An old flap sheath, but how old is it, and what model Is it for ?

Hickory n steel

Hickory n steel

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This sheath came to me with an '86 102 I bought off a generous forum member, they had it and it holds the knife so they included it.



They're not sure what it goes to, and I certainly don't know much about Buck sheaths.

I am thinking a 105 or 118, because I know they're in the size range but I have never handled either so I don't know.
 
Why not an older 102?

Did it fit the '86 model?

It looks like a late 60s 102 sheath.
 
I may have a similar mystery sheath. It's the same length as the one in the pic above.
Mine came with an old 2 line 105. Purchased it online years ago from a woman who told me it was her husband's hunting knife. When I received the knife I noticed the tip of the 105 was sticking out the bottom of the sheath by a little over quarter of an inch. The tip had pierced the welt and stitching.

I've tried a 118 and 102 in the sheath. The 118 won't go in because of the larger guard. The 102 is just swallowed up, bit like in the above pic. Overall the sheath is just under half an inch shorter than a regular 105 sheath of the same era. See pic below.

Does anyone have the dimensions of a 102 sheath of that era?
Can leather sheaths shrink?

evTq0cT.jpg
 
Hickory n steel Hickory n steel My mid-70s 105 sheath is exactly 9 3/4" closed. When the knife is sheathed, the pommel comes all the way to the top of the fold completely covering the inside belt loop rivet. Good chance your sheath is for a 118.
 
TAH said:
Hickory n steel Hickory n steel My mid-70s 105 sheath is exactly 9 3/4" closed. When the knife is sheathed, the pommel comes all the way to the top of the fold completely covering the inside belt loop rivet. Good chance your sheath is for a 118.
Click to expand...
That definitely sounds like a good fitting sheath.
The current 102 sheath isn't a lot better than this but it's close enough that you know it was made for it.

Technically this one it covers the edge and the knife won't fall out so I could see it belonging to a 102, but I'll bet you could also carry a 102 in a 119 flap sheath too.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Technically this one it covers the edge and the knife won't fall out so I could see it belonging to a 102, but I'll bet you could also carry a 102 in a 119 flap sheath too.
Click to expand...

Surely, someone on here has an early 102 in a flap sheath to let us know if the knife fits in the sheath as deep as yours.

ETA: Your sheath appears to be 9 1/4" long. My 105 sheath is 9 3/4" long. The 1/2" difference is the exact difference between the 105 and the 118 blade length. I still think it's a 118 sheath.
 
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I've got a 2 line 102 and it's sheath is 8.75". It doesn't fit near as deep as the photo above.
 
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TAH said:
Surely, someone on here has an early 102 in a flap sheath to let us know if the knife fits in the sheath as deep as yours.

ETA: Your sheath appears to be 9 1/4" long. My 105 sheath is 9 3/4" long. The 1/2" difference is the exact difference between the 105 and the 118 blade length. I still think it's a 118 sheath.
Click to expand...

The 118 was my first suspicion.
 
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My early 102 sheath is exactly eight and 3/4 inches. The sheath has the buck stamp on the snap.

No rivet in the back, just the stitching.

The knife is marked Buck only and the blade is four and 1/8 inches.

When the sheath is closed there's almost a half inch of room at the top.

So I concur with your finding of 118.
 
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Anyone thought of the possibility of a Buck 116 Caper? Long handle (like a Buck 105, coupled with a short blade). OH
Ps. Some early models had a very short blade guard on the bottom, almost down to the handle.
Buck_116_Caper.jpg
 
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Old Hunter said:
Anyone thought of the possibility of a Buck 116 Caper? Long handle (like a Buck 105, coupled with a short blade). OH
Ps. Some early models had a very short blade guard on the bottom, almost down to the handle.
Buck_116_Caper.jpg
Click to expand...
What's the overall length ?

It looks like the blad might stop short, but I guess it's another possibility.
 
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I’ll have to find it and measure it for you. Here is a photo I took with the sheath back when I got the knife. Your sheath appears to be circa 1966, without a model stamp and with the bright rivet on the back, and looks like a 118 sheath to me. OH
Buck-116-sheath-circa-1972.jpg
 
Old Hunter said:
I’ll have to find it and measure it for you. Here is a photo I took with the sheath back when I got the knife. Your sheath appears to be circa 1966, without a model stamp and with the bright rivet on the back, and looks like a 118 sheath to me. OH
Buck-116-sheath-circa-1972.jpg
Click to expand...
Cool, and thank you for the info.
I don't yet have any knives that old, but I suppose the sheath is a start.

Honestly though the 118 is not a model that appeals to me aesthetically or I'd look for one, so I'll probably pass the sheath along to someone who can use it.
 
Thank you Hickory n Steel! I will post a photo of it here with the one line 118 I intend to pair with it. Again, thank you! OH
 
Old Hunter said:
Thank you Hickory n Steel! I will post a photo of it here with the one line 118 I intend to pair with it. Again, thank you! OH
Click to expand...
You are very welcome.

I was really tempted to keep the sheath because it's cool, but I just have enough stuff I don't need but only keep because it's cool.

Maybe I'll eventually make a left handed flap sheath for a 102 to satisfy me.
 
The Buck sheath arrived in today's mail. It is definitely the sheath of a mid 1960's Buck 118 Personal. I have a one line Buck 118 from the mid-60's that fits in it perfectly - this knife didn't have its original sheath but was in a nice Buck 118 Custom Sheath when I bought it. Thanks Hickory - this sheath is perfect for my knife! I will get a photo shortly. Regards, OH (BB)
 
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