Vietnam Era Buck Knives...

DeSotoSky

DeSotoSky

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I had a table at the local knife show this past weekend. The table holder behind me, an older gentleman, had a Buck 105 and 120, both 2-liners, and both very overpriced for condition. He felt they were more valuable because they were "Vietnam Era". Does anyone actually buy into that? Not like they were actual military issue knives. Wouldn't that criteria include ANY knife made between 1955 and 1975? I think this has been discussed in the past but the silliness of it (IMO) is fresh in my mind again. This ridiculous claim is also seen frequently on eBay, sellers trying to make their product valuable by implying a connection to a historical event. I'm sure many Buck knives did go to Vietnam as personal knives and have seen a few over the years with military unit or date written on the sheath but geesh.....
 
They do the same thing with Randall knives, however it only brings a premium when the knife is accompanied by strong provenance.
 
I've seen the same thing at the antique mall. Apparently this works as a selling point for some?
 
We are informed buyers and know what the true values are on Buck knives (or should be). However, there are many more uninformed buyers and sellers who believe their knife is worth it's weight in gold. We also know any knife for sale is only worth what someone will pay for it. An unscrupulous seller may spin a great story to separate a fool from his money. After saying that I have to say this fool has had buyers remorse more than once at what I spent on a knife I thought I just had to have;).

JB
 
I'm "Viet Nam Era"; made in 1954, born 1955.
Don't make me more valuable. If anything, it makes me worth less, if not worthless.
 
Technically anything above 50 years would be categorised as an antique.
The price for Anything old of Value must surely be dictated by an active market value.
The rest of the old curios if sold
fall under a "willing buyer & willing seller" situation.
It certainly helps to bait if there is a credible sentimental value or personal history attached.
So just imagine, if anyone has tangible proof that Westmorland had worn a buck folder along
With his trademark Randall in the Nam,
One could easily find a possible situation of Westmorland era 110s being advertised as so.
 
I have talked to quite a few VVs about what knives they saw and most told me if you had a knife most likely it was a BUCK 110.. They were sold in the PXs also.. John
 
I'm "Viet Nam Era"; made in 1954, born 1955.
Don't make me more valuable. If anything, it makes me worth less, if not worthless.
Click to expand...
I guess that makes me woth even more or more worthless, I am WW2 era, born in 1945. That makes me an antique.

I have a Buck knife I bought in the "Vietnam era". Does saying so make it worth more? I don't think so. However, I do have a set of Coast Guard uniforms from that era that went to Vietnam, but I didn't go with them ( a buddy of mine borrowed them when the ship he was on went to Vietnam). Does that make them special and more valuable?
 
Unless the thing was there and you can prove that it means little to me.

I made a point to have a few pics taken of my Randall in OEF, may matter when my kids sell my stuff down the road or simply for them to know it had "been there".
 
There were three things we could get away with as Air Force on an Army base: Having a motorcycle, wearing sunglasses, and carrying a Buck. The Bucks were sold at the PX and the one I bought in '67 would have some value to me, (I lost it after about ten years.) but I wouldn't pay a premium or even be looking for one. I'm falling in love with my new lightweight 110.
 
afishhunter said:
I'm "Viet Nam Era"; made in 1954, born 1955.
Don't make me more valuable. If anything, it makes me worth less, if not worthless.
Click to expand...

Actually, you're closer to Korean War era. Born in 67, I'm Vietnam War era.

OP, my early '70s 110, owned by my older brother, is no better than my ~2014 version bought at a big box store. Unless you're filling holes in a collection, age doesn't matter. Buck's current production is that good.

Zieg
 
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