I got one of the 75th Anniversary Buck Model 119 knives that you can see reviewed on YouTube.





The smell of the tanning agents or dye on the sheath is pronounced and may need a few more days to go away. I'll polish it, which it should have, anyway.

I called Buck to ask about steels.

They used 440C until 1982, then from 1982-1992, used 425. Since 1992, they use 420HC with their unique heat treat to add hardness for longer edge-holding.

I had thought the 420HC didn't arrive until they changed the shape of the ricasso, and forgot to ask when that was. I really prefer the older style.

QC on my new Model 119, made only last year in the 1942-2017 comm. form, is excellent. It's fully on par with my beloved older 119, made in 1995.

Buck has a chart on their site that'll tell you when your knife was made, going by the little mark on the ricasso/tang.

I hope this is of interest.

I like Buck knives and have several American made ones. They were originally an Idaho company out of Mountain Home and now in Post Falls with a long layover in Los Angeles.

They were in El Cajon (the Box), for many years. Is El Cajon in the Los Angeles area?

Heard they do a great job of their heat treating of the 420 H.C. steel. Got the Alpha folder skinner which does a great job in the field.

No. El Cajon is a suburb of San Diego. I used to work a couple of blocks from the Buck factory there. Before El Cajon Buck had their plant in San Diego. Neither is very close to Los Angeles.

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BCCI Life Member #2068

That's what I thought. I assume the member in Post #2 above was just in error about LA.

Did you ever visit the factory? I think they have tours now.

Do you recall when they moved to Idaho?

They left El Cajon around 2004 as I recall. I wasn't into knives at the time so never went by the factory. My wife was their once for business and bought me my first Buck, a 303 Cadet. Probably got a couple hundred Bucks now. Still have that knife. In fact it made a trip to Buck a few years ago for a spa treatment.

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BCCI Life Member #2068

Just checked Wiki. The move to Post Falls was in 2005, so you were close.

As for their spa treatment, I sent a used Model 120 that needed refinishing back some years ago. It was returned looking new, and sharpened, too.

I've been to the factory/store several times. The did give me a military discount.

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

You can sign up via the website for military discount for online orders. As a life member of the Buck collectors Club Inc. I frequently get coupon codes emailed to me. Our members also get a certain number of purchases each calendar year at wholesale price. There are some exceptions and I don't recall at the moment but seems like we can Oder three knives per year as well as a larger number of accessory, clothing, sharpening items etc., all at really good prices.

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BCCI Life Member #2068

I have the Kalinga and Auquna, but prefer Case XX ( and Kabar, of course). IN the 70's, we all carried the 110.

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USMC Life-GOA IDPA A10051