Buck 119

E

evan.daskalos

Joined
Aug 5, 2014
Messages
3
Hello, this is my first post, I'm new to knife collecting and new to the forum. I just recently picked up a 1986 Buck 119 and was wondering if anyone could tell me anything about it. I paid 55 dollars for it. Was it a good purchase. Thanks.
 
Nice knife. Solid, and easy to maintain. Unless there's something special about the 119 from that year, you overpaid a bit, but if you like it, who cares. It's a Buck Classic. Like Jeepster said, it's a knife we all either own or have owned. Just a good looking ultra reliable go to knife. Enjoy it!
 
I have used a Buck 119 as my primary hunting knife for 30 years. I don't see the need for anything better for that function. I have several knives with better steel, costing much, much more, but I can field sharpen the knife so when the 420HC gets dull, I just sharpen it.
 
evan, Welcome. The steel on your 119 is 425M. A good user steel. A step up from 420HC, (Buck's current steel). It's a well made knife and still made in the U.S.. For information on Buck Knives use the Buck Forum as they really know over there. DM
 
Buck used 440C across their product line from 1961 to mostly thru 1980. Buck switched from 440C to 425M in 1980 with their fixed blades. This move could be more solidly placed in 1981. With their folders the switch was made in 1982 ( with the 110 & 112's as these carry a 4 dot stamp) but certainly the date of 1986 is on solid ground. As those are stamped with year dates. All year date stamped blades are of 425M steel from 86 to 91. In 1992 Buck began to phase in 420HC steel across their product line. The date stamp is (-) a minus. By in large still one of the few U.S.A. made knife companies. DM
 
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You got a good knife there that will last you a lifetime. Some of the older Bucks seem hard to sharpen but I always use a Spydeco triangle sharpening set. All of my knives are working knives and I like them sharp. Don't have a 119 but did carry a Buck 110 Folding Hunter for half of my career as a Forest Ranger. Enjoy using that Buck.
 
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