VeryEarly Buck....Rare?

[COSMO]

Hello fellow Buck fanatics. I am happy to share the pictures and knowledge about this very early buck knife. It is owned by an acquaintance of mine. I recently had the pleasure of seeing it, and take these photos. It is a bit of a confusing history that comes with this knife. You will note that the box says “110 skinner” and someone has penciled in “103” on the side. The sheath and box are original as well. According to the information below from Joe Houser, the knife is actually a “110 skinner” from about 1962. The following information about the knife was provided by Joe Houser:

It looks like it is the very first version of the production 103. It is actually a model 110 skinner. The model # of the skinner was 110 in the early 1960’s. They changed it to 103 before the folding hunter came out. This knife should have leather spacers as well.

I have never seen one of these before and it certainly is in great condition for its age. If anyone here has additional information about how rare or what the value of this knife is feel free to share it.

Thanks
Cosmo

 

[skylercstevens]

Very cool. The box is the rarest of all but it has the wrong sheath. Could be a barrel nut since I can’t see the side pins. I’d say $300 area if it is. Would have a circle on the end of the butt.

 

[DeSotoSky]

Here is a late 50's group 10 model 110 Skinner shown above a factory made barrel nut model 103 (when do you stop calling it a 110 and start calling it a 103?). The 110 handle is ebony and the spacers leather. Looks like there has been some blade loss and the pommel has been trimmed. When you find these early ones you take them any way you can. I would date the 110 to about '56-'61 and the 103 '62-'63 so they are not far apart chronologically. Interesting choil shape on the knife shown by COSMO. I could see the whole kit belonging together if the knife is not a barrel nut, if it is a barrel nut then I would agree with Skyler about the sheath. It's a transitional time period and buck is known to use up whatever they have so it would be tough to be absolutely sure.

 

[COSMO]

Here is a late 50's group 10 model 110 Skinner shown above a factory made barrel nut model 103 (when do you stop calling it a 110 and start calling it a 103?). The 110 handle is ebony and the spacers leather. Looks like there has been some blade loss and the pommel has been trimmed. When you find these early ones you take them any way you can. I would date the 110 to about '56-'61 and the 103 '62-'63 so they are not far apart chronologically. Interesting choil shape on the knife shown by COSMO. I could see the whole kit belonging together if the knife is not a barrel nut, if it is a barrel nut then I would agree with Skyler about the sheath. It's a transitional time period and buck is known to use up whatever they have so it would be tough to be absolutely sure.

View attachment 1118939

DeSotoSky Thanks for the great comparison. I added a pictures of the pommel, it is hard to see the circle on the end of the pommel. I did notice that there are only two spacers on the pommel of the knife I posted, and three on yours. Not sure what to make of that. Thanks again for the information.
Cosmo

 

[DeSotoSky]

DeSotoSky ..... I did notice that there are only two spacers on the pommel of the knife I posted, and three on yours. Not sure what to make of that....

The 3 spacers are an oddity and not a regular thing. I'm told Buck did that to make up length if the handle was coming up a bit short during assembly.

 

[Ernie1980]

That is a nice piece of Buck history! It is odd to me that they would change the name of an existing knife instead of giving a new knife a new name. Thanks for sharing!

 

[David Martin]

Ernie, on that one they changed the name and model #. Some got changed in 1961. DM

 

[David Martin]

In the May 2001 Collectors newsletter it puts the holster type sheath coming in 1964. As well as the Buck stamped snap. My barrel nut 105
has a keeper strap type sheath. DM