Buck 106 Burgundy Micarta

[TAH]

How hard is it going to be for me to find one of these in mint to near mint condition? Are they more rare than the 106s with black Micarta?

Any leads???

Thanks!

 

[Evil Eye Earl]

Yes they are more rare only made for a short time in 1973 if my memory serves me right....but they are still out there....they come up on the auction sites.

 

[Mike Kerins]

I'm assuming the same can be said for any of the knives with the maroon micarta. I know the 124 with the maroon scales is scarce but comes up on auction sites from time to time. They seem to appear in spurts.

 

[gd526]

Close, Ron....
TAH, you are right that a maroon-scaled 106 is more difficult to find than its black counterpart. The year 1969 was a very interesting year for the 106 line-up. Five distinctly different handles were used, but in the interest of time I will offer up that the total production for the year was around 1300 hatchets. Don't be discouraged however, as Ron said factually that they do show on the auction block with some regularity.
So you know you are looking at the right animal: two line stamping (blade up), three handle rivets, scales machined to match the tang profile. At present the 106s tend to be depressed price-wise so should one pop-up......well, happy hunting! The last one I saw for sale retail, and may still be sitting there, was marked @ $300.

Dave

 

[TAH]

Dave,

Just to clarify, do ALL maroon 106s have a two line stamp only?

Also, noticed that some 106s are contoured at the top of the scaled handle. Any info on that?

Thanks!

 

[JK Knives]

Not micarta, but still unusual. I found it in an old hardware store, it was the last Buck in the case. Offered $20 for it because it had no sheath. Turns out it has never had an edge put on it. Thought that was kind of cool. (excuse my polishing rag on the floor at bottom of photo)

John

 

[gd526]

Dave,

Just to clarify, do ALL maroon 106s have a two line stamp only?

Also, noticed that some 106s are contoured at the top of the scaled handle. Any info on that?

Thanks!

Yes TAH, all maroon MICARTA 106s will have the blade-up two line stamping and the thumb dips on the top of both scales The thumb (or guard ) dips in the scales started in '69 with the maroon 106 (just after the wrapped tang/ wrap-around micarta) and didn't go away until just prior to the date-coded stampings, possibly late '84 or most likely '85 on the laminated birch scaled 106s. You should see these dips on all maroon and black micarta scaled 106s and the earliest laminated birch scaled 106s too.
If you are looking at a different stamping on a 106 with scales that are burgandy or reddish coloured micarta, you may want to cough twice and pass----- that is if you want an original factory jobby and not a 'custom' of sorts.
Clear as mud?

Dave

 

[TAH]

Thanks for the quick history lesson, Dave. I've learned a lot! :thumbup:

 

[puukkoman]

Not micarta, but still unusual. I found it in an old hardware store, it was the last Buck in the case. Offered $20 for it because it had no sheath. Turns out it has never had an edge put on it. Thought that was kind of cool. (excuse my polishing rag on the floor at bottom of photo)

John

Yeah, that is cool. 20 bucks? Good score!

(Polishing rag, sure... Pick up your socks! )