One for Buck historians.

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I will only speak of my personal experience. DOD made their own contracts for equipment. In the early 70's the General Services Administration known as GSA supplied everyone else. They showed TL-29s, all metal scout knives and various companies leather stacked handled saw back straight knives in leather sheaths with sharpening stone in their supply catalog which were listed as pilots knife. No Buck knives ever shown. I had a Ontario in near mint condition I left in my desk drawer (because it was public property) when I retired. Later no one knew where it went. 300
 
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sassafrassdogs3 said:
Besides the 2500 for field trials, I don't think Buck was involved in Any Officilal Issues? ...I had read unofficially Buck was reluctant to put their name on a fighting tool due to their Religious Convictions? ...

Don
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figure we could add in the nighthawk
since it was in essence a commercial spin-off
as a result of a past unsuccessful SEAL's tender... :)

if you care for some ancient history...
https://www.tactical-life.com/tactical-knives/topsbuck-nighthawk/
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...other-steel-timeline-question-on-425m.914910/
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/purpose-of-the-buck-nighthawk.267594/

Check out this archived site belonging to Tim Tang (the CEO/founder of Maxpedition tactical luggage)
it is a copy of the 1992 USN MEMORANDUM regarding the
SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR ADVANCED TACTICAL ASSAULT KNIFE, (ATAK)
https://web.archive.org/web/20010408012604/http://mdk.idv.tw/c_ataktest.htm
see any familiar knife models in the running then?
 
I have never heard of Buck having a contract for Pilot knives or any other knife in the Vietnam era. I know for a fact that a lot of people bought them or were gifted them and reporters and ignorant folk probably saw these and then assumed they were issue knives.
 
I read that archived memorandum.
Interesting read.
I wonder why they thought sticking a knife in a tree and using it to do pull ups was something that would be done in a survival situation ... :confused::rolleyes:
I also found it interesting that the then issue Mk3's blade "broke in half during this part of the test ..."
(The Mk3 was tested against all its competition.)
 
GIRLYmann said:
figure we could add in the nighthawk
since it was in essence a commercial spin-off
as a result of a past unsuccessful SEAL's tender... :)

if you care for some ancient history...
https://www.tactical-life.com/tactical-knives/topsbuck-nighthawk/
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...other-steel-timeline-question-on-425m.914910/
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/purpose-of-the-buck-nighthawk.267594/

Check out this archived site belonging to Tim Tang (the CEO/founder of Maxpedition tactical luggage)
it is a copy of the 1992 USN MEMORANDUM regarding the
SOLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION FOR ADVANCED TACTICAL ASSAULT KNIFE, (ATAK)
https://web.archive.org/web/20010408012604/http://mdk.idv.tw/c_ataktest.htm
see any familiar knife models in the running then?
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afishhunter said:
I read that archived memorandum.
Interesting read.
I wonder why they thought sticking a knife in a tree and using it to do pull ups was something that would be done in a survival situation ... :confused::rolleyes:
I also found it interesting that the then issue Mk3's blade "broke in half during this part of the test ..."
(The Mk3 was tested against all its competition.)
Click to expand...

Yeah, that was surprising about the MK3, failed its own test...GM I see what you're talking about, those knives were bought out in the civilian marketplace. The manufacturers did not submit them to gain a contract and that is the original question, whether Buck went after Military Contracts, other than the M9...

Don
 
I retired from the Air Force with 20 years served in 1983. I wasn't a pilot but I did get issued A TL-29 and a Camillus pilot's knife that is still in my garage.
 
edbeau said:
I retired from the Air Force with 20 years served in 1983. I wasn't a pilot but I did get issued A TL-29 and a Camillus pilot's knife that is still in my garage.
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Yeah, it seems that almost everybody had one of the various incarnations of that knife, especially those in-country. The link I posted has a picture of an ARVN wearing one. There must have been millions issued over those years.

All I ever got was one of these. :)

35f30847bddac0adcf6bdc887ed7e642--folding-pocket-knife-pocket-knives.jpg
 
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A guy at work is a Marine Vietnam vet and while he was in Vietnam he said he saw many Buck 119's that were purchased from the BX. He carried a Randall that he bought prior to going over the first time.

At one time they issued many pilot's knives. Wish I had a dollar for everyone issued.
 
Forgot about the "Demo" Knife or MIL-K-818D. That and the Lineman's knife (TL-29) were the folding knives of choice.
 
