Knife sheath with two numbers?

Haebbie

Haebbie

Joined
Jun 27, 2006
Messages
4,359
Once again the question from the SPS:

I bought a two line 118 at the BF. It came with a flap over sheath that has
two numbers on the back (have a look at the picture if you like). I never saw
anything like this for fixed knifes from Buck before. Does anybody knows anything
about these sheath? When and how long did Buck use these sheath? How many
were made? Did these sheath have been used at least for the two stamped knives?
Is there anybody who has some more informations?

Many thanks for your answers.

Best,
Haebbie

Buck118altkpl.jpg


Buck118altSheath.jpg


Buck118altRicasso.jpg
 
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wow that is one to wander about
i know next to nothing on fixed blades
...
suprised no one has a thought on it yet
 
Maybe the stamp man had just a few too many nips at work that day.

Although after the 103, he did get PART of the 118. I'd like to see the rest of his day's work that day. He probably created all kinds of highly collectible one of a kind items.

:)
 
Haebbie,
I dont know much but I'll tell you what I got. We know its pre 1969 and made before Buck brought the sheath manufacture in house. Flap over sheaths were introduced in 1964 so thats the quick answer in regards to date range. 64-69. Assuming the knife is correct to the sheath, a 2 line means it was made around 1967 so we have narrowed it down a little more. 67-69. I think thats as close as I can get but I will add that I rarely see the sheaths with both model numbers such as yours. I can say that they were not a mistake, but that Buck did not do that for very long. I am thinking that there are maybe 5 in the company archives.
Nice find!
 
Thank you, Joe, for the great information. I think there is no chance to narrow the production time more.
Also I know now that I bought a very collectable Item.

Thanks again,
Herbert
 
Joe Houser said:
I can say that they were not a mistake, but that Buck did not do that for very long.
Click to expand...

If it's not a mistake, can anyone come up with a reason Buck might have intentionally stamped the wrong number and a part of the correct number on a sheath with the numbers being of two knives of such radically different shapes?

Seems highly unlikely, but then we've seen a few highly unlikely things here before.

:)
 
BG42EDGE said:
If it's not a mistake, can anyone come up with a reason Buck might have intentionally stamped the wrong number and a part of the correct number on a sheath with the numbers being of two knives of such radically different shapes?

Seems highly unlikely, but then we've seen a few highly unlikely things here before.

:)
Click to expand...

My three line 103 doesn't fit to the double number sheath. I can't try it with a
two line 103 because I don't have one, especially not from the time frame 67-69.
But if one of you owns such a two line 103 from 67-69 knife he can send it to me
that I can try it out. ;-)).
Best,
Herbert
 
Joe Houser said:
Haebbie,
I dont know much but I'll tell you what I got. We know its pre 1969 and made before Buck brought the sheath manufacture in house. Flap over sheaths were introduced in 1964 so thats the quick answer in regards to date range. 64-69. Assuming the knife is correct to the sheath, a 2 line means it was made around 1967 so we have narrowed it down a little more. 67-69. I think thats as close as I can get but I will add that I rarely see the sheaths with both model numbers such as yours. I can say that they were not a mistake, but that Buck did not do that for very long. I am thinking that there are maybe 5 in the company archives.
Nice find!
Click to expand...

MY 2 cents..

It looks like a part # stamped on it, not a 103 and 118,
our part # scheme would make this a 103-18, however I can't find anything in our current system to support this finding... and that sheaths has been around longer then I have.

Jeff
 
It was always interesting, but now we have to wonder what the guy who came up with the idea was drinking for lunch?

Seems unlikely that it could have actually happened, but clearly, part numbers instead of knife model numbers on sheaths would cause massive confusion to those (us customers) without a parts numbers list.

You know......I love my "History of Buck Knives" book......but it's really time for "Book II" with the answers to a lot of these questions contained therein.
 
Well, guys, I have a few old sheath without any stamp on it.
I think they were made in the sixties. Does anybody know exactly
when Buck starts to put the stamp on the sheath? Is it possible that
Buck stamped the part number instead of the model number on the
sheath first and for a short time only?

Best,
Haebbie
 
Sheath stamping started in late 1967 with the Atchisons (and maybe others concurrently, not sure).

Oh, second part of your question......I have Atchisons (a 120 and a 121) and they're stamped normally and along the belt loop lengthwise.

I doubt that part numbers would have been stamped on sheaths....it just doesn't add up.
 
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Herbert,
I was only able to locate 2 of the double number stamped sheaths and they are both the same as yours. One was empty but the other has a 2 line 118 in it. I grabbed a 2 line 103 and it fit like a glove in that sheath.
Sheaths are SO confusing!!!... I found several other oddities. I found another 118 knife like yours, with a 118 stamped sheath. The same fonts were used as found on the double stamped sheaths which makes me assume they were made by the same company? Held side by side they look about the same dimensionally. For grins I put the 2 line 103 in the 118 stamped sheath and again, it fit like a glove.
Whats bothering me is that I know that somewhere I have other double stamped sheaths and I cant find them. I want to conduct the same test because I really do believe this was done in an attempt to make a "one size fits both" sheath.
There was so much going on in only a few short years with our sheaths. You had Angeles, Atchison, and Buck making sheaths in about a 5-6 year period. About the only thing I am sure of is when we used the "dimple" sheaths just before bringing the operation in house. I have documentation on that at least.
We are slowly sneaking up on the answer!
 
The idea of having one sheath for the 103 and 118 and marking it 103 18 really sounds plausible.

But it was apparently an idea that was quickly abandoned. Maybe the blade of the 103 got wider with the Three-Line knives?

Is "History of Buck Knives--The Sequel" being written, or are these the notes?

;)
 
The History of Buck Knives was more about the Buck company/family and not so much about details of the knives. I am hoping that one of these days we will be able to publish a guide on the knives. This guide would contain model numbers, variations, years of manufacture, sheaths, packageing, ect. in as deep a detail as we can. Its a long way off for sure unfortunately.
 
All they need to do is bring in a couple of the old employees as consultants, hire you a couple more employees for your shop and hire a couple of college kids as research and writing interns and you could get it done in a year.

Half the info is probably in the archives here on the forum.

What's the problem? Where's the Buck "Can Do" attitude?

:)
 
Hi Guys, I'm a new member here. I was going through my knife collection and stumbled upon this type of Buck Hunter. After doing some research, I wound up finding this forum. Does anybody have any information on production numbers, scarcity, etc. Thanks again.
 
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