Buck 124: New vs. Old?

Assuming my 124 is from the late 70s (paperwork is dated 1977), I figured the blade was 440C from the many threads that I have read. But then reading an old thread from 2008, Evil Eye Earl posted this:

The 122/124
1967-1974 blade was 440C
1971-1980 blade was 425M
1994-1997 blade was 420HC
All info for the 122/124 was gathered from BCCI web site by Richard Matheny.

Does my 124 have a 425M blade or have these dates been revised for some reason since 2008?
 
If I was a betting man I'd say 440c u will be able to tell when u actually see it. It took mea few days of research to find out what mine really was. But I'm almost positive it will be 440c. Are u gonna use it or put it up?
 
buckman110 said:
If I was a betting man I'd say 440c u will be able to tell when u actually see it. It took mea few days of research to find out what mine really was. But I'm almost positive it will be 440c. Are u gonna use it or put it up?
Click to expand...

From everything I've ever read, I would swear 440C as well, but being that the above quote was taken from the BCCI website, I questioned my limited knowledge. Not sure if I will use the knife or not. Its appearance and construction begs to be used. At $370, my first reaction is to put it up, but then I remember that I regularly use a Randall knife that was more than that. It's going to start out laying on my desk and we'll see what happens from there.

You mentioned that I will be able to tell if the blade is 440C when I see it. How will I know if it's 440C vs. 425M? Thanks.
 
I can spot 440c it just looks different to me. Idk how to explain I'd just have to show u side by side
 
I understand. It would be interesting to compare the two side by side. And no, I'm not going to buy a second 124 with 425M just to see the difference. :D
 
One more question to anyone. I have looked and looked and can't find the answer. What years was the swivel sheath offered?
 
Those dates on the steels used are not what I hear from the guys who seem to know.
425M used in 1971 is ten years ahead of everything I have ever heard.
It would be more likely that the steel in the 124's would match the timelines of the other models.

From what I have heard, the timelines are not 100% accurate due to the new steel being phased in and the old steel being phased out.
These changes didn't happen at midnight on New Year's Eve.

for example one answer that I was given by Mr. David Martin, when I was asking this question.
pre 1981--- 440C
1981 to 1991 -- 425M
1992 to now -- 420HC

Then there is the 300 series which has its own timeline provided to me by Mr 300Bucks :)
Pre 1986 -- possibly 420J (Camillus made)
1986 to 1994 -- 425M
post 1994 to now -- 420HC

So if you are not confused yet, research it more, and you surely will be thoroughly confused in the end....hahahaha
 
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Desert I believe your chart above is correct. I know for sure the "listed" charts say. When I see years overlap I don't pay attention to them. 425M wasn't used till early 90s from what I understand.
 
Upon looking at the BCCI model history,

pre April 1981 -- 440C
April 1981 to 1993 -- 425M
1994 to now -- 420HC
 
Off subject guys, good beer great Mexican food at romos in crossville. Tn.
6c3af1d8a2f57ee18c53fba17a216a4b.jpg
 
Hmmm. I have a date chart for the 124 which Joe H. put in a Buck Newsletter. I'll look it up. DM
 
buckman110 said:
Off subject guys, good beer great Mexican food at romos in crossville. Tn.
Click to expand...

Awesome!
We made tacos for dinner tonight :)
I think we have made mexican food 5 out of the last 7 nights :D

David, I am curious to see what Joe said in that newsletter!

I figure that if they had blanked out a ton of 425M blades before the phasing in of the 420HC, then that would easily account for the 1994 use of 425M.
But obviously that is speculation by me :)
 
buckman110 said:
I think I agree with that desert. U like425m?
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Yes I do like 425M :)
And I like 440C too :)
And I also like 420HC :)

As a young man, my Buck knives were bought new in the 80's and came in 425M, so nostalgia makes me like it a little extra.
Then my Dad gave me an early 70's 124 he had been saving until I turned 16, so a 124 in 440C is quite nostalgic to me too :)

Then there are the modern "super steels", which Buck uses and I also like.

They all take a super sharp edge, and cut things, so every steel they use is good in my humble opinion.
 
Here is some info I found on another forum, the guy said it came from Joe H :)
Still not finding an answer to the swinging sheath question from earlier.......
----------------------------------------


Hello. The Buck 124 was originally designed as a diving knife and called a Nemo. It started its life somewhere around 1967. The original prototype, around 50 or so, had a hole centered in the pommel. They are extremely rare!!!

This was followed by a production model that was offered in 1967 with either a diving sheath (NEMO) or a flap leather sheath (FRONTIERSMAN). Both were the same knife, other than the sheath. They made roughly300-500 of these and they had black phenolic handles with white teflon spacers.

1967
Black Phenolic wrap around handle
Stamped BUCK, U.S.A.
Plain edge, no serrations
Stainless guard, varying thickness, one piece stainless butt, one visible rivet
Lanyard hole on end of bird’s beak pommel
Red “bone hard fiber” spacers
Plastic Nemo or leather sheath.
Larger 2 piece off white box for Nemo and Frontiersman.
1969 to 1970
Black Phenolic wrap around handle
Stamped BUCK, U.S.A.
Plain edge, no serrations
Stainless guard, varying thickness, one piece stainless butt, one visible rivet
Lanyard hole on end of bird’s beak pommel
Red “micarta” spacers
Plastic Nemo sheath or leather sheath.
Unknown box style.

1971*
122 temporarily discontinued late in this year
Grey/black “Buckarta” micarta, heavy grain slab style handle.
Upside down stamp. Buck, U.S.A.
Partially serrated blade.
Stainless guard and 2 piece butt with 2 visible butt rivets.
Lanyard hole
Swinging leather sheath.
Unknown box style.

1972
Grey/black “Buckarta” micarta, heavy grain slab style handle.
Upside down stamp. Buck, 124, U.S.A. 122 may exist with this stamp too although no 122 were made in 1972.
Partially serrated blade.
Stainless guard and 2 piece butt
Lanyard hole
Swinging leather sheath.
2 piece yellow box.

1973
Nemo back in production.
Grey/Black or just black “Buckarta” micarta handle.
Right side up stamp. Buck, 124, or 122, U.S.A.*
Partially serrated blade/122. 124/ plain blade.
Stainless guard and 2 piece butt/ 122. 124/ aluminum guard and butt.
Lanyard hole
Swinging leather sheath.
2 piece yellow box.

1973
Nemo discontinued for good.
Tight grain black or red micarta, blocky or squared handle shape.
Three line stamp, 124 only from here on.
Plain edge from here on.
Aluminum guard and 2 piece butt.
Lanyard hole.
Swinging leather sheath.
2 piece yellow box.

1973*
Black “Buckarta” micarta
Three line stamp.
Aluminum guard and 2 piece butt.
No lanyard hole from here on.
Swinging leather sheath or Snoopy style.
2 piece yellow box.

1980
Black Buckarta “micarta”
10,573 units sold

1981
Black Buckarta “micarta”
7293 units sold

1982*
December
Pakawood (impregnated birch) handle
4705 units sold

1983
3850 units sold

1984
4688 units sold

1985
5206 units sold

1986
Three line stamp, BUCK, 124<, U.S.A.*
Date code after model number from here on.
4724 units sold

1987
6143 units sold

1984 to 1987
Stag handle 124 was offered with a slab style tang, aluminum guard and butt, with a suggested list of $230.


Hope this helps. :-)
 
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