Buck 110 variant?

B

Bill Chamberlin

Joined
Apr 2, 2018
Messages
387
I just got this today any trying to figure what variant it is. I think I narrowed it down to a V4V2 or V5V1. The USA stamp looks like the V5 but it has a brass spacer. And if I’m reading correctly the Vi’s had stainless?
Is The sheath correct for the knife? Because again if I’m reading correctly Buck started putting Buck under the belt loop in 75. There is a felt pad inside the sheath over the snap, is that factory? I know the box is probably incorrect. If you need any more specific pictures of anything let me know.
thanks



 
Thank you. What was confusing for me was the USA stanp. mine looks like 1970-1972 B, when I clicked on it it’s showing V5. I didn‘t know if it was some sort of transition period. What about the sheath, not correct for the knife?
 
DeSotoSky said:
I'm not expert but think the change from 2pc to 1pc boxes was about 1977.
Click to expand...
That is what I’m seeing also, on the history of the 110 page.
I have looked at that page, JH’s sticky up top, Larry’s book and they are all a little different In terms of dating Everything.
 
The way I think of the Houser Variations is that they emphasize the construction of the knife, the blade is secondary. Version 4 had a brass spacer, Version 5 had a stainless spacer, so the OPs knife is a Version 4. It's not unusual to find a blade that appears to be slightly unusual compared to the handle. In my opinion every Buck knife has the potential for being a 'transitional' knife.

Tang stamps also varied. There are several size and aspect variations in the V5 knives, for example. Nobody at Buck documented these changes as they happened, stamps wore out or broke and were just replaced as a matter of routine. That's why tang stamp charts are notoriously untrustworthy.

If you've never come across it look up Buck 110 Technical Information for Collectors by George Stinzel. His categorization of the 110 is a little different than the Houser system and it contains slightly different information. I kind of merge the two together when I'm trying to figure one of these knives out.

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Yes I looked at all three resource. Joe Houser's, Larry Oden's book and History of 110.
I'm still trying to figure out the sheath, if it is correct or not. Because I think it was right at a transition period too. Buck at the bottom of the sheath or above the loop.
I know the box is incorrect. If anyone has an extra 2-pc box I'm looking for one.
 
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