ID Skinny Buck!

I would love to see more information posted. The 102 is one of my favorite designs.
 
Indeed I can post my reference.? I'll look back in my advertisements and see if there is anything about the flap over sheath. I have articles back to the 50's. DM
 
For what it's worth, Joe Houser's article (May 2001) says that the last of the keeper strap sheaths was in 1964 and that the flap over sheath started in 1964, also. In addition, if the keeper strap sheath has a snap stamped "BUCK" that puts it in 1964. I can't tell from Slipperhead's photo if the snap is stamped.

Bert
 
Here is a lead in photo. This is a photo from Archery World September 1969. It didn't come out so good, in the upper right corner but I can make another photo of it in the inside article where it's clear. DM
 
Inside photo in the article.

Careful reading below the photo, is 'they now put'. I'd bet Chuck wrote this. I'm thinking, 'a recent sheath change'. Still, I have in my collection a asterik stamped Buck 105 in a flap over sheath. The snap has Buck on it. As does the keeper strap in the photo, left sheath. So, 2 1/2 years prior to this article. DM
 
Here's another photo from this article, toward a different subject. Joe Houser has told me 2 line Kalinga's don't exist. Still, I've held one in my hands. And here's a photo of the first Kalinga set to be released for sale October 1969. It would have to be a 2 line. DM
 
Slipper, thanks. My keeper strap sheaths do not have 'Buck' on the snap either. Still, Bert is a respected Buck Collector and I consider what he says legitimate. I'm thinking he's meaning from the Collectors Newsletters. I looked and I don't have the 2001 issue but he did say 'late 64'. So, this would further narrow down your knife and sheath to be from mid 1963 to mid 1964. Now, us being able to pin your knife down to a one year time frame with just the sheath and knife is very good. It being over 52 years ago. A thanks to our fellow collectors. DM
 
One thing we always have to remember is that it is never certain that any knife is in its original sheath--even if the guy says he bought it new himself. Memory fails, especially when you start to get beyond 100 knives and especially when you get beyond 60 years old. :)

It does seem quite certain that the flapover came out in late 64 as I think Bertl originally stated.

My old notes show some discussion that included Joe Houser, Larry Oden and Scott Hartman in agreement on that and one of them, I believe it was Larry, said he had 65 advertising showing the new flapover, which would mean it came out in late 64.

Funny how these discussions come up over and over again on the same questions of date of introduction of knives and sheaths. The archives show lots of repetition. Lucky we have those archives to search.
 
Since the topic here is dating an old Buck, I'll bring my new gun-show pick up here with a couple of questions if the OP doesn't mind.

I believe the knife itself to be pre-1967 as '67 is when USA was added below Buck on the tang. Here are my questions...
1) can we be any more specific with the date of Mfg on this one?
(No barrel nut)
2) is the sheath of the same era? I don't believe it is original to this knife.
3) Is the mass/shape of the blade right? It seems a little narrow towards the tang to me.

This is the condition I purchased it. I have since cleaned it up and am deciding whether to send it to Buck or do it myself.











Thanks for the help.
 
Should be 63-66 model.

Sheath is a replacement and a very nice one.

Yes, the blade narrows a little, showing a lot of sharpening, but still in good shape. A cleanup from Buck would make it real pretty.

Great find.
 
BTW, in 67 they added an asterisk to the "Buck" marking. That was just for the one year (less than a year, actually).
 
Pokt, yes a lot was going on at the Buck factory in 1967. Three different stamps were used that year. 1) Buck, 2) Buck* and 3) Buck USA . I think you know the sheath is a 80's Custom sheath. Well built. I think the order is correct and the 118 looks to be normal for use. The amount of time for each stamp I'm unsure. Call it 4 months and you'll get no arguement from me. A good find. DM
 
Thanks for the help guys! I used some warm water and a very mild scotch-bright pad and cleaned 'er up.

2 things surprised me...
First: no rust! All of the spots on the blade were dirt, or something else very easy to clean up.
Second: no scratches on the blade! Whomever did sharpen this took great care to keep the stones on the edges, or they knew what they were doing, or it wasn't sharpened as often as I had suspected.

I'm happy with the $40 I spent on it. Someone suggested that the sheath is worth at least that much itself.

He had an unused Custom 121 with stag and a similar sheath too. It was the first 121 I had handled and was really surprised how thin the blade was. It was nice and flexible like a fillet knife should be. It was a 3-line stamp and in perfect condition. I could have gotten it for $125 but wasn't sure that was a good price or not. What say the gurus?
 
The 3 line Custom models go for more and rightfully so. Perhaps with box and papers. I purchased a standard off the shelf 121 in October at a show. A 3 line like yours, no box or papers with correct sheath for 35. Slightly used, not sharpened and no scratches. With the box and papers I would have given twice that for it. I don't see the Custom knives offered at shows. Perhaps at larger shows. DM
 
This particular show is a monthly thing here in town and they do it about an hour north of me monthly as well. There are several knife guys there. There are two in particular that I rummage through their stuff religiously. I've found everything from 531 Sawbys to scrimshawed Bucklites, selectors, 186/560, Buck Camillus slip-joints, regular production stuff and Buck Customs. I've not seen anything from the "old" custom shop though.
 
Slipperhead said:
Thanks for the info, gentlemen! I had no idea what a little gem this is. With no model number in the blade, i thought it might have been a knockoff!

I will check for the barrel nut. I didn't realize Buck offered spa service. It will be off to them the first of the week!
Click to expand...

When you address the package, put "BKI" not Buck Knives. It might grow legs if you do.
 
"One thing we always have to remember is that it is never certain that any knife is in its original sheath--even if the guy says he bought it new himself." - VorpalRain

That's true. However, if the knife itself can't be distinguished from other knives over a three to four year period, the sheath can give some insight. If it's a case of the wrong sheath for the knife, that's one thing; but if it is the correct sheath for one of those four years I don't see a problem assuming the knife belongs with the sheath. There is no way of showing that the two don't belong together. If you look at it from the point that it is the correct knife for the sheath instead of the correct sheath for the knife, there is a very slight difference in perspective.

Bert
 
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