Spacer dating for a 1 Line 120

[Scott Hartman]

I just had a 1 line 120 arrive this evening. I'm trying to keep more accurate records. This 120 should be in the 1962 to 1966, since it's not a barrel-nut nor a 1 line with a "dot after the K". Should the spacer between the handle and finger guard extend to the perimeter of the guard, or be as pictured? Do different production years in this time frame have differing spacer configurations between the handle and finger guard? Did the 1962-66 time frame have "keeper strap" sheaths and the "flap-over" sheaths? If I have misconceptions, please clear them up:foot:

 

[Larry Oden]

Scott,
The hard fiber spacer material can be found both ways: 1. cut-off and 2. extending out to the edge of the guard. I am not sure why this is so - maybe Joe has the answer.

The change to flap-over sheaths basically happened about 1965 because I have advertising dated 1965 that introduces the new sheaths. As with other changes, there is probably not a certain date of switchover. I expect they were gradually worked in as keeper-strap type sheaths were used up across the model line-up.

Except for a few very, very rare custom ordered knives, all the fixed blade knives from the 1960s have the 4 spacer configuration (two at the pommel and two at the guard).

As an aside, barrel-nut models exist with both leather and later, hard fiber spacers. This is true of the black phenolic and the white melamine handled knives.

I hope this helps.

 

[Joe Houser]

The flap over sheath was actually introduced in late 1964 which means, like Larry mentioned, that 1965 was when you would really start to see them more. The handle spacer question has no definitive answer. Most of the ones I see have that piece of bone hard fiber extending out to the end of the aluminum piece. I have heard that if a knife came back to buck for work, they often shortened that piece. Why they would do this, I don't know. We rarely replace handles on fixed bladed knives anyway.
It looks like a nice knife!

 

[Scott Hartman]

Thanks Joe & Thank you, Larry. You guys are always willing to share your wealth of Buck knowledge!