Stumbled across this in a little gun shop yesterday. It's the discontinued Buck 120 "the general". It has the burgundy spacers and like new sheath. Former nimrod owner did a poor job of scratching up the blade while "sharpening". I spent a little over an hour last night with a soft arkansas, hard arkansas and diamond stick to get a nice razor edge back to it. I'll put a few more hours polishing out the scratches. I didn't need it and it's a little too big to be practical for anything except survival but son Ty retreived the 119 for himself (well, I told him he could have it).
I figured for $24.00 OTD I'd rescue it and have a new toy.

The Buck General was my grail knife when I was a kid. I had just read Heinlien's "Tunnel in the Sky" and when I saw the Buck it was all over. Funny thing is I still don't have one and since they were discontinued the price has skyrocketed. Oh well, some day.

I want one very badly! I have posted a WTB ad . Let me know if you know the wherebouts of one.

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Doc Garrett
Dead Man's Doctor

ditto for me please. i go to smoky mountain knife works and look in the "relic" section for discontinued knives. very nice find and very nice price

That was a good book.

I saw a guy in the 'Glades the other day and he was carrying one on his belt.Didn't know him and don't think I'd care to.But it was pretty cool to see one "In service".I didn't see the blade but the sheath was well worn.
Good deal on a great knife,I'd have bought it in a second.

DG

I have the Buck knife that is the next bigger size than that. I bought it when the Rambo movie came out, then I figured out it wasn't good for anything a knife does and it's too small to act like a machete.

Look at the blade tang (ricasso). There should be a little mark by the model number. It'll look like a letter or a chevron or a line.

Describe that, and I'll tell you when your knife was made. I have a letter from Chuck Buck, correcting some misinfo in the Buck book.

Buck will probably refinish your blade for little or nothing. Tell them the circumstances in which you found it, and that you will take better care of it.

You can gradually get most scratches out with Flitz or Simichrome, but it takes a long time. I'm still working on a couple of used Swiss Army knives after a year! Only have so much time for hand polishing.... If your scuffs from clumsy sharpening are deep, you'll probably need a factory refinish.

I have three Model 120's, and none is for sale. The price you got this one for was evidence that you are blessed with good fortune! One of mine was $65 at a gun show, and had to go back for refinishing, at which Buck did a splendid job.
Looks new!

"Tunnel in the Sky" is among my favorite books! But I think that Rod's 21cm blade molysteel knife, Col. Bowie, was more like the Fallkniven NL 2, the Odin model. It's laminated blade and the length is almost exactly what Heinlein wrote that Rod's knife was like. However, I'm pretty sure that his handle was more durable than the NL 2's leather handle. It looks much like a leather Randall handle. www.fallkniven.com Look for the NL 2 there. The Randall Model 1 or Model 5 might also resemble Rod's knife, with an eight-inch blade option. I checked a ruler, and 21cm is about eight and a third inches. I picture his sister's knife, Lady MacBeth, as looking like a Loveless boot knife, with five-inch blade. It couldn't have been too big, or he couldn't have hidden it under that bandage on his leg.

Robert Heinlein fenced while at Annapolis, and was somewhat knowledgeable about knives, which he often featured in his books. He mentioned Solingen blades, but never a make or model.

If someone needed a good survival knife without spending a lot or waiting for a custom knife, the Buck No. 120 would probably be a fine choice.

I have heard that Buck blades are brittle, but every such story that I could confirm involved someone trying to beat the edge through bone, usually with a rock. One fellow managed to chip even a Fallkniven blade, but he was chopping at something, and missed. The blade went into the ground and hit a rock. This was mentioned in one of Nut'n Fancy's video reviews of the knife. See YouTube for No. 120 "reviews", although few amount to any real testing. But you can admire the knives!

I would also avoid throwing the knife, but like chopping bone, this is true of ALL knives not designed and tempered for that use! Also, do not stab the blade into wood, then try to flick bits of wood off by twisting the knife. That may well break the point. Nonetheless, this is a test that the SOG SEAL 2000 passed in Naval trials. I was impressed by that.

Congratulations on getting a good knife at a fine price! The handle is a little short for the long Applegate- recommended fencing grasp, but is fine in a hammer grip, or a modified version, with the thumb farther alongside the handle. That comment applies to almost all factory-made knives, and to many "custom" ones, like most Randalls.

Good luck to the member who wants to buy a No. 120. I think he'll like it when he gets one. Better get a spare, too.
You know how it is: if you like something, they'll quit making it, as Buck did with the Model 120. Thankfully the shorter Model 119 is still with us.

