I'm here to brag about my "barn find" 1989 Buck 124

I sent an email to Buck this morning with photos and video. Tony Wagner responded within just a few hours. What a great American company.

He wrote:

"This is a unique 124 for sure. It does appear to have been customized aftermarket. The handle pins appear to be made of brass, which would not have been used at the factory--even for customs."

Tony Wagner
Sales Operations Coordinator
Buck Knives, Inc.
 
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Didn't ya believe us? Just kidding...

It's always good to ask. Even though Buck didn't do it, it doesn't make it any less special. Someone did a fine job on it!
 
MT_Pokt said:
Didn't ya believe us? Just kidding...

It's always good to ask. Even though Buck didn't do it, it doesn't make it any less special. Someone did a fine job on it!
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Oh I absolutely believe you guys have forgotten more than I will ever know about Buck knives! I'm not even remotely disappointed...It is very well done. I could not be more satisfied and my 14 year old son has already claimed it as part of his knife inheritance so it ain't going anywhere. And then the seller just sent me an email almost apologizing that he forgot to send the "second sheath" and would put it in the mail tomorrow. He'll have about 16 euros in shipping for the knife he sold me for 50. I'll come up with something to send him to compensate. Maybe an old Case folder I have... gotta keep the karma flowing.

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Sir, that's a wonderful knife - thanks for sharing it with us!

Also agree that the aftermarket cutlery done to it was superb. Hands aren't square, so why should the parts of a knife be square? :D

One thing I wish you'd see more of in modern knives was greater focus on ergonomics in the handle. Round doesn't necessarily mean good. I think your knife probably feels great in the hand, but hear me out: My favorite traditional handles (that I have experience with) are found on kukris and puukkos. The handle is round in your palm, but comes to a bit of a point at your knuckles. Not a sharp point, but a rounded one. It's basically "egg-shaped" in cross-section. Fills the hand but also allows for a tight grip that also tells you where the edge should be when you hold it. Really wish they sculpted the 119's handle like that.
 
Randall Mountain said:
..... The handle pins appear to be made of brass, which would not have been used at the factory--even for customs."

Tony Wagner
Sales Operations Coordinator
Buck Knives, Inc.
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Gee, brass rivets are listed as an option in the 1989 Custom Shop catalog.....
My gut feeling still says that knife came out of the factory, but then unlike the Pope, I'm not infallible.
 
And out of the blue, the guy who sold me the 124 for next to nothing, sent me this G-96 960 made in Japan. It's not a Buck but it's a very high quality knife and he sent it razor sharp. No explanation, no payment requested. Happy days.

From the 70's maybe?
 

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Sweet finds and unexpected discoveries are really fun. Found this a few days ago….scouring local venues, fleamarkets and ads..
bought it for a song. Guy was original owner.

1967 Buck caper……one line with dot…..off it goes to Buck for spa treatment.

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I'm not an expert, but it looks to me like the handle and guard contouring are not factory. Looking closely at the photos, especially the photo in post #15, the overall fit and finish does not seem to be up to custom shop standards, especially 30+ years ago. Not that whoever it was did a bad job! It just has that "I did it myself" kind of look to it. My guess is someone replaced the factory scales with that nice looking wood (possibly ironwood), and the handle and guard contouring resulted from the fitting of the new scales. Either that, or they just wanted a smaller, rounded handle. It is quite possible that they put the mirror polish on the blade as well, though that DOES look good enough to have come from the custom shop.

Just my 2 cents. Either way, that's a great knife at an awesome price!
 
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