Another date question for 119 & 120

M

Misfit-45

Joined
Aug 2, 2020
Messages
15
Hi Folks,
I'm sure you've had this question over and over again, but I'm a new to collecting the big Bucks. Buck's date code chart is obviously incomplete. It says that a two line knife is from 1967 to 1972, but an inverted (reading with point down) two line is 1972. When scrolling the hundreds of 119s on ebay, I never see a NON inverted two line. Are they really rare or something? In addition, I see many inverted THREE line marks. What year is that one? I know the real collectors out there have a good answer for me . I'm just trying to figure it all out. Thanks for your help.
Marv
 
One line (Buck) and two line (Buck USA) fixed blade Buck Knives are read tip-down, during 1972 Buck went to the three line stamp (added model number), the first were read tip down. Sometime in late 72, early 1973 they reversed the stamp and it was read tip up - has been thus ever since. There are many nuances; Buck Knives didn't waste blades, so there was some overlap between models as to when the first blade with a new stamp showed up. THere are no accurate dates on these - the dates above are general and close enough for collectors to group their knives by age. Then there are the spacers, four, then three, then two. A good book is Holding an Edge by Larry Oden - you may search around the on-line services and find one. Also welcome to collecting Buck Knives and keep asking questions here. OH
 
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Thanks for the reply. That makes all the sense in the world. So why does the date chart isolate a notation in a box that specifically notes that the inverted two line is 1972, which clearly implies that all the other "two lines" are 1967 to 1971-2? Please tell me the chart is wrong. It seems better to rely on common knowledge, speculation and assumptions, than to rely on that chart. Thanks again.
Marv
Just to be clear, you are saying that all two lines can very generally be dated 67 to 72?
 
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I guess the question is where is the chart you are looking at?
Could it possibly have said "all inverted 3-line are 1972"?
Old Hunter Old Hunter said it pretty well so yes all 1&2-line are inverted.
As he said, 3-line inverted is short lived and 'generally' associated with '72.
Here is a copy/paste directly from the Buck website.
4MpQpWB.jpg
 
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Here's the full Chart. Just below the first box is the second box which says the inverted two line is 1972. I see now that your BUCK chart does not have that. Thanks.
ibb.co

BUCK-DATE-CODES hosted at ImgBB

Image BUCK-DATE-CODES hosted in ImgBB
ibb.co ibb.co
Marv
 
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Got it. Personally I think it is a Mis-Print and should have read "Inverted three-line".
.
 
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