T-Star

I think you have either the Nemo dive knife or the very similar Model 124. This was Buck's attempt to make a heavy duty survival knife, similar to the Randall Model 14, I think.

Many of you will recall the ads in major magazines which featured the Model 124 and a cowboy cutting off the head of a rattlesnake with one. I once wrote an article about that ad and the artist. Buck told me how to contact him. He was very precise, almost photographically accurate with his specialized painting technique. He did have one of the knives to paint, and got the detail incredibly good.

If you have a Model 124 or the much more rare ( I think) Nemo diver's knife, do not sell it without checking current collectors prices. I'm not "up" on those, but believe that you'll get a LOT more than you paid for the knife!

I'd love to see photos of your knife. If you post some, I'll tell you the Model number, but it should be on the ricasso of the knife.

T-Star

[QUOTE=Texas Star;135590047]Look at the blade tang (ricasso). There should be a little mark by the model number. It'll look like a letter or a chevron or a line.

Texas Star, This one by the absence of any of those markings and the burgundy/maroon/blood red spacers predates the BUCK date marking system. It's just: BUCK over 190 over small U.S.A.
One of the reasons it caught my eye, plus the sheath is the older swinging wrap-around style instead of the pouch with the top-over snap closure. Thanks for all the info!

You're welcome, but check your PM's again. The maroon spacers are still standard on most Bucks, as far as I know.

I checked two of my Model 120's last night, and one was made in 1987, the other in 1992. I also checked a Model 105 from 1994. All have the spacers.

Ask Buck about the sheaths. My latest one has the sheath like yours, without the swinging effect. The pouch sheath was probably earlier than mine. (I also have the pouch sheath, with another No. 120.) , and a "standard" sheath was even older. The sheaths have varied at least four times, I think.

I suspect that your age estimate is pretty close.

T-Star

Still looking for a 120 even though I have just purchased a 119!

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Doc Garrett
Dead Man's Doctor

I have two of the Model 120 knives, both of which I found on EBAY at fairly reasonable prices several years ago. They are great knives!!!

Good post TS Now I'm not sure what I saw?
Still a good find tho'
DG

I think I remember the magazine add and the cowboy was wearing a big ring that said "lets Rodeo", possibly the add was for Tony LLama or Naconna Cowboy Boots? I pulled the knife out and it is a Buck 124 and the knife and sheath are in excellent condition. I had not used the knife in 10-15 years and this Halloween my 10 year old daughter wanted to dress up as a "cave woman" and needed a club. So I went outside and found a tree limb and used the big Buck knife to chop and whittle it into a club for her. It worked quite well for that task and a smaller knife would have taken much longer and much more effort. I'm a little curious how much it might be worth and would probably be interested in selling it since it is so big.

Well, you never know when you might need to make another club. Better hang onto it. You may need a club, yourself, to beat the boys off that daughter in a few years.


I don't know collector values for Bucks, but you might ask on a knife forum or ask Bernard Levine at Knife World. His, "Whut Izzit" column is a good place to do that.

The ad was for Nocona boots, I believe, and I do recall the ring reading, "Let's Rodeo." There was another Nocona ad featuring a gila monster.


T-Star
P.S. I'm reading C. J. Box's newest novel, about a game warden in Wyoming. Both the warden and another character are carrying Buck knives, but Box didn't give a model number. I sort of think he had the Model 110 folder in mind. He does know to capitalize Buck, unlke some authors.

I really like Buck knives, I have several, including a 110 that I carry daily and a 119 that I've had for about 25 years. The 120 General is a grail knife for me. I'm still looking for a good un-abused one. You got a great deal.

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195th Session FBINA

Top is a Buck Nemo
Bottom is a Buck 124 Both new with scabbard and box.I`ve had these for ever.Any idea the value.
Dick

I just looked on E bay and the Buck 124s looked like they were selling NIB for maybe $150-225. Thats not that great because I remember them selling in gun stores for near 100 bucks, 30 years ago.

Your knife appears to be a late 70's or early 80's which would have the 3 line marking. However, the middle line of the era is normally the model number so the 190 does not compute. It should be a 120. But, that's just passing knowledge as I do not collect Buck knives.

The design of this knife, like the somewhat similar 124, is roughly based on the WWII 1219C2/Mark 2 Combat Knife, commonly called the Ka-Bar. Many other makers, like Camillus and Schrade to name two, also took the old Ka-
Bar design and marketed it with updated hilt, handle and pommel. They are nothing like the Randall model 14 or anything else in the Randall line for that matter.

Bob

Sir, not to hijack the thread, but would you happen to know when this one was made? I bought it new in about 1987, so presume it's from around then.

On the right side of the ricasso, it's marked:

BUCK
119 >
U.S.A.

"BUCK" is in a larger font than the model number and "U.S.A." if that matters.

Thanks, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

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Wishin' don't make it so.

I own a new in box, only taken out to look at, never used. Its the Buck knife 120 pro-line general, black handle, quality leather sheath. still in box. I also have about 10 other Buck fixed blade knives. including the matching 102, and 105. I know your post was a while ago but let me know if you are still looking, im not terribly attatched to these knives. thanks,....Joel Cv

this is the exact knife i have,..... http://reviews.cabelas.com/8815/515086/reviews.htm

I own a new in box, only taken out to look at, never used. Its the Buck knife 120 pro-line general, black handle, quality leather sheath. still in box. I also have about 10 other Buck fixed blade knives. including the matching 102, and 105. I know your post was a while ago but let me know if you are still looking, im not terribly attatched to these knives. thanks,....Joel Cv
p.s. my knife is on the link

http://reviews.cabelas.com/8815/515086/reviews.htm

Was there any difference between the Pro-Line Bucks and other Bucks of the same basic model? Was Pro-Line some brand variation marked for sale at Cabelas?

T-Star

Hey members
I have a mint Buck 120 I got back in 1982 or so.Has the original box-sheath.Never used,so in perfect condition.I also have a Buck 124 in the same format.
If interested,please let me know.
Thank you,
Henry

[QUOTE=Leatherman-Cowboy;135875856]Hey members
I have a mint Buck 120 I got back in 1982 or so.Has the original box-sheath.Never used,so in perfect condition.I also have a Buck 124 in the same format.
If interested,please let me know.
Thank you,
Henry




PM sent

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Bob

Hey Bob
Thank you for asking about it.
Henry

Ron-

Just saw this. The chevron point facing to the right indicates 1987 manufacture.

T-Star

The General is the biggest Buck knife.What Buck knife do you have that is bigger then the General? I would really be curios to here that they made a new knife without telling anyone!

I think Buck made a mistake when they discontinued the original 118 Personal, the one designed by the patriarch and used by him all over the world. It was a great design. Blade length was a little over four inches, small enough to be useful and large enough for fairly heavy work.

I just gave my last one to my son, as I can no longer hunt or camp due to health problems. If you get a chance to pick one up, especially with the old flap-over sheath, I recommend it.

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Oh well, what the hell.

PM also sent.

I have a 105 pathfinder, 110 folding hunter and a 119 special. I paid $25 for the 105 back in the early eighties. It has the top flap. I got a good deal on the 119 in 1983 I think. A local lumber store was going out of business and had their display case marked down. I bought it when they were 30% off and paid a little over $20 for it. I have both receipts in the boxes. I will also say that I have used my knives and they have served me well.

I have two of the 119's that I used to use in my PA deer hunting days! Also the first really good knife I ever owned............a 75' vintage Buck folding hunter.

The Frontiersman is the biggest Buck I have seen. I don't know when they quit making it, I bought mine when they first came out sometime in the late '60s or early '70s if I remember correctly. It came in the case with the fold over flap. OK, had to go check and the case is marked 124. I don't know if the 120 has a longer blade, but the 124 has a thick wide blade. My 124 has only Buck usa and has no markings to indicate year made.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

There is a 120 on the auction site at $37 with 19 hours left.

I have one that has sent back to the factory for a polish and resharpen. It was so abused by the previous owner they had to remove more that 1/4" to get the edge back to where it could take an edge.

$8.95 is the rate I was given for the work.

I have a Buck 123 filleting knife with the number 23 brown leather sheath. It is unlike any other Buck knife I have ever seen, in that it has a reddish brown, non-slip handle (Kraton?) with a lanyard hole, and a 6 inch filleting-style blade. Whoever designed this knife certainly knew about filleting fish, as it is perfectly shaped to make the job a lot easier.

Does anybody else have one of this model?

Impulse buy. I generally don't buy on impulse, but when I saw this Buck in the PX for $25, I couldn't resist. I'll probably never use it but it feels real good in the hand and I can imagine taking it hunting. I'm not so sure how long the nylon sheath would last, however.

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