Doing some more thinking on this, does anyone have a pic of any 124 with the one line BUCK? In 67 (when the 124 was introduced) the asterisk was on the stamp ( I have a 121 scaler with the BUCK * stamp from 67). So any just one liners would mean that it was earlier then 67. After the 50 or so prototypes with the centered hole they went to the BUCK USA stamp (aprx 300-500) so that would be late 67 or 68. Just like the 110 BUCK* for the 67 variations and BUCK USA starts in 68.
Following is Joe Housers notes:
The Buck 124 was originally designed as a diving knife and called a Nemo. It started its life somewhere around 1967. The original prototype, around 50 or so, had a hole centered in the pommel. They are extremely rare!!!
Please note there are two 124/122 versions with white Teflon. The first issue was stamped BUCK* and had 4 butt pins (only 50 of these were made). Then the ones stamped BUCK USA with one butt pin (300 - 500 of these were made).
This was followed by a production model that was offered in 1967 with either a diving sheath (NEMO) or a flap leather sheath (FRONTIERSMAN). Both were the same knife, other than the sheath. They made roughly300-500 of these and they had black phenolic handles with white teflon spacers.
1967
Black Phenolic wrap around handle
Stamped BUCK, U.S.A.
Plain edge, no serrations
Stainless guard, varying thickness, one piece stainless butt, one visible rivet
Lanyard hole on end of bird’s beak pommel
Red “bone hard fiber” spacers
Plastic Nemo or leather sheath.
Larger 2 piece off white box for Nemo and Frontiersman.
