Buck Knife Id Please

R

Rack_Hunter

Joined
Sep 27, 2016
Messages
7
FNG here. I want to know if this knife is still available for sale. I lost mine several years ago after using it to field dress at least a hundred deer. The steel seemed decent and always held a good edge. The blade has Byck and 619 stamped on the blade. I think it was a door buster sale at BPS. This one belongs to a friend and he doesn't want to sell it.

Thank you for looking

image_1.jpeg
 
What are you wanting to know? You already know the model number. Your knife is the same as a model 119 Special except with a rubber handle. With a black handle it is called a WoodsMate. The handle is Kraton rubber. Kraton is a synthetic rubber developed by Shell Oil in the 50's. Other rubbers which get slippery when wet, Kraton handles get a bit tacky making them easy to get a good grip when wet. Buck also used Kraton rubber on the fillet knives.

The Mate series were made about mid 80's to mid 90's. They are less common but not rare. With a little patience you can snag one on eBay. The steel used in these knives is most likely 425m as Buck changed to 420HC in the early 90's. I do not know if the later Mates used 420HC or not.

A picture of a few of mine. Always thought it funny they gave a "Mate" name to all but the 603 Skinner.
102 = 602 TrailMate
103 = 603 Skinner
105 = 605 PathMate
119 = 619 WoodsMate (black) or GameMate (olive drab)
120 = 620 CampMate
639 FieldMate, available black or olive drab and was in the catalog 1986-1993.
There also a less common version without the broached spine.

IMG_1818KratonKnives.jpg
 
Last edited:
You are welcome.

Concerning your value question... you are new here and have probably not read the rules... this is a privately owned knife forum and the owner requires that members have "paid" memberships to ask/discuss values.... Gold level or higher.... gotta respect that, this place does not happen for free. Membership comes with benefits.

About the steel, I'm more of a collector than user and other members such as David Martin might show up and give a practiced realworld opinion. That said, I'll tell you what I gather.... 425m is harder to sharpen but has excellent edge retention. 420HC balances sharpenability with good edge retention.

If the rubber handle is not important, any Buck model 119 of the same vintage would be otherwise identical.
 
Last edited:
I did read the rules and membership levels, premium, pirate?, etc. And I did understand that I cannot start a post in the for sale section, but can buy there. This probably includes the wanted to buy section, so I won't ask you if you want to sell yours. But that is a fine collection of Buck knives you have.

The rubber handle and just the overall feel and balance of the knife was what I liked best. I can skin and field dress a deer or elk as fast and cleanly as anyone.

I'm a user, not a collector, mainly here to find out about this knife and learn a little.

Thank you and I'm trying to find the rules to reread them
 
425M is an okay steel. It is not bad but not great. It is no S35VN or anything. However, it gets the job done well as it has Buck's stellar heat treatment. The older 440C blades were the best, in my opinion. But your knife did not come in that steel. The 425M holds up pretty well. I have really abused, and I mean abused and used hard a 103 in that steel and it really took it and asked for more.

Welcome to the forum, btw.
 
I really didn't know much about the knife I lost until I dug through a friend's junk hunting box and found his. I knew he had one, we bought them at the same time, but he said he hadn't seen it in a while. He won't sell it, so I'm trying to work out a trade that includes a weeks deer hunting on my land or a free euro.

I want that knife!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top