Review Buck Ultimate Fillet knife 122

R

Rbpwrd240

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Sep 18, 2014
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I saw this BUCK 122 today with an inverted three line logo. I made an offer and to my surprise the seller accepted. I realy purchased it because its older 440c steel and it had a beautiful wooden handle. I dont have pics yet but I'll get some when it comes in. I would post a link to the sale but don't want to break any rules.

My question is this.
I thought the inverted logo was from about 1972 but after doing some research it appears these didn't come out till 1983 in limited numbers. Anyone have any info on this or possibly what the value would be in today's market?
 
Rbpwrd, welcome to the Buck forum. Buck switched to 425m steel in 1982. The stamp could have been mispositioned. I've seen that model, the wood handle is a laminate. There were several models of those 'mates'. Stream mate, Lake mate and Ocean mate, models 123, 125 & 127. Then yours. Does yours have a 11" blade? Value questions are permitted for Gold members and above. DM
 
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I have a pretty large selection of the fillets and and number of them have the 3-line inverted stamping so that is not odd other than it does not follow the normal date sequence for that orientation. 425m would be the steel most likely, not 440c as David Martin has pointed out.
 
The 122 is likely a Bass Pro offer and is the same knife as the 123. Except for the kraton handle. It has a 9" blade and birch laminate wood handle. DM
 
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I’d love to hear how pleased you are when you fillet a few fish with it. I’m always on the lookout for the ultimate fillet knife! OH
 
^^ That's what I first thought of when I read the title, thinking I would not consider the 122/124 a filet knife. LOL
 
Sry guys I didnt see all this activity. Yes the knife came in I have pics but no way tonpost them.

I'd love to be able to figure out the steel. Judging by how it sharpened id say 440c. Blade thickness is .067" at the base. Its fairly flexible not like the 121 post 71 of .077".

So far I realy like it. Took a great edge. Worked it down to 4 micron and put some pitch blend on the sheath. Ill work on pics.
 
http://imgur.com/a/mlAZAoH

mlAZAoH


Here is a link to after the sharpening. I cant seem to figure out how to embed the image here.
 
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Haebbie said:
Found a 122 too :);):D:D:D

Haebbie

View attachment 1485159
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Thats a very different beast then mine. Nice NEMO though.

Buck went to 425m in late 1986 not 82 except for the 110 per their date look up chart. The ultimate fillet knife came first around 1982-83 as a special for bass pro along with a wood handled 123 the following year when both got the etching for BPS. Stream mate, lake mate etc came that same year with krypton handles. to my knowledge its possible that its a pre 1986 440C model. Would love to verify this. Not realy worried about value as its not for sale and will be going into rotation.

It doesn't have the bass pro logo. Which i think started in 83-84 so it should be older then that. Maybe a real collector can shed some light on this knife and its odd history as a search has yielded whats above but not much else. Wondering if its not a recycled blade from the pre 72 121's as its blade thickness is only about .007" off from what specs iv seen online but its missing the dip in the blade design.
 
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Thanks for the return. You'll have to post a link to this 'date look up chart' your referring to. Many of us have hand out data-sheets put together by Joe Houser from the Buck collectors 20 year reunion, that we have discussed over. And in these
discussions it was determined that the 100 series knives could have switched to 425m steel by as earily as late 1981. DM
@TAH, DeSotoSky DeSotoSky .
 
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David Martin said:
Thanks for the return. You'll have to post a link to this 'date look up chart' your referring to. Many of us have hand out data-sheets put together by Joe Houser from the Buck collectors 20 year reunion, that we have discussed over. And in these
discussions it was determined that the 100 series knives could have switched to 425m steel by as earily as late 1981. DM
@TAH, DeSotoSky DeSotoSky .
Click to expand...

My understand was the 100 series went to the 425 at the same time they added the date codes. Is this not correct?
 
Rbpwrd240 said:
My understand was the 100 series went to the 425 at the same time they added the date codes. Is this not correct?
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Yes, this is not correct.
In late 1981 the spacers on the 100 series knives changed from 1 micarta spacer in the handle and one in the guard. The grind was changed as well to a fuller hollow grind. Prior to this they had 2 spacers in the handle and 1 in the guard. And the blade had a convex hollow grind. It has been determined this is when the steel change occurred in the 100 series knives. DM
 
4 micron is a middle ground its a 5/3 micron stone from practical sharpening. Forgive me if I'm miss understanding.I have only just begun the trip down diamond stone lane. Currently finishing with 1 micron gunny juice.

So the 3 micarta spacers is post 4 spacers and pre 2? Is this correct?

Anyone have a date range for the inverted stamp or the steel type?

I just ordered the standard inverted three line stamp 121 in 440c from 68-71 maybe early 72. I suspect it will have a .070" Blade thickness and having the two steels side by side while sharpening should tell me everything I need to know. Again my bet is they are very similar.
 
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Ok, the internet folks that sell Buck knives normally don't know the dates these knives came out. But you have come to the right place and together we can get you the right information.
The 2 line inverted stamp begins in 1967.
In 1969 the 4 red micarta spaces came late that year.
In late 1972 the model number is added. The first ones will be inverted.
The stamp changed to up right in 1973. Still, 4 spacers.
In 1981 the spacers changed, from 2 in the guard and 2 in the pommel. To 2 in the pommel and 1 in the guard. Not all models got this arrangement.
In late 1981 the spaces went to 1 & 1, in the pommel and guard.
I hope this helps. DM
 
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