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Buck 124
- Thread starter mike o
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 24, 1999
- Messages
- 3,135
Mike o,
We actually made 2 with black handles. The best way to tell when they were made is to see what the blade stamp says. If you send me that information, i will see if we can figure them out for you. Be sure to include the date code, if present, that appears after the model number.
Take care,
------------------
Joe Houser
Director of Quality, Buck Knives Inc.
Buck Collectors club Administrator
We actually made 2 with black handles. The best way to tell when they were made is to see what the blade stamp says. If you send me that information, i will see if we can figure them out for you. Be sure to include the date code, if present, that appears after the model number.
Take care,
------------------
Joe Houser
Director of Quality, Buck Knives Inc.
Buck Collectors club Administrator
- Joined
- Aug 24, 1999
- Messages
- 3,135
MikeO,
The knife with the black handle was probably made after 1973 and before 1982. In 1982 we switched to impregnated birchwood, the reddish color you saw. There is a chance that your black handled knife is earlier than 1973. Hold the knife with the point at the roof and the edge on your right. Locate the 2 butt rivets. Draw an imaginary line throught them. If the line is leaning to the left, the guard and butt are aluminum and the knife was made after 1973. If the line is leaning towards the right, the guard and butt are stainless and the knife was made from 1971 to 1973.
I know that was probably more than you ever wanted to know about the 124 but i was in the mood to type!
Take care,
------------------
Joe Houser
Director of Quality, Buck Knives Inc.
Buck Collectors club Administrator
The knife with the black handle was probably made after 1973 and before 1982. In 1982 we switched to impregnated birchwood, the reddish color you saw. There is a chance that your black handled knife is earlier than 1973. Hold the knife with the point at the roof and the edge on your right. Locate the 2 butt rivets. Draw an imaginary line throught them. If the line is leaning to the left, the guard and butt are aluminum and the knife was made after 1973. If the line is leaning towards the right, the guard and butt are stainless and the knife was made from 1971 to 1973.
I know that was probably more than you ever wanted to know about the 124 but i was in the mood to type!
Take care,
------------------
Joe Houser
Director of Quality, Buck Knives Inc.
Buck Collectors club Administrator
- Joined
- Aug 24, 1999
- Messages
- 3,135
MikeO & Doug,
You know i said there were two made with a black handle? I lied. When Mike said he had a 124 i assumed he had a knife with 124 stamped on it. Before we started putting models numbers on our Frontiersman we were making it with a black phenolic handle material just like our sheath knives today. You will not see the tang and there will only be one rivet in the butt. These knives are stamped BUCK U.S.A. There are at least 3 variations known in this group alone. The VERY first ones had a white teflon spacer between the handle and the guard and butt. The next ones ahd a red spacer made of bone hard fibre, (gasket material). The next one had a spacer of red linen micarta. There appears to be a variation in the guard thickness that does not follow any ryhme or reason.
Are you confused yet or should i talk about the frontiersman's twin the Nemo?
------------------
Joe Houser
Director of Quality, Buck Knives Inc.
Buck Collectors club Administrator
You know i said there were two made with a black handle? I lied. When Mike said he had a 124 i assumed he had a knife with 124 stamped on it. Before we started putting models numbers on our Frontiersman we were making it with a black phenolic handle material just like our sheath knives today. You will not see the tang and there will only be one rivet in the butt. These knives are stamped BUCK U.S.A. There are at least 3 variations known in this group alone. The VERY first ones had a white teflon spacer between the handle and the guard and butt. The next ones ahd a red spacer made of bone hard fibre, (gasket material). The next one had a spacer of red linen micarta. There appears to be a variation in the guard thickness that does not follow any ryhme or reason.
Are you confused yet or should i talk about the frontiersman's twin the Nemo?
------------------
Joe Houser
Director of Quality, Buck Knives Inc.
Buck Collectors club Administrator
Are you confused yet or should i talk about the frontiersman's twin the Nemo?
Joe, I am always confused that's how I know I'm normal. I would like to know more.
My knife does have BUCK 124 usa stamped on the blade. There are no spacers on the guard or butt. There is a full tang showing with scales made of the black micarda like material.
Joe, I am always confused that's how I know I'm normal. I would like to know more.
My knife does have BUCK 124 usa stamped on the blade. There are no spacers on the guard or butt. There is a full tang showing with scales made of the black micarda like material.
- Joined
- Aug 24, 1999
- Messages
- 3,135
MikeO,
I think i like this thread! It makes me feel important!
Your knife should have 2 rivets hidden on the butt. One way to find them is to rub it on your pant leg several times and then breathe on it. Most of the time this will make the rivets visible if only for a second.
The Nemo, model #122 came out at the same time as the 124 with the phenolic plastic handle. It may have come out before the 124. All data i can find says they came out at the same time but Chuck Buck and another 30 year employee seem to remember the 122 came out first. At any rate, in 1967 or 1968 you could buy either one and the ONLY diference between the two was the sheath they came in. The Nemo had a large plastic sheath with leg straps and the Frontiersman had a tough leather sheath. When we switched from phenolic to Buckarta, (micarta), in around 1971, the Nemo disapeared for about 2 years. Who knows why. I have a catalogue from 1971 and 1972 which shows only the 124 and then the next year i find the 122 is back.
As always, i hope this info helps. I hate to say it but i think that is about all I know about these two knives. ;-)
Take care,
------------------
Joe Houser
Director of Quality, Buck Knives Inc.
Buck Collectors club Administrator
I think i like this thread! It makes me feel important!
Your knife should have 2 rivets hidden on the butt. One way to find them is to rub it on your pant leg several times and then breathe on it. Most of the time this will make the rivets visible if only for a second.
The Nemo, model #122 came out at the same time as the 124 with the phenolic plastic handle. It may have come out before the 124. All data i can find says they came out at the same time but Chuck Buck and another 30 year employee seem to remember the 122 came out first. At any rate, in 1967 or 1968 you could buy either one and the ONLY diference between the two was the sheath they came in. The Nemo had a large plastic sheath with leg straps and the Frontiersman had a tough leather sheath. When we switched from phenolic to Buckarta, (micarta), in around 1971, the Nemo disapeared for about 2 years. Who knows why. I have a catalogue from 1971 and 1972 which shows only the 124 and then the next year i find the 122 is back.
As always, i hope this info helps. I hate to say it but i think that is about all I know about these two knives. ;-)
Take care,
------------------
Joe Houser
Director of Quality, Buck Knives Inc.
Buck Collectors club Administrator