Itching to Buy a Knife - Buck 119 Cocobolo

[Valkman]

I remember having a 119 back in the day and don't know what happened to it. Was looking around and SMKW has it for $79.99 but it's out of stock. I was thinking I'd get the upgraded Cocobolo handle just because.

Yes I have customs and I have a Strider SnG, knives that are much better and costlier that a Buck 119 but IDK I just want one like I used to have.

What do you think? Ever think about a knife you used to have and want to buy it again?

 

[Armored farmer]

I lost a hand-made bone handled bowie when I was young. i would like to find another one.

 

[Mk-211]

I would think that you would just make yourself one?

 

[Valkman]

I would think that you would just make yourself one?

Yes I would but I quit making knives in 2014 and sold all my equipment, then we sold the house that had my shop next to it. I just buy knives now, it's cheaper than making them. And safer.

 

[Valkman]

Knifecenter has it for $79.99 also, ships in 7-10 days.

 

[Mk-211]

Have you checked on flea bay?

 

[JShirley]

Have you checked on flea bay?

Knife Center has been trustworthy,in my experience.

 

[Mk-211]

BTW, sucks that you stopped making knives, always wanted one of them.

Now your stuff will be considered collectable and command a higher price!

Oh wait, that means it's going to be harder to get one!

 

[ms6852]

Like you, I have customs and I have always loved that style of knife, it is just sexy but have never pulled the trigger on one. Maybe if they had it in leather wrap.

 

[rust collector]

The 119 must have been in production for nearly 80 years now. I did not need that much knife for 60 years or so, but picked one up about a year ago for $45 new in pkg. It is an icon, and seems to be made the same old way as I remember. Only concern re the brass model is that it will likely weigh more, balance differently and carry differently than the 119 you remember. Price is cheaper than in the 60s in adjusted dollars.

 

[bratch]

I have a 119 that’s probably 25 years old now, dullest knife I have. I can not get a edge on it. I’m considering a Work Sharp just for it.

 

[Mk-211]

ms6852, they make one with a stacked leather handle and one that has a kind of leather wrapped handle.

Check on eBay, they have a bunch of different 119's and the more one off the more 1's and zeroes are added to the price!

 

[Valkman]

Like you, I have customs and I have always loved that style of knife, it is just sexy but have never pulled the trigger on one. Maybe if they had it in leather wrap.

Try this one I just found: Buck 119BRS1 Brahma, 6" 420HC Plain Blade, Leather/Micarta Handle (knifeworks.com)

 

[Boattale]

I love my 119. It's become the one knife that I take to the deer woods. Big enough to split ribcage and pelvis. But still not too big for comfortable handling. Mine has the original black handle and it cleans up easily. Also the Idaho tang stamp adds just a little cool factor.

 

[DDDWho]

The 119 is an iconic blade. Everyone I hunted with back in the had one or a 110 folding hunter. I love the look of it.

 

[Fiv3r]

I bought one from Walmart back in college 20 years ago. Rode around in my jeep, cut up watermelons that a rowing crew mate brought to practice from time to time (his family farmed them), handled pretty much all i needed done.

I did something stupid, don't remember what, but I snapped the tip off and forgot about it. Somehow my grandfather got ahold of it. Rummaging around in his workshop after he passed, I found that knife. Reprofiled and used as a handy cutting tool, it was sharp as hell and had led a good life for over 15 years.

I still have it of course. A 119 is high on my list of knives I would like to have again. Not the latest, not the greatest new steel, but a real iconic workhorse.

 

[jmr40]

I have a 119 that’s probably 25 years old now, dullest knife I have. I can not get a edge on it. I’m considering a Work Sharp just for it.

I'm not certain what steel Buck used to use, but it was very hard to sharpen at one time. I had a 110 back in the day that was almost impossible for me to sharpen with my tools and skills at the time. But they are using 420 HC on most of their knives now. Very easy to sharpen, but they don't hold the edge nearly as long as some other steels.

But they do offer several of their knives now with S30V steel which IMO is far better. It does cost a bit more, but is well worth the added expense. You can order straight from Buck and get it built the way you want it, with better steel.

Custom Knives Shop - Customize Buck 119 Special Knife - Buck® Knives OFFICIAL SITE

 

[rust collector]

I have a 119 that’s probably 25 years old now, dullest knife I have. I can not get a edge on it. I’m considering a Work Sharp just for it.

They were difficult to sharpen in part because they had a lot of material behind the cutting edge. Buck would sharpen them if sent back to the factory, but few wanted to go through the hassle so I suspect many went through life fairly dull.

It didn't help that Buck's trademark was a knife cutting a bolt, so some had to give it a go. Buck finally had to admit that was abusive treatment.

 

[Boattale]

I have a 119 that’s probably 25 years old now, dullest knife I have. I can not get a edge on it. I’m considering a Work Sharp just for it.

That's not the knife's fault. Mine is razor sharp and stays that way for three deer. And then I run it for three or four passes through the Chef's Choice and it's a razor again.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

I believe you can order a custom 119 through the Buck Custom Shop if that tickles your fancy.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

I went looking, and you can do a 119 Special custom on the Buck Custom Shop. Four to six weeks to get it.

Blade options: black Cerakote S30V, satin S30V, satin S30V without fuller, satin 420HC, mirror polish 420HC without fuller, two-tone 420HC with flint texture flats.

Guard/pommel options: Aluminum with black micarta stripe, brass with black micarta stripe.

Handle options: Elk with walnut spacer, Shokwood, blue wood, buckeye burl, ironwood, black palm, cherry, black micarta.

Sheath: Brown or black leather, distressed finish, left hand option, black leather foldover sheath.

 

[Valkman]

I went looking, and you can do a 119 Special custom on the Buck Custom Shop. Four to six weeks to get it.

Blade options: black Cerakote S30V, satin S30V, satin S30V without fuller, satin 420HC, mirror polish 420HC without fuller, two-tone 420HC with flint texture flats.

Guard/pommel options: Aluminum with black micarta stripe, brass with black micarta stripe.

Handle options: Elk with walnut spacer, Shokwood, blue wood, buckeye burl, ironwood, black palm, cherry, black micarta.

Sheath: Brown or black leather, distressed finish, left hand option, black leather foldover sheath.

Yes I was looking at that with S30V with fuller, Ironwood and brass but my $80 knife was now over $200. Tempting though.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

Yes I was looking at that with S30V with fuller, Ironwood and brass but my $80 knife was now over $200. Tempting though.

I've often been tempted by the Buck Custom Shop. The S30V with their Bos heat treat is a huge upgrade over the base 420HC of course. It does put the price into more of the middle end for production fixed blades.

 

[DDDWho]

I own Buck knives in their 3 most recent “standard” steels. All function well for me in both ease of sharpening and edge retention. Bucks heat treat makes lesser steel into medium quality or better steel. I would not hesitate to grab a 420 HC Buck knife to head into the zombie apocalypse. I don’t believe they would stake their 100+ year reputation on a steel that did not preform.

 

[Solomonson]

I remember for years, looking at the Buck Knife displays in hardware stores and sporting goods shops back in the day. At the very top with the Buck 120 General. From age 3 or 4 to maybe age 13 I wanted a Buck General! Finally I forgot about it. When I graduated from college years later, I was getting ready to move and I was in line at "Farmer's Hardware", a now defunct local hardware store. I happened to notice the Buck knives were on deep discount. The General became mine. Finally!