Best Years for the 110

[brownshoe]

brown, I'll go there once for you. A 'gravity knife' was a term in the cross-hairs in Cali.. Not all states had the same response. It was thought to be a dangerous weapon if you could unfold the knife by the use of gravity. i.e. pinch the blade with the tip pointed away and let go of the handle and give it a little flick of the wrist. If the knife opens it's a gravity knife. Thus, Buck began installing a bushing in the blade pivot
that prevented this. This bushing being brass, caused slower movement at the pivot & blade and the paranoid officials were satisfied. DM

Thanks Dave Martin!

This knife flicks open by holding the blade. However, some previous owner has filed down the tang, so the tip is a ~1/8" proud. To solve the proud tip problem, it's been intentionally blunted. I couldn't understand why a previous owner would do this. Plus it is in contrasrt with the rest of the edge, which is quite sharp for a well used 110. The edge is ~90% original, but the scales and bolster show very hard use. I think it must have been modified for a gravity drop opening. Just enough of the tip is gone to make it safe for pocket carry.

Thanks again.

 

[bertl]

Thanks Dave Martin!

Thus, Buck began installing a bushing in the blade pivot
that prevented this. This bushing being brass, caused slower movement at the pivot & blade and the paranoid officials were satisfied. DM

David's information is not correct. C J Buck explained the change in a bladeforums post on 10-10-2005—

"Buck made the rocker have more spring tension and added a dip to the radius of the blade in the 110 to make it more effort to open the knife blade (as well as more force keeping the blade closed).
In my opinion, and in the definition of gravity knives, we were successful in getting California to adopt that "bias towards closure"makes the 110 not a gravity knife."

These photos illustrate what C J Buck wrote. The first is a 5th Version and the second is a Two Dot.

Bert

 

[brownshoe]

David's information is not correct. C J Buck explained the change in a bladeforums post on 10-10-2005—

"Buck made the rocker have more spring tension and added a dip to the radius of the blade in the 110 to make it more effort to open the knife blade (as well as more force keeping the blade closed).
In my opinion, and in the definition of gravity knives, we were successful in getting California to adopt that "bias towards closure"makes the 110 not a gravity knife."

These photos illustrate what C J Buck wrote. The first is a 5th Version and the second is a Two Dot.

Bert

View attachment 1228874 View attachment 1228875

Thanks for the additional information.

Given that tang/lockbar configuration, do you think filing down the tang on my knife would cause the tip to be above the scales? I can see how it would make it easier to open.

 

[bertl]

Given that tang/lockbar configuration, do you think filing down the tang on my knife would cause the tip to be above the scales?

What area of the tang was modified?

 

[brownshoe]

It's been ground down behind the edge so it looks like the top blade. When closed, the lockbar is not flush with the scales, but slightly lower. When I push down and raise the bar flush with the scales, the tip drops and is no longer proud. Sorry I'm not able to give a picture.

It's a bastardized knife, but I'm carrying it in pocket. Cuts good, one-hand opener and is a mighty fist load. My ladies think its "a big knife".

 

[sv4]

David's information is not correct. C J Buck explained the change in a bladeforums post on 10-10-2005—

"Buck made the rocker have more spring tension and added a dip to the radius of the blade in the 110 to make it more effort to open the knife blade (as well as more force keeping the blade closed).
In my opinion, and in the definition of gravity knives, we were successful in getting California to adopt that "bias towards closure"makes the 110 not a gravity knife."

These photos illustrate what C J Buck wrote. The first is a 5th Version and the second is a Two Dot.

Bert

View attachment 1228874 View attachment 1228875

Good pics showing the inside of the 110. Thanks for posting them.

 

[jstrange]

David's information is not correct. C J Buck explained the change in a bladeforums post on 10-10-2005—

"Buck made the rocker have more spring tension and added a dip to the radius of the blade in the 110 to make it more effort to open the knife blade (as well as more force keeping the blade closed).
In my opinion, and in the definition of gravity knives, we were successful in getting California to adopt that "bias towards closure"makes the 110 not a gravity knife."

These photos illustrate what C J Buck wrote. The first is a 5th Version and the second is a Two Dot.

Bert

View attachment 1228874 View attachment 1228875

Which is the older design?

 

[bertl]

Which is the older design?

The top knife is the older 5th version and the bottom is the Two Dot. If you look at the end of the tang, you will see the change in design from a pretty much circular tang to an elongated one.

Bert