Thanks for these additional photographs. Now I can actually read the tang stamp and it is inverted but it is 3 lines instead of two. That will bring your knife into the 1970's and not the 60's like I originally thought when I was only seeing the two lines (in my mind and not your knife). Still a great find! I will pass on some information that I shamelessly snatched from another website which might prove useful should you care to learn a little more about dating these older Buck knives. Where you see these XXX's simply insert your model number, 120, in their place.
Here ya go...
Group 1 1972- Blade stamped BUCK, XXX, U.S.A. Stamp is upside down or inverted, read with the point down, Guard has two micarta spacers and two aluminum spacers. Pommel has two micarta spacers and one aluminum spacer. A holster style, or Flap over sheath was used and the knife came in a two piece yellow bow.
Group 2 1973-1980 Blade stamped BUCK, XXX, U.S.A. Stamp is right side up, read with the point up, as it is on today's knives. Guard has two micarta and two aluminum spacers. Pommel has two micarta spacers and one aluminum spacer. Holster style, or Flap over sheath still used and the knife originally came in a two piece yellow bow but the switch to a one piece yellow box probably started around 1978.
Group 3 1981 Blade stamped BUCK, XXX, U.S.A. and is oriented the same as the previous group. Guard has one micarta and two aluminum spacers. Pommel has two micarta spacers and one aluminum spacer. I should note that I have only seen the 119, 120, a couple 121s, and one 118 in this configuration and it is likely that the other models skipped this and went straight to the next version. Holster style sheath still possible but also wrap around the handle type is introduced. The belt loop on the 120 swivels. Same one piece yellow box as previous.
Group 4 1981-1986 Blade stamp is still the same as the previous group. Guard has one micarta spacer and two aluminum spacers. Pommel has one micarta and one aluminum spacer. Holster style sheath is still in use on some models. Just about every type of sheath is found in this group. Still the same one piece yellow box as previous.
Group 5 1986- Blades now have a date code following the model number and are stamped BUCK, XXX<, U.S.A. This is the only difference between this group and the one previous. Sheath styles used are probably the same as the group above. Although the logo on the box may have changed slightly, it is still a one piece yellow construction. Over the next many years the boxes used were one piece Black with white letters, then green and tan, category boxes, and now the present orange and black.
Wow, thanks for the info Ron, this is very helpful.
Now when I'm walking the antique show at the old NAS Alameda looking at Buck knives I will have some knowledge to back me up. I know they are common and not real valuable but I still like them, have always been a fixed blade user/fan although not as much anymore with the influx of open assist clip pockets which are just handy. When I go to my cabin like this weekend I will have either the 119 or the Schrade 225 on my belt.
The guys name was Beckman, he was in the Army Corp of Engineers. I bought his uniform, combat helmet and other random WWII related stuff. That's more of my thing. Love that generation of guys and gals.
Thanks again for the help...you can let me know what you collect and when I'm at our monthly antiques show (750+) dealers I keep a look out. Prices have been reasonable but I not a full time Knife collector, Have too many other things that I collect, then sell to buy more stuff. It's a crazy cycle...must be the hunt.
Think I gonna start focusing more on the knives for a while....there is some great people on this site.
Dale really helped me out a lot when I first joined.
Ron Cooper
Michael,
Thanks for these additional photographs. Now I can actually read the tang stamp and it is inverted but it is 3 lines instead of two. That will bring your knife into the 1970's and not the 60's like I originally thought when I was only seeing the two lines (in my mind and not your knife). Still a great find! I will pass on some information that I shamelessly snatched from another website which might prove useful should you care to learn a little more about dating these older Buck knives. Where you see these XXX's simply insert your model number, 120, in their place.
Here ya go...
Group 1 1972- Blade stamped BUCK, XXX, U.S.A. Stamp is upside down or inverted, read with the point down, Guard has two micarta spacers and two aluminum spacers. Pommel has two micarta spacers and one aluminum spacer. A holster style, or Flap over sheath was used and the knife came in a two piece yellow bow.
Group 2 1973-1980 Blade stamped BUCK, XXX, U.S.A. Stamp is right side up, read with the point up, as it is on today's knives. Guard has two micarta and two aluminum spacers. Pommel has two micarta spacers and one aluminum spacer. Holster style, or Flap over sheath still used and the knife originally came in a two piece yellow bow but the switch to a one piece yellow box probably started around 1978.
Group 3 1981 Blade stamped BUCK, XXX, U.S.A. and is oriented the same as the previous group. Guard has one micarta and two aluminum spacers. Pommel has two micarta spacers and one aluminum spacer. I should note that I have only seen the 119, 120, a couple 121s, and one 118 in this configuration and it is likely that the other models skipped this and went straight to the next version. Holster style sheath still possible but also wrap around the handle type is introduced. The belt loop on the 120 swivels. Same one piece yellow box as previous.
Group 4 1981-1986 Blade stamp is still the same as the previous group. Guard has one micarta spacer and two aluminum spacers. Pommel has one micarta and one aluminum spacer. Holster style sheath is still in use on some models. Just about every type of sheath is found in this group. Still the same one piece yellow box as previous.
Group 5 1986- Blades now have a date code following the model number and are stamped BUCK, XXX<, U.S.A. This is the only difference between this group and the one previous. Sheath styles used are probably the same as the group above. Although the logo on the box may have changed slightly, it is still a one piece yellow construction. Over the next many years the boxes used were one piece Black with white letters, then green and tan, category boxes, and now the present orange and black.
Sep 27, 2013
Michael Kelley Sr.
Wow, thanks for the info Ron, this is very helpful.
Now when I'm walking the antique show at the old NAS Alameda looking at Buck knives I will have some knowledge to back me up. I know they are common and not real valuable but I still like them, have always been a fixed blade user/fan although not as much anymore with the influx of open assist clip pockets which are just handy. When I go to my cabin like this weekend I will have either the 119 or the Schrade 225 on my belt.
The guys name was Beckman, he was in the Army Corp of Engineers. I bought his uniform, combat helmet and other random WWII related stuff. That's more of my thing. Love that generation of guys and gals.
Thanks again for the help...you can let me know what you collect and when I'm at our monthly antiques show (750+) dealers I keep a look out. Prices have been reasonable but I not a full time Knife collector, Have too many other things that I collect, then sell to buy more stuff. It's a crazy cycle...must be the hunt.
Think I gonna start focusing more on the knives for a while....there is some great people on this site.
Dale really helped me out a lot when I first joined.
Thanks again for your knowledge and help.
Mike
Sep 28, 2013
Michael Kelley Sr.
Make that Schrade 150t, got Kabars on my mind.
Sep 28, 2013