Buck 106 Hunter's Axe Questions

T

TheFishman

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Aug 23, 2022
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I found this last week in a pawn shop and I have a few questions about it. After reading Joe Houser’s 106 model history article in the BCCI March 2004 newsletter, it looks like this axe was made between 1972 and 1982. Is it possible to narrow its manufacture date down further than that? It did not come with a sheath.

What was the purpose of these early 106 axes? A dealer catalog from the early 1970s states “Hunter’s Axe - 4” head 2.5” cutting, 10.5” overall. Ideal for dressing big game and for all-around camp and trail use.” I live in the south and the largest animal I hunt is white tailed deer, but I have never seen anyone use a hatchet to butcher a deer. Do people routinely use a hatchet for moose or elk? Was that the purpose of these early 106s? I cannot see using one of these early 106s for camping. They are just too small and I was really surprised at how small the axe was when I first saw it.

I have no idea what I am going to do with it, but this isn’t my first knife purchase where there wasn’t a real need for it which brings me to my final question. What is the best way to say no, to stop buying knives without a true need, and to overcome this addiction? I have purchased a 147 fillet knife, 121 fisherman, 422 bucklite, 830 marksman, and now a 106 axe within the last six weeks. Only the 147 was a planned purchase. I ran across the others and could not say no. I write this in jest, but I really need to slow down.

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That's a great looking 106, thanks for sharing! I don't think you'll find many answers to your final question, here. "Stop buying knives"? What is this strange language? Bunch of enablers on here. 😆
 
eveled said:
I think it’s a regional thing to use a hunters axe on deer sized game. It’s also handy for chopping feet and heads off smaller game.
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Interesting video. I guess there is more than one way to skin a deer. The pawn shop must have acquired someone's collection as they had 20-30 Case knives and a Kinfolks hatchet as well as the Buck 106. The Kinfolks hatchet had a leather wrapped handle and was roughly the same size as the 106. Maybe the previous owner used hatchets to skin his animals? I would have never thought someone would do that. I thought of hatchets as more for cleaving, but the video shows where there is a will, there is a way.
 
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As far as the addiction, it is hard to pass up a $30 106. It has marks from being used as a hammer and the blade has been sharpened, but it looked so lonely sitting there with all those Case knives. My plan is to send it to Buck in the future for SPA treatment and have the professionals smooth the hammering dents and reprofile the blade.
 
T TheFishman Buy more Buck knives and hang around. Don't overlook the Sunday Picture Show. In the time period you reference there are not any identifiable changes. Sometimes accompanying paperwork helps.

This question comes up every so often so I repost this every so often....

If you are BCCI member, Joe Houser did a good review of the 106 in the March 04 Newsletter
Here is a brief summary, keep in mind that changes don't happen on January 1st so there are year overlaps.
Corrections welcomed.

1965 -1967 1-line phenolic handle, bone hard fiber spacers "HUNTERS AXE"
The earliest are chrome plated
1967 2-line (USA added)
1969 spacers change to micarta
1971 black micarta handle, earliest are rare full wrap around with hidden tang
1972 3-line (model number added)
about 1972-1973 some burgundy micarta was used
1983 handle changes to resin impregnated birch
1986 date codes begin
1993 last year in catalog..(for awhile)
1997-1998 reintroduced "CAMPERS AXE" 2" longer, birch handle
1999 black kydex handle, hang hole cutout
2000 black kydex handle, deer head cutout
2001 oak finish handle, deer head cutout (discontinued again until the Compadre version)

2-lines are generally considered consistent with an early 1972 or prior date. There are alot of changes going on with this model between 1969 and 1972 and with a low volume selling model such as the 106 and with midyear changes and new/old stock moving around the plant at the same time I expect we would see every combination/variation with no sharp delineation. Just to muddy the water, I have a 2-line with reddish micarta scales, the paperwork in the box has a 1/73 printers date which reinforces the use of the reddish or maroon micarta in this model about 1973. /Roger
 
TheFishman said:
Interesting video. I guess there is more than one way to skin a deer. The pawn shop must have acquired someone's collection as they had 20-30 Case knives and a Kinfolks hatchet as well as the Buck 106. The Kinfolks hatchet had a leather wrapped handle and was roughly the same size as the 106. Maybe the previous owner used hatchets to skin his animals? I would have never thought someone would do that. I thought of hatchets as more for cleaving, but the video shows where there is a will, there is a way.
Click to expand...

He almost uses it like an ULU. At least until he used it like a hammer. Lol.
 
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