Current 119 production/offerings

Badhammer

Badhammer

Joined
Jun 8, 2009
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Thinking about getting some more 119's to add to my new standard model. Was looking around on the various retailer sites and found it offered in cocobolo and I believe it was white bone. Was wondering if there are any other variations out there in the retail market and if some of you guys could please post a pic or two of your different 119 models with regards to handle material?

I know there are quite a few beautiful customized offerings out there but was thinking of getting as many current then former factory offerings as I could before branching out.

Found some offerings for a 119 with Cherrywood handle but the photos look very similar to those listed as cocobolo. Did Buck offer this model in Cherrywood or is someone mistaking cocobolo for something it's not?
 
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Those called "Cherrywood" are usually significantly more red or even pink in tone.

Wood looks the same......grain seems like what they've been calling cocobola.

Someone from Buck should be able to offer an explanation of the cherrywood.
 
BG42EDGE said:
Those called "Cherrywood" are usually significantly more red or even pink in tone.

Wood looks the same......grain seems like what they've been calling cocobola.

Someone from Buck should be able to offer an explanation of the cherrywood.
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Thank you. I've also see the term "rosewood" used though that was in reference to a 110 and not a 119 but haven't found any info on "rosewood" being used by Buck.
 
I think the sellers (and manufacturers like Buck?) play fast and loose with Rosewood, Cherrywood and Cocobola and such things.

Those three seem very much alike in appearance of the grain. Maybe it's all about how the wood is stained.

Be nice if someone could give us an educated clarification.
 
Here is a picture with my two wooden Bucks. Notice the color difference.

100-2436.jpg


Other wood Bucks

100-2437.jpg
 
The offered cherrywood 119 has a
label on the box with Sp1 on it. But I can't identify the cat. nr.

Haebbie
 
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edbeau said:
Here is a picture with my two wooden Bucks. Notice the color difference.

100-2436.jpg


Other wood Bucks

100-2437.jpg
Click to expand...

All of the grains look very much alike, Bg is right, maybe they use the same wood and just stain it differently... Who knows, it would save money, but that would kind of suck...
 
As the PBS kid's show said, so many years ago (My sons are 37 & 41!), "Guess which handle is not like the others..."

IMG_4533.jpg


Yep - the 'pink' one is 'cherrywood'. I believe they are all a Dymondwood-like product. Dymondwood is a brand of dyed/soaked in resin/compressed birch/beech wood veneers sold in sheets that can be cut and worked with standard woodworking tools. It works like a plastic material - and is easily polished, ie, no finish is required. It is dimensionally stable with humidity changes - a far better choice for use outdoors than even impregnated hardwoods. I still have some varied sheet pieces left over from my pen-making days. I've sold even red/white/blue laminate pens - even though they looked gaudy. I've seen such in S&W revolver grips, too!

Stainz
 
Sorry guys, just can't bring myself to buy one of those w/ wood handle ,to me it looks like stained plywood(home depot stuff)-everything else is great.
 
BITEME said:
Sorry guys, just can't bring myself to buy one of those w/ wood handle ,to me it looks like stained plywood(home depot stuff)-everything else is great.
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A bit of sandpaper will give them a good satin finish.

Concerning rosewood... something to look for are pores in the wood. Kind of like oak, but not nearly as many and not clustered in growth rings. Not that it really matters if the wood is under a layer of polyurethane, but I love the feel of rosewood with just a bit of lemon oil to keep things conditioned. Maybe its a quirk that comes from playing the guitar
 
The older wood-handled 119s are holding their value extremely well against the new ones and it's partly because--as CoyotePhysics noted--the older wood looks better (due to normal wear or perhaps the application of some steel wool or sandpaper.

Also, the blood-grooves of the new ones are offensive to the eye as compared to the old ones. When Buck arrived in Idaho they started using a new process to make the blood grooves and it results in poor-looking blood grooves (note the one on the leather-handle above in this thread).

Compare it with the old blood-groove below:

001.jpg


HUGE difference.

As if to verify what I'm saying--the Buck website shows all the 119s they have with the OLD style blood-groove that hasn't been made for years.

Clearly, such a picture is a better seller than one with the REAL blood-groove that the buyer will be getting.
 
BG42EDGE said:
...the blood-grooves of the new ones are offensive to the eye as compared to the old ones. When Buck arrived in Idaho they started using a new process to make the blood grooves and it results in poor-looking blood grooves...
Click to expand...

I second that. You wouldn't believe how much time I spent sanding the machine marks out of this blade. It's still not perfect, but it's much better.

119flowers.jpg
 
BG42EDGE said:
Also, the blood-grooves of the new ones are offensive to the eye as compared to the old ones. When Buck arrived in Idaho they started using a new process to make the blood grooves and it results in poor-looking blood grooves (note the one on the leather-handle above in this thread).

As if to verify what I'm saying--the Buck website shows all the 119s they have with the OLD style blood-groove that hasn't been made for years.
Click to expand...

These are the two newest 119's I have. The fuller groove on the 2005 is about 1/4" longer than the 2002. The groove on my 1991 619 is short like the 2002, the groove on my late 60's 2 line looks to be about the same length as the 2002 but slightly narrower. So in my small sample, the newest knife (2005) has the largest fuller groove. Variations is what makes it fun.

IMG_1827.jpg
 
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Variations, I love.

Poor execution, I hate.

There has been too much of the latter and I've been through the mill of sending them back for replacement.

Buck has sort of hinted in the past that a poorly done blood groove does not negatively impact the USE of the knife.

That may be true, but it negatively impacts the enjoyment and pride of ownership of the knife........and that's equally important.

They should really go back to the old way, but I'm sure it was abandoned because it was more costly. That's ok.......there are plenty of old knives left to buy.

:)
 
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