Question on the "pre 86" regarding Buck

[markpreston]

Looking at the knives for sale I see some listings as "pre 86" under the buck category that seem to be asking premium pricing. My question is are the bucks made pre 86 that much better than the new stuff made in Idaho as compared to California for the older stuff? Or is it just the rarer aspect of an older Buck knife that commands the premium pricing?
I know when I see a lot of firearms at gun shows the word Pre gets used a lot a an indication that the older stuff is always made better, even if its not but who knows....

[cody6268]

Might be because they use 440C? Personally, I see no quality difference in my two standard 110s; a '74-80 and a 2016. Today's are even less difference, now that the 110 and 112 now use ebony yet again.

[tallguy606]

The "pre" thing got started with Winchester guns, when in 1964 Winchester decided to quit making machined steel and walnut guns, and instead make them of aluminum and gum wood. No question the pre 64 Winchesters were better products, but too expensive to make. But new Bucks seem to compare favorably to older ones.

[philco]

The "pre 1986" arises from the fact that beginning in 1986 Buck started using a date code symbol on the tang stamp to indicate the year of manufacture. Prior to 1986 there were other modifications to the tang stamp that gave a general idea of when the knife was made but covered a much broader time frame.

[kootenay joe]

As stated above you can still date the 'pre '86 Buck knives from changes in tang markings. Minty examples of the older Bucks are less common so prices are higher. Prices are not related to quality of materials or construction. If a person wants a Buck knife to use, a 2019 USA made knife will work just as well as the same pattern from say 1980, or any other time when the knife was made.
kj

[tongueriver]

I don't have Buck folding knives, but I have had their fixed blades from the late 1970s as first owner. I still use my old 121 and 102. Great knives. That said, I also have recent manufacture Buck fixed blades and they don't give up anything quality-wise. In fact some of them have a hollow grind that makes them ultra-slicey. I like these knives, new and old, very much.

[Modern Slip Joints]

Might be because they use 440C? Personally, I see no quality difference in my two standard 110s; a '74-80 and a 2016. Today's are even less difference, now that the 110 and 112 now use ebony yet again.

Planning to make a knife in high school metal shop made me curious about what steel Buck was using. I already owned a 301 Stockman and a 110 that I had purchased with junior high school paper route money. As far as I knew 440C was the prestige steel. I wrote Buck in 1970 asking what steel they used. They wrote back answering 425 stainless writing that it was almost as good as 440C but more economical. Despite internet rumors to the contrary I believe Buck never used 440C for standard production knives.

In nearly all collectables, in similar condition, older is supposed to be more desirable to most collectors, or that's what dealers claim to justify higher prices. I strongly prefer the full flap sheaths that earlier 100 series knives came in, but other wise, for me, they are no better than current production 420HC fixed blades. Since Buck now offers harder stainless steels and carbon steels some thing out of their current production might suit your taste better, or not. My 1970s 100 series knives were all I ever actually needed.