Help identify this fixed blade buck knife

P

pitonyak

Joined
Jan 14, 2021
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38
I am going through some inherited knives. I was feeling good with success on my previous knife, but this buck has me flustered. The lade and the sheath are both stamped "BUCK". There are no other markings on this knife. I have a few thoughts (like a 105), but I am pretty sure that is not correct. I expected a model number and I did not see any pictures of knives with clear handles. Might one of my handy relatives rehandled this thing before they died and passed it on to my Father or passed it on to me.


buck_unknown_01-X5.jpg


buck_unknown_02-X5.jpg



In a perfect world I would have a model number and approximate year.

Edited to mention that the blade is about 5 1/8" from the tang to the tip.
 
A very early and very rare Buck.

Buck collectors can only dream about finding such an early example of a Buck knife.

Congrats.

I appears to be an early Model 104 or perhaps a 105.Unfortunately I'm not an expert on older Buck knives. Be patient and someone will post more definitive information.
 
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Wow ! I’m no expert but, That looks to be maybe a late 1940s to early 1950s 105 with green and blue lucite handle. And looks to be in real good condition as well. That’s a bit of Buck history right there. There’s a few catalog pictures on the bcci page showing them in black and white.
Maybe one of the experts can give a better idea. Joe Houser would know.
 
Super nice find. Will try to dig up some info. Been a while since I have seen that style of sheath. The handle is so interesting to see in those colors. Thanks for showing.
 
I would say that it hasn't been re-handled...but I'm not an expert, but I'm drooling 😁
ETA, it's an early one, the BUCK has been hand stamped by using individual letter stamps. Tell-tale is the unevenness of the word BUCK.
 
pjsjr said:
I would say that it hasn't been re-handled...but I'm not an expert, but I'm drooling 😁
ETA, it's an early one, the BUCK has been hand stamped by using individual letter stamps. Tell-tale is the unevenness of the word BUCK.
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I really wondered about that. The K is the worst of the strikings.
 
I spent a bunch of time with no luck finding anything like it and here it is recognized very quickly. With a model and blade material I was able to find at least one picture of the knife. I told my daughter (age 16) that she could choose one, that knife or a Shrade-Walden 148L from between 1958 to 1961 I think. Same original owner (My Mother's Uncle I think) and that blade had a very consistent angle on the sharpening job. It is almost inconceivable to me that someone could free hand sharpen that consistently right at 20 degrees per side. This knife looks to be about the same from a sharpening perspective, but if it is that rare I am torn on sharpen it or not.

My daughter is equally as excited (BTW). Looking forward to more information.

Ironically, this was not the knife that I expected to be so rare.
 
So how can I tell the difference between a 104 and a 105. I am seeing pictures of a 105 that looks similar (blade shape) to mine, but the new 104 knives I am seeing have a totally different blade shape.
 
You have to keep in mind the fact that these old ones were made, by hand, forged from old files. Shapes are going to vary some.
The model numbers used back then may or may not correlate to the model numbers we use and are familiar with today.
There are some very knowledgeable people on the forum, have patience. They are not on here every minute of every day.

Also, there are many who come here seeking information on a knife and the members here give of their knowledge...
We then see the item appear on 'the bay' and the seller looks to be so smart and knowledgeable. Some members here may be reluctant to respond,
 
The
pitonyak said:
So how can I tell the difference between a 104 and a 105. I am seeing pictures of a 105 that looks similar (blade shape) to mine, but the new 104 knives I am seeing have a totally different blade shape.
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105 blade is slimmer at 3/4 inch from edge to top of spine and a 104 is deeper at 1 full inch. Also the 105 has a more pronounced clip point. The 1949 catalog calls it a 105 all purpose knife and the 1951 catalog calls it the 105 pathfinder. There are different colors and color combinations back then and I think I read somewhere that you could specify the color on special order.
 
The 104 had a 5" blade and the 105 had a 5.5" blade. Or vice-versa...lol

Blades were hand made back then so some variations occurred.

What's really cool about the lucite handles is the wide variety of colors. Standard offerings were same color with a contrasting spacer mid handle, usually white. Red, blue, green, grey, etc.. all were translucent. What's even more special about yours as the pattern. 4 green, spacer, 1 green, spacer, blue center.
I'm sure there is someone out there that can tell why, other than being resourceful with the components.
FYI, a new 105 in the '40s was like $15. Yours is like buying Apple stock in the 80s.
Great find, and if you can marry the history to it along with the family provenance, would make a great heirloom.
And... it's got a lifetime warranty still...
 
Lesknife said:
The

105 blade is slimmer at 3/4 inch from edge to top of spine and a 104 is deeper at 1 full inch. Also the 105 has a more pronounced clip point. The 1949 catalog calls it a 105 all purpose knife and the 1951 catalog calls it the 105 pathfinder. There are different colors and color combinations back then and I think I read somewhere that you could specify the color on special order.
Click to expand...
So this is the 105 because the blade is exactly 3/4" of an inch. The blade does seem very narrow for its length. Seems like an unusual choice. I will admit that I own very few fixed blade knives. I do not hunt so most of my knife collection is folding knives. I carried a 70's / 80's era fixed blade Gerber while riding so that I would have fast access to cut a horse loose, but now that I am off the farm, I don't use these types of knives often. My 16 year old, however, really likes them. So my point on that is just that it seems like a narrow blade. Any idea why the 105 is so narrow?
 
pjsjr said:
You have to keep in mind the fact that these old ones were made, by hand, forged from old files. Shapes are going to vary some.
The model numbers used back then may or may not correlate to the model numbers we use and are familiar with today.
There are some very knowledgeable people on the forum, have patience. They are not on here every minute of every day.

Also, there are many who come here seeking information on a knife and the members here give of their knowledge...
We then see the item appear on 'the bay' and the seller looks to be so smart and knowledgeable. Some members here may be reluctant to respond,
Click to expand...
Frankly, I am surprised at how quickly I am learning things about this knife. It kind of blows my mind.

Now that I know the rarity of the knife, I would be hesitant to carry / use the knife. The knife is still under warranty, but, if damaged, it would not come back the same.

Is this forum a good place to ask about the knife sheath? Specifically, how can I preserve it if the knife is so rare? The sheath is in decent shape now, but, the leather has not been tended to in a while. Now that I think about it, the few leather knife sheaths that I have should probably all be tended to.
 
In most utilitarian usage for hunting, fishing and camping a narrow /slim blade can be more versatile than a deep thick blade. Most outdoorsman including myself prefer a smaller blade for hunting and fishing. A large blade has its place in some camping tasks but can be awkward for processing small game and fish.
 
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