Buck 124 handle history

the-accumulator

the-accumulator

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I recently picked up an old 124 Frontiersman that did NOT have the full tang and riveted handle slabs but, rather, it has a hidden tang. The mark is "BUCK/U.S.A." upside down on the back of the blade. The "U.S.A." is in a very small font. The cross guard appears to be solid stainless. The butt cap also appears to be stainless and is riveted on. There is only one red spacer at each end of the black handle material. The black leather sheath is the pouch type with the fold-over flap that snaps. The loop on the sheath is marked "124." All the other 124s I remember seeing have full tangs with Micarta handles. Anybody know more about the history of my treasure?
Thanks, Alan
 
this was the style of the that knife and it was known
as 122 with rubber sheath or
as 124 with a leather sheath..
rare early ones have 4 rivets in pommel
then 2 rivets and the white spacer
next are the ones like you have ..
then slab side handles
then a year mark added in 86
hummm should be aluminum guard..?
thought only the 70 and 71 had SS guard
but i am guessing here..
some real expert will come along with the real skinny
(there are about 4 )
as most here know- i am a 110 kind of guy...
but i jest happen to have a 124 or two...
there are some in the pict thread
or email me and i will share mine with ya..
if ya is lucky EEE will give ya a link to his!
impressive!
 
If I'm reading the data sheet correctly the guard and pommel were SS from 67 through 72, then changed to aluminum. Looks like Buck went to aluminum at the time they discontinued the Nemo.
 
My favorite knife ,the early 122/124,classy well proportioned.
Yours is phenolic handle,two diffirent red spacer materials were used.
Smooth Red Bone hard fiber on the early knives,red micarta (black specks or streaks sometimes they will be black from buffing) on the later phenolic.
 
Evil Eye Earl said:
My favorite knife ,the early 122/124,classy well proportioned.
Yours is phenolic handle,two diffirent red spacer materials were used.
Smooth Red Bone hard fiber on the early knives,red micarta (black specks or streaks sometimes they will be black from buffing) on the later phenolic.
Click to expand...

see there!:D
i told ya some one that knew the skinny would come along with the 411..:thumbup:
 
Earl, Any input on the Stainless and Aluminum guard and bolster dating? And, I've got to agree..."classy and well proportioned."...:)
 
MWallace said:
Earl, Any input on the Stainless and Aluminum guard and bolster dating? And, I've got to agree..."classy and well proportioned."...:)
Click to expand...
Your are correct on the dating in your above post.
Stainless on pommel and guard 1967-1971
Aluminum on 1972 and up .
Some Customs had nickle silver,or brass.
 
I do believe, upon further inspection, that the guard and pommel are aluminum. They do not attract a magnet, and they are definitely a whiter color than the blade. I can see one pin holding the pommel on, visible from both sides of the knife. The pommel is also drilled, in case I forgot to mention that. Thanks for all the input.
Alan
 
the-accumulator said:
I do believe, upon further inspection, that the guard and pommel are aluminum. They do not attract a magnet, and they are definitely a whiter color than the blade. I can see one pin holding the pommel on, visible from both sides of the knife. The pommel is also drilled, in case I forgot to mention that. Thanks for all the input.
Alan
Click to expand...

Your 124 should be all stainless fittings,and is not the same type of stainless as the blade.
 
chickentrax said:
Do you know what stainless it is??? Maybe one of the 300 series??? 304 is very malleable... :cool:
Click to expand...
wow a VERY good question from the Chicken!
now that is one i would like to know also
i had noticed there was a diff .. but not formed that into a question..
 
Stainless or aluminum?? I compared the 124 to a BUCK/105/USA and found the guard and pommel of the 124 to have a more mirror-like shine while the 105 had a whiter, duller finish. While the 124 fittings have more scratches than the stainless of the blade and they don't attract a magnet, they certainly might still be stainless, just a more malleable type not suitable for holding an edge, and therefore non-magnetic.
 
the-accumulator said:
Stainless or aluminum?? I compared the 124 to a BUCK/105/USA and found the guard and pommel of the 124 to have a more mirror-like shine while the 105 had a whiter, duller finish. While the 124 fittings have more scratches than the stainless of the blade and they don't attract a magnet, they certainly might still be stainless, just a more malleable type not suitable for holding an edge, and therefore non-magnetic.
Click to expand...

The 105 always had aluminum fittings.
The 122/124
1967-1974 blade was 440C
1971-1980 blade was 425M
1994-1997 blade was 420HC
Still searching for SS material for pommel and guard.
The Aluminum guard and pommel were made from tempered Dural and hard
fiber for lightness and balance.
All info for the 122/124 was gathered from BCCI web site by Richard Matheny
 
Here are some pics of the various spacer materials on 122/124.
Click pic twice to enlarge.


Red Micarta

Red Bone hard Fiber

White Teflon
 
EEE...From your pics i can identify my 124 as having red bone hard fiber spacers. I appreciate all your input regarding this knife. Thanks!
Alan
 
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