Spacers and snaps?

[TAH]

Regarding the 100 Series Phenolic knives, what year did Buck switch from two spacers at each end of the handle to one spacer at each end?

Also, on the old flap sheaths, when did the snap change from a single BUCK to three BUCKs in a circle?

Thanks!

 

[Richard Matheny]

With regard to the spacers, I don't think there is a precise answer. In general, if you consider that spacers can be found in the guard, between the aluminum parts at the pommel end and at either end of the black phenolic handle piece there are a lot of opportunities for variation, primarily at either end of the phenolic piece. I believe they started eliminating the spacers on either side of the phenolic in the late '60s or early '70s. In my collection I have knives that went from four to three to two spacers around that time. The catch here is that if the stack up of the handle parts was too short for the components they wanted to use they would add spacers to make up for the play. Given that, you can find newer knives with more than the standard number of spacers for that era. Further, when four spacers were used you can find the use of guard spacers (extra long) on the handle side of the guard. I don't know if this was deliberate or happened when they were running low on handle spacers. FYI. Maybe Joe has a better explination. He will also know about the snap change.

 

[TAH]

Thanks Richard. Perhaps I should have been more specific. I'm wondering about the two burgundy spacers, at each end of the handle, of a mid '70s Pathfinder. When did Buck change to just one burgundy spacer at each end?

 

[Joe Houser]

For the longest time we had no info on phenolic handled knives from 1972 to 1986 because they all were stamped the same, BUCK, 119, U.S.A. Then the issue of the micarta spacers was brought up. I took several hundred of each of the 100 series modles and laid them out on the floor. Some of the knives had boxes with dated paperwork which helped out a great deal. After studying the mess I had made I came up with the following, which I will concure, is based on several assumptions.
1973-1980 blade stamped BUCK, 119, U.S.A. Guard has 2 micarta spacers and pommel has 2 micarta spacers.
1981 blade stamped the same. Guard has 1 micarta spacer and pommel has 2 micarta spacers.
1981-1985 blade stamped the same. Guard has 1 micarta spacer and pommel has 1 micarta spacer.
I have only actually seen 119, 120, a couple 121's and one 118 with the spacer combo explained in the second group above. Lots of 119's and 120's. It is possible that most models skipped this variation and went straight to the third group.
I have no clue on the snaps but I know that a few years back we made a batch of flap over sheaths, just before all the sheath making machines were gone, and they had the snap you described with 3 bucks in a circle.
I hope this helps.

 

[TAH]

Joe,

Thanks for the all the information. That's exactly what I was looking for. :thumbup:

And here I thought the snap question was going to be the easiest to nail down.

 

[Richard Matheny]

I would go with Joe's explination. I thought my knives (119s) all transitioned to two spacers much earlier but they are all three liners (none inverted). Sorry!