Every Buck model with a black phenolic handle (not micarta)

V

vinny998

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Dec 31, 2025
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Hello. This is my first post on BF, hopefully it gains traction. I collect Buck knives but only the ones with black phenolic handles. I have some oddballs (106 Axe, 212 fixed ranger and 639B1) along with all the other commonly acquired 100 series...



My open question for the world : can you list any limited editions or obscure production run models with the black phenolic handles? I know there is the original 104 Camper / Fighter from the 40s and 50s , from what I understand that was the true beginning , with black Lucite.



Thank you all for any input

-Vinny
 
vinny998 said:
My open question for the world : can you list any limited editions or obscure production run models with the black phenolic handles? I know there is the original 104 Camper / Fighter from the 40s and 50s , from what I understand that was the true beginning , with black Lucite.
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Welcome to the forum, Vinny. I'm not a chemist, so I need some clarification. Do you consider Lucite a phenolic?

Bert
 
Hello Vinny and welcome to the Buck forum. Pull up a chair and stay / play awhile. My understanding that the use of phenolic handles begins with factory production in 1961. Some of the very earliest production models in 1961 may show some variations in handle construction similar to late '50's knives but rare enough I don't have one.
As bertl bertl asked, Lucite, a 1931 DuPont invention, and Phenonic, Bakelite developed by Leo Baekeland in 1907 are not the same thing. Lucite is generally a sheet good and handles are constructed by the stacking of multiple washers. Patterns can be introduced using various colored washers. Phenolic handles are solid cast and 1 piece.

Collecting the 100 series phenolic knives is more about sets of variations. For example, collect every model with a BUCK* tang stamp, or every model with 3-line 4-spacer construction etc. Finding and completing all the sets can be both a challenge and collecting accomplishment.

Just for fun and to stir the pot, here is a 1940's 104 Camper with a phenolic handle. My thinking is this was a early '60s factory repair/replacement of the handle, the original being Masonite or lucite. It would fit that a Masonite handle would deteriorate. It is the only example of a pre 1961 knife with a phenolic handle I am aware of, the caviat being the handle is NOT original to the knife.

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The first 122 Nemo's / 124 Frontiersmans had Phenolic handles from about 1967 to 1970 before switching to Micarta.
3 spacer variations, Teflon, Fiber, Micarta. in that order. Took me a long time to get the Micarta spacer variation. (thanks Skyler)
 
In 2017, Copper & Clad offered both a 102 and 119 with Red Phenolic handles.
Look for the 119 to have the 75th Anniversary tang stamp.

About the same time Buck did a run of 100 119's with Red/Black phenolic swirled together for Smoky Mountain.
That one has been on my unobtanium list ever since.
 
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Pardon the ignorance on my end. I was under the impression that bakelite / lucite and phenolic were all interchangeable terms for early resin plastics.

I am most interested in the crossover period between hand forged and machine produced . 1940s - 60s.

Seeing pictures like that 1 of 1 black phenolic 104 Camper is WHY I joined these forums. Thank you. Very impressive.

And continuing the search : there are only two pieces I'm missing and that's the 116 Caper and the early 122 Nemo / 124 Frontiersman.

BTW, the 212 Fixed Ranger is a good example of what I'm asking you all - it is outside of the 100 series , typically gets wood or micarta handles but did release some with black phenolic. I'm after that , not exactly looking for one of every steel type.

Much appreciated.
-Vinny
 
vinny998 said:
I am most interested in the crossover period between hand forged and machine produced . 1940s - 60s. -Vinny
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Someone will correct me if wrong but the early hand made knives were hand ground from old files. Forged blanks begin with factory production in 1961 but there was still a lot of grinding and hand shaping on those blanks in the early years. I wish I could find the quote but I think it was Chuck Buck who said they had modern machines that could shape out a blade in 17 seconds that would take 2 hours by hand in the early days.
 
Are you looking mainly for info on the different models, or also for all the different variants within model numbers over the phenolic production period? All the variations would be a tough list to put together. Models include (and there may be others):

120
119
103
105
118
102
116
121
106
122/124
639
117
212

Here's an example of a variant. 119 drop point with Magnacut from a 2023 limited run (not my photo). There have been lots of other 119 variants...no fuller, flat grind, different steel and guard/pommel materials.
1000023358.jpg

A modern 104 with phenolic handle would be awesome. Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll do a run.

To the best of my knowledge, the phenolic period began in 1961 as others stated. Previous to 1961 there was ebony, lignum vitae, elk, lucite, masonite, and maybe others. BCCI membership would give you access to a lot of the old catalogs and model info.
 
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Generalist said:
Are you looking mainly for info on the different models, or also for all the different variants within model numbers over the phenolic production period? All the variations would be a tough list to put together. Models include (and there may be others):

120
119
103
105
118
102
116
121
106
122/124
639
117
212

Here's an example of a variant. 119 drop point with Magnacut from a 2023 limited run (not my photo). There have been lots of other 119 variants...no fuller, flat grind, different steel and guard/pommel materials.
View attachment 3063861

A modern 104 with phenolic handle would be awesome. Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll do a run.

To the best of my knowledge, the phenolic period began in 1961 as others stated. Previous to 1961 there was ebony, lignum vitae, elk, lucite, masonite, and maybe others. BCCI membership would give you access to a lot of the old catalogs and model info.
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Thank you for that thorough list. To clarify... I wish to know which models were available since 1961 with a black phenolic handle. That list is exactly what I am after. I challenge you all to add to this list if at all possible.

Because otherwise, my collection is near complete.

Thanks
 
Was the phenolic 212 w/ 420hc blade a Buck offering, or a dealer exclusive?
I don't recall.
I swore at one time I purchased one but I cannot find it. 🤔
 
DeSotoSky said:
I'll butinski cause I can't help myself. Not modified, just 2 examples the model 103 50(?) years apart.
Generalist Generalist can explain the differences.
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Exactly right. The one V vinny998 asked about is a 1964-66 model. Blade and handle shapes and materials changed over the years, especially the early years, so there can be substantial differences within the same model number over time.

DeSotoSky DeSotoSky mentioned collecting series earlier. I would call this one part of the "rounded pommel one line" series. Here's that series of the original 6 models.

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If you want to get super deep in the rabbit hole of minor 100-series phenolic variantion, join us in the x-ray thread. Two minor different barrel nut construction techniques from likely the same model year. Does anyone really need to collect to this level of variant distinction? Of course we do.

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