Buck 116 caper-period?

imafritz

imafritz

Joined
Dec 30, 2008
Messages
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A friend of mine has found a 116 Caper at a flea market and I told him to
buy it for me. I have not recieved it yet and have noticed, when checking
around on-line, that people are interested in whether there is a period after
the Buck or not. Can someone explain what that signifies?
 
Hello and welcome to the Forum! :)

The way the knife is stamped in general tells us the vintage. You can find those model 116 Capers stamped BUCK (1962-1967)..
BUCK* (1967)..
BUCK, U.S.A (1967-1972)..or
BUCK, U.S.A., 116 (1972-1985)
In 1986 we started adding a special symbol after the model number to signify which year the knife was made.

A Caper stamped BUCK* would have been made around the 1967 timeframe. To clarify, the knife will be stamped with ONLY the word BUCK and a small dot after that...
I hope this helps.
 
Hey Joe,
Is that date system consistant for the entire Buck line? My 100 aniv. Folding Hunter
has Buck USA with no 110 on it.

Thanks Fritz
 
ima, Joe was speaking of the fixed blade 100 series, the 110's are different. Your 100 yr.Anniv.110's were done different.Maybe it has the shape of an anvil somewhere on it. DM
 
I should have pointed that out. The 110/112's follow a diferent path than the 100 series fixed blade knives. Thanks David. :D
 
Hey guys,
Getting back to the 1st thread that I ever posted, conerning the age of the 116. I was just looking at the tang of this 116, which just came back from the spa and noticed it has a 3 line inverted tang stamp. I was reading the BCCI newsletter May 2007 with a 116 article by Larry Oden. I have been thinking this 116 was later stock and near discontinuation time period but by Larrys notes:

Tang Stamps
As with the other Buck models, a second line of “U.S.A.” was added just below the
“BUCK” tang stamp on model 116s about 1967. It is believed that this was done to
facilitate the export of Buck knives into Canada. Sometime in late 1971 or 1972, Buck
added the model number to the tang stamp and this was also done across the entire lineup.
For a very short period of time, this three-line stamping was oriented to be read
with the knife pointed down, just like the earlier one and two-line stamps

this appears to be a pretty rare '71-72 vintage 116, would you fixed bladers out there concur?

Picture004.jpg

Picture001.jpg
 
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I have one inverted 3-liner Fritz. I believe its my 120.
I think you made a real find. Buck didn't to those tip-down 3 line stamps but a short period of time.

Did it come in that condition from the flea market?
 
I have three fixed blades read with the tip down, a 105, a 103, and a 118. They are sweet when you find them. HL
 
Ima, Those inverted three liners are 1971 . That model was discontinued much later as I had my daughter check and in her collection she has a 1989 . I'll have to do further checking as to a more accurate date of its discontinuance . DM
 
David Martin said:
Ima, Those inverted three liners are 1971 . That model was discontinued much later as I had my daughter check and in her collection she has a 1989 . I'll have to do further checking as to a more accurate date of its discontinuance . DM
Click to expand...

Flatlander1963 said:
I have one inverted 3-liner Fritz. I believe its my 120.
I think you made a real find. Buck didn't to those tip-down 3 line stamps but a short period of time.

Did it come in that condition from the flea market?
Click to expand...

Flat, no it was close but needed just a little spa. Blade was a little scratched with an odd edge "pattern". The handle was a little dull and needed buffed, same with pommel and gaurd. Little run thought buff and sharpen made her like new. I also have the original sheath.
see this thread for before pics
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=767095

Dm, thanks...I figgered you would be an/the authority on this. Amazing how I first got onto this forum because of this 116 and never pursued the issue of its vintage. After all the reading and studying, it took me to folders rathter than the fixed that got me accumulating:confused: Funny how things work out. I wonder just how few inverted 3 line 116's were made. I doubt if conclusive records were kept at that time.
 
I have few too that reads with the tip down.... 3 liners.... :thumbup:

That's a nice 116... Your on a roll, now... ITE ... :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
Ima, I found a article as well by Larry O. and in it he says, the last catalog the 116 was featured was in 1991 . But I think it was in a special project sometime . DM
 
David Martin said:
Ima, I found a article as well by Larry O. and in it he says, the last catalog the 116 was featured was in 1991 . But I think it was in a special project sometime . DM
Click to expand...
Thanks DM
ItsTooEarly said:
I have few too that reads with the tip down.... 3 liners.... :thumbup:

That's a nice 116... Your on a roll, now... ITE ... :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
Click to expand...

Just trying to keep you in sight on the horizon Easy, thats as close as I can expect to get:D:p

My wife went to the yard sales yesterday and one had advertised knives.......no Bucks though:( Lori asked but the owner said she was a knife collector herself so I'm guessing there were a bunch inside hidden away and not for sale.
 
imafritz said:
Thanks DM


Just trying to keep you in sight on the horizon Easy, thats as close as I can expect to get:D:p

My wife went to the yard sales yesterday and one had advertised knives.... Lori asked but the owner said she was a knife collector herself so I'm guessing there were a bunch inside hidden away and not for sale.
Click to expand...

Fritz, I hate that... But she did the right thing to ask if they had any Buck knives... That's how I find mine... Always ask... I got two cool knives today at the swap meet... I will post them later... ITE ... :cool:
 
Interesting. According to this, the Caper that my grandfather gave me some time in the mid-70s was made in 1967 (just Buck*). He had two of them, he gave one to my twin brother, too. Must have been old stock at the store where he bought them.
 
lambertiana said:
Interesting. According to this, the Caper that my grandfather gave me some time in the mid-70s was made in 1967 (just Buck*). He had two of them, he gave one to my twin brother, too. Must have been old stock at the store where he bought them.
Click to expand...
Cool:thumbup:
 
Lamb, Yes thats correct Buck*= 1967 . If you find any * model thats a good find . Does your twin brother still have his 116 ? DM
 
I posted this in the SPS but it probably is more appropriate here.

Here is a pair of early 116s. One a BUCK 116 (1963-1966) and the other a BUCK* 116 (1967).

It is interesting to note that even between the two knives there are significant changes.

Note that the earlier BUCK does not have a bevel at the top of the tip whereas the BUCK* and all later 116s have that bevel.

Secondly, the earlier BUCK blade is .083 in thickness and the BUCK* is much beefier, micing in at .116.

Note also, that the blade grind is different.

I do not have the fabled barrel nut 116.

IMG_1498a.jpg


IMG_1499a.jpg



IMAFRITZ pointed out that the very early 116s were probably reground 118s.

I have laid a BUCK 116 on top of a BUCK 118 and you can see that the 118 can be ground down to the size and shape of the 116. There is one difference which I did not photograph and that is the fact that the guard on the 116 is both wider and longer than the 118. If it were the other way, it would make sense. I can rationalize it by saying that, since those early knives were essentially hand made, the difference can be explained by a simple variation in grinding.

Here is the 116 on top of the 118.

IMG_1500a.jpg


Telechronos:):)
 
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