Custom Buck 110 — Brass vs Nickel Durability?

[st8yd]

In my experience I haven’t had any nickel silver tarnish even a little. It’s more arrid in my region and even brass isn’t to bad. Brass will commonly attain a patina and in some moist environments will attain a green vertigris corrosion more easily but it’s easy enough to clean off and mostly just a sightful annoyance. I use some clp to clean and it gives a level of protection against the vertigris and haven’t had much since using this method. As far as strength I can’t tell much difference.

It could be me but it seems my older NS ones havn't tarnished as much as the later ones. Though the 110 isn't available in it, I much prefer SS bolsters or titanium.
I think a 501 with ti bolsters would be great.
As I think about it seems I've seen brass dinged up much worse than NS but ...
Here are some 501's, two are tarnished next to one that isn't and NS next to one SS the shiniest one.

 

[Railsplitter]

This discission has me curious. I see a fair amount of posts about brass knives being sent to the Spa but I don't recall ever seeing a post about a nickel silver knife sent to the Spa. Is it just me or has anyone else made a similar observation?

 

[David Nowlin]

Yes always seems brass gets the call for SPA. Good observation. I’m not certain but you would think those NS knives could be sent or at least given a good polishing at home? Some do like the patina or unpolished look?

 

[Will Power]

The 300 series knives were always nickel silver (with a recent brass offering). Never had (Stainless) Steel bolsters.
Did you mean the 500 series? The early ones were stainless (bolsters) changing to Nickel Silver in the 90's with only the 500 Duke continuing to the present in Stainless.

I'm no Buck expert, just an enthusiast You are of course correct, I was being lazy...the bolsters are NS on 300s not stainless but I was thinking in my mind of the contrast with most CASE and GEC knives where brass liners (regrettably) prevail. The Blade Forums 2018 Knife was a special Buck 300 type with American Elk,154 CM and Clip/Sheepfoot. This has NS bolsters and no brass anywhere, one of my favourite Forum Knives and I have several.

Thanks, Will

 

[Jsega51]

This discission has me curious. I see a fair amount of posts about brass knives being sent to the Spa but I don't recall ever seeing a post about a nickel silver knife sent to the Spa. Is it just me or has anyone else made a similar observation?

Id imagine brass frame knives outnumber NS knives by a pretty large margin and are commonly what you’ll see for sale in stores on 110’s and 112’s so they become the users. A lot of NS knives seem to be orders or a special offering so they may not get used or they’re just lightly carried most times (less need for a cleanup, also the brushed NS on some probably hides a lot more sign of use).

 

[brownshoe]

Since GEC uses mostly brass over nickel silver, I'd guess brass is cheaper and/or easier to make a knife with Could be the same for the 110.

 

[DeSotoSky]

Id imagine brass frame knives outnumber NS knives by a pretty large margin and are commonly what you’ll see for sale in stores on 110’s and 112’s so they become the users. A lot of NS knives seem to be orders or a special offering so they may not get used or they’re just lightly carried most times (less need for a cleanup, also the brushed NS on some probably hides a lot more sign of use).

Best comment.