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Post by pepesdad1 on Mar 17, 2020 12:05:36 GMT -5
While in Miami, I found the box that my brother and I had put together when he came back from Nam. In 1966, I had given him an 8" Randall Model 2 fighting stiletto and a 6" Buck 119...the Randall I had dug out and gifted to a collector on another forum (BoB) as I have no relatives who would want it and I didn't want it sold in a garage sale for $10.00. The Buck 119 he didn't take with him and has sat in the box for the past 54 years unused but without the box and papers. The Buck at that time had Buck stamped in the blade with no other markings and 4 maroon micarta spacers...a full tang blade with full flap leather sheath with Buck stamped on the front and on the "button" that keeps the flap closed. Just checked the value on the intertubes and used they are ranging in prices from $500.00 to $900.00 depending on condition. This one has never been out of the sheath except when I took it to be sharpened, as when it came from the factory it had an edge but nothing to sneeze for. This one I won't give away as I did with the Randall (I must have been out of my mind that day or feeling really depressed) but the collector made me a couple of Damascus kitchen knives. A 8" French chef and a 4" paring both with tiger striped maple handles (scales). Thought you hunters and collectors might want to see this beauty.   |
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Post by Darin on Mar 17, 2020 12:06:55 GMT -5
Wow!  |
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Post by bigwoolie on Mar 17, 2020 12:15:02 GMT -5
While in Miami, I found the box that my brother and I had put together when he came back from Nam. In 1966, I had given him an 8" Randall Model 2 fighting stiletto and a 6" Buck 119...the Randall I had dug out and gifted to a collector on another forum (BoB) as I have no relatives who would want it and I didn't want it sold in a garage sale for $10.00. The Buck 119 he didn't take with him and has sat in the box for the past 54 years unused but without the box and papers. The Buck at that time had Buck stamped in the blade with no other markings and 4 maroon micarta spacers...a full tang blade with full flap leather sheath with Buck stamped on the front and on the "button" that keeps the flap closed. Just checked the value on the intertubes and used they are ranging in prices from $500.00 to $900.00 depending on condition. This one has never been out of the sheath except when I took it to be sharpened, as when it came from the factory it had an edge but nothing to sneeze for. This one I won't give away as I did with the Randall (I must have been out of my mind that day or feeling really depressed) but the collector made me a couple of Damascus kitchen knives. A 8" French chef and a 4" paring both with tiger striped maple handles (scales). Thought you hunters and collectors might want to see this beauty. Thank you for sharing! That is a very beautiful piece of usable art. I spent 2 years in the highland jungles of Papua New Guinea many, many years ago. A lifetime ago. Ive also spent many years in the bush of Alaska. I learned a long, long time ago that a good knife is the most indispensable tool a man can own. I would feel confident anywhere in the world with that Buck. |
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Post by toshtego on Mar 17, 2020 17:36:14 GMT -5
While in Miami, I found the box that my brother and I had put together when he came back from Nam. In 1966, I had given him an 8" Randall Model 2 fighting stiletto and a 6" Buck 119...the Randall I had dug out and gifted to a collector on another forum (BoB) as I have no relatives who would want it and I didn't want it sold in a garage sale for $10.00. The Buck 119 he didn't take with him and has sat in the box for the past 54 years unused but without the box and papers. The Buck at that time had Buck stamped in the blade with no other markings and 4 maroon micarta spacers...a full tang blade with full flap leather sheath with Buck stamped on the front and on the "button" that keeps the flap closed. Just checked the value on the intertubes and used they are ranging in prices from $500.00 to $900.00 depending on condition. This one has never been out of the sheath except when I took it to be sharpened, as when it came from the factory it had an edge but nothing to sneeze for. This one I won't give away as I did with the Randall (I must have been out of my mind that day or feeling really depressed) but the collector made me a couple of Damascus kitchen knives. A 8" French chef and a 4" paring both with tiger striped maple handles (scales). Thought you hunters and collectors might want to see this beauty. I have a small Buck from the same era. Same sheath, same grip, same stamping, just much smaller. It is my trout filet knife. Good knife they madwe back then. Yorus is a beauty. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2020 17:45:43 GMT -5
Ditto I have the smaller one from the 80s and while the sheath is in good shape not pristine like the one Walt has. I believe Bucks used 420hc steel in that time frame.
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Post by Ronv69 on Mar 17, 2020 17:59:06 GMT -5
Some guys in the Scouts had those and we tore them up prying and batoning on them. Last time I handled one it was a shadow of itself.
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Post by pepesdad1 on Mar 17, 2020 18:05:24 GMT -5
Ditto I have the smaller one from the 80s and while the sheath is in good shape not pristine like the one Walt has. I believe Bucks used 420hc steel in that time frame.That is what I was reading also...talk about sharpness, cut like the straight razor I gave to Josh just recently...smooth and clean...just unbelievable. |
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Post by Stearmandriver on Mar 18, 2020 5:00:50 GMT -5
Cleaned and quartered scores of rabbits for hawk food with a 119 from around 1990. I had no idea they'd gotten rare. That knife is a memento for me from that time and it's not getting sold regardless, but interesting to know it's apparently something of a collector's item now?
