Dating a Kalinga?

RevolverGuy said:
Thanks. I didn't know it was birch. I always thought it was rosewood. I was wondering if the blade was 440C? It very much looks like the 440C steel Buck used in the 60s and 70s.....
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A couple more things. Pretty much all Dymondwood is resin impregnated birch laminate. Buck plays it a little loose with the handle naming, Cocobola, Walnut, Rosewood etc are actually the dye color, not the wood species, so yes, you could call your handle 'Rosewood' refering to the color. If you look closely at your handle on edge you can see the laminate layers, about 25-27 per inch. Now about the steel. A lot of changes took place about 1981. The handle changed from micarta to birch, the steel changed from 440c to 425m, and the guard changed from pointed to blunt (like yours). In "general" it can be said that micarta handled Kalinga's are 440c and later wood handled Kalinga's are 425m...but.... what happened at the time of changeover? Using up the last of the 440c blades with the new wood handles etc. so I imagine it is theoretically possible to have a 440c blade with a birch handle. I do not know if there was a visible difference between the 440c and early 425m blades. Anyone else know? Does it really matter? /Roger
 
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I have Buck advertisements that show photos of their Kalinga offered for sale dated 1969. And I held in my hands a 2 line kalinga with box and paperwork. So, 2 line Kalinga's exist and were sold. Thus, I suspect the model came out in 1969. Fodder for an argument on another day.
Sass's Kalinga, in his first picture is from the 70's. It looks to have the thick edge bevel (later more important). IN 73 Buck did a run using
maroon micarta but black was offered as well during that year. So, black was used longer, up until 1981. Then the wood laminate came with a different guard. I have a wood laminate handled Kalinga in my collection with a pointed guard. Which are rare and it has the thick
edge bevel, that leads me to believe the blade is 440C. If the bevel is more hollow ground it's 425M steel. Just my experience. DM
 
So much knowledge here, wow!
I may be paid to much but had wanted one for a long time, so even if it was, it wasn't :)
Ok here is the knife in question, purchased at Ebay, with more pictures in the link.
What can you tell me about it?
Sorry about the size of those pictures, my first attempt.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Buck-Kalinga-Knife-With-Sheath-amp-Wood-Case-/223136690272?hash=item33f3fbb060:g:wtgAAOSwGHdblAxR&nma=true&si=buEZEYv%2FNUuEhSZ%2FkGwqyu38ecQ%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
IYKlXov.jpg


QIwiHGz.jpg

aKR20xc.jpg
 
two110's said:
So much knowledge here, wow!
I may be paid to much but had wanted one for a long time, so even if it was, it wasn't :)
Ok here is the knife in question, purchased at Ebay, with more pictures in the link.
What can you tell me about it?
Sorry about the size of those pictures, my first attempt.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Buck-Kalinga-Knife-With-Sheath-amp-Wood-Case-/223136690272?hash=item33f3fbb060:g:wtgAAOSwGHdblAxR&nma=true&si=buEZEYv%2FNUuEhSZ%2FkGwqyu38ecQ%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
IYKlXov.jpg


QIwiHGz.jpg

aKR20xc.jpg
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Your knife was made between 1982 and 1986. At 1982 Buck started the three line stamp to read with tip up, and at 1986 the date mark was added to the stamp and the scales changed from micarta to dyed wood. May be someone else can narrow it better. Is there a small stamp at the paperwork you got with the knife?
Haebbie
 
two, welcome to the Buck Forum. I would say your knife was mfg. from 1973- 80. By 1981 Buck had gone to the wood laminate
handle on this model with a different guard. With this model the stamp was turned to that position in 1973. Plus, it has the thick edge bevel. Even if you gave 200 for it that is still within reason for a Kalinga unused with box and papers. DM
 
David Martin said:
two, welcome to the Buck Forum. I would say your knife was mfg. from 1973- 80. By 1981 Buck had gone to the wood laminate
handle on this model with a different guard. With this model the stamp was turned to that position in 1973. Plus, it has the thick edge bevel. Even if you gave 200 for it that is still within reason for a Kalinga unused with box and papers. DM
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David, say it: You are completely right. I'm getting old. It is a complete nonsense what I wrote. At least I have to know It better. Thank you for correcting.

Haebbie
 
Thank you, David, for your kind words I'm angry with myself because I wrote such a nonsense. I always say first think then write but don't do it myself. You wrote as it is that's good.

Haebbie
 
Thanks guys,
I had hoped it was 440C with the Micarta handle, not that it really matters as I will never use it.
Sad in a way a knife like this to not be used in the field..Oh well ;)
Looked for a used one for years to use hunting, no luck, but my old 110 seemed to work ok. Better than ok really, it has field dressed somewhere between 50 and 100 big game critters.
It's edge holding ability has been so good it is almost unbelievable.

Apologies to the OP for the highjack
 
This thread has me wondering another question.
The 110 I have used so much was made in 1980 a three dot knife. Not long ago I read that about 1980 Buck changed who was quenching/tempering blades for them.
Is it possible that a 1980-81 440C blade just might happen to be superior to others, or is that not possible or very improbable?
 
Don't trust that writing. Paul Bos was doing Buck's heat treating from 1969- some time in 2000. The heat treating was not changed. About 1981
they did build a new plant and moved in to it in El Cajon. IN this new plant Chuck Buck invested in a state of the art heat treating equipment at Paul's advice. They trusted one another-- a lot... This new facility allowed a 18 wheeler to deliver a huge load of NL2
to the plant, for the cryogenic treatment of blades. One can read anything on-line. Glad you came here for the straight skinny. DM
 
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Thank you David. I’ve checked the box but it is a tight fit for the pieces covered in linen to be from another knife. The hardware matches the other boxes I could find online and the stamp too - even if it is carved and not applied.
 
The 'crest' on your box is correct for that of a Kalinga. As that emblem or crest is on all the boxes for that model. Whether inked or carved.
That model with the inverted stamp is rare. Having that box makes it more rare. DM
 
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