Fixed blade sheath style history?

M

MountainLyon

Joined
Jun 11, 2005
Messages
25
I'm new here, I'm an outdoorsman not really a collector, and I've been shopping around for maybe a couple different size older Buck fixed blades. I know where to shop, I know about the year mark symbols, I know what steels were used and when, one thing I don't know is when the different style sheaths were used.

Assuming the knives are in the original sheaths, the sheath style would help determine the age of the knife and the steel, correct? I believe I've seen 119 and 120 Bucks with wrap around snap sheaths from the 70's instead of the fold over type sheath, is that right? Any other models? I really prefer the wrap around sheaths and older knives.
 
Cant help earlier than 1980. I have a 120 in a wrap around sheath. Also called a "Snoopy" sheath. The early 80's 102 I used to have had a flap type. Hope this helps until the cavalry arrives. guy
 
Thanks Guy, that does help narrow it down a little. It sounds like some models still had the flap sheath around the time Buck switched from 440C to 425 steel...
 
There is not a lot of documentation on the time line of the fixed blade sheaths. It seems that the flap over sheath was used well into the 1980's on certain models.

Tom
 
I just got myself a 35 year old 119 with flap sheath. If I want a wrap around sheath I'll order a new one I guess, I just wanted to make darn sure I got a good ole don't make em like they used to model. :^)
 
Like Tom says, there is not much documtented on sheath styles yet. I can pretty much nail down a certain vintage of knife by looking at the blade stamp and or handle spacers but in only certain instances does the sheath help.
There is very little data hear at the factory to help fill in the blanks on when we used what sheaths. YOu can't necessarily go by what you see in the older catalogues either since they seldom changed the picture from year to year.
Drop me an email if you want to try to date a particular knife, I would be glad to help.
 
Thanks Joe! When my 119 arrives I'll post a pic or two of it. I'm sure it's old enough to be 440C (by about a decade.) If I come across a wrap around sheath model that I like and I think might be from the 70's-early 80's, I now know who to ask to find out what vintage/type of steel used. :^)
 
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