Knife ID Please.

S

Squashfan

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Jun 6, 2012
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I found this knife at a pawn shop for $5. I have a hunch that it is a frankenBuck, but maybe you guys can help me. Blade stamped: Buck U.S.A. No nail nick which I find strange. Also, the bump at the heel of the blade has been ground off, but the blade doesn't contact the backspacer. The handle is a weird material with a grain that reminds me of G10.

Thanks!

Size reference picture with Kershaw Skyline and Buck 110 from the same pawn shop.
mysterybuck1.jpg


Non tang stamp side with Skyline
mysterybuck3.jpg


Non tang stamp side close up
mysterybuck4.jpg


Tang stamp side
mysterybuck5.jpg


Bad pic of the handle
mysterybuck6.jpg


Tang stamp close up. (The stamp is up side down on the blade. U.S.A. marking is toward the tip of the knife)
mysterybuck7.jpg
 
It is an early Buck Model 112 with what should be black micarta handles. Spring holder appears to be brass, so it should be a first version, mfg in 1972.
 
Wow! That was fast! Original manufacture... Cool! I think I will clean it and make it a user knife because I don't think it has any value. (I am NOT asking for a value on the knife.) The spine on the knife (not the lockback) has a bunch of dents in it as well.
Can I ask if the blade looks original, and if it is what is the blade steel? Also, What should I do to clean the handle? Brass polish for the metal?
 
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Blade looks right and would be 440C.

Brasso or a similar polish will make the bolsters gleam with a little elbow grease.
 
to be honest I don't buy and collect older knives so I have never had it done before, but you send it in to Buck and they clean it up and buff it and make it look real nice, some of the guys that have had this done may want to chime in. You have a piece of Buck History there and I think it deserves a spa treatment.
 
Squash,

Buck will make that 1972 first issue 112 look like new, the Spa treatment cost about $7 and that covers the return shipping! They will even get the dings out of the back of the spine. I sent them an old work horse knife I picked up that had been used as a hammer, there was not one spot on the brass that did not have dings, even the entire spine. The knife came back looking like new, the folks at Buck are real craftsmen!
Before and after photo's

RedBoneBuck.jpg

RB110Before.jpg


very nice score for 5 bucks.....Wow what a deal:)
jb4570
 
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Nice find I should have mine back from the SPA shortly as they have been inspected by Joe H and on the rework crews to do list will share some photo's once the 112 returns. Yours a little rougher but Buck would do a nice job of restoration and fresh grind on the blade. Enjoy either way as it is a great knife
 
Thank you guys so very much! It sounds like I will be giving Buck a call. And while I am at it I see about sending in a medium Stockman that I have laying around. One final question for those who have sent in a knife: Will the original 440C blade be replaced by 420HC? I don't mind if they do replace it but like I said before I have been looking for a 440C knife. I think I will ask them about that when I call.

Thanks again!
Squashfan
 
Squashfan said:
Thank you guys so very much! It sounds like I will be giving Buck a call. And while I am at it I see about sending in a medium Stockman that I have laying around. One final question for those who have sent in a knife: Will the original 440C blade be replaced by 420HC? I don't mind if they do replace it but like I said before I have been looking for a 440C knife. I think I will ask them about that when I call.

Thanks again!
Squashfan
Click to expand...

Squash,

send them a note with your knives telling them waht you want done. That blade looks ok to me, so most likely they will only buff it and put a new edge on it. But, tell them not to replace it in your note! The knife I posted above did have the blade replaced, as you can see it's about 1/4" short from being used a pry bar to open paint cans.
jb4570
 
jb4570 said:
Squash,

send them a note with your knives telling them waht you want done. That blade looks ok to me, so most likely they will only buff it and put a new edge on it. But, tell them not to replace it in your note! The knife I posted above did have the blade replaced, as you can see it's about 1/4" short from being used a pry bar to open paint cans.
jb4570
Click to expand...


Yes I would keep that 440C Blade, let them Buff it out for you and sharpen, I would keep it to the original parts, just a good spa treatment if it were mine.
 
Here's the first one that I ever sent in. I found this 112 in my father-in-laws tool box after he passed away. The blade had been broken off and re-profiled but the tip was above the liner when closed. The before pictures don't show it, but there were a lot of dings along the spine and on the butt of the rear bolster.

I sent it in to Buck and asked for it to be cleaned up and a new blade installed and here's the result. To my surprise, Buck replaced the blade under warranty at no charge to me.

Before

Untitled-1copy-1.jpg


old112.jpg



After

old112a.jpg


old112b.jpg


old112c.jpg
 
Nice pickup squash and dont underestimate its value. I agree with the spa suggestion. Looks like the blade may be ever so slightly shortened but its hard to say with the older 112's. First knife I ever sent back was a 1st ver 1st var 112.

Here are before spa(but after I cleaned it up a bit)
076.jpg

079.jpg

078.jpg

inv2linermicarta009-1.jpg

72invertedfor300bucks001.jpg



and after spa treatment.
backfromBuck012.jpg

backfromBuck016.jpg

backfromBuck014.jpg

backfromBuck015.jpg

backfromBuck019.jpg
 
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So I can keep the original blade. This just keeps getting better and better! Still, I don't think I am going to try any cleaning. Now, let's hijack this thread! Buck Stockman ID Please also! I think this will go in for the spa treatment with the 112. Also I think this is a 420HC model, because of the grain on the blade. Thanks again!

All three blades open.
stockman1.jpg


Getting side tracked by a relentless cat playing spin-the-knife...
spinningcat2.jpg


spinningcat1.jpg


Etching and blade stamp. There are so many scratches on the blade that you have to look at an angle to see the etching. Grain can be clearly seen near the blade stamp.
stockman2.jpg


Medallion in the handle. Is that a 119 I spy?
stockman3.jpg
 
Date code "V" is 89-I believe it will be 425M. I think in 86 Buck took over production of the 300 series-just off the top of my head-I'm no expert period, but esp not on slippies.

I dont know if that represents any particular knife or not-good question. I'd venture a 118 though.
 
Its a 1989 Buck 303 Cadet. The Workman stamp on the blade was just a way to let people know that it was a hard working knife. They only used the Workmam logo for a few years. It should have gray delrin scales.
 
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