History? On 121 military handle

U

USMule

Joined
Mar 7, 2014
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I was surfing this morning and saw a 121 with some type of rubber/neoprene handle instead of micarta? phenolic? but otherwise it looked like your typical 121. The seller is saying its 1986 Military 121.
Does anyone have any history about these handles.

Photo came from GOOGLE images:
 
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Don't know about the handle material or the military connection but didn't Buck start putting year markings on knives in 1982? If so then the knife pictured was made prior to 1982 so wouldn't that shoot down the claim that it's a "1986 military 121"?
 
The Kraton handled models did come out in 1986 and could appear to a non-researched seller as a military knife. Only the 121 did not recieve this type handle material. The 120 did. Buck began stamping their blades with a year date code in 1986. The handle material on all the 100 series knives was phenolic (as shown above). Not micarta. Micarta was used on the 124, 107, 401, 402 and Empress Trio set of the early fixed blade knives. Not on the rest of the 100 series knives. A picture would help with identifying this 'mystery model'. DM
 
I don't know but it may have been sold in Military PX's, so the seller may think it is a military knife.
 
David Martin said:
The Kraton handled models did come out in 1986 and could appear to a non-researched seller as a military knife. Only the 121 did not recieve this type handle material. The 120 did. Buck began stamping their blades with a year date code in 1986. The handle material on all the 100 series knives was phenolic (as shown above). Not micarta. Micarta was used on the 124, 107, 401, 402 and Empress Trio set of the early fixed blade knives. Not on the rest of the 100 series knives. A picture would help with identifying this 'mystery model'. DM
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Thanks for the info David. I thought it was 1982 for the date stamp. The Kraton handles were on the 619, 620 and 639 weren't they? I've got a 619 and a 639 with the green, rubbery type handle, not sure if that's Kraton or not and I think they did black as well. The names were different. I believe they were the Fieldmate and the Woodsmate or something along those lines.
 
I'm thinking this handle is the stock handle that got emersed or hit by some chemical......but there appears to be a line from back to front half way up through the handle? At least I think I'm seeing a line? LOL
 
Not some sort of military model. Just the standard phenolic handle. I've seen them with open grain like that. I've seen them with lines left from the mold. It could have laid in something. The spacers are maroon micarta. DM
 
The 121 in the 1st photo is a standard model and not from 1986 as it has no date code stamp. It was mfg. in that format from 1972-1980 (about). Then Buck started changing the spacers. DM
 
thanks for all that info! DM......it will help weed out the one I want to get after reviewing them all online....thanxs!
 
David, TAH left me this note an what he looks for....so is he saying you can date code the 121's or any 100's by the colour of the spacers? and how many? TAH post, he said he looks for these
"versions with 4 burgundy Micarta spacers (2 at the guard, 2 at the pommel) and a flap sheath"
 
Yes, that's what we've been saying. The manner in which 100 series knives are dated is by the stamp and spacers. DM
 
Mule,

I'm certainly no expert, but over the years, the spacer material and number of spacers at each end has changed. I suppose you could use spacer material and number of spacers to roughly date some knives, but it's probably better to look at the whole picture (blade stamp, grinds, spacers, sheaths, etc.) for more accurate dating. Also, I called the spacers burgundy, but perhaps it is more accurate to call them maroon.
 
One the 100 series after the company incorporated: A one liner, Buck stamp= 1962/63-- 66. A Buck* stamp== 1967. A Buck two liner stamp, Buck USA= 68-70. Inverted stamps (all the previous stamps are) a three line stamp, Buck 121 USA are 1972. Then a 3 line stamp read tip up is 1973-1985. Date codes began in 1986. This is accepted research. DM
 
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I appreciate all of your help.....these 100's I have no clue about. So I'm grasping for any ammo I can find so I don't get buyers remorse. LOL Why Am I on this hunt for the holy grail of the 100 I had? I'm going retro with sconce of Nostalgia from the 60's & 70's. Its important to me at this period of my life to remember the better times when I & my friends had more freedoms an liberities and all the enjoyment an good times we had around a fire talking about our lives an our knives. This hunt for the 100 that disappeared is for me a knife that was lost or stolen that I would like to have back in a sense thats traveled the white mts on back packing trips on the A.M.C. trails an out to my freinds log cabin. No its not the same knife but looking at will jump start those old memories of mine & when my time comes to pass...my son will create his own great memories with all these beautiful BUCK knives I leave him.
 
USMule said:
I appreciate all of your help.....these 100's I have no clue about. So I'm grasping for any ammo I can find so I don't get buyers remorse. LOL Why Am I on this hunt for the holy grail of the 100 I had? I'm going retro with sconce of Nostalgia from the 60's & 70's. Its important to me at this period of my life to remember the better times when I & my friends had more freedoms an liberities and all the enjoyment an good times we had around a fire talking about our lives an our knives. This hunt for the 100 that disappeared is for me a knife that was lost or stolen that I would like to have back in a sense thats traveled the white mts on back packing trips on the A.M.C. trails an out to my freinds log cabin. No its not the same knife but looking at will jump start those old memories of mine & when my time comes to pass...my son will create his own great memories with all these beautiful BUCK knives I leave him.
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Mule, there are all different reasons why folks buy a specific knife and your reason is as good as I have ever heard! :thumbup:
 
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