What is the history on the 25th Anniversary 112 - Finger Grooved?

H

Happy Hippo

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I know about the 25th Anniversary N/S 112 (part # 112NK). They were in the catalog from 1987 to 1993. The etching on the blade has the wrong anniversary date. DakotaSky had answered some questions about it last year. But I can't believe that I didn't know there was a finger grooved version until a couple days ago - when Buckaway showed me one. It has part # 112 FGS, catalog #8080. They have brass frames but the same clip point etched blade and a fancier sheath . Since then, I've been reading a bunch of past threads about them from this forum. I have a few questions.

1). Were they also available in that 87 to 93 timeframe? Seems a little odd they were not in the catalog, but not that unusual.
2). Was there ever a n/s finger grooved version, even as a special build?
3) Seems odd they used brass instead of n/s. Was there a reason for it?
4). Were the n/s and brass versions made with all those years of tang stamps? I haven't done research on it yet, but I've seen '86 and '87 tang stamps on the finger grooved and '86, '88 tang stamps on the n/s. I am wondering if any of the years between '86 and '93 are more scarce than the others.
5). Was there a finger grooved version of the Founder's 112 that started in the 1994 catalog (112N4)? I also just noticed I don't have a 112N4 in my collection. I saw a 1995 tang stamped 112 with n/s bolsters, but no blade etching. I guess it could have had a blade replacement. Or maybe someone buffed out the etching. Or maybe they made an unetched n/s version that year.
 
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I checked the Special Projects List for '87 and seems my memory has not checked out yet.
#1554 112D2 Ducks Unlimited Canada 50th 1939-1988 qty 4000+ N/S FG
 
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DeSotoSky said:
I checked the Special Projects List for '87 and seems my memory has not checked out yet.
#1554 112D2 Ducks Unlimited Canada 50th 1939-1988 qty 4000+ N/S FG
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yes, but I think that has a special shield, no? I meant a finger grooved version of the n/s 25th anniversary - maybe as a special build.
 
Are you two talking about the same knife? Post photos if you can, please, I'm confused. Thanks.
This is what I think of when thinking of the 25th Anniversary issue...
IXBIj9Q.jpg

feRbRRI.jpg
 
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pjsjr said:
Are you two talking about the same knife? Post photos if you can, please, I'm confused. Thanks.
This is what I think of when thinking of the 25th Anniversary issue...
IXBIj9Q.jpg

feRbRRI.jpg
Click to expand...
I am talking mainly about the 112 finger grooved version of that, with brass frame. I don't have it yet to take a picture. I didn't realize until a couple of days ago that it existed. Then there is another one, from 1994 to 1996, that has "Buck Knives since 1902" etched on the blade, which I referenced in question #5. I don't have that either. I do have the ones you are showing.
 
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DeSotoSky said:
H Happy Hippo Sorry, I was just pointing out that other 112 N/S FG's existed during the same time period.
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If looks like the question of n/s in 112s was discussed in general on the Forum in 2019. The consensus appeared to be 1987ish, including the FGs. I see some non-FG n/s 112s non-etched blades in the mid nineties, corresponding roughly to timing of the Founders edition in 1994 to 1996, with the etched blade. I wonder if those non-etched blades were just used on extra n/s frames they had? I don't see, for example, a 1995 non-etched, non-FG, n/s bolster 112 mentioned anywhere in the documentation. Yet they exist. My answer on question #5 on whether a FG version of the Founders 1994-1996 112 ever existed, brass frame or otherwise, appears to be, No.
 
I've heard that Buck said there were 4,000 in the run but in two decades of looking I've seen 2 and bought one of the 2..The Burgundy gold heat stamp shieth is really unique! I'm fairly sure I have never seen a finger grooved version of the nickel silver frame 25th as I would have known it was odd..and grabbed it! At that time Buck was fairly flexible if the order was large.
 
bucksway said:
I've heard that Buck said there were 4,000 in the run but in two decades of looking I've seen 2 and bought one of the 2..The Burgundy gold heat stamp shieth is really unique! I'm fairly sure I have never seen a finger grooved version of the nickel silver frame 25th as I would have known it was odd..and grabbed it! At that time Buck was fairly flexible if the order was large.
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This is the knife that prompted me to do this thread. I didn't know this existed until you showed it to me. I think the 4000 includes the standard non-fingergrooved model. On Facebook, someone was selling a n/s finger-grooved model from the 80's with a non-etched blade. I never saw that. My comments there convinced the guy to remove it from sale and keep it. 😀. That's OK, I'd rather have the guy research more what he has.
 
Odd 112's were and are my passion! But so many odd ones are employee knives outrighty counterfits reblades and garage manglers.. But I still love them!
Edit: So many early limited runs (By Bucks numbers) rarely show up for sale on eBay or sale by collectors NIB.. Examples include 5 pin,Sechud (SP) wood, Stag and finger grooved and ANY nickel silver frame 112's. That leads me to believe few were saved and many are lost. One of the first NS frame 112's after the 25th was a run for Walmart with of all things a 'Workman' blade etch! Supposedly 1,000's made I have never seen a new one. Drop points, especially in S30V, are almost unknown NIB.. It's only after 2000 or so a few show up. Don't even ask about Damascus.
It's much much easier to collect 112's in the last decade. Smart collectors should seak out early raritys while the few can still be found. My collecting days are about over but the popularity of the 112 is only increasing.
 
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I'm only one initial off... mine is stamped CCW, which in my state refers to Concealed Carry Weapon and in late 2023 the permit requirement was repealed. It's my understanding that the 432 was available at a discount if you bought Goodyear Wrangler tires from 1983-86, with about 10,000 being offered. The inlays are birch, but similar 112s during the 4 dot era, '81-'86, were ebony.

 
H Happy Hippo
Here's an old thread that may have some interesting info.

BG42EDGE

Thread '25th Annie 112. Anybody know?'

I noticed this because it was finger-grooved and it seems I don't see them finger-grooved very often.

So does anybody know the ratio of finger-grooved versions of the 25th Annie knife to the regular version?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...vG0JZMw%3D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Joe Houser said he had never even heard of an FG 25 Annie 112 in brass until that thread.

It also has input from several of our old departed (some dead) experts and not so experts.

Memory lane.
 
Meadowlark said:
H Happy Hippo
Here's an old thread that may have some interesting info.

BG42EDGE

Thread '25th Annie 112. Anybody know?'

I noticed this because it was finger-grooved and it seems I don't see them finger-grooved very often.

So does anybody know the ratio of finger-grooved versions of the 25th Annie knife to the regular version?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...vG0JZMw%3D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Joe Houser said he had never even heard of an FG 25 Annie 112 in brass until that thread.

It also has input from several of our old departed (some dead) experts and not so experts.

Memory lane.
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I hadn't either. It isn't in the catalog or price list. The funny thing is, a week or so ago, I bought one from 1987 from a Bladeforums member. Then on ebay, I saw another one, from 1988, which I also bought. So I went from not even knowing about it to having two in just a couple of weeks.
 
Happy Hippo said:
I hadn't either. It isn't in the catalog or price list. The funny thing is, a week or so ago, I bought one from 1987 from a Bladeforums member. Then on ebay, I saw another one, from 1988, which I also bought. So I went from not even knowing about it to having two in just a couple of weeks.
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That's how things go.

Maybe you'll never see another one.

:)
 
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