Buck General 120

T

tonythetech

Joined
Aug 23, 2013
Messages
16
My first post... Anyone here that can tell me when the first Buck General 120 was produced by Buck knives?
 
well the general was made long before the company inc..
used to be you could order one at however an extra long a blade you wanted for 1$ per inch
 
There are probably 2 different ways to answer this depending on if you are asking when the term "General" came into use or when a knife was made using that basic pattern. Just to give you a time reference, Buck Knives as a modern manufacturing company was incorporated in 1961 and the Buck 120 General is in the 1961 catalog. The 1957 catalog shows only the Buck 119 special with a note that it can be ordered in longer lengths for $2 per inch. The 120 General is the same pattern as the 119 plus 1.5". That might box the date of the term "General" between 1957 and 1961. I believe all the basic patterns were laid down in the late 40's and 50's so if you are asking when the first knife was made in the same pattern of the present day General I would guess late 1940's.

I'm over my head when it comes to pre factory (1961) knives so hopefully someone else will chime in with more and better information on this. Matt Jannusch, you reading this? .....
 
Last edited:
In the 1940s Buck had the 104 Camper (I think it was called) and it was 9 1/2 inches long, and it may have been changed to the Fighter later. It became the 119 special and you could request additional length if it was desired. There was also a 120 Fillet that had a thinner blade that was 10 inches long. The name General didn't come into play until 1961, with the cretion of the leather spacer configuration Barrel nut, 11 7/8 inch knife with a 7 1/2 inch bowie style blade, and a price tag of $20.00
 
I get the fact that the 120 General Started regular production in 1961. With the exception of special Runs like "Proline" and "Hunt Fair Chase" My real Question is What year did Regular production Cease? I maybe wrong but I heard a rumour it was in 2001. Please correct me if this is Wrong. Thanks Tony.
 
The 120 General was in regular production and featured for the last time in the 2001 catalog, from there on after it was a special item ie, Pro line, and Hunt Fair Chase, ect.
 
Thank you for the confermation. At least now I know as a neewbie where I can find some answers. I like to collect knives I sorta gave up on collecting pool cues for now but I think collecting Buck Generals far more interesting. Talk to you all soon again, Tony...
 
I take it the brown sheath must be from the sixties and very collectable. I never seen one that colour before. Currently I myself am looking at a Buck General 120 2line with red spacers up for sale. Would you say from a collectors point of view that this is a well sought after knife? Sorry I have no picture of this knife to show you presently but is looks in very good shape along with its sheath. Any help would sure be appreciated Thanks Tony.
 
The tan sheath is from the 80's and was an option. This sequence of 120's takes us from early 60's at the top to 2013 at the bottom. I do not have any early barrel nuts so the sequence starts with a 1-liner with a pinned pommel. Every one is different. The top knife in the third picture is a 2001, all the others after that must be "non existant" since it was discontinued after 2001........ ;o)

120Bucks001_zps1b4ef23e.jpg


120Bucks010_zpsca6dbaa1.jpg


120Bucks020_zpsd8047331.jpg
 
Last edited:
While all of those are sweet looking the grind lines on those first three in picture 1 are something else. I love the way the older Buck fix blade lines just melt into each other making such a sweet smooth blade.
 
Thanks to a forum friend, I acquired a 120BR to complete my 'century' series BR display:

IMG_4533.jpg


My other 120, a 'Pro Line' version, resides alongside a 119 - both sheathed - in a kitchen drawer. The ultimate in butcher knives! Of course, present it to slice the Thanksgiving bird at the in-laws and you will get 'The Look!'.

Stainz
 
Stainz said:
Thanks to a forum friend, I acquired a 120BR to complete my 'century' series BR display:
IMG_4533.jpg

Stainz
Click to expand...

When you say "century series", do you mean they are all 2002s?

I have a number of those plastic displays. Sometimes I wish they were offered opposite handed,
they don't always let you display the side of the knife you want.
 
tonythetech said:
. Currently I myself am looking at a Buck General 120 2 line with red spacers up for sale.
Click to expand...

There are two that meet those qualifications, the 1967-1969 hard fiber spacer two line stamp or the 1969-1971 Micarta spacer two line stamp?

This is where collecting becomes difficult and fun. You'll have to be able to identfy bone hard fiber and micarta because the two line came in both spacer material.
 
Here's a close up of bone hard fiber (picture #1), you'll see it has a redish looking hugh and it has almost straight horizontal lines that run through it.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us


Here is a picture of Micarta, you'll notice it has a red look as well and it comes in several colors ranging from dark red, almost black to light red, similar to hard fiber, but it had a textured appearence. Some times they can be very hard to tell the differences.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us
 
I was sorta wondering about the difference in colour of the micarta spacers or if maybe it was that the spacers were getting stained or darkended over time. thanks for the info I certainly will use it. Tony
 
I was sorta wondering about the difference in colour of the micarta spacers or if maybe it was that the spacers were getting stained or darkended over time. You also metioned "bone hard fibre" , never knew about that! thanks for the info I certainly will use it. Tony
 
Bone hard fiber spacers were used from 1963 thru 1969. From 1969 until present day micarta spacers are being used. Prior to Bone hard fiber Buck used leather spacer from the pre factory days until the change over to hard fiber in '63. In the early days spacers were used to true up handles as well as used to add leangth. Now a days spacers are only used as something nice to look at, there is no need to have them in the handles.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top