cleaning up an old 110.

[Psychopomp]

When I was 6 my grandfather gave me an old Buck 110, from the early 70s. I've been carrying it some lately and would like to clean it up. What should I use on the brass and wood scales?

As it is, the knife looks great and locks up as tight as it did when it was new with absolutely no blade play (the knife was probably 15+ years old when I got it in 1987). It was sitting in a box at my parents house for probably five years, and I just got it back several months ago. I've got several other 110s, but this one is special .

I know some people don't like removing the petina from the brass, and I don't really want to go that far, but I woudl like the scales to look a little richer.

I'll put up some pictures later if I can... it really is a beautiful knife (at least I think so, but I'm a bit biased).

 

[JD Mandrell]

If you want to preserve any collector value, I've had good luck with rubbing them down with a soft cloth and plain ld mineral oil, you can get it cheap at any pharmacy sold as a laxative, it will clean the brass good, but won't remove a lot of metal and I have used it on 110's from the 60's and 70's without it harming the wood either.

If you really want to clean it up to use and aren't worried about collector value, gentle cleaning with Brasso on the bolsters works. try to keep it off the wood scales as much as you can, but I haven't really ever noticed it hurting it when I polish up my newer user 110's.

BTW what a great 110 to have, with that family history!

 

[Mike Kerins]

I have my original 110 from 1968 that I clean the brass bolsters with a piece of old t-shirt. If you keep at it daily, after a while it will shine. Something that may be a bit better than brasso is Neverdull, which is imprenated cotton in a can. You can pick it up at most hardware stores and it shines the brass great without any damage to the wood. You may want to think about sending it back to Buck for a tune-up once they open back up in a few months.

 

[Psychopomp]

BTW what a great 110 to have, with that family history!

If I could get my scanner to work I'd make some pictures... I may have to steal a friend's digital camera.

It's nothing special really... not a custom, and it doesn't have the brass spacer. But, sentimental value aside, it is a fine example of an early 70s 110. Apart from a few scratches on the tip, the blade is in perfect condition. The scales are perfect, no chips or cracks. Apart from a few dings, the bolsters are great too.

My grandfather gave it to me when I was 6, but would only let me use it with him. He taught my dad to use a knife the same way. I coudl only use it when we were in his woodshop or out fishing. When he was satisfied that I knew how to handle it (the 110 is a huge knife for a 6 year old, and even now I'm always amazed at how big a 110 feels in my hand... but none of the 112s feel right) he let me take it home. It bit me a few times, so I learned fast how to close it. I'm 23 now, and have a lot of knives... a lot of nicer knives than a Buck 110, but it's probably my favorite. To this day, almost 18 years later, my grandfather asks me if I've still got it. Now that I know where it is, I think I'll show it to him next time I see him.

He also taught me how to sharpen, and I've been able to put a razor edge on any knife since I was about 8 years old. So this 110 shows very little blade loss from sharpening.

 

[Psychopomp]

You may want to think about sending it back to Buck for a tune-up once they open back up in a few months.

I thought about it, but the lock up on t his knife is as good as my less than a year old 110. There is NO blade play and it makes a satisfying CLUNK when it locks.

 

[Psychopomp]

here are some, admittedly poor, scans of the knife.

 

[JD Mandrell]

Those aren't to bad, and seeing the tang stamp narrows it down to 1973, that was the first year of the 3 line stamp, but starting in 1974 dot's were added, so yours is a 1973. The overall condition looks good for it's age also, a little shine up and she'll be a great keepsake and user!

 

[Psychopomp]

I've decided to carry and use it. That's why my grandfather gave it to me. I've polished up the bolsters with just an old Under Armor shirt and it looks pretty good.

I've got some other 110s, but I don't carry them often, and the 112s are too small (I've got five of them). But this one is special and deserves to be used I think.

 

[lifter4Him]

Flitz(the non-abrasive form in the bottle, not the abrasive sold in tubes) from most gun shops will have those brass bolsters sparkling like new.

 

[mnblade]

Those older 110s can be a real bear to sharpen. At some point, you might consider sending it back to Buck for sharpening. They charge $6.95 and will put a killer edge on the knife. As a bonus they'll buff it up wonderfully and send it back to you looking great. For more info, click here.