Aging a buck 119

That knife is an inverted 2-liner from approximately 1967. Someone should be along later that can narrow it down a little more than that.
 
Yes, late '67 to late '69 if those are the bone fiber spacers.

Beautiful example!!

:)
 
Those appear to be bone hard fiber spacers so as the others have said it was manufactured between 1967- late '68 or early '69. The spacers were changed to micarta in '69 through '71. Nice knife
 
The spacers look to be micarta to me but hey, its a photo and a good one. Your knifes in very good shape. DM
 
Well DM if you cant tell the difference in the spacers, in picture #2 is a give away as well. The sheath is a pre '69, indicated by the embossing lines on the belt loop. Both, the spacers(BHF) and the sheath let me know and feel comfortable in saying that this knife was manufactured in 1967/68.
 
Ran across this thread the other day and became very interested in the remarks on how to zero in on the dating of this knife. For the sake of keeping the information in one place I thought it would be better to include my post on this thread as opposed to starting a new one.
Below are some pictures of two older Buck fixed blade knives that I believe are from the 60’s period.

A 119;
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Here is a model 120 that I’m sure is later but haven’t been able to zero in on the date.
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In case it might help. Heres a look at the profile of the two grips. 120 on the left.
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I confess in advance that I’m taking notes to try and improve my knowledge of the pre-date coded Bucks.

Thanks:)
 
Well, I know that first one is very early 1967 or Pre-1967.....that's all I know about that.

The second is late 1967 to late 1969.
 
The first is a single line stamp, manufactured in between late 1961/ '62-'66, and the second knife having bone hard fiber spacers was born in 1967/'68. Love the old ones...
 
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The general rule of dating these fixed blade knives is that every bodies info is a bit different. But for a guide line here it goes.
Post incorporation 1961 ( incorp. April of 1961)

BUCK , Barret Nut construction 1961-1963
BUCK , 1961-1966
BUCK* , 1967
BUCK, USA , Made with bone hard fiber spacers 1967-1969
BUCK, USA , Made with Micarta spacers 1969-1971
BUCK,Model #, USA inverted, read blade pointed down 1972 only
BUCK,Model#, USA read blade pointed up 1973-1980
" " " " 3 Spacers 1981 (BUCK also changed there steel from 440c to 425m,as the 440 was to hard on the machines to fine blank)
" " " " 2 spacers Late 1981-1985

If I have missed anything, I'm sure there will be someone to correct me, but this is pretty close if not dead on. Now the Pre factory productions are another ball of wax.
 
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Thanks for the replies.
Any thoughts regarding the sheaths?
Regarding the one with the 119 I’ve been told that Buck switched over to the flap style sheath around 1964. (?)

In the case of the 120 I’ve wondered if the (120) embossed on the back of the sheath may indicate that the sheath would be a likely replacement for that specific knife or if there would be an overlap of that knife being factory supplied with a model number stamped sheath?

Hope these questions make sense.
 
It's understandable that there are variations in notes and sources. If you got the conflicting sources together they'd probably be the last to argue that their opinion was correct and the other was wrong.

As the years march on.......the facts recede farther and farther into the past. Memories fade.

Conflicts occur mostly on end of year and beginning of year production.

The Buck Asterisk model, for instance, was indeed made in 1967 and probably not at all in 1966 or 1968.

But, the "Buck" only (Single-Line) may have intruded a little into 1967 and the "Buck U.S.A." (Two-Line) may have started a little before 1967 was over.

Those famous bone fiber spacers were probably used into late 1969 and there was probably a period when both Micarta and bone were both in the house at the same time--transitions rarely happen seamlessly.

Most of the guesses on dates of particular knives have some margin at the edges.

:)
 
Sheaths are another area where you can end up pulling out your hair. The way I understand it is, prior to 1969 Buck out sourced the making of their sheaths to several different companies. In looking at your pictures it appears that your sheaths are correct for the period on both knives. Your 119 sheath is the first sheath made for the single line stamp knives ( its early in production). I've seen the fold over sheaths on single line stamp knives more times than not. I believe they changed from the collar type, like you have on your 119, because hunters were complaining that they were loosing there knives too often. Buck went to the flap over sheath to reduce this loss. In 1969 Buck brought the sheath making in house. The pre '69 sheaths have the railroad tracks on the belt loop, like the sheath you have for your 120.
 
sac troop said:
Thanks for the replies.
Any thoughts regarding the sheaths?
Regarding the one with the 119 I’ve been told that Buck switched over to the flap style sheath around 1964. (?)

In the case of the 120 I’ve wondered if the (120) embossed on the back of the sheath may indicate that the sheath would be a likely replacement for that specific knife or if there would be an overlap of that knife being factory supplied with a model number stamped sheath?

Hope these questions make sense.
Click to expand...

Yes, the Flapover started in 1964 and really became the norm only in 1965.

The stamped 120 is probably correct.....I have a couple stamped 120 from that era.
 
Please forgive my ignorance. Would this be an example of “barret nut construction”?
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Or am I completely out in the weeds?

I agree with the above about the vagaries in materials and process transitions when manufacturing goods of most kinds.
 
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