Vintage Buck knife info needed

C

Craig_L

Joined
Sep 10, 2012
Messages
9
I'm trying to find out some more info on a early Buck I got a hold of that I had never seen anything on. From what I can determine it is from the early days made between 1946 and 1961. I was hoping that someone here would have a better idea.

The sheath is marked:

Buck Knife Co
1272 Moreno
San Diego, Cal

The only markings on the knife is Buck on one side and 123 on the other.

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You have a group 5 knife made between 1948-1951. The word Buck will be a single strike and the dot on each side is an individual stamp. Buck added the model # somewhere around 1948. The handle is made of red and white lucite with aluminium pommel and finger guard. The blade will most likely be made of an old file blade or saw blade. The sheath is original to the knife. I'm guessing your knife was made in 1950. I checked the 1948 and 1949 catalogs and your model number wasn't shown, it wasn't in the 1951 catalog either. You have a real nice piece of Buck history. Send me an email is you consider selling it, old300s@gmail.com
 
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Thank you for the great information. Do you have any idea what price range these fall into? Not real interested in selling for now but would like to have some kind of value for it. Thanks again, Craig
 
The value is in the condition as well as vintage. Knives like this fall in a range depending on market. If you send me an email I can give you prices, but due to forum rules it is prohibited. Send me an email and I can tell you, it will impress you.
 
With a bit of consideration and consulting other collectors, the consensus is that this knife may be a one off, made at the instruction of the original purchaser. In the early days of Buck Knives you could request special lengths and shapes as well as grinds. This explains the oddities sometimes found that aren't found in catalogs. It makes collecting a adventure, and also reinforces the idea that collecting isn't always a science. History is always changing and being re-written, so we as collectors need to keep an open mind and except that there isn't allot written in stone...
 
That is very interesting. I think is is cool to find one of these early knives in small town Nebraska when the total production would of been very low.
 
If only those old knives could tell us tales of the places they had been! That,sir, is a real beauty!
Thank you for sharing:thumbup:
 
Craig_L said:
That is very interesting. I think is is cool to find one of these early knives in small town Nebraska when the total production would of been very low.
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One would think that the total number of knives was low but that is a misconception, As far as factory standards, yes the number would be considered low but the quantity of knives produced a year was in the thousands. We all like to think our oldies were hand made by the Great Hoyt Buck but in those days Al was working with him and into the 50s the business was really getting off to a great start. The company was more than just the two of them. They had several people working and building knives. If you are able to get a copy of that book:
THE STORY OF BUCK KNIVES: A Family Business by Tom Ables,
it tell a great story.
 
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