I was in quite a few Navy and Air Force BXs in the Far East in the sixties and I don't remember seeing any 120s or 119s being sold.....no Buck knives except the 110 that I recall.

I could have missed them because I was only interested in the cameras and stereo equipment and the 110.

I DID, of course, have to buy the 110.

:)

IMG_2614 (2).JPG
 
Nice 110 and good to see you still have it. Yes, I did the camera and stereo thing also.
 
edbeau said:
I retired from the Air Force with 20 years served in 1983. I wasn't a pilot but I did get issued A TL-29 and a Camillus pilot's knife that is still in my garage.
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You being in the Air Force I don't doubt you were issued an Air Force survival knife, Jet Pilots Survival Knife is the Air Force Survival Knife? I was in the Marine Corp we were issued M7 bayonet's. I was in Supply Administration. So what does one have to do with the other?

The original question was did Buck ever have a Military Contract? Besides the M9 and what someone wrote about the Knight Hawk going thru TESTING there is no other documentation from Buck or the Military that they were awarded a Military Contract for an edged weapon...
 
VorpalRain said:
It didn't take Girlyman long to prove that wrong. Did you read his links about the Nighthawk?
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Why do you always try to find fault Did you actually read and understand what you read? As far as the Knight Hawk is concerned, who was the source of this information? If Buck was working that closely with the Navy why isn't there any documentation from the parties involved? What I have taken away from that article is the Navy was looking for a fighting knife for the Navy Seal's and ended up buying nothing. Does anyone besides me think that story sounds a little bit familiar? That is almost the same exact situation in the making of the Buck/Phrobis Buckmaster and eventually the M9? I may be wrong but, I do believe In Rich's book he talks about a few prototypes being made for the Navy Seals. They had Phrobis name on them but I'm pretty sure Buck made them. The Navy had them do all that for the Seals and then dropped the project? Just like the Night Hawk? Coincidence??
 
Bear Claw Chris Lappe said:
Over the years, I've seen a few references to Buck 119s being an "issue knife for pilots" during Vietnam.

I've talked to a lot of veterans, and seen some pictures of 119's & 110's being carried in Vietnam, and some guys say they were available to buy in military base stores back then, but I can't seem to find any official record of 119s being issued to pilots or anyone else in the military.

Any sources that can verify that claim?
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Here is Bear Claws original question...I got off track and so did a whole bunch of other people...

Did Buck have a Government Contract to issue 119 to the troops? The answer is; No...



Don
 
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sassafrassdogs3 said:
Buck did not ever, except for the M9, apply or compete for any edged weapon contracts with the Military as far as anyone can find out...
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Girlyman gave you links to show that the Nighthawk was submitted to the Navy to compete for an edged weapons contract.

So you were wrong. It's not a big deal. Everybody is wrong once in a while.

You entered this thread criticizing and misrepresenting what I said. There are better ways to participate.

So relax. Have fun. We all learn from each other.
 
VorpalRain said:
Girlyman gave you links to show that the Nighthawk was submitted to the Navy to compete for an edged weapons contract.

So you were wrong. It's not a big deal. Everybody is wrong once in a while.

You entered this thread criticizing and misrepresenting what I said. There are better ways to participate.

So relax. Have fun. We all learn from each other.
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Vorpal your wrong more times than there are stars in the heavens. You have yet to admit to that, if I am wrong I will admit to it. DeSoto Skye corrected something I said and I acknowledged it...Now, I read the links. Where is the Official Documentation from anybody any of that actually happened? I asked who actually wrote the article since there is no one's name attached to it unless I missed it somewhere?

As far as misrepresenting you? You stated everyone was issued a jet pilots survival knife? I don't think anyone in the Army, Navy, Marines or anybody other than Air Force was issued that knife...

You pick and choose what you want and then take it out of context then stand on it, truth or not, then you pretend to be the victim? You did the same thing when michael5135 was here and now you're doing it again. Do some research and ask questions before you judge what someone else is saying...

Yes, this forum is for fun and to learn something. I'm participating in that and stating what I have read and learned along the way. I ask people to say something if I stated something wrong, the thing is they have to show proof that I am wrong, not just because some fantom author wrote something up. I would think Buck would brag that the Kight Hawk was at one time considered for the Navy Seals? Wouldn't you if you were Buck? Plus the story is really close to the original story of Phrobis and Buck. I had stated that earlier...

Don
 
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