Buck knives and stacked leather handles

[Richard Simmons]

Thought some of you might enjoy these pics of a couple Bucks from my collection featuring stacked leather handles. It's not something Buck does or has done very often.

These three look like a set but we're all offered individually. The Buck 106 hatchet was a very limited run just for BCCI members so it would be the hardest to acquire if a man wanted to pick one up.






This is a custom 119 that was commissioned by Jeff at The Cutlery Shoppe quite a few years ago.



There is another 119 with stacked leather handle out there that differs from this one in that it has colored spacers in the handle and the guard is much thinner. I can't remember the details on it but you do see it come up for sale from time to time.

Until the last couple of years L.L. Bean had a couple of stacked leather Bucks. I believe there was a 105 and a 102. That's about all the stacked leather Bucks I know about.

[Marshwheeling]

Those knives are very nice. I like stacked leather handles, but they really are at their best on tools. My Estwing hammers with leather handles are the most comfortable hammers i have used. I don’t really have that much occasion, but when i have to spend a few hours driving nails, i really want to have my Estwing.

[Tom Kent]

I got the stacked leather handle Brahma knife. I really like it, especially for woods carry. I did not like the sheath that came with it. Since it is essentially a Buck 119 Special, I ordered a 119 standard sheath to carry for it. Now I like it and the sheath just fine. A real good knife.

[Rastoff]

I don't remember ever seeing a Buck made with a stacked leather handle. Those are beautiful.

Originally Posted by Marshwheeling

My Estwing hammers with leather handles are the most comfortable hammers i have used.

I have a left hand hammer. It is by far the nicest hammer I've ever owned or used.

[Texas Star]

Thanks for the photos, but I prefer the black phenolic resin handles, and that's what all six of my Bucks have. I do want a couple with white bone or Micarta handles.BTW, I haven't found the black resin handles to be very slippery.

In a combat zone, I'd probably put dark tape over the aluminum butt and guard, but I'd prefer a Fallkniven knife with Thermorun handle there, anyway.

[shouldazagged]

I've owned and used Buck knives off and on for over forty years, and these are the first I've seen with leather handles. I especially like the one without colored spacers, traditionalist that I am.

But if I were still able to spend time in the field and needed a heavy duty knife I'd prefer the Bucks with phenolic. Or better still, one of my Bark River knives with canvas Micarta handles, but a Buck 118 or 105 would do nicely.

[k22fan]

The two stacked leather knives were in SMKW's catalog not long ago. I wonder if SMKW placed the order with Buck. They have a history of buying small special order runs from Case, Buck, and Queen, among other manufacturers.

While the survival features of the GI Joe looking pair in theory could be useful their appearance is perfect for someone else's taste. I prefer the very attractive 119 with leather washers between the standard aluminum hand guard and pommel. One with an S30V blade would be irresistible, especially in the smaller 102 Woodsman size.

However, for practical young men on a budget phenolic handles will remain the mainstay of the line. They are affordable, light and can be washed with the dishes. If they get slippery your hand will still stay between the hand guard and pommel.

Thanks for showing your treasures Richard. I did not know Buck had ever made knives with leather washers in other wise standard handles and I had not seen that hatchet.

[eveled]

leather washers were meant as a cost saving measure on war time knives. They did not expect the knives to last very long anyway under hard use.

Because of their no nonsense appearance they have become an American icon. I consider Bucks hunting knives, so I prefer my bucks with the Phenolic, wood, bone, or antler handles.

I like washers on my military knives.

On a side note the smaller leather washer Buck you show is the 117 Brahma. They have used that blade with the standard handle, as the 117 Special. In that configuration, I find it to be the best of Bucks lineup. Not to big, not too small. It is the middle one in this picture, with a Cherrywood handle.

The leather handled hatchet you have is a real neat piece to have.

[Texas Star]

Leather handles were used long before WW II. They were felt to be easy to hold onto when wet and to afford a good grip and give an outdoorsy image. Randall provides leather as his std. handle in many models even now. Fallkniven Northern Lights line have leather. These are expensive knives.

I dislike having to polish leather, and it can dent and scratch, but overall, works okay. The main rub is that it molds or rots in the tropics. Military handles are treated to prevent this, but it works only to a degree.

The Model 119 above made for The Cutlery Shoppe looks good. The others look crude, with a simple slab guard and pommel. The blade finish doesn't add much appeal, either. Really, I'm surprised that Buck would make such ugly knives.

[CCHGN]

THE only leather stack handle knife (with leather sheath) I have experience with is my K-Bar (Oleans, NY). I've had it since 1976, carried it for 8 yrs, and the leather is still good. I ground the sides of the handles flat (to index), cut the top guard off (to be able to grip up on the blade), and drilled a lanyard hole.

[Texas Star]

Do any of you recall when cans of smoke-flavored Spam showed a skillet of Spam and eggs on a stump in the woods, with a Randall Model 3 knife beside it? The knife had a leather handle.

I contacted Hormel to get the story on that knife. Turned out, it belonged to the asst. photographer and he loaned it for the photo.
He was never compensated for that, beyond his basic pay. But Hormel sent Bo Randall a bunch of the empty cans, which he sold or gave away until the supply was exhausted. I think a serious Randall collector should seek those cans.

I wrote this up in an article for, Knife World.

The cans have changed, but I miss that one with the knife on it.
The leather handle looked totally right. But if stag had been used, that'd work, too.

[britbike1]

Not mine but i wish they were. Mine is a plain ol' 119 from 1991. And a pre '67 jpk survival knife.

[Richard Simmons]

Originally Posted by britbike1

Not mine but i wish they were. Mine is a plain ol' 119 from 1991. And a pre '67 jpk survival knife.

That second photo is mine. I also like the Buck 120 General which is picture with my stacked leather 119.

[Marshwheeling]

Originally Posted by Rastoff

I don't remember ever seeing a Buck made with a stacked leather handle. Those are beautiful.

I have a left hand hammer. It is by far the nicest hammer I've ever owned or used.

Oh yeah? Well I have a Snap-On metric crescent wrench.

[wingriderz]

That's Awsome