Buck steels

E

elementfe

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May 3, 2008
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I'm really sorry to ask the oldest question in the book, but I'm failing totally after about an hour of searching to find out:
What steel did Buck use for their 4.5" sheath knives in 1970?

I had one as a 13 yr. old and LOVED it. Butchered many animals, it only rarely needed more than a touchup, and when I needed to sharpen it, it didn't take much. That was a goooood knife.

After losing it in a sorry misadventure, I got a 1977 110 and HATED it. I believe it was 440c, and I couldn't get it sharp- partly because of the splitting wedge style edge geometry and partly because it was so hard that I'd have had to find power equipment in those days before diamond stones, and I was kind of a lazy kid.
Though it was hollow ground, it had probably a thick 20 degree edge. Hated that thing and traded it in for box cutter. Used kitchen knives for hunting instead and was happier.
That said, now I have grinders and would rework it and love it and use it every day... things change..
Thanks for any info and Happy Holidays!
Andy G.
 
Buck used 440C on all their models from the 50's thru 1981. Then changed to 425M steel until 92. Now its 420 steel. Your 118 and 110 at that time had the same steel. A Norton India or carborandum stone would have sharpened either. DM
 
Thanks, David.
I wanted to know whether the steels were different, because both were hollow ground, but the edge geometry was very different, making one a great all around user and one very user-unfriendly.
Once again, I was just a kid, but one worked and one didn't, even though I really liked the IDEA of a locking folder.
Andy
 
At that time with Buck's mfg. still much was done by hand. So, it is possible one could have a different edge profile (thinner/thicker) among various models. Heck, it
was even possible to have different edge profiles with the same model which I've noticed among those early factory knives. Glad you enjoyed one. Your welcome. DM
 
I use a slight convex when re edging my buck knives,nothing is better for my style and use than a good convex edge,it will outlast any flat or hollow ground edge that i have ever tried.
 
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