Did I lose a great opportunity on a 102

B

BennyBlade

Joined
Apr 20, 2022
Messages
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So, no pics. Sorry. Came across a pre date code phenolic (?) 102 today at the flea market. I asked the guy what the price was "on the 102." The 2 guys looked at each other and one said that he didn't know, as he pulled out his phone. He asked if it was a 102 "b or c," to which I played dumb and said nothing. After checking the phone,he came up with 75. I thanked him and put it back. The price immediately dropped to 65, then down to 60 as I walked away... the blade was in good condition but was not perfect. Not horrible, just was not a factory edge and had some obvious wear... I don't know... maybe I could have gotten him lower than 60... the initial checking of the internet for the price, due to to not knowing what he had just rubbed me wrong. Thinking on it now, I would have definitely had to send it in for sharpening/spa treatment... would yall have purchased it?



This guy bought a bomb. 😆

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Serious question....is there something special about a pre-date code Buck? I'm curious, because you can get a brand new Buck 102 for about $60 (I just checked).
 
Not really sure what is meant by the b or c question. I would say you did not give enough information as to variation or about the sheath. "Pre Date Code" covers alot of territory. Any 3-line pre date code are really very common and would have to be super special with sheath to even consider for $60. At the other extreme, any 1-liner is worth $60+. I can count 10 variations of the phenolic 102 pre date code.
 
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Triple_D said:
Serious question....is there something special about a pre-date code Buck? I'm curious, because you can get a brand new Buck 102 for about $60 (I just checked).
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A lot of sellers focus on that due to a lack of knowledge but it really only means the knife was made before 1986. Variation & condition is a more important indictor of value.
 
DeSotoSky said:
EeNot really sure what is meant by the b or c question. I would say you did not give enough information as to variation or about the sheath. "Pre Date Code" covers alot of territory. Any 3-line pre date code are really very common and would have to be super special w sheath to even consider for $60. At the other extreme, any 1-liner is worth $60+. I can count 10 variations of the phenolic 102 pre date code.
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Maybe I had the wrong term... no lines. No dots. Just Buck stamped on the blade. Pretty sure the sheath was a replacement.
 
BennyBlade said:
no lines. No dots. Just Buck stamped on the blade
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Similar to this one?
N4WfJ1K.jpg
 
BennyBlade said:
That's a 1 dot, no? The one in question said buck USA. No lines no dots.
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It's a 'one liner' with the dot = circa1967 manufacture date. Buck used dots, on the tang stamp, to indicate a design/manufacturing change that took place during that production year.
Basically you have tang stamps that are one line = Buck, two line = BUCK USA, then three line = BUCK, model number, USA . Added to this are factors like, inverted stamp, construction features and materials used that go into dating a Buck knife.
Larry Oden, long time Buck collector, wrote "Holding An Edge" A Guide to Sixty Years of BUCK Factory Production Knives. It is the ultimate source for information like this on Buck knives
 
I put a date of 1964 on the knife in my photo because of the sheath characteristics—1964 was the last year for a 102 sheath with a keeper strap and the first year for a sheath with BUCK stamped on the snap. The knife itself could be dated 1963 or 1964.

Bert
 
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pjsjr said:
It's a 'one liner' with the dot = circa1967 manufacture date. Buck used dots, on the tang stamp, to indicate a design/manufacturing change that took place during that production year.
Basically you have tang stamps that are one line = Buck, two line = BUCK USA, then three line = BUCK, model number, USA . Added to this are factors like, inverted stamp, construction features and materials used that go into dating a Buck knife.
Larry Oden, long time Buck collector, wrote "Holding An Edge" A Guide to Sixty Years of BUCK Factory Production Knives. It is the ultimate source for information like this on Buck knives
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I see. So I was looking at a 2 liner. I thought that meant something different... thanks for the lesson.
 
I like the way the top guard on the older knives was tapered to a slant. Other than that I see no advantage over a new one.
 
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