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Posted By: 338rcm Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
Looking for info,model and value help.Knife is marked "Buck USA" only.Knife was purchased in the early 70s, Knife is used and blade has sharpening scratches

I tried to post this in the knives and blades forums but I couldnt post the pictures there

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Posted By: JayJunem Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
Have you tried contacting Buck directly?
Posted By: rbg63 Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
Looks like a Buck 124 Frontiersman. Look at the tang stamp and number of lines in stamp for year of manufacture. The lanyard hole version was only made a few years in late sixties and early seventies I believe. Is the handle phenolic or micarta?

You can send it in to Buck and they will make it look like new in their "spa" for a nominal fee.

BuckKnife Date chart
Posted By: wink_man Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
Not sure about the knife, looks similar to a Buck 119. The sheath is not period correct for the early 70's, that much I'm sure of.
Posted By: smithrjd Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
Yep a 124 from 68-73.
Posted By: rbg63 Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
The sheath looks like the ones from that period when I run a GIS, Look at handle material Some were maroon or burgundy and some black.
Posted By: rbg63 Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
Good thread on early 124's
Early Buck 124 thread-Blade forums
Posted By: 338rcm Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
Sheath is the one that came with the knife, looks like it is from 68 to 73. Handle is black,not micarta
Posted By: rbg63 Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
More info on the 124.

Yes, I'm bored tonight and this caught my interest.

Buck info From Rimfire Central
Hello. The Buck 124 was originally designed as a diving knife and called a Nemo. It started its life somewhere around 1967. The original prototype, around 50 or so, had a hole centered in the pommel. They are extremely rare!!!

This was followed by a production model that was offered in 1967 with either a diving sheath (NEMO) or a flap leather sheath (FRONTIERSMAN). Both were the same knife, other than the sheath. They made roughly300-500 of these and they had black phenolic handles with white teflon spacers.

1967
Black Phenolic wrap around handle
Stamped BUCK, U.S.A.
Plain edge, no serrations
Stainless guard, varying thickness, one piece stainless butt, one visible rivet
Lanyard hole on end of bird’s beak pommel
Red “bone hard fiber” spacers
Plastic Nemo or leather sheath.
Larger 2 piece off white box for Nemo and Frontiersman.
1969 to 1970
Black Phenolic wrap around handle
Stamped BUCK, U.S.A.
Plain edge, no serrations
Stainless guard, varying thickness, one piece stainless butt, one visible rivet
Lanyard hole on end of bird’s beak pommel
Red “micarta” spacers
Plastic Nemo sheath or leather sheath.
Unknown box style.

1971
122 temporarily discontinued late in this year
Grey/black “Buckarta” micarta, heavy grain slab style handle.
Upside down stamp. Buck, U.S.A.
Partially serrated blade.
Stainless guard and 2 piece butt with 2 visible butt rivets.
Lanyard hole
Swinging leather sheath.
Unknown box style.

1972
Grey/black “Buckarta” micarta, heavy grain slab style handle.
Upside down stamp. Buck, 124, U.S.A. 122 may exist with this stamp too although no 122 were made in 1972.
Partially serrated blade.
Stainless guard and 2 piece butt
Lanyard hole
Swinging leather sheath.
2 piece yellow box.

1973
Nemo back in production.
Grey/Black or just black “Buckarta” micarta handle.
Right side up stamp. Buck, 124, or 122, U.S.A.
Partially serrated blade/122. 124/ plain blade.
Stainless guard and 2 piece butt/ 122. 124/ aluminum guard and butt.
Lanyard hole
Swinging leather sheath.
2 piece yellow box.

1973
Nemo discontinued for good.
Tight grain black or red micarta, blocky or squared handle shape.
Three line stamp, 124 only from here on.
Plain edge from here on.
Aluminum guard and 2 piece butt.
Lanyard hole.
Swinging leather sheath.
2 piece yellow box.

1973
Black “Buckarta” micarta
Three line stamp.
Aluminum guard and 2 piece butt.
No lanyard hole from here on.
Swinging leather sheath or Snoopy style.
2 piece yellow box.

1980
Black Buckarta “micarta”
10,573 units sold

1981
Black Buckarta “micarta”
7293 units sold

1982
December
Pakawood (impregnated birch) handle
4705 units sold

1983
3850 units sold

1984
4688 units sold

1985
5206 units sold

1986
Three line stamp, BUCK, 124<, U.S.A.
Date code after model number from here on.
4724 units sold

1987
6143 units sold[u][/u]
Posted By: rbg63 Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
Looks like a 1971 model from info above. Upside down Buck USA Stamp

Although I'm not seeing serrations. Hmmmmm

Black Phenolic and no serrations 68-71. No mention of upside down stamp
Posted By: 338rcm Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
No serrations
Posted By: rbg63 Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
How many rivets can you see in pommel?
Posted By: rbg63 Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
That limited info doesn't mention swinging leather sheath until 71
Posted By: 338rcm Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
I dont see any rivets
Posted By: rbg63 Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
That limited info doesn't mention swinging leather sheath until 71
Posted By: rbg63 Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
In your photos it looks like one rivet. It will appear like a circle in side of pommel.
Posted By: JackRyan Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
Originally Posted by wink_man
Not sure about the knife, looks similar to a Buck 119. The sheath is not period correct for the early 70's, that much I'm sure of.


My own first thought. Immediately "Looks just like my 119. Sheath and all."
Posted By: rbg63 Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
Profile is totally different. This is a lot heavier knife and doesn't have the pronounced clip point of the 119.

The early swinging leather wrap around sheath is different than the later wrap around sheaths.
Posted By: 338rcm Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
Originally Posted by JackRyan
Originally Posted by wink_man
Not sure about the knife, looks similar to a Buck 119. The sheath is not period correct for the early 70's, that much I'm sure of.


My own first thought. Immediately "Looks just like my 119. Sheath and all."



Not a 119, no flutes on blade, this is a lot thicker and heavier knife than a 119
Posted By: rbg63 Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
Cool old knife with the Stainless guard and butt compared to the later aluminum guard and pommel.

Thanks for sharing!
Posted By: rbg63 Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
This is an exaggerated view of a rivet pin. Yours is probably better hidden. This will show you where to look. When they finish the knife they buff this with the handle.

[img]https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/galleries/14412841#Post14412841[/img]

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Posted By: 338rcm Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
Will sell the knife for $100 FTF
Ad $10 for shipping
Posted By: browningwgm Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
PM sent
Posted By: browningwgm Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
I’ll take this one
Posted By: 338rcm Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/29/19
Originally Posted by browningwgm
I’ll take this one



Knife is sold
Posted By: FatCity67 Re: Buck Knife Help - 12/30/19
Nice get.
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