Mine's been used pretty hard though; that one there is a thing of beauty!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2020 9:23:33 GMT -5
They aren't rare in general. However, finding one feom that era, in that condition is exceeedingly rare. That is a special knife, Walt. Thanks for sharing the story and the pics. By the way, Buck still makes it and you can have a fair number of custom features on a new one.
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Post by Ronv69 on Mar 18, 2020 10:19:29 GMT -5
Walmart has the regular version for $55. Some of the special editions are up to $200, but most are under a hundred.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2020 12:02:06 GMT -5
One has to look carefully at buck to make sure it is US made. The stockman I purchased a few years back was the biggest POS made steel wise. The same can be said for Schrade products and many others. I don't expect to get much of a knive these days for less than hundred dollars. If you start skinning out a animal you are going to find out just how good that knife is pretty darn quick. You can not always go by the steel used the used it is the tempering process that makes the edge. A true forged knife has many steps in production and most inexpensive knifes are stamped steel. Do knifes loose their edge temper, you best they do. My 25 year old kitchen cutlery has lost the ability to hold a edge. Replacing it with Wusthof Ikon is proving to be very expensive.
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Post by Ronv69 on Mar 18, 2020 12:10:31 GMT -5
The 54.95 dollar one from Amazon is US made, so I suspect that the Walmart one is too. Plus, some of the Chinese knives are a good value and I'm sure that Buck has good quality control.
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Post by pepesdad1 on Mar 18, 2020 12:10:58 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm sticking with the older knives as most of them were made out of good steel with proper tempering...stuff today is mostly crap and even the "good" named brands are using foreign steel and crappy production of said knife. Yeah, Sean you are going to have to go to the high priced knives to get a good one Wusthof and Sabatier are two of my favorites. I had bought a couple of Jantz blades for my Damascus kitchen knives and had handles put on them...these blades will cut you if you look at them.  They use a core of VG10 and are wrapped in 52 layers of other steel compounds. I went with Damascus cause I didn't want the damn thing to break as I was cutting hard solid cheese.  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2020 13:18:54 GMT -5
Less in more Uncle Walt I looked at what i really used and ended up with three knives that should be able to make many meals for may years. The wife was ok with spending the money 6 inch hollow ground chef, 4.5 utility, 3.5 hollow ground pairing. With just two of us we did not need a full blown 8 inch chefs knife or a giant block of knives that never get used. No steak knives when i make anything it is always precut before the plate. When my daughter moved out she had a heck of a time learning how to cut her own food with out catapulting the plate. I did look at real Damascus from Seki city Japan and the good stuff was not inexpensive. VG10 is a very nice steel but i prefer a non stainless for ease of sharpening. Several butcher I talked to told me Victorinox Maitre is the best but I did not care for the handles. The blades are ice tempered in Solingen and I only know of one company that does that Wusthof and this steel is HC not stainless the steel used is X50CrMoV15 for both the Victorinox and the Wusthof premium knives.
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Post by pepesdad1 on Mar 18, 2020 14:16:23 GMT -5
Less in more Uncle Walt I looked at what i really used and ended up with three knives that should be able to make many meals for may years. The wife was ok with spending the money 6 inch hollow ground chef, 4.5 utility, 3.5 hollow ground pairing. With just two of us we did not need a full blown 8 inch chefs knife or a giant block of knives that never get used. No steak knives when i make anything it is always precut before the plate. When my daughter moved out she had a heck of a time learning how to cut her own food with out catapulting the plate. I did look at real Damascus from Seki city Japan and the good stuff was not inexpensive. VG10 is a very nice steel but i prefer a non stainless for ease of sharpening. Several butcher I talked to told me Victorinox Maitre is the best but I did not care for the handles. The blades are ice tempered in Solingen and I only know of one company that does that Wusthof and this steel is HC not stainless the steel used is X50CrMoV15 for both the Victorinox and the Wusthof premium knives. You are right, Sean...the number of times I have actually needed to use either of the knives...let's just say, I didn't need those bad boys...could have done very nicely with an alternative knife...one of the old HC knives that I've got. But, I have included those knives as part of the meager inheritance my wife's son gets...like he needs my help...he is one of the few self made men I have encountered in life...a truly loving and industrious young (compared to me) man. Has a home in Thailand as well as in West Va....wish I had his $$. Invests in diamonds and gold bars..."kid" is no fool. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2020 14:20:36 GMT -5
Walmart has the regular version for $55. Some of the special editions are up to $200, but most are under a hundred. If you go to their website and order higher end knife steel, custom handle materials, engraving, etc, you can spend about $400 on one. I can see doing that for a good friend for a special occasion or celebration. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2020 14:25:56 GMT -5
