110 Two Dot...to spa, or not to spa?

[stevekolt]

Found this today in the local pawn shop for $25, no sheath. Might go back tomorrow for a 112 Two Dot, in a little rougher condition, with a beat up sheath for $19.99. Fair prices? To spa for a sharpening/polish and a good go-over? No blade swap of course. What say the experts?

 

[BP_]

Might as well. I would. They work better when they’re shiny

 

[afishhunter]

Get the modern Edge 2000 sharpening, not the "period correct" one. It will be much easier to sharpen after you get it back and use it.
The 2 dots have a 440C blade, not the current 420HC.
Nice knife. An excellent score.

 

[Old Biker]

Unless there is a problem with it like a loose blade, I would just do it myself. A good scrubbing with hot water and dish soap, followed by some wet dry sand paper on the blade. Lube the sandpaper with mineral oil, or you favorite knife oil. Start with 220 or 320 grit and work up through the grits until it is as shinny as you want. Then sharpen.

This went form this.

To this, using that process.

I have an old 112 coming in the next day or two, That I'm itching to get at.

O.B.

 

[Lesknife]

I would send it in for a spa treatment. Buck does an amazing job of bringing them back to near new condition and sharp. They did my 110 Damascus stag a few years ago and it was perfect.

 

[stevekolt]

So these prices are within reasonable parameters?

 

[David Martin]

Yes, you get a good deal. DM

 

[Ace Rimmer]

That's a great deal! I have a very early two-dot. (According to the photo posted here a while back and attributed to Stenzel it is the first of the six -- yes, six! -- variations.) I seriously considered sending it in for SPA treatment but ultimately changed my mind because I've owned it for 45 years and each and every ding, scratch, and dent is attributable to me. For me they are part of its character. In your case where the knife is new to you I think I'd tend toward giving it the treatment. If you send in it in you will have a like new knife with 440C steel, which would be great, especially for a total cost of less than $35!

 

[brownshoe]

If you send it in, they will buff away its character, smoothing the edges of those fine old school bolsters. Use some soap and water with a brush and polish it with Flitz. You got a good price, 110s are usually more and not that classic.

 

[stevekolt]

And here is the 112 I picked up today...

 

[stevekolt]

Brownshoe, I can see your point, but since none of the "character" visible on the knives was due to my usage, I do believe these will be making a trip to the spa. Thanks to everyone for all their responses!

 

[brownshoe]

Brownshoe, I can see your point, but since none of the "character" visible on the knives was due to my usage, I do believe these will be making a trip to the spa. Thanks to everyone for all their responses!

Character put on by someone else is part of the charm of an old knife for me. I got a beat three dot 110 and did my own cleanup. If only those nail marks in the bolsters or gash in the wood could talk...

 

[afishhunter]

B brownshoe If those nail marked bolsters and the gashed cover could talk, they would probably be saying/yelling/screaming something along the lines of "Ouch!", and possibly "Please don't use me for a hammer. It hurts a bunch."

 

[brownshoe]

Well I have an old Puma lockback that's got nail marks too, but I put them there myself when I was younger and stupider

 

[Hickory n steel]

If it were a carbon steel knife with lots of patina to hide the wear I'd say leave it alone, but stainless looks bad in this condition.
Plus I'm pretty sure they get a kick out of seeing these vintage Bucks that were built by the previous generation.

 

[soc_monki]

I wouldn't. I considered doing it with mine (78-79 110) but it isn't that bad off, and a good sharpening got the blade back up to snuff. I like the old school charm of the square frame, and the not quite perfectly ground blade. Sure, I could get it cutting better (I guess) with an edge treatment, but it cuts great as it is and the 440c holds up well.

I paid 45 for mine with sheath. Was a steal imo for a lightly used old 110!