Buck began producing knives in 1961. Beginning in 1973 and continuing until 1985 they bear the model number as well as BUCK and the U.S.A. on the tang stamp. Starting in 1986, a year mark was added. So, knives with no date symbol are pre-1986. To find out the year of manufacture of your Buck knife, compare the symbol on your blade to the chart below.

Additional date information for the Buck 110 Folding Hunter and the 112 Ranger:
1974 to 1980: one dot on either side of the model # (example: .110.)
1980: two dots on the right side of the model # (example: .110..)
1981 to 1986: two dots on either side of the model # (example: ..110..)

YEAR	SYMBOL
1968	BUCK over USA
1973	Added model # to above
1986	<
1987	>
1988	^
1989v	V
1990	X
1991	+
1992	-
1993	/
1994	\
1995	C
1996	Backwards "C"
1997	Upside down "U"
1998	U
1999	A squared "C"
2000	Backwards squared "C"
2001	Upside down squared "U"
2002	anvil
2003	A "T" symbol
2004	Upside down "T"
2005	Idaho
2006	-|
2007	V
2008	^
2009	>