One has to look carefully at buck to make sure it is US made. The stockman I purchased a few years back was the biggest POS made steel wise. The same can be said for Schrade products and many others. I don't expect to get much of a knive these days for less than hundred dollars. If you start skinning out a animal you are going to find out just how good that knife is pretty darn quick. You can not always go by the steel used the used it is the tempering process that makes the edge. A true forged knife has many steps in production and most inexpensive knifes are stamped steel. Do knifes loose their edge temper, you best they do. My 25 year old kitchen cutlery has lost the ability to hold a edge. Replacing it with Wusthof Ikon is proving to be very expensive. Buck has lower quality Chinese and Taiwanese lines, like most of the larger manufacturers have. I will take a Taiwan made knife over the PRC any day. Their main line knives like the 110, 112, 117 and others are all US made and very nicely put together. You will pay for it, but they are worth it. I have a few American Bucks, Spydercos and Kershaws. Those are nice. Some of the Chinese knives can be pretty good, but I don't fully trust that culture to provide me with the steel marked on the blade or to properly heat treat the blade. For a hard use knife I can depend on I trust manufacturers from the US, Germany, Sweden, Japan, Italy, Sweden, Finland and a few others. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Mar 18, 2020 14:47:04 GMT -5
Walmart has the regular version for $55. Some of the special editions are up to $200, but most are under a hundred. If you go to their website and order higher end knife steel, custom handle materials, engraving, etc, you can spend about $400 on one. I can see doing that for a good friend for a special occasion or celebration. I can see that, but they are making the same plain knife that they made 60 years ago and it's available for an affordable price for anyone who has a need for one. For decorating purposes you can spend as much as you want but I doubt that you will get much if any more functionality. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2020 15:40:01 GMT -5
Nowhere did I say they were not making the basic model. Just pointing out the options that Buck makes available for really not a lot of money. A special knife for a special occasion is a great option. If I can get that knife with elk handles instead of slippery synthetic, for a little extra, that is worth it.
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Post by fadingdaylight on Mar 18, 2020 15:47:21 GMT -5
For what it's worth, I went on the website and built a custom just now, my personal design came out at $157, which is not bad at all in my opinion.
BTW, that is one beautiful knife right there.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2020 15:48:13 GMT -5
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Post by bonanzadriver on Mar 18, 2020 16:59:25 GMT -5
While in Miami, I found the box that my brother and I had put together when he came back from Nam. In 1966, I had given him an 8" Randall Model 2 fighting stiletto and a 6" Buck 119...the Randall I had dug out and gifted to a collector on another forum (BoB) as I have no relatives who would want it and I didn't want it sold in a garage sale for $10.00. The Buck 119 he didn't take with him and has sat in the box for the past 54 years unused but without the box and papers. The Buck at that time had Buck stamped in the blade with no other markings and 4 maroon micarta spacers...a full tang blade with full flap leather sheath with Buck stamped on the front and on the "button" that keeps the flap closed. Just checked the value on the intertubes and used they are ranging in prices from $500.00 to $900.00 depending on condition. This one has never been out of the sheath except when I took it to be sharpened, as when it came from the factory it had an edge but nothing to sneeze for. This one I won't give away as I did with the Randall (I must have been out of my mind that day or feeling really depressed) but the collector made me a couple of Damascus kitchen knives. A 8" French chef and a 4" paring both with tiger striped maple handles (scales). Thought you hunters and collectors might want to see this beauty. Thank you for sharing! That is a very beautiful piece of usable art. I spent 2 years in the highland jungles of Papua New Guinea many, many years ago. A lifetime ago. Ive also spent many years in the bush of Alaska. I learned a long, long time ago that a good knife is the most indispensable tool a man can own. I would feel confident anywhere in the world with that Buck. Hubba Hubba! Beautiful Buck for sure |
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Post by instymp on Mar 18, 2020 17:05:59 GMT -5
It is nice! I remember that one back then.
Had several Bucks, great knives but a bugger to resharpen.
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Post by pepesdad1 on Mar 18, 2020 17:24:00 GMT -5
Love this!! Thanks, Sean...knew I could count on you! |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2020 18:30:44 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2020 18:45:27 GMT -5
No fair Don you edited your post after I posted that Ron.  |
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Post by toshtego on Mar 18, 2020 20:23:27 GMT -5
It is nice! I remember that one back then. Had several Bucks, great knives but a bugger to resharpen. My little 102 is like that. I have to work hard to get a good edge. That must be one hard alloy! |
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Post by pepesdad1 on Mar 18, 2020 20:37:12 GMT -5
Not having a steady hand and eyesight is not that great either, I found that when I take it to a professional (knife sharpener) that I get back some great results.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2020 20:51:32 GMT -5
No fair Don you edited your post after I posted that Ron. Did not. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2020 20:52:13 GMT -5
Yes you did, Don.
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