Buck 124: New vs. Old?

TAH

TAH

Joined
Jul 3, 2001
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Due to all the bad influence I have received on this forum (you know who you are), I am seriously considering purchasing a 124, but can't decide between a new one (post 2012) and an older one. I don't care about blade material, but I would like to know about the following:

1) Is there a difference between handle size (length & circumference)? What about shape? Are the older handles more rounded?
2) Is the blade profile exactly the same? From photos, it seems like the newer ones have a little more belly up front.
3) Sheaths - Is there a difference in leather quality, not sheath construction, but leather quality?

This is the vintage I'm considering if I go with an older knife. Photos of this vintage next to a post 2012 knife would be helpful.

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Many thanks! :thumbup:
 
I have the same knife u have pictured. The micarta handles feel like a part of your hand. Its perfectly rounded, handle is not to big or small. Very well balanced. The sheath I have I believe is the one you also have pictured its a drop swing arm style or a "Snoopy" sheath. Fits the side nicely. The blade is pretty darn thick full tang. And also the 440c which I like very much, I think u will to as opposed to 4425m or 420hc. U are considering purchasing a very nice knife, everyone I know that has one lives it. Make the plunge!
 
TAH, I haven't held a new 124 yet. On the older ones the handle is beefy, the guard is large and the blade wide. If the new ones have more belly up front it looks like they could use it. The old ones are a very handsome knife. DM
 
David I had a newer one in 420 and it was a good, well... ok knife. Just not like the old quality.
 
Thanks buckman and David. I'm leaning towards an older knife. I like the old sheath style better. All of my Bucks are from the 70s, so I'm very aware of and prefer 440C, but I know Buck does a good job with 420HC, so a 420HC blade certainly would not be a deal breaker.
 
Mine is the same knife and sheath you show in the photo but it has the lanyard hole. One year I used a 124 ( a 1994 w/ 425 steel) to process a large doe. It had the wooden handle. The knife worked real well in
skinning, quartering and reducing the cuts to edible portions. A good field test. DM
 
Here is my recent (2012?) black boxed 124 between my 119 & 120 - if that helps!

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Stainz
 
I have an older rosewood 124, a burgundy micarta 124, a new Dymondwood 124 and one of the latest BCCI Lucite 124's. Quality wise there is virtually no difference what so ever. I mean we're talking a blade, guard, hilt, two scales and two rivets. Either it all fits like it's supposed to or it doesn't. The BCCI model is slightly different in design so I'll disregard that one. Of the other three the new model 124 has a thicker feel to the handle. Mostly in the width. It's not bad but compared to the other, older 124's it's not quite as comfortable, at least in my hand. As far as any other differences IMHO they are very minor and really of no consequence other than the blade steel. Nothing wrong with any of them but with the older models you do get a choice of something besides 420HC.
 
David, it's good to know the 124 can perform when called upon, but I'm not even sure what I would use it for. My 105 is all the knife I need. There's just something about the 124 that makes my heart beat faster.
 
Thanks Stainz and Badhammer. Any thoughts on the leather quality of the sheaths?
 
TAH said:
Thanks Stainz and Badhammer. Any thoughts on the leather quality of the sheaths?
Click to expand...

I'll have to look them over but off the top of my head I'd say the older ones might have a slight edge but they are all quite serviceable.
 
One review said the new sheath looked and felt more like some type of processed fiber material, even though the reviewer knew it was leather. From the photos, the new sheaths look great to me, but his review made me question what the new leather looks like in person.
 
buckman110 said:
Make the plunge!
Click to expand...

Well, I took buckman’s advice and made the plunge. I don’t buy many knives, but when I do, I go all out. I decided on a 124 from the 70s in the best condition possible, so I paid way too much and purchased one that was new in the box with all paperwork ($370 shipped). Stupid for sure, but I’ve wanted a Frontiersman for years and I wanted a nice one. Delivery on Thursday. Thanks for everyone’s help. Here it is…


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Thanks buckman. One feature that has always caught my eye and has intrigued me is the shape of the choil. I love the looks of it, but is there a reason for its unique shape?
 
Not that I'm aware of tah, I believe that bucks designes were use in mind. Not to be fancy, just a hardcore knife lol.
 
The notch in the choil was probably for a choke-up finger notch. I've seen some of this model that moved that little point a little farther forward allowing for that hold. Back then much work was still done by hand and all these knives were not uniform. A great looking model. DM
 
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