What is the Most coveted Buck 112

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austin37

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Wondering what is generally considered the most coveted and rare Buck 112? Is it a particular model that was made for a very limited time frame or used materials that were upgraded shortly after, does the 112
Have a significant value due to those factors? I understand I’ll receive various personal answers.. lookin forward to it.
 
bucksway bucksway Clint should have the answer to this...

I like anything with chipped flint blade...here are two of my favorites.
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In before Clint!!!

Damascus and BG42 need to be in the conversation.
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As does segua/shedua
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Have to figure the 4 pin is a tough one to come by as well.
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And for shiggles... Paua/abalone though this isn't a factory knife. It's one I did for a member here years back.
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The BG-42 reblade was a personal 'Grail' 112 for me and ANY Damascus 112 is highly sought after. It doesn't get a lot of press but numbered Old Custom shop 112's (including 4 Damascus) with a total of 136 are rarely seen and/or offered for sale. I think those along with employees knifes from that time frame especially in Mastodon and Ivory are the "Trophy Bucks" of the 112. The Custom shop opened for the 112 late in 2008 with non standard choices available and less than 150 sold making them very rare. But unless you saved the COA it's hard to determine if they are in that run especially if standard options were made.
Modified 'Custom' 500 drop point blade 112's hand made by Chuck and Leroy in the 80's are known but are hard to document. Early one of one Customs by Leroy WBC and others are a great find also. Some of David Yellowhorse early ones like the satin blade Lacy's and short runs of other models he made are a treasure but I don't know much about his one of one Customs other than they are out there.
Basically I judge first by materials Damascus, Elephant Ivory Mastodon exceptional Stag Impala or other rare horn lead the list in factory knives. Customs are judged by the maker design inlays and workmanship. Some are just so over the top it's totally obvious ya GOT to have it lolo! 20221109_123607.jpg20220626_120053.jpg20210416_194224.jpg
 

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So many fantastic 112's are out there there really is NOT a "112 To rule them All" BUT some truly are special..When I seen some of the 112's in the "Some Buck 112 Love" I was blown away! Thanks again for posting that thread..I searched for this one for years after I heard here about it. Chuck set up the first weekend the 112 was for sale at a hardware store in San Diego and would engrave/router your initials in the micarta if you asked. Now this 112 would be less desirable to many folks because of the initials but because it's a part of the history of the 112 I felt it deserved a place in my collection.
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bucksway said:
The BG-42 reblade was a personal 'Grail' 112 for me and ANY Damascus 112 is highly sought after. It doesn't get a lot of press but numbered Old Custom shop 112's (including 4 Damascus) with a total of 136 are rarely seen and/or offered for sale. I think those along with employees knifes from that time frame especially in Mastodon and Ivory are the "Trophy Bucks" of the 112.
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Good info, thanks Clint
 
I consider myself to be mainly a 112 collector, even though I have a lot of other Buck knives as well. But there are so many 112s that I don't have, it is very hard to pick. I think it would be cool to have all the David Yellowhorse ones - I only have the horse. I also really like anything that has buffalo horn on it. I also like red knives, especially jigged bone. I'd also like to get all the special customs materials the Buck custom shop used to do - of which I probably only have 1 or so. To be honest, I'd rather pursue the multitude of production knives that I don't have than to try for the one-offs. The one-offs are very interesting and cool, to be sure, but they come at a very high price most of the time. For instance, someone says this knife was personally used by Chuck. And perhaps they have a letter for proof. It is interesting to me but I'm not sure how much of a premium on it I'd want to pay. I have a similar feeling about signatures. If the one-off is made with a different handle material, steel, or something like that, I am a lot more interested in it. To be clear, if I see a one-off at a good price, I will definitely get it. But my collection has a lot of holes in it. It would be interesting to know how many 112s there would be if you wanted one of each, not including private customs or pieces that only differ by date stamp but definitely including special projects and Buck-made customs. I'm guessing it might be 300 to 400. I will make such a list someday. I think there might be a lot of sparsely documented factory build-outs that were available at the factory - this may increase the number significantly.
 
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so if the old customs for 112 were really available for these materials: Black Micarta, Mesquite, Ironwood, Cocobolo, Brazil Rosewood, Mexican Rosewood, Wenge, Macassar Ebony, Birchwood, Elk, Ivory Micarta, Mastodon Ivory,Ivory, Buffalo Horn, Mother of Pearl, Damascus,and Stag. And these steels: 440C, D2, 154CM. And either with regular or finger grooved options. That is 102 knives right there. And small fortune to buy as well. :) So I think I'd exclude those from my "must have" list and they would be something that I'd really "like to have." I think at this point, I'd be happy with one or two examples of these customs. Similarly, I have no intention of getting every combination of currently made customs. I may get an example of each handle material but not combinations of every option. If I wanted every combination of accents, blades, handle materials, and bolsters, it would require a purchase of 216 knives!
 
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