Some Help in Figuring Out the Age of a Buck 120?

[wharncliffe]

I picked up an older Buck 120 some years back and am trying to determine when it was manufactured. It has the three-line tang stamp (Buck / 120 / U.S.A.), which I understand dates it between 1972 and 1986, but I'm hoping that its box might help narrow the date range. Below are a couple pics of the box, can anyone help determine a more specific production date for the knife? Thanks for looking.

 

[guy g]

Let me try to word this where it makes sense. About 1980-81 I believe Buck changed from 440c to 425m. When doing that Buck also changed the blade grind . 440c is real thick behind the edge while the 425m looks like the hollow grind of today.
I tried to take a pic, but can't get the grind to show like we need. Hope this is a start till the experts get here

 

[matthewtstock]

Pictures of the knife would be most helpful. Although if the warranty paperwork is in the box, it will include a date in the lower left or right corner that can give a general idea of the date of manufacture.

 

[guy g]

The glare on this photo might give you an idea of the grind.

 

[wharncliffe]

Thank you! Here are some pics of the edge and of the side of the warranty card that has some information on the bottom, although no dates that I can decipher. I appreciate your help with this.

 

[DeSotoSky]

IMO.. 1977-1981.
The box changed from 2 PC to 1 PC about 1977
The micarta spacer configuration changed from 3 to 2 in 82, one being eliminated between the aluminum spacer & handle.
Picture of the sheath? If it is flat and not folded it would be at the end of my given time period.

 

[dsutton24]

Dating Buck knives prior to '86 can be difficult, and even from '86 onwards all you're doing is dating the blade. Yours was probably built sometime in the 1982 to 1986 range. Blades from '86 onward generally had a date code on them.

 

[wharncliffe]

IMO.. 1977-1981.
The box changed from 2 PC to 1 PC about 1977
The micarta spacer configuration changed from 3 to 2 in 82, one being eliminated between the aluminum spacer & handle.
Picture of the sheath? If it is flat and not folded it would be at the end of my given time period.

Thanks for looking at this, I appreciate it, a picture of the sheath is below. With respect to the box, what does "PC" refer to?

 

[wharncliffe]

Dating Buck knives prior to '86 can be difficult, and even from '86 onwards all you're doing is dating the blade. Yours was probably built sometime in the 1982 to 1986 range. Blades from '86 onward generally had a date code on them.

Thanks!

 

[DeSotoSky]

Thanks for looking at this, I appreciate it, a picture of the sheath is below. With respect to the box, what does "PC" refer to?

The box changed from a 2 piece box with a lid to a 1 piece box like yours with a hinged lid in 1977.
Your style sheath first appears "about" 1980 so I would date your knife to 1980 or 1981.
Your knife has 3 Micarta spacers but starting in 1982 the number of spacers decreases to 2.

 

[wharncliffe]

The box changed from a 2 piece box with a lid to a 1 piece box like yours with a hinged lid in 1977.
Your style sheath first appears "about" 1980 so I would date your knife to 1980 or 1981.
Your knife has 3 Micarta spacers but starting in 1982 the number of spacers decreases to 2.

Understood, thanks again!

 

[matthewtstock]

The printers code "481100M" means it was printed in 4/81 and the 100M is a print run of 100,000 copies.

 

[wharncliffe]

Great, thanks for the information.

 

[DeSotoSky]

@matthewstock, I overlooked that detail.. The printers code gives a can't be older than date.
Dates this knife pretty closely.

 

[kyhunt]

@matthewstock, I overlooked that detail.. The printers code gives a can't be older than date.
Dates this knife pretty closely.

That’s interesting. I never knew that there was a date code on the paperwork. Thanks guys.