Buck 102 standard sheath - is this a typical fit for this sheath?

Obsessed with Edges

Obsessed with Edges

Joined
Apr 12, 2009
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13,495
I recently purchased a standard-line Buck 102 Woodsman with the black phenolic handle, 420HC blade and the standard snap sheath. I love the knife - it's perfectly sized for the sort of light duty use I might give it. And it's beautifully executed with as sharp a factory edge as I could hope for. This has also been true with the other fixed blades I've purchased from Buck in recent months, including the standard-line 119, 117 and the 120. No complaints at all. I've really been impressed with the build quality in these knives from Buck.

The one thing that seems a bit off with this latest purchase is the fit of the sheath's snap loop around the handle of the 102. There's a lot of open space underneath it - a much looser fit than I've seen with the sheaths on the other knives I mentioned above. I'm wondering if this is typical for this particular small-handled knife or is it just perhaps a one-off fluke? I'm considering replacing the sheath, but I don't know if a replacement will be just the same, in terms of the fit.

To be clear, there's just enough hold with this snap loop that I'm not yet worried about the knife coming out on its own. But to me, it looks like the fit could be more snug with this one.

Thanks to all, for your input here. Pics are below:
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I just checked mine. It has a bit more space than ideal, but since the leather with the male aspect of the snap fits nicely against the guard- the knife is not going anywhere. However…now that I am aware of the space, I might just glue an extra piece of leather to the flap.
 
That's definitely not right, and the 102 already rattles around in it's sheath without this issue.
I don't know how this could have happened, maybe they miss marked a sheath intended for a different model with a fatter handle.
I'm not sure which 100 series model would fit in a 102 sheath and has a larger handle though.
 
I don't know if all are that way now days, but I know all of the new Buck knives that I've bought in the last 12 or 15 years have come with absolutely trash sheaths. They may as well ship without a sheath and save us a few dollars. None have fit well and all the snap loops are loose like the one you receieved.

I bought an old sheath for a Vanguard that had been chewed by a dog because it was still a huge improvement over the sheath on the last Vanguard I bought.

All my older Buck sheaths were great but the newer ones not so much ... it just make me sad to know the quality that they used to have.
 
I just checked mine from 2023 and it looks about the same as yours. With my calipers, I measured the gap to be approximately 0.23" between the handle and flap on the side closest to the blade tip. Like you noted, the sheath on my 105 that I bought at the same time is a little tighter than my 102 sheath.
 
Hickory n steel said:
That's definitely not right, and the 102 already rattles around in it's sheath without this issue.
I don't know how this could have happened, maybe they miss marked a sheath intended for a different model with a fatter handle.
I'm not sure which 100 series model would fit in a 102 sheath and has a larger handle though.
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Coming soon to a Stealth Run, a 102 with a 117 handle... 🤔 😁
 
Ace Rimmer said:
Coming soon to a Stealth Run, a 102 with a 117 handle... 🤔 😁
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I did actually try my 117 with the 102's sheath, just to see if it would fit. Length looks nearly adequate for it. I'm sure the 117's handle would likely fit the snap loop. But the pouch for the blade is definitely sized for the narrower 102 blade - the 117's blade is too wide to fit. I've been watching the other thread about the 117 Stealth Run knife with the 102's handle. So, the flipside of that also occurred to me.
 
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Obsessed with Edges said:
I did actually try my 117 with the 102's sheath, just to see if it would fit. Length looks nearly adequate for it. I'm sure the 117's handle would likely fit the snap loop. But the pouch for the blade is definitely sized for the narrower 102 blade - the 117's blade is too wide to fit. I've been watching the other thread about the 117 Stealth Run knife with the 102's handle. So, the flipside of that also occurred to me.
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I bent my 102 sheath (getting the pouch out of the way) so that I could place my 117 into the snap loop….it fits!

I then soaked the loop in warm water and applied low heat from heat gun and now have it sitting on a counter to dry.
 
beeinak said:
I bent my 102 sheath (getting the pouch out of the way) so that I could place my 117 into the snap loop….it fits!

I then soaked the loop in warm water and applied low heat from heat gun and now have it sitting on a counter to dry.
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I was eyeballing my 117 just minutes ago and visualized trying the same thing out of curiosity.

I'll be curious to hear what you find in terms of shrinking the loop on the 102's sheath. I don't yet have a clear idea of how well that'd work if I tried it. I've wondered about the black-coated treatment Buck gives their sheaths and whether it significantly deters shrinkage or other issues related to exposure to moisture.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
I was eyeballing my 117 just minutes ago and visualized trying the same thing out of curiosity.

I'll be curious to hear what you find in terms of shrinking the loop on the 102's sheath. I don't yet have a clear idea of how well that'd work if I tried it. I've wondered about the black-coated treatment Buck gives their sheaths and whether it significantly deters shrinkage or other issues related to exposure to moisture.
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The sheath seems well treated for repellency. The rough side and edge did absorb some water when I rubbed it while wetting it. The smooth side shed.

The sheath is certainly serviceable as is, but now that I am aware of the gap it bugs me🤣
 
beeinak said:
The sheath seems well treated for repellency. The rough side and edge did absorb some water when I rubbed it while wetting it. The smooth side shed.

The sheath is certainly serviceable as is, but now that I am aware of the gap it bugs me🤣
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That's pretty much how I'm viewing all of it right now. I could live with it as is. But once I noticed it, it keeps nagging me to do something about it.

I've rarely carried knives on my belt, mainly because I don't like that bulk sticking out on my hip. I've had issues in the past with sheaths getting snagged on furniture, or by the seat belt in vehicles. I lost a small cell phone back in the '90s that was in a plastic scabbard on my belt. I'm pretty sure it got yanked out of the scabbard by my seat belt as I exited my vehicle at a DIY car wash. I finished that up and went home, only realizing later the phone was gone. This 102 is nice slim profile and it's the first in a long time that I've realistically considered carrying on my belt. But the bulk of the sheath itself, exacerbated by that oversized snap loop, has me somewhat discouraged at the moment.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
That's pretty much how I'm viewing all of it right now. I could live with it as is. But once I noticed it, it keeps nagging me to do something about it.

I've rarely carried knives on my belt, mainly because I don't like that bulk sticking out on my hip. I've had issues in the past with sheaths getting snagged on furniture, or by the seat belt in vehicles. I lost a small cell phone back in the '90s that was in a plastic scabbard on my belt. I'm pretty sure it got yanked out of the scabbard by my seat belt as I exited my vehicle at a DIY car wash. I finished that up and went home, only realizing later the phone was gone. This 102 is nice slim profile and it's the first in a long time that I've realistically considered carrying on my belt. But the bulk of the sheath itself, exacerbated by that oversized snap loop, has me somewhat discouraged at the moment.
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Well, I got impatient and used my heat gun on low again to the edges and rough side of the loop. It now snaps quite snug….however it also looks like elephant hide🤣. I thought I was going slowly enough, but the edges curled quickly and the smooth side is now wrinkled.

I got the 102 in S35 with green Micarta to use as a bird & trout type knife, so looks of the sheath don’t matter- but I think I should have just glued an extra piece of leather or velcro to the loop (or at least been patient with drying). Oh well….
 
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