Pics of my new Vietnam era 119

[MountainLyon]

I picked up a 119 that’s supposedly from around 1970 and went to Vietnam. If that is its age, then it’s about the same age as my grandpa’s old 307 stockman. This 119 is in pretty good shape, the handle polished up really nice. I like the reflections of the poppies in the handle in this pic.

The lighting is better on the blade in this one.

The blade has a couple small dings and scratches from stabbing something from the look of it, and then they were sanded out a little. (The log I stabbed in into is soft redwood.)

So is it really 35 years old?

 

[T Schloz]

MountainLyon,

What is stamped on the tang and is it read with the tip pointing up or pointing down? Also, how many maroon spacers does it have at the guard and pommel?

Tom

 

[MountainLyon]

One spacer at the hilt, two at the pommel. “Buck 119 U.S.A.” reads tip up. It also has this little notch in the choil that I don’t remember seeing on newer versions.

 

[JK Knives]

My Buck 119, which I believe to be an early one, has 2 maroon spacers at the hilt and at the buttcap. While looking at it with the blade tip pointed down it just says BUCK, no model number or USA.

jOHN

 

[T Schloz]

MountainLyon,

I believe that the 3 line stamp that reads tip up would place production of that knife between 1974 and 1985 when the date code was added. Maybe one of the experts can chime in here with some more information.

Tom

 

[MountainLyon]

Thanks Tom. It sounds like what the seller said about Vietnam might have been BS. I still guessing it’s from the 70’s, and 440C steel, I wish I knew for sure but at least I didn’t pay too much for it either way. When I bought it I thought that the fold over flap sheath would help ID it as a 70’s knife, but going by the responses to my earlier thread on that subject by Joe Houser and yourself, the sheath doesn’t help much due to lack of documentation… maybe also because some people switch the sheaths, gee what kind of moron would do that? ;^)