Curiosity strikes again.

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Plumberdv

Plumberdv

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I recently posted pictures of my 110 Liner Locks and began to wonder what blade Buck used for that model. It's obviously not a standard 110, so I went back through all the catalogs from that time frame and for several years prior to it's introduction.

I couldn't find any folder blades shaped like it except for the 450 Protege and the 442 Bucklite but neither one of those is long enough to be the one. I then took a look at the selector blades and it appears that #9 could be the one.

What do you think? :confused:

LLa.jpg


selector.jpg


LL110a.jpg
 
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Handsomest of the drop points in that size, imo.

Would be a great option for the custom 110s (minus those nasty thumbstuds).
 
No, its not a drop point Selector, its a different blade shape. That blade shape is a modified clip but call it what you want. Plus, the Selector blades were not stamped with the old English stamp. Agreed the Protege' is very much akin to it but too short. I don't remember what blade was used and nice photos. DM
 
I had a brief conversation with Leroy about the LL's while at Blade. Unfortunately blade selection didn't come up. Gotta love'em though! A risky proposition based on a proven classic.
If Leroy's recommendation had been followed, and brass was used, would it have been a success?
I'm thinking the leading portion of the top edge is more flat than the drop point.


IMG_1890.jpg
 
Tony, Thats right, it has to do with the way the top spine meets the cutting edge rising up. Yet, its a real crossover so, not a big point, that just what I call it. I noticed your blades are of block lettering stamp. DM
 
DM and Tony, I think the term "modified clip" is more accurately descriptive.

The blade on that Liner Lock model reminds me very much of the blade on the current 486 Bucklite Max Large.

BU486BKS.jpg


One notable difference is that the current 486 has a false edge along the "clip". IMO, the picture above doesn't really capture just how sharp and angular looking the transition is from the flat part of the spine to the "clip" portion. To my eyes, the jarring effect has to do with the false edge bevels.

In contrast, last year's Christmas Tin 482 had no false edge on it, more like the Liner Lock model you guys are showing.


Buck Folders by Pinnah, on Flickr

That's the Christmas Tin version of the 482 at the bottom of that picture.

Now, to my eyes... seeing the 482 next to the 500 the primary difference appears to be the sharp change in the angle along the spine on the 482 next to the gradual curved spine of the 500. If I put my knife with the 442 blade on it in this picture, it would be right between the 500 and the 482 in this regard. More rounded than the 500 but not having the sharp angle on the spine of the 482.

I think most people accept the the 500 and 442 as true drop points.

And I think "modified clip" is definitely the right term for the current 486 and 482, especially since they have such pronounced false edges. It's interesting though that pretty much every retailer web site I've hit describes the 486 and 482 as "drop point" knives. <shrug>

I could go either way with the Christmas Tin 482 or the Liner Lock 110 shown above.
 
The advertising material refers to the blade as "Clip". I agree though Pinnah, I'd go with modified clip. The sheet also shows the nail nick and directly refers to it as an option. The nail nick was eliminated on the later knives.

DSCF0947.jpg
 
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David Martin said:
Tony, Thats right, it has to do with the way the top spine meets the cutting edge rising up. Yet, its a real crossover so, not a big point, that just what I call it. I noticed your blades are of block lettering stamp. DM
Click to expand...

The bottom one is the old English Script; with no nail nick. The block lettered is First Production run. The middle is one of "about five" prototypes.
 
Another respected collector and 110 historian (Joe used a lot of his data) called it a spear point so I guess it's a case of "a rose by any other name..............".

"110LL(liner lock)

-manufactured in 1997 only
-the brain child of WBC
-just under 350 produced
-nickel silver frame(only the prototypes had brass frames)
-NO finger grooves
-blue/green scales
-a limited production(not a limited edition) piece
-the first, and only true spear point 110 variant
-the first, and only 110 variant to come with a one finger thumb opener(O.A.B.)"
 
I would not agree with 'spear point'. I'd say the modified clip in correct. You can see the difference in a real spear point in the above photo. DM
 
I honestly don't give a hoot what the blade shape is called, that's immaterial.

I was trying to figure out what blade that Buck used for that model or if they made a new shape blade specially for it. Still no answer to that. It may not be the exact same as the blade used in the selector but that's by far the closest match I see in that time period.
 
Custom Blade??
I even compared the LL to one of the CC Sambars. Not that one either.
Not a crosslock 950 either.
 
Me too, but I think even better with no false edge along the top. That's what I really like about the Liner Lock blade that's shown.
 
Right. I would say the false edge is also a hunting style too, and it certainly has been widely used for that. But, a) it appears that hunters are flocking to Buck's hunting knives that lack a false edge (mostly drop points) and b) we should be reminded that the American interest in clip points is traceable to the Bowie knife (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowie_knife) which is probably derived from the Spanish navaja (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navaja), both fighting knives.

Hard to see this and not understand the trajectory that gave us the Buck 110 and, more to the point, why it became so popular among motor cycle gangs back in the day.
Navaja2.jpg


Aaaaanyhow... would surely love to see that flat topped drop point/modified clip from the liner lock (sans the thumbstud) available on the 110. Would prefer to see it on the Bucklite Maxes too. Really no need for the false edge.
 
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