Buck 120 Question

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Jun 30, 2005
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Good friend gave me his old Buck 120 he bought as a kid. Date stamp (Buck - 120 - USA) puts it between 1972 and 1986, steel would be 425M, and from what little I could find, the fold around sheath puts it in the 1980s.

Am I correct?
 
Not enough information to say. In the 120, 425m was used 81 to 92. Your estimated time frame spans that. Handle construction, tang stamp, and sheath details can help narrow it down considerably. Also, depends on what you mean by a fold around sheath. A picture would be best. How many micarta spacers in the handle, 4, 3, or 2? Any symbols on the tang stamp after 120? Is the tang stamp read with the blade pointed up or down? Is the sheath flat sewn or folded? If it's a folded sheath, does the belt loop swivel? Again, pictures?
 
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It's not a flap sheath, but has a piece of leather that folds around the handle an snaps. Thinking flat sewn. No swivel belt loop.

Two micarta spacers - 1 in the guard, 1 in the pommel. No symbols on the tang. Tang stamp is read with the blade pointing up.
 
Pretty sure what you are describing is late 81/82 to 85 and would be 425m.
 
This ^ is what we have read from legitimate sources. But items TAH has posted of late has brought this handle's spacers into question. Causing me to think the model Half describes could be from the late 70's and thus have a 440C blade. If the metal is thick near the edge, not having a full hollow grind, it could have 440C steel. DM
 
David, TAH's examples relate to 3-spacer knives happening much earlier in the 119 and 120 than the other 100 series models. Glad to see you have sipped the Kool-Aid with TAH and I on that subject. I think things even out with 2-spacer knives going forward from late 1981 or 1982. Halfneck claims to have a knife with 1 guard and 1 pommel spacer.
 
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