Buck 110 Bolster Scratches? - Happy to Join Buck Today

[Dextar]

Hi there,

Just come back from local dealer recommended by the moderator of this Buck Knives. Generally good experience, the guys are pretty warm and nice.
Only picked Buck 110 due to some issues on 113 and 055 is really small at the time I see it pyshically.
My Spyderco can retire from the kitchen fruit EDC knife.

But I do have question:
On the knife's all bolsters (2*2 sides), there are so many scratches at the time unboxing. The dealer took another 3 and let me choose, but all same.
I remember that at the time I watched reviews on e.g. Youtube, I didn't find them in others'.
Just wanted to ask Do you have same thing? (I don't wanted to call it "problem")
Here are the photos:

Months ago, I ordered one Laguiole with brass bolster, it's highly polished, super fine, at the time unboxing, I found 2-3 scratches on it and returned.
I know that it's not a standard of Buck 110, so I didn't call it problem and still keep one, but just wanted to know if this is something same to you?

I believe this Buck 110 will be the one I will not reluctant to use as really EDC kitchen and common hiking.
Happy to join Buck!

 

[Bigburly912]

It’s brass. If buffs really easily but it can get those micro scratches back easily as well. Even something like Mother’s mag polish will clean it up for you.

 

[DeadPineKnives]

Brass is incredibly soft, just comes with the territory. Don't be put off by it, just enjoy the ride. Another +1 for Mother's mag wheel polish though.

 

[Dextar]

It’s brass. If buffs really easily but it can get those micro scratches back easily as well. Even something like Mother’s mag polish will clean it up for you.

Brass is incredibly soft, just comes with the territory. Don't be put off by it, just enjoy the ride. Another +1 for Mother's mag wheel polish though.

Thanks for replies, I understood brass is soft, so just asked if this happened to others or not.

 

[DeadPineKnives]

Thanks for replies, I understood brass is soft, so just asked if this happened to others or not.

It's a feature, not a bug. Not really something you can do anything about besides touch it up unfortunately

 

[pat9198]

Honestly I think you should embrace it. Mag polish or Flitz polish will make it looking new again with minimal effort anytime you want. But, with some scratches and a little patina of the brass you will get using it, especially around food, it will take on a classic look.

Here's mine, plenty of scratches and why I love brass bolsters.

 

[Dextar]

It's a feature, not a bug. Not really something you can do anything about besides touch it up unfortunately

Honestly I think you should embrace it. Mag polish or Flitz polish will make it looking new again with minimal effort anytime you want. But, with some scratches and a little patina of the brass you will get using it, especially around food, it will take on a classic look.

Here's mine, plenty of scratches and why I love brass bolsters.

Completely understand and thanks, the initial idea to this post was just wanted to know if it's normal at the time unboxing a new Buck 110 since this is my first Buck knife. (completely understood the scratches will be there while using as the feature of brass).
Thanks for the replies.

 

[pat9198]

Completely understand and thanks, the initial idea to this post was just wanted to know if it's normal at the time unboxing a new Buck 110 since this is my first Buck knife. (completely understood the scratches will be there while using as the feature of brass).
Thanks for the replies.

Yes of course, apologies if I went off track. They are normal to a degree, maybe one or two scratches out of the box. Most of mine have come without scratches. Hope this helps.

 

[BP_]

I have had it both ways. I think it’s one of those things that just don’t matter much to most people at the factory (and most consumers). I have had perfect bolsters so shiny I was almost reluctant to use the knife, and I have also had them scratched up worse than yours on a brand new knife. It’s really hit or miss, but I don’t think it diminishes the value or usability.

 

[Ironbut]

Honestly I think you should embrace it. Mag polish or Flitz polish will make it looking new again with minimal effort anytime you want. But, with some scratches and a little patina of the brass you will get using it, especially around food, it will take on a classic look.

Here's mine, plenty of scratches and why I love brass bolsters.

Yes of course, apologies if I went off track. They are normal to a degree, maybe one or two scratches out of the box. Most of mine have come without scratches. Hope this helps.

What Pat said^.

 

[Dextar]

Yes of course, apologies if I went off track. They are normal to a degree, maybe one or two scratches out of the box. Most of mine have come without scratches. Hope this helps.

Thank you for this reply, that's why and what I concerned. Mine has many, and all they provide to pick have many. But I have no concern now and enjoying it.

 

[Dextar]

I have had it both ways. I think it’s one of those things that just don’t matter much to most people at the factory (and most consumers). I have had perfect bolsters so shiny I was almost reluctant to use the knife, and I have also had them scratched up worse than yours on a brand new knife. It’s really hit or miss, but I don’t think it diminishes the value or usability.

Thanks for the words!

 

[Dextar]

What Pat said^.
View attachment 3091073
View attachment 3091062

Hopefully mine will be like this at one day.

You know at the time I touched and handled the Buck 110 today, I know it is the one I wanted.
I have some knives pricy (to me), they have no flaw, I don't want to make anything wrong on any of them, used them carefully,
I had one SOG costs like CAD35? (i forget), used for years but the it feels just like a toy (no offence to SOG and users/fans).
but Buck 110, "heavy" enough and makes it feeling burly versatile, I know it's just for use, but not only for "collection".

You know why I started this post is because there are counterfeits, as a result, though I purchased from recommended dealer, but I still could not believe a new, genuine Buck knife's bolster should have so many scratches at the time unboxing, and all 3 alternatives they provided have same many, so I came and asked if it's a common situation for those selling in the US (and Canada, EU, etc.)
But anyway, no more concern. I'll bring it to hike tmr.

 

[texpat]

Welcome to a special club that's been in existence for over 60 years now! The 110 in my avatar is a 60th anniversary model. I still remember 25 years ago taking my son down to the exact same feed store to buy his first 110 that my Grandpa had taken me to for mine some 20 years before that. It's been a rite of passage for young men for generations now, and still going strong.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Brass bolsters can be both easy and fun in refinishing them to your preference. I have an older 4-dot finger-grooved Buck 112 that originally came with scuffed & dinged bolsters. See the 1st photo below.

I cleaned up those scuffs and dings using a progression of wet/dry sandpaper and following that with polishing - both using a Dremel with a cotton wheel and some green compound and then following that with some hand buffing using Simichrome polish. See the next 2 photos below.

After some time, I began to realize the high-polished finish tended to show fingerprints pretty obviously, so I used a green Scotch-Brite pad to give the brass a nice satin finish, which conceals fingerprints very well. See the next 2 photos below, taken immediately after I did that.

Since then, the bolsters have acquired a nice patina over the satin finish, which still looks very good. I've now come to the realization that, if the bolsters get scuffed again, the green Scotch-Brite pad is my easiest and favorite method to clean them up.

 

[Dextar]

Brass bolsters can be both easy and fun, in refinishing them to your preference. I have an older 4-dot finger-grooved Buck 112 that originally came with scuffed & dinged bolsters. See the 1st photo below.

I cleaned up those scuffs and dings using a progression of wet/dry sandpaper and following that with polishing - both using a Dremel with a cotton wheel and some green compound and then following that with some hand buffing using Simichrome polish. See the next 2 photos below.

After some time, I began to realize the high-polished finish tended to show any fingerprints pretty obviously. So, I then used a green Scotch-Brite pad to give the brass a nice satin finish, which conceals fingerprints very well. See the next 2 photos below, taken immediately after I did that.

Since then, the bolsters have acquired a nice patina over the satin finish, which still looks very good. I've now come to the realization that if the bolsters get scuffed again, the green Scotch-Brite pad is my easiest and favorite method to clean them up again.

Thank you for introducing these: the high polish and the stain finish, i didn't realize that brass can vary so much!

 

[Hickory n steel]

It's normal with brass.

 

[The True North]

Supposed to look like that

 

[Christopher_2]

Guessing, he keeps pulling them out to show people and they are getting microscratches each time. As other have said polish them out and move on, would be the easiest.

 

[Old Hunter]

Not advocating abuse, but if you really use these knives the soft brass gets some dings, scratches, etc. It’s just the same with my hunting rifles, over the years the bluing thins, the stocks get scratches (but no RUST is allowed). I could polish them up, but I like honest wear on mine. It begins on the first day of ownership if it is a user knife. PS this one is sharp enough to clean several decent size animals and the action remains perfect.