Buck 119 clip point changes?

[deltablade]

Did Buck make a vintage of 119s with a clip point that had less upsweep, hence straighter at the tip, than the usual versions?

 

[DeSotoSky]

I'm going to want to say no. The 119 model number first appears in the mid 50's and it has a pretty good clip at that time. The closest thing to the 119 in the 1940's I would say is the model 104. Still a clip point but perhaps not as pronounced. Those knives in the 40's and 50's were hand made so there was some variation but not as much as I think you are asking. Factory made knives start in 1961 and things start to become even more uniform in style starting with forged blanks and eventually moving to stamped blanking with less and less hand influence as time move on. I'm heading out the door but if this still an active question this afternoon I'll put up some pictures of a 40's, 50's and 60's knife. All modern 119's have a good clip. That said, how about the 124? 1/2" longer and almost no clip.

 

[deltablade]

here is a admittedly poor photo of what looks to be a straighter top edge of the clip then usual.

 

[Lesknife]

I’ve noticed some that seem to have a longer clip than others and maybe that gives it a straighter look. My 119 and 120 are like that but the clip depth is still the same only a longer curve along the false edge clip.

 

[Makael]

There are some 120s that have large clips.
I like em.

 

[pjsjr]

if this still an active question this afternoon I'll put up some pictures of a 40's, 50's and 60's knife.

No matter the question, Roger, I, for one, would love to see those knives. Thanks

 

[David Nowlin]

It might just be the picture but that doesn’t look right. Could it have been modified?

 

[deltablade]

possibly
here is another example

 

[DeSotoSky]

pjsjr I got busy, tomorrow I promise.

David Nowlin That was my first thought, A straight on picture is needed.

 

[Old Hunter]

In the older Buck Knives (1960’s and early 1970’s) there was more hand work in the knives and thus more slight variation (very much like the Randall Knives). OH

 

[Old Hunter]

1972 Buck 119 with four spacers (not as much up-sweep in the tip as today). OH

1997, more upsweep.

 

[Makael]

Hold a ruler across spine to enhance tha difference?

 

[DeSotoSky]

Walking back my earlier answer as I understand the question a bit better. I was thinking you were asking about knives with little or no clip. Yes, as Lesknife, Makael and Old Hunter point out, there has been variation in overall length of the clip and how much it recurves back toward the plane of the spine.

I don't know if this will help. I found these old pictures. Here is a series of 120's spanning 50 years. Progressing downward from oldest to newest. About 1963 to 2013. It looks to me like the older clips are shallower and recurve more completely to the plane of the spine than the newer ones. Do as Makael suggests using a straight edge on the pictures to decide for yourself.

BUCK / BUCK* / 2-line / 3-line inverted


3-spacer / 3-spacer stag / 2-spacer / 1988


2001 / 2002 / 2005 / 2011 / 2013

 

[deltablade]

after comparing mine with a bunch of pictures of 119s from various ages, the differences in clip curve seem very minor.