Buck 120 Blade Steel???

chickentrax

chickentrax

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Aug 5, 2005
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I'm looking at an eBay auction (it's over, but I like to look) on a 120 General...Here's the tang stamp -

d5_1.JPG


Here's the blurb...

This is a Vintage Buck 120 General...tang stamped Buck 120 U.S.A. making it of Pre - 1986 vintage...steel used in this blade is the 440C Stainless Steel that Buck knives are so famous for. The handle is Phenolic Resin...

Is all that correct??? :confused: Is this a 440C blade??? :eek: And "phenolic resin" handle??? :rolleyes:

Exactly what identifies this as pre-1986???

My local Ace Hardware has a 119 that's been in the case for at least 10 years (when I moved here). How can I tell how old it is???
 
Does it have a box,sheath....1985 was the last year of undated ( stamp on the blade after the model number) example 120 V : 1989 ,120< :1986
The above stamping is mid 80's by looking at the sheath.Older Buck had flap over sheaths.
Handle is phenolic
425M steel
spacer material,black phenolic(?)
 
Did you get that from the Blade Guide or are you using 110 tang stamps as your dating??? :confused:

Neither knife seems to have a box...
 
If you go to buck knives web site they have the model year stamps listed
EEE is right!! It is in blades guide also! 110 date stamps are different previous to 1986. Buck standardized them in 1986. Before that it is quite an assortment... 110's used a dot system fixed blades used one line, 2 line, 3line etc...
Jim :)
 
chickentrax said:
Did you get that from the Blade Guide or are you using 110 tang stamps as your dating??? :confused:

Neither knife seems to have a box...
Click to expand...

Fixed blades shared the same date tang stamping as 110's
If the hardware store has a box it should be a one piece light yellow.
The sheath for mid 80's had a wrap around the handle with snap on it.
The older (70's)120's still marked with Buck 120 USA had a flap over the knife handle and red phenolic spacers.
Older 120's had a red fiber spacer Buck USA......if I am wrong someone will correct me.
 
wh4f said:
If you go to buck knives web site they have the model year stamps listed...It is in blades guide also!...
Click to expand...

Thanks for your replies, guys! ;)

Jim, would you do an old man a favor and tell me what page in Blades Guide, and/or the URL on Buck's site??? :(

Thanks in advance. :o

No, no box at Ace. In fact, they have a ~$65 price tag on it; it is in a red scalloped display case and the owner seems reluctant to even open it up (it's facing the wrong way to see the tang stamp)...I think he doesn't want to leave an empty slot... :rolleyes:

He said it was in the case when he bought the franchise from PO...and that they have changed the background a couple times, but that there is a distributor who comes in and stocks the case and handles the backgrounds (since they are conformal, the case determines what is available; the distrib takes the old ones back)...

I'm going to try to find out who the distributor is... ;)
 
page 506-507 in blades guide for folders and
364-367 for fixed blades. The stamps are different for fixed and folders 110's used a dot system for some time... checking bucks website now!
Thank you!
Jim

EDIT Bucks website,
Click on collectors club then on vintage knives. it starts out 1/4 of the way down the page. Good luck
 
chickentrax said:
Thanks for your replies, guys! ;)









I'm going to try to find out who the distributor is... ;)
Click to expand...

Good idea ,I have located 30 + Buck kinives from and old Dist.
I am working a deal with him next Friday.
Good luck locating your Buck Dist.ask about old literature.
 
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