Newbie needs help with values of 102/105/119

Joined
Dec 2, 2010
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I have been collecting Schrade-Waldens for some time, and want to grab up one of each of the vintage Buck hunters. The problem is, the large auction site has prices ranging all over the place. The newer schrades are made overseas...which explains the variance in prices for older models over new ones. I know the vintage Bucks also command higher prices, tho I am not sure why.
Can someone offer me a basic primer course on what I need to look for in getting a 102, 105 and 119? I want them for investment purposes, but also for use if I want to. I don't want NIB or un-used, but I do want to purchase examples that will retain/increase in value over the next 10 years.
I have seen what looks to be the same 119 priced between $50 and $200, both used and apparently the same knife...
a little help understanding what I should look for?
thanks
 
The tang stamp is a good indicator of the age. I have a 119 with the tang stamped only Buck, it is one of the first 119's (early 60's) The sheath does not have the model number on it. After the Buck only stamp, they went to a Buck U.S.A. inverted stamp, then a Buck U.S.A non inverted, then they added the model numbers, and finally they added date codes in 86.
I'm writing all this from memory so, hope that helps. The older the more valuable is the general concensus.
I also collect (and customize) the Folding Hunter, what a great knife!

Jerad A. Gilmar
J.A.G. Custom Knives
 
Welcome Tom . I agree w/ JAG . From 1967 there were some stamped Buck* . Little items of history, plus the box with paperwork increase the price . Try to get atleast the knife stamped Buck model # USA with its correct sheath . Feel free to ask questions as they come up . DM
 
Can someone offer me a basic primer course on what I need to look for in getting a 102, 105 and 119? I want them for investment purposes, but also for use if I want to. I don't want NIB or un-used, but I do want to purchase examples that will retain/increase in value over the next 10 years.
I have seen what looks to be the same 119 priced between $50 and $200, both used and apparently the same knife...
a little help understanding what I should look for?
thanks

You pose somewhat mutually inconsistent goals. The less a collector's knife is used the more valuable it is. Use and sharpening diminish the value. So for investment purposes you really want a knife that ranges from mint in the original box down through various levels of use. The value may well double or triple for an unused knife vs. a knife that has been used.

As said above, the older the knife the more valuable. From the time that BUCK was incorporated (April 7, 1961) to the present there have been many variations. Some limited Editions, some buildouts, some customs, have appeared in addition to the regular run. 1961 saw the first commercial Bucks. They were called barrel nuts because of the manner that the handle and pommel was affixed to the tang of the knife. The 61s had leather spacers on the handle. 1962-3 was the last year for the barrel nuts and they had red bone hard fiber spacers. 1964 were the first of the so called pinned pommel knives with the pommels being affixed with a pin perpendicular to the tang of the knife. 1964 through 1966 all were stamped only "BUCK." After 1964 the knives changed little with slightly different pommel profiles and different combinations of spacers. The very early ones were hand made by BUCK knifemakers. As the years progressed and production scale increased, the knifes became increasingly machine made. For an indeterminate period in 1967 the knives were stamped "BUCK*." Sometime in late 1967 or early 1968, BUCK began marketing knives in Canada and they, therefore, added the USA below the BUCK stamp. This configuration continued until late 1971 or early 1972. The 1972 knives were stamped "BUCK 119 (or whatever the model was) USA."
1972 was an oddball with the Stamp read with the tip of the knife pointed down. By 1973, the stamp was read with the tip pointed up. That configuration continued until 1986 when a date code was added after the model number.

If want an investment buy it and don't use it. If you want a user buy it and use it. I suggest that you don't use an investment.

Telechronos:):):)
 
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