110 Blade Steel

B

b wilt

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Nov 23, 2014
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I have a production 110x that I'm assuming is a 1990 model and was wondering were they using 420hc then or something else between the 440 era and 420?
 
From 440C they went to 425M, I believe.
I don't know when they went from 425M to 420HC though.
 
drei3ree said:
Do all 1992's have 420? How could a novice tell the difference?
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Any 110 with a date code 1992 or newer is 420HC unless marked otherwise. Simple as that...

420HC is the standard steel, everything else will be marked: S30V, BG42, CPM-154, 154CM, AST-34, 5160, S90V, S35VN, 440C, 425M, etc... (the latter two being used recently on limited edition knives, but marked because the standard steel is 420HC).

Earlier versions follow the same with very few exceptions. Basically, anything other than their standard steel of the era (440C, 425M, 420HC) will be marked.

There are "Designers Choice" blades from the custom shop that "should" be the standard steel because they are not marked otherwise, but could very well be upgraded. I don't think there was ever a definitive answer as to whether these were upgraded steels or not. I have a part serrated custom shop blade stamped "Designers Choice", but no mention of steel used. I assume it's the standard steel, whatever that was at the time.

I'm sure if I'm mistaken, someone will be along to set things right... :)
 
With due respect that is not correct. The wording Larry O. used in his article in ''Blades Guide to Knives" was "in 1992 Buck began to phase in 420HC steel." I believe Buck would approve. As there is no certain date when Buck made the change to 420 steel. It was 'phased in'. Hence,
there is no way of knowing for certain which steel your 1992--- 110 has, short of having it metallurgically tested.
Those "Designers Choice" blades were put together by Richard Rochell and contact him for the answer. DM
 
David--So, based on a "phased in" thinking, the 110- (made for less than a month starting in late 1991) is the last of the 425M. Another reason the 110- is a rare creature!
 
drei3ree said:
David--So, based on a "phased in" thinking, the 110- (made for less than a month starting in late 1991) is the last of the 425M. Another reason the 110- is a rare creature!
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By this thinking my double dash 110 would be 420HC, right? Preston
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No, I would not say that. The double dash was the result of a engineering change and that document wording was posted here. I don't think
it had anything to do with a change in blade steel. Yes, the second dash was added early on in the first quarter of that year. Thus, making the
single dash a real find. DM
 
Dave, I've seen before what your saying and I think it was from Buck. I'm no expert but every buck knife went from single to double dash. They didn't all get engineering changes. My educated guess would be it was actually a steel change unless the engineering change was to a machine all the knives went through. Let's face it, even Buck doesn't always know.

Luckily, I have a rare 192 single dash.
 
This change is well documented, in the Dec. 2011 collectors newsletter in Tidbits. It reads; "A memo from Buck Senior Manufacturing Engineer Bill Keys dated Dec. 5. 1991 addressed the issue (of the double dash stamp): The ECR (engineering change request) for the 110 blade and rocker redesign has been approved. To assist Consumer Relations in differentiation between new design and old design knives produced in 1992, a change in the stamp will be made;... The spring holder to be used with the new design will be determined in 92 after additional testing on new design production parts..." "In summary, Buck made a slight change in the spring holder and wanted to make that change evident for warranty repairs that customer relation employees would be addressing. This change in the spring holder did not affect the blade and / or rocker bar design."
This would have been a good time to note a blade steel change but no wording to that affect... Nor have I seen other Buck models with a double dash stamp. This past Gun show I saw a 424 with a single dash stamp. I should have bought it as it was priced right.So, I suspect the switch to 420 steel did not occur until the second or third quarter of 1992. DM
 
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To me it is peculiar that a 'rocker change' is documented and we can find it. But a major change like a blade steel we cannot.? DM
 
It' simple a blade be the same no mattr
What it made of...
Now you newbies may not knows it but Buck don' throwany thing away that is useful
Now say day lost a bucket o rough blades that was found under the machine 6mos to a year later
Well waste not want not buck will use em up! So while the new steel has been out it is likely dat some o the old steel blades may still be used ifn dey finds em later
Does this answer yet question?
 
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