1974-1980 Buck 110 with 3 pins vs 4 in handle

Ebony colors can vary from streaks of milk chocolate to near black. Here are some 110's from no dots to 4 dots. All have solid macassar ebony handles. Luck of the draw I guess. DM
 
very nice collection David. I got one of the darker ones but I still love it. The good news is that the other one I am getting does show nice grain in it so maybe when it comes back from buck for a good cleaning etc it will show up even better. Jeff
 
GS I forgot to say welcome... so... welcome! I hope you enjoy your 110s. Thanks guys for the kind words about my little two dot collection, if you can call it that as they are all users. I love the 110 and have carried one since I was a teenager (a two dot, so that gives away my age.) At some point after the two dot, can't remember when?, they rounded the bolsters. Your new two dot will be the older, squared style. I don't think you'll regret the purchase for long as it's fun to have a few with the different features.

This is a nice group of guys here. DM has helped me quite a bit, and I liked Stumps' summary so well I cut and pasted it into my notes. Thanks!
 
thnaks Axesbold, I agree, a nice group of people here. I belong to many forums and can honestly say you guys on here have been the most helpful and welcoming. Newbies are often ignored so appreciate it. Everyone was a newbie at some point so I never understood that logic and for the forums that I have been a member of for a long time etc I am always willing to help out a new member so karma is nice because I am getting the same kind treatment here in return.
I am looking forward to having some variety in my 110's, as you said, the older ones were more square (my 93 is rounded) so I will have a mix. Sadly, I think I am more of a hoarder of knives (vs a collector as none of them are worth much) because I have more than I can ever use but always fascinated by them, and flashlights..

The blade on one of the ones I am getting (in my link for photobucket , but hard to see) looks like it is very un-even, almost concave where the bottom of the blade is not flat. Not sure if the prior user used a grinder or just a lot of wear and tear but do you think buck would be able to re-sharpen it, or replace?
 
hello Germanshepherd
well come to the buck forum!
you seemed to have gotten a copple of good ones there!
might I suggest joining the BCCI as there is lots of info there you can use
and watch to see if I ever get my book on the 110 done!
so were are you located at?
 
Axe, I didn't know I helped you. Thank you.
german, Try not to have the blade replaced on the 2dot 110. Try to have it re-newed as you'll not get the same steel. DM
 
110 Dave said:
hello Germanshepherd
well come to the buck forum!
you seemed to have gotten a copple of good ones there!
might I suggest joining the BCCI as there is lots of info there you can use
and watch to see if I ever get my book on the 110 done!
so were are you located at?
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Hello, I will look at BCCI you mention when on my main computer. I am in PA, a bit cold right now
Will definitely buy your book when its out.
 
David Martin said:
Axe, I didn't know I helped you. Thank you.
german, Try not to have the blade replaced on the 2dot 110. Try to have it re-newed as you'll not get the same steel. DM
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Thanks Dave, good advice. That one should be OK as the seller described it as appearing to never be used. The other two,especially the 3 dot one is in the worse shape but will still try to keep them as original as possible.
 
David Martin said:
german, a little more history on your model is that those knives were mfg. with 440C blades. Whereas your 93 model has 420HC steel. The former being a much higher grade blade steel. DM
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Hey David, does my 93 have the 420hc or 425 steel? I saw this info on the web and not sure if its accurate.
Before 1981.- 440C
1981 to 1994.- 425M
After 1994.- 420HC
 
german, you'll get the straight scoop here. I'd trust no other site on Buck matters as you can read Anything on the internet. Should I or any one else post something in error concerning Buck items here, there will be knowledgeable folks along in short order with corrections. 'Buck began phasing in 420HC in 1992 (the - stamp)'. Buck switched from using solid macassar ebony to a laminate wood in 1994. Which is what they probably got wrong. So, to answer your question; a model 110 mfg. in 1993 would have a blade of 420HC. DM
 
David Martin said:
german, you'll get the straight scoop here. I'd trust no other site on Buck matters as you can read Anything on the internet. Should I or any one else post something in error concerning Buck items here, there will be knowledgeable folks along in short order with corrections. 'Buck began phasing in 420HC in 1992 (the - stamp)'. Buck switched from using solid macassar ebony to a laminate wood in 1994. Which is what they probably got wrong. So, to answer your question; a model 110 mfg. in 1993 would have a blade of 420HC. DM
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Thanks David.. I do trust this site. I am a bit confused now. I just got the third knife today (its a 3 dot, one dot to the left of model # and two dots to the right). That knife has the sharp/flat edges. My two dot knife (one dot to the left and right of model #) has the rounded edges, like the current models. I thought my two dot knife was older than the 3 dot knife yet is has the modern rounded edges etc.
Am I missing something? I tried to narrow down what years Buck went from the flat style to the rounded style and only getting some broad ranges..
thanks
 
David Martin said:
german, you'll get the straight scoop here. I'd trust no other site on Buck matters as you can read Anything on the internet. Should I or any one else post something in error concerning Buck items here, there will be knowledgeable folks along in short order with corrections. 'Buck began phasing in 420HC in 1992 (the - stamp)'. Buck switched from using solid macassar ebony to a laminate wood in 1994. Which is what they probably got wrong. So, to answer your question; a model 110 mfg. in 1993 would have a blade of 420HC. DM
Click to expand...

Thanks David.. I do trust this site. I am a bit confused now. I just got the third knife today (its a 3 dot, one dot to the left of model # and two dots to the right). That knife has the sharp/flat edges. My two dot knife (one dot to the left and right of model #) has the rounded edges, like the current models. I thought my two dot knife was older than the 3 dot knife yet is has the modern rounded edges etc.
Am I missing something? I tried to narrow down what years Buck went from the flat style to the rounded style and only getting some broad ranges..
attached are some photos (included my 1993 Finger Groove) the others are the X year, two dot and three dot.

http://s803.photobucket.com/user/germanshepherd13/library/
 
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Work on by reading some to learn correct knife terms as your confusing me again in these descriptions.
Your 3 dot was the first blades Buck began using a full hollow grind. The 'flat style you mention is a hollow grind. This rounded edge
you mention on your 2 dot is a convex grind. I think Buck was actually working for a hollow grind but the grinding
wheels they were using back then could not pull it off. Thus, the way the knife came out was with a thickened
edge. So, many sharpening problems came because of this edge type. Hence, the by line for a Buck knife was that
they were hard to sharpen. Once this portion was thinned the edge could easily be sharpened. Just a little history
on the grinds Buck used thru the years. DM
 
David Martin said:
Work on by reading some to learn correct knife terms as your confusing me again in these descriptions.
Your 3 dot was the first blades Buck began using a full hollow grind. The 'flat style you mention is a hollow grind. This rounded edge
you mention on your 2 dot is a convex grind. I think Buck was actually working for a hollow grind but the grinding
wheels they were using back then could not pull it off. Thus, the way the knife came out was with a thickened
edge. So, many sharpening problems came because of this edge type. Hence, the by line for a Buck knife was that
they were hard to sharpen. Once this portion was thinned the edge could easily be sharpened. Just a little history
on the grinds Buck used thru the years. DM
Click to expand...

Thanks and sorry about the confusion. When I said edges I was referring to the overall edges of the knife handle (the brass bolsters and wood handles), not the blade, I should not have said edge as that would mean the blade.
The oldest knife I have based on the dots has the more modern, rounded look (bolster edges are rounded) and the 2nd oldest has the flat bolsters (the corners having a much sharper ridge). I thought it would be the other way around.
In my post a few spots up is a link to some photos. I got a close up of the two bolsters on each knife side by side that shows the flat vs rounded edges of the brass bolsters if that helps. thanks
 
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Buck began to 'Radius' the handles on their 110 toward the end of the 3 dots and more at the 4 dots time frame. Someone probably did that as the 2 dots frames were not radiused. The frame not being radiused on your 3 dot dates it. DM
 
A new 3 dot 110 radiused at the factory? Never seen one.

Is anyone certain they do exist?

Maybe more likely radiused later by a do it yourself knife hobbyist?
 
A long term collector assures me 3 dot 110 finger groove radiused models exist. So, I'm betting he has one. A 3 dot 112 FG is the more common one to see. Still, Buck began to hand radius 110's in or around 1982 which could be 3 dots. (the more common date) I lean more toward the 4 dot time frame but german may have one. Vern Taylor did some and showed them around in 79 or 80. DM
 
I've seen the radiused three dot 112s, but that's a different beast for a different discussion.

Who's that long term collector, Mr. Martin? I'd love to see a picture of a 3-dot 110 radiused from the factory. The next problem would be proving that the radiusing had been done at the factory.

I've seen Vern's words about some prototype 110s that were radiused by hand and brought to an NRA show for study and comment in (maybe?) 1981. Only he was not sure of the date. He didn't say they were four dot knives, but he did think it was 81. Based on his other comments, though, it appears it was actually in 1983, which makes it almost certain they were four dot knives. Memory often fails to be precise.

These dusty legends are part of the magic and romance of collecting. So much of it is in the fascinating possibilities. It takes some real detective work to come up with the truth.

Bottom line, the true radiused from the factory 3 dot 110 is not a likely find. You'll probably catch a Sasquatch before you get one. We keep trying, though.
 
here is a photo of my two dot 110 with the rounded bolsters (radiused I see is the term). Since the 110's from this era had the flat bolsters/edges on the inlay you guys are saying this was done to my knife by a prior owner? is it possible the factory did it afterwards because the curves match perfectly the curves on the 110's I have that were made later that were radiused/.

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy314/germanshepherd13/_DSC0237_zpsff52159a.jpg

and here is a photo of the two dot with 3 dot at top, 110 X in middle and two dot on bottom cor comparison

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy314/germanshepherd13/_DSC0236_zps9face5e8.jpg
 
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