Pretty nice snag today

[Mossdancer]

Very nice condition also. Any guesses as to year of birth.? I figure around 1970.
moss

[300Bucks]

They look to be a matched set and not a sheath someone filled up with different knives. I don't know if these were made in the upside down tang stamp version or not, which would be older. Think the twin sets were sold only for a dozen or so years.
JB4570 will be along for fixed blade business eventually.

300Bucks

[jb4570]

Hi Moss,

That is a wonderful find. The three line stamps on the Buck fixed blades were made 1972-85. The double knife set's were called "twin sets". They were issued in three configurations during this time frame, yours is the #115 Sportsman set and should have that stamped on the back of your sheath.

Here is some Info my friend Armand posted in another site (hope it helps with you next ?)

Dating Buck Fixed Blade 100 Series Knives 1972 to 1986 BY Joe Houser

Group 1 1972- Blade stamped BUCK, XXX, U.S.A. Stamp is upside down or inverted, read with the point down, Guard has two micarta spacers and two aluminum spacers. Pommel has two micarta spacers and one aluminum spacer. A holster style, or Flap over sheath was used and the knife came in a two piece yellow bow.

Group 2 1973-1980 Blade stamped BUCK, XXX, U.S.A. Stamp is right side up, read with the point up, as it is on today's knives. Guard has two micarta and two aluminum spacers. Pommel has two micarta spacers and one aluminum spacer. Holster style, or Flap over sheath still used and the knife originally came in a two piece yellow bow but the switch to a one piece yellow box probably started around 1978.

Group 3 1981 Blade stamped BUCK, XXX, U.S.A. and is oriented the same as the previous group. Guard has one micarta and two aluminum spacers. Pommel has two micarta spacers and one aluminum spacer. I should note that I have only seen the 119, 120, a couple 121s, and one 118 in this configuration and it is likely that the other models skipped this and went straight to the next version. Holster style sheath still possible but also wrap around the handle type is introduced. The belt loop on the 120 swivels. Same one piece yellow box as previous.

Group 4 1981-1986 Blade stamp is still the same as the previous group. Guard has one micarta spacer and two aluminum spacers. Pommel has one micarta and one aluminum spacer. Holster style sheath is still in use on some models. Just about every type of sheath is found in this group. Still the same one piece yellow box as previous.

Group 5 1986- Blades now have a date code following the model number and are stamped BUCK, XXX<, U.S.A. This is the only difference between this group and the one previous. Sheath styles used are probably the same as the group above. Although the logo on the box may have changed slightly, it is still a one piece yellow construction. Over the next many years the boxes used were one piece Black with white letters, then green and tan, category boxes, and now the present orange and black.
jb4570

[Mossdancer]

300Bucks jb4570:
I am inserting three more exploded scans to hopefully substantiate my reading of the knives, sheath and Joe's treatise. I would have to say the knives are group 1 1972 and the sheath as a guess and hope would be early in the first run as it has no marks on back.
I Thank you both for your replies and am looking forward to your take on the above.
moss

Edit: Darn I mis-read, They would be group two 1973 and later as the stamping is not inverted. Still no explanation for the sheath.

Re-Edit: I think I shall refer to it as a 1976-77 that way I will be with in a three or four year span. Still pretty close.

[jb4570]

Hi Mossy,

FYI
There are a few of the twin sets on ebay right now. One of them with the three line stamp like your's showed the back of the sheath and no stamps on it just like your's.
jb4570