Got a 112 on the way

S

Simple Man

Joined
Nov 6, 2001
Messages
2,558
Hey all, got a question.

I recently got a 112 off the 'bay, but it hasn't gotten here yet.

But I want to get my facts straight. It looks to be a three dot with regular squarish handles in pretty good shape.

Am I correct that it is probably a 1980 and could be 440C instead of 420HC?

I'll post some real pics once it gets here and I see what it actually is. It will probably be a light user regardless.





 
It is 440C. The addition of a 4th dot indicated the switch to 425 modified steel sometime in about 1981.
 
Congrats! That looks like a nice one and as the years go by, more collectors will be looking for them.

Some fairly good anecdotes suggest that 1980 was the first year of BOS heat treating, although I don't know that there has ever been official confirmation of that.
 
Nice find-I am coveting 3dots and have missed on a few auction-that one looks like it will clean up like brand new:thumbup:
 
If you care to spiff it up, some Mother's Mag wheel polish, some q-tips and 10 minutes will have it looking almost new. Those bolsters will be shiny.
 
I'll probably clean it with 91% iso. alcohol to clean off the gunk, then oil it down with Militec or Rem-Oil, then go from there. I usually try to leave patina and character marks if possible.

If I do go that far, I usually use MAAS, (mostly for stropping) as it is slightly abrasive. Is Mother's all chemical or does it have some physical polishing to it also?
 
I understand the patina thing. Funny how I like to remove it from old, user Bucks and Schrades, and then force fake patinas on new Sodbusters. Something ain't right there.
 
I just started EDCing my old Buck112 from my highschool days. It's a 3 dot finger groove model that I bought at a feed store in the early 80's. I forgot how cool this knife is! I've been so caught up in trying to buy the latest and greatest I forgot all about this classic. I love how chunky it is. I wonder how many people know how easy it is to open these knives one-handed by holding onto the blade and doing a quick twitch. No thumbstuds or bladeholes necessary!
 
I don't know dates of production I only know what I have and it has( .112..) on the tang and the handle has finger grooves.
 
Well, great news and bad news.

The 112 made it here and the USPS box was crushed on one side, so I figured the original box would be crushed as best and possibly (probably) not even there.

Once open, not only was it there, but they broke it down, folded it, and plastic wrapped it so it would not get damaged or wet. The original paperwork was also included as shown.

After I got past that, I pulled the knife out of the unused sheath, to find the (3) dot 112 is in pristine, unused condition with only fingerprints in the tarnish, no dings, dents or scratches. The only marks on it are the mentioned tarnish and some green tarnish from the sheath.

This thing has been in somebody's dresser drawer for the last 30 years sitting unused. All this for less than the price of a current model. The only problem, the bad news is the fact that I will have to find another one now to use. I can't bear to put the first scratch on it. :D

The pics are bad as there was no light left outside, but do show some detail.







 
Blue Sky said:
I thought finger grooves first appeared with the 4-dots, or was that only for 110's?
Click to expand...

Yes, Stelth is correct . Finger grooves appeared on 3 dot 112's then later on 4 dot 110's . One collector has told me 3 dot finger groove 110's do exist . DM
 
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