch, also known asPakkawood. That’s a lot going on at the same time onthese two models.We can then surmise that all knives with micarta handles must be 440C. This is most likely true but shortof a chemical analysis of the blade, there is no way toknow positively.We might also surmise that all micarta handled kniveswill have the more pointed guard and all Birch handled knives will have the less pointed guard. It is possible that, as with the steel change, there was someusing up of old parts going on in production and I cansay that I have seen one birch handled 402 with theolder style guard. This would be the “hard to find”variation for 401/402 collectors.Ok, I can’t avoid the burgundy micarta handles question any longer. The truth is, we have very little information on them at all. The best I can come up with isa statement by one of our engineers who was hereback then. He told me he remembers that we triedoffering both burgundy and black micarta for a time.When this happened we don’t know for sure.Unfortunately, none of the paperwork included in 401or 402 boxes have a printers code on them so wecan’t even use that trick. We are fairly sure that the124 Frontiersman with burgundy micarta handles wasoffered in about 1973 so I am making an assumptionthat that is when we used it on the 401/402. I am stillhopeful that new evidence will surface to back up thisassumption.One last piece of information about both models isthat although date code symbols were added to theirstamps in 1986 like most other Buck knives, the symbols are located next to the U.S.A. And, the modelnumber never appears on the stamp, just the modelname.I have put together a data sheet showing all knownvariations to both the 401 and 402. If you would likea copy, please send me an email or letter and I willget one out to you right away. If you have any information that you feel will add to the pool of knowledge on these two models, please feel free to send itmy way.
