Buck 319 Rancher

TAH

TAH

Joined
Jul 3, 2001
Messages
6,135
I've been wanting a 319 Rancher for years. Finally decided to pull the trigger on a vintage NIB model. What a knife! I don't know why I waited so long. Anyway, I know this one was made between 1975 and 1986. Is there a way to narrow down what year it was made perhaps by the paperwork (or lack of paperwork) in the box?

Here are a few photos in different settings...


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Actually Buck only made two versions of this knife model. Yours is the earlier version and ran from 1975 thru 1990 and had the spiral Awl. It is made of high carbon steel, unlike the other blades which are made of stainless steel. Some of thee earlier version Ranchers have the awl and it is rusted pretty bad. The other model with the smooth awe ran from '90 to '92. It had a stainless steel awl. Your knife is the more desirable model.
 
Thanks mb.

Was the date code used on the 300 Series when Buck started using it in 1986?
 
TAH said:
Thanks mb.

Was the date code used on the 300 Series when Buck started using it in 1986?
Click to expand...

The date code was used on the models Buck made. Buck contracted out the building of their knives until the mid 80s. Some of the models such as the 307 and several were never built by Buck, thus never had the Buck date code. Camillus went out of business in or around '98 so the models that Buck didn't produce got dropped.
 
Okay thanks. So I was correct in saying this knife was made between 1975 and 1986 because there is no date code on the blade. Doing a search on the forums, I read that the paperwork changed over the years and that, in the 70s thru 1981, the warranty paper had a date code on the bottom. None of the paperwork that came with this knife is dated in anyway, so this knife was possibly made between 1982-1985.


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I just ran through my 301's from that era that still have the factory warranty papers and didn't see and dates on them, except one that someone had hand written "1978" on.
 
You cant tell anything from the paperwork. Unfortunately Buck used the same paperwork for years and years, and if by chance they changed and later found old paperwork they would use it, they never threw anything away. Your rancher will not have a date code because it was never made by Buck. It was always a Camillus made knife. I have several 319s that are in 301 boxes with 319 stickers that cover the 301 print. Boxes are difficult on many of these models.
 
Thanks mb and Bear Claw. I guess I'll just have to go with the 10 year window.
 
Hey, I now feel like Yoda and a bunch of Luke Skywalkers are kickin the behinds of the empire.....Good job keep it up fellas......I got nothin' to add.....Great photos all.........ch/300
 
Nice photo, skyhorse. Yep, the 319 will be a great knife for trail riding and around the barn. :thumbup:
 
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