Buck 105 425 or 440?

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Phi Sig

Joined
Oct 15, 2006
Messages
49
Last year I got a great deal on a set of three Buck knives. One of them was a 105 that I used camping this summer. It kept a good edge and stayed sharp with a little stropping on a piece of leather. As a matter of fact, my wife kept swiping it to use herself. I did cringe when she used it to cut up spuds on a metal plate but she did switch to cutting on a heavy paper plate after that. It is marked in three lines Buck 105 USA. It has one black spacer at the guard and one at the pommel. I was told the blade steel is 425. Is this correct? Assuming that it is, is there much of a performance upgrade if I found one made with 440 and is there an easy way to identify one made with this steel? I really like this knife and I'm glad I already have a spare but wouldn't mind an excuse to buy another!
 
Does your knife have a date stamp? This will be a symbol like a ^ + / - etc. If it does we can tell your precisely what steel you have.

If it doesn't and since it doesn't it almost is certainly 425M due the fact you have a two washer knife. The steel prior was 440C. I usually assume 4 washer, 3 liners (Buck, 105, USA) are 70s knives and those have 440C. Earlier knives ie one and two liners were 440C as well.

You should consider a new knife with 420HC. That steel as done by Buck is good stuff and the edge technology make for a super slicer.
 
Phi Sig said:
I really like this knife and I'm glad I already have a spare but wouldn't mind an excuse to buy another!
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Ahhhh,,, Welcome to the Buck forum.

A new addict :D

The 105's are nice blades for the kitchen as well as hunting. but you may want to look for a 121 for your wife, or yourself. 121 is a little longer.

Then if you want a premium steel in a similar size. Look for am 805SS in S30V.

but you may wanna keep this quiet... I hope your wife isn't looking over your shoulder. :D

My mother hijacked one of my 470's one time when were there cleaning and processing deer. THEN, she wanted HER buck knife sharpened whenever I was there. so I picked up a few more and she almost always has a nice sharp one.

It is neat when a buck shows up as a ED (every day) kitchen user.
 
Sig,welcome to the Buck forum.I think its been discontinued.But wasn't until like 2000-01.So, there should be plenty of 420steel 105's available.I'd get her one of those.It will have a symbol after the 105.Then you keep the one you have.As 425 steel is a good working steel.The 105's w/ 440C blades can be found on the auction site.They'll have burgandy micarta spacers in the configuration Flat stated.They are a upgrade steel from your current one.If you were planning on doing extended cutting it would be worth it.Also, those are collectable.Good luck and let us know how it goes.DM
 
Not my area, so excuse my entry.....calalog was right here, 2009 catalog still there..

Because my "pushers" wouldn't leave me alone to keep clean (Hawkeye and PR) I now have three 121 kitchen knives.
300Bucks
 
300Bucks said:
Not my area, so excuse my entry.....calalog was right here, 2009 catalog still there..

Because my "pushers" wouldn't leave me alone to keep clean (Hawkeye and PR) I now have three 121 kitchen knives.
300Bucks
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Gee,,, I thought I had cornered the market on 121's. :D and somehow a couple of those 105's slipped in. :eek:
 
Flat,No,--Ok,I'm remembering that model was discontinued from the box STORES about at those years.(K-Mart,ect.)Hence, I thought inaccurately from Buck.Sig,I usually do mess up when I post,but never fear my correction is near. Still, I hope we helped you with your questions.DM
 
we still make the 105. we went through the fixed blades we made and tried not to have them so close in blade design and size that they stepped on each other at retail. We still retain the ability to make these products as they share many components and we can always laser blades so you will find them as special projects every now and again.
 
Pack Rat said:
Gee,,, I thought I had cornered the market on 121's. :D and somehow a couple of those 105's slipped in. :eek:
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You did corner the market.LOL:eek: Thanks for the addiction.

Well 300 you needed to branch out a little.:D:thumbup:
But you like the 121 .Don't ya.;)

The 121 is a stand up good knife in the field and the Galley.

Thanks Larry:thumbup:
 
Thanks for the info everyone. The two 105s I have do not have the date stamp so I guess they are 425. I really like these knives and I think I will have to find a 440c version , and hopefully keep my wife from claiming it.:D
 
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