Some questions about a 102.

N

Nordicthug

Joined
Dec 24, 2006
Messages
3
Hi guys,

I have a couple of questions about my old Buck 102. I bought it new at Stan Baker's Gun Shop in Seattle in about 1963. If memory serves I paid around $12.00 which at the time was over four hours of labor for me as an apprentice boatbuilder. It came with a black leather sheath that had a strap with a button to hold the knife in the sheath. Yeah, I know, crummy description. Anyway, my knife was constantly falling out of the sheath so ten or twelve years ago I bought a Buck sheath with a flap closure which ended that problem. My knife is marked "BUCK" on the blade near the hilt. Over the years I've cleaned several tons of fish and half a dozen deer with the knife, as well as peeling a carload of potatoes, and all it has needed is a swipe or two on an EZ Lap diamond steel. Is this old knife special to anyone except me, and what sort of steel is it made of? The reason I ask is the dang thing never seems to dull.

Thanks for any help you can toss my way.
 
I am unsure of the type of steel, I'm not up on the older knives...
I hope you kept the old sheath though :D
Sounds like a nice knife!
Pics!!!!!!!!!!!
Depending on wear and abuse it could have some value...
Depending on the condition of the sheath it could also be valuable!
Sounds to me like its valuable to you!!!!
 
Nordicthug said:
what sort of steel is it made of? The reason I ask is the dang thing never seems to dull.
Click to expand...

Since it was bought in the 60's, the steel is 440C, which is a great edge holding steel!

I liked your history with yours, I jsut got my first 102 Wed. as an early XMASS gift from my girlfriend. I hope I have as much fun with my 102 as you have!
 
Hi nordicthug,

Cool story about your 102. Welcome to the Buck forum...post #1 and all. Sounds like 440C as TLC said in the post above. If you could post a photo it may help with a more accurate ID.

jb4570
 
Nordicthug, welcome to Blade Forums and the Buck Forum. Your 102 is a great knife, the blade is made of 440C. The first knives to leave the new factory in 1961 were made from stock forged by a commercial forging company in Los Angeles. These knives have a barrel-nut in the pommel. In 1962 , Buck made changes, and the pommels have a pin through them from side to side, around this same time frame,Buck stopped using forged 440C and started using 440C from a mill. I haven't had the pleasure of doing extensive testing on Bucks forged 440C vs. mill 440C, as these knives are collectible items. Post a picture of your knife and we can narrow the time of production. Here's a picture of a barrel-nut in the pommel:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d80/scotthartman123/Barrel Nut 1961/000_2228.jpg
 
Wow ! ! what a response! There is no barrel nut, there's a pin approximately 5/32" in diameter through the pommel. As to condition, I've never babied my knife so the blade has some scratching and the handle has the normal wear and tear of a utility knife with more than forty years experience. On the other hand, I've never pried off any hubcaps with it, just used it to cut things with. The old sheath is in a box of useful things that haven't seen the light of day in decades.

My everday knife is a 110 that Buck sent me instead of repairing the old one I dropped in a parking lot. I hadn't put it back in the sheath after using it, I laid it on the rear bumper of my pickup(Genius). When I found it the next day it looked like a D8 Cat had been driven over it a few times and pivoted on it at least once. Anyway, the blade was hard to open and the scales pretty badly roughed up. Nothing was broken, so I took a chance and sent it to Buck with my Visa number to see if they could patch it up. If not, I wanted to buy a new one. They sent me the one I have now under their warranty. How they can warrant against stupidity is beyond me, but I've had this one for six or seven years now. The big difference between it and the old one, except the Caterpillar Custom Job, is the new one is all rounded and soft, much easier to handle and the scales appear to be cocobolo. Oh yeah, and vice grips aren't necessary to open the blade.

Gerry
 
chickentrax said:
That's how my next wife will be...rounded and soft...and stupid... :D
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trax you do know ya dont have to marry them dont ya :p :D
and i would let ya slide on the round and soft but the stupid i dont know :confused:
none of my gf's have been too stunned but some of my friends have had some real doosies , while it has given me endless hours of entertainment no end to the grief for one guy , a couple of years after shes gone and hes stll paying for her ##$$ its like alimony without the marriage :eek: so theres stupid good and stupid bad and then theres young and dumb :D
but , all you had to add would be 'independantly wealthy' then it doesnt matter what she does its all good :D
 
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