Help me choose my 110's steel!!

allenC: That looks great, how did you go about doing that?? Is the finish actually lighter in colour than the stock finish now?? I would choose the AG if I could get it to look like that!!
 
savageman said:
allenC: That looks great, how did you go about doing that?? Is the finish actually lighter in colour than the stock finish now?? I would choose the AG if I could get it to look like that!!
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No, the finish has not been changed at all.
It's neither lighter nor darker than the stock AG blade.
The only change is the removal of the Alaskan Guide logo.

In some photos the Alaskan Guide 110 blade looks black or very dark....but this is only due to the lighting used by the photographer or the camera settings used.
The actual blade looks very much like the one in my photo....maybe a little less brown and a little more grey...maybe.
I took these photos outside with natural lighting, but not direct sunlight.

I'll take some more and try to capture the blade color and hue.

BTW, here's a link to the thread explaining how I removed the AG logo....
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=506773


Later,
Allen
 
Here are some more photos, fresh out of the digital camera, of my Alaskan Guide 110 and my BassPro Shoppe 110....
As you can see, the Alaskan Guide 110 is not really black.
In fact, it's not much darker than the BassPro Shoppe 110....

(the BPS 110 is on top)
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(you can really see how the sky is reflected by the blades in these two pics giving them a bluish hue)
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The AG seems more like a dark satin finish while the BPS 110 seems more like a gun-blue mirror polish finish.
Both are great looking, but I think I like the AG just a little more....but it might have something to do with the scales too....I like the darker AG scales more than the lighter (more reddish) BPS scales.
But no doubt the scales and blades differ ever so slightly from knife to knife, maybe year to year?

Anyway, I hope this helps.
Allen.
 
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Outstanding pics Allen. Don't let the "coatings" fool you either. The are very durable. I used Case Baby Doc to shave off the AG logo. Didn't scratch the coating at all. The AG coating is not Black Oxide. It is Titanium Aluminum Nitride.
 
Awsome, thank you very much for those pics allenC!! I think by viewing those pics I have settled on the AG in S30V from Cabelas, simply because I now see a bit of mirror finish on the CPM154 that I dont like. I like the flat/dull finish on the AG, Im picking up the phone right now and ordering one from SIR in Canada!! Thanks
 
Do they both come with the regular black cheap leather, button sheath?? I am hoping it comes with a nice brown full grain leather, button sheath??
 
savageman said:
Do they both come with the regular black cheap leather, button sheath?? I am hoping it comes with a nice brown full grain leather, button sheath??
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They both come with very nice button-flap leather pouches.
And the Alaskan Guide sheath has the AG logo embossed on the flap.
They are the same quality as you get from Buck's Custom Shoppe.
 
I have a regular 110 and the S30V 110. Don't have a 154CM but I do have a BM 710 with that steel. I don't think you could lose either way. I really like the AG. The blade "coating" is a really nice gun blue color, and it doesn't really seem like a coating. If you get one, take off that logo with acetone. It came razor sharp, and remains that way after two years. My recommendation: Buy both of them :)
 
Allen,

Have you noticed that your BP has a longer clip point grind?

I have both and I too believe you should buy both Savageman.
 
savageman said:
If its not too much of a problem allenC can you please snap a pic of the sheaths. Thanks
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I no longer have the BassPro Shoppe sheath....it was traded with my walnut Custom Shoppe 110.
But here are some quick pics of the AG sheath....sorry for the quality (kitchen lighting)....

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This sheath is in very good condition because it's well made and I never use it.
I prefer to carry my 110 in the horizontal nylon cordura Custom Shoppe sheath.
 
Flatlander1963 said:
Allen,

Have you noticed that your BP has a longer clip point grind?

I have both and I too believe you should buy both Savageman.
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Yeah, I've noticed, but it really doesn't bother me.
What bothers me is the BPS has a much more blunt tip than any of my other 110's....even my Walmart basic "plain Jane" 110 has a more pointy tip.

And if you look carefully you can see some unpolished "texture" on one brass bolster of the BassPro Shoppe 110....

You can see the "dimpling" in this shot....
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I considered sending it back to Buck, but instead I have decided that it will become a "test" knife. ;)
 
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yes i have been playing with my knives and many times i notice the differences in the clip grind.. i am sure it is a hand operation which will account for much..
in some of the older ones i notice a lot of diffrence in the belly of the blade..

i would rather have hand operation with it's differences showing..
 
334dave said:
yes i have been playing with my knives and many times i notice the differences in the clip grind.. i am sure it is a hand operation which will account for much..
in some of the older ones i notice a lot of diffrence in the belly of the blade..

i would rather have hand operation with it's differences showing..
Click to expand...

I agree. It lends a sort of hand made 'Spirit' to it.

All this talk of the differences between the AG and BP have caused me to closely examine both of these knives. On mine, the AG has a slightly darker blade coating and wood than the BP. What I found curious, was that both the AG and BP were mirror polished and shiny coated. My AG has a different finish to the one that Allen illustrated.
 
What I found curious, was that both the AG and BP were mirror polished and shiny coated. My AG has a different finish to the one that Allen illustrated.
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Interesting....

My AG is a 2004 and my BPS is a 2007....what's the dates on yours?
 
I have the AG, but not the BP. Now, I love S30V... but it isn't 'perfect'. Sure, it'