How old do you think this 119 bundle is?

North Shore

North Shore

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Jun 28, 2016
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To preface, I did try and read through the extensive older thread on 119s but most of the hosted images are long gone and one of the more recent posts were from someone instructing someone else to start a new thread as they bumped a 3 year old thread.

It looks like a 3 spacer knife, not sure if someone could glean a date range from this series of items; knife, sheath, stone, box etc.

Thanks in advance
119 tang.jpg
119.jpg
119 sheath.jpg
119 box2.jpg
 
73/74 to about 77.

The box changed from 2 piece to 1 piece about 1977, that is your top end.
Three line upright starts in 1973, the lower end.
The normal progression was 4 spacers dropping to 3 in 1981 BUT... the 119 and 120 changed to 3 spacers very early on. 3 line 4 spacer (upright) 119's and 120's are very rare but are the most common configuration in all other 100 series knives. Given that, I presume the change to 3 spacers (119,120) happened late 1973 or possibly 1974. Definitely before 1975.

Looks like you have some paperwork. Look to see if there is a printers date code on the lower left corner of the use and care sheet. If you have it, that would give you a "can't be older than" date. Hope this helps. /Roger
 
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so would a 3 line inverted stamp with model number be a 72? if i understand correctly, Buck started butting model numbers on blades in 72.
 
These 2 models in this configuration are difficult to pin a mfg. Date on.
TAH and others have gone round and round on these. My sheets on these
(admiting the 120 & 119 changed earlier) from the BCCI 20 year say up thru 1980 the guard and pommel will have 2 spacers each. In 1981 'mid' they will have 2 spacers in the pommel and 1 in the guard. I have both these models in my collection and they have the thick convex grind. So, 440c steel. One has the flap sheath, the other a snoopy sheath. Its been argued these are from 1979 - 80. Even earlier. DM
 
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Addendum, the accessories, while they could be contemporary to the knife, do not contribute to determining the age of the package as they were in the Buck catalog thru much of the 70's and 80's.
 
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David Martin said:
TAH and others have gone round and round on these.
Click to expand...
I remember that dance well, David. I still agree with Roger's timeline above. Plus the flap sheath on the 119 and 120 was discontinued earlier than the other 100 Series knives. I believe the 119/120 swivel sheath was introduced around 1977, which would correspond with Roger's timeline as well.
 
I pulled my catalogs and found the model 136 pictured in the 1985 catalog. Along with both styled sheaths offered. Snoopy & flap. DM
 
David Martin said:
'Swivel sheath' , your saying is the 'snoopy sheath? 1977. DM
Click to expand...

I call this style a swivel sheath...

2-buck-119s-1970s-2-different-blade-styles-nice_1_38b0774df2c43f7054852cec69601170.jpg


pair-bucks-1991-buck-119-1995-110_1_7372c7793d5541b0a1c4bcf9ed5993eb.jpg

And this style a Snoopy sheath...
144-3.jpg


I might be calling them the wrong names. Wouldn't be the first time. :confused:
 
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Did Buck package the honemaster, oil and hard Arkansas stone together in a box as pictured in the OP?
 
TAH said:
I call this style a swivel sheath...

pair-bucks-1991-buck-119-1995-110_1_7372c7793d5541b0a1c4bcf9ed5993eb.jpg


And this style a Snoopy sheath...
144-3.jpg


I might be calling them the wrong names. Wouldn't be the first time. :confused:
Click to expand...
I think your name calling is correct Tom:D
 
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Thanks for the vote of confidence, Preston. I often doubt myself, especially when David questions me. I have a great deal of respect for him. :thumbsup:
 
TAH said:
I remember that dance well, David. I still agree with Roger's timeline above. Plus the flap sheath on the 119 and 120 was discontinued earlier than the other 100 Series knives. I believe the 119/120 swivel sheath was introduced around 1977, which would correspond with Roger's timeline as well.
Click to expand...

I am diverting from the OP's question but I'll plow ahead.... do you think the swivel sheath outright replaced the flap sheath or did they coexist thru the 70's? Certainly by '81 the flat sewn sheath became the standard. Interestingly, why was there never a 'flat' sheath for the 103? I know there was one for the 102, 118, 119, 120, and 124.
 
DeSotoSky said:
I am diverting from the OP's question but I'll plow ahead.... do you think the swivel sheath outright replaced the flap sheath or did they coexist thru the 70's? Certainly by '81 the flat sewn sheath became the standard. Interestingly, why was there never a 'flat' sheath for the 103? I know there was one for the 102, 118, 119, and 124.
Click to expand...

Good question, Roger. If I had to bet, I'd put my money on the swivel sheath outright replaced the flap sheath. Just makes more sense.
 
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