Buck Boxes Question

MikeSEA

MikeSEA

Joined
Jan 25, 2006
Messages
236
I've been putting together a small collection of older (1960's thru 1980's) Buck knives. Mostly 110's & 112's. I've attempted to acquire as many as possible in "NIB" condition. Recently I've seen people selling old Buck boxes on ebay. Which prompts me to ask the following question:

Can anyone tell me where I might find information on which specific style and color boxes Buck used during specific years. I'd like to be able to ensure that when I buy a NIB knife, the box correlates with the date code or period of manufacture of the knife that's within it.

Any and all information will be appreciated.

Thanks Mike
 
MikeSEA said:
Any and all information will be appreciated.

Thanks Mike
Click to expand...

Mike I thought that a pic of the boxes I have would help, I did not include LE boxes.


Someone that knows the dates will most likely be along...my guesses are just that...from left, two-piece box 60-70s, one piece light yellow 70-80s, brown 90s, green and tan 90s(late), white/multi-colored early 2000s, yellow buck lettered, current.

Like many things with Buck it will be difficult to put excate dates because Buck used up supplies without regards to dates. Hope this helps. Preston

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Very cool Mr. P.
When I see your pics, and those of others, I realize how far I have to go to become a Jedi Master.
How about the same pic with the knives next to them?
Goose.
 
Buckaholic said:
How about the same pic with the knives next to them?
Goose.
Click to expand...
Here you go Goose, thanks, I'm no Jedi Master just like to take pics. For all the eagle eyes:eek: out there the box and knife second form left don't match, knife is FG the box for reg 112, sorry, best I could do;). Preston
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Very cool...Thanks!
I like the two on the right!!
BTW, how much thinner is the 500 compared to the 110?
 
Goose, compared to the 110 the 500 is about 1/3 thinner...you have a 560? It's about the same as the 560. Preston
 
Thanks Preston. Great pics. As usual you and the other guys on this forum always come thru. Based upon my collection I think you're probably about right on your data. But as with the knives, there also appears to be some sub-sets within the boxes. I've got some two piece that have a light tan flat finish and some with a darker glossy finish. Similar for the one piece some flat some glossy. I guess dating the boxes is almost as fine an art as dating the knives that go in them.
Thanks again
 
MikeSEA said:
But as with the knives, there also appears to be some sub-sets within the boxes.
Click to expand...

Yep, appears so. In my limited collection, I have eight of the long yellow boxes. Two of them [without bar codes] are a darker yellow than the newer six. The newer six also have the bar codes. :)
 
Mike,
One of these days, I will get to the research on boxes and sheath styles that Buck used over the years. For now, if you see a NIB knife, if you know the year the knife was made, make sure the paperwork matches. Sometimes there will be a printers code in one of the lower corners of the paperwork. This code will contain the month and year the paper was printed. If it is within a few years of the vintage of the knife, it is probably correct.
Definetely not a science but I hope it helps for now.
 
Thanks for giving me something else to look for Joe. In the past I tried to find something on the boxes that might hint at their age, like a printers code but didn't find anything. I'll check the papers on some and see what I can find. As always we appreciate and value your input.
Yes, a box and sheath reference sheet sure would be handy someday but for now I think this forum and Blades are the best resources around.:thumbup:

Mike
 
Just checked a few of my boxes with papers and sure enough I found what appears to be a date code on the warranty/guarantee paper. They look like the month/year. i.e. 1/73, 12/78, 1/80 etc.
As a matter of fact I hadn't really paid too much attention before but upon checking, the older paper (1/73) is only printed on one side and refers to the "GUARANTEE". The later (12/78) is also single sided but refers to the "LIMITED WARRANTY". The 1/80 is double sided printed and also refers to the "LIMITED WARRANTY". But alas every thing that I have after 1/80 seems to just have a form number and or code. And the oldest one that I have is single sided printed on very thin paper and doesn't have any making at all.
But now I know more than when I started and that's progress :D
Thanks again Joe for pointing out what should have been the obvious. :o
Mike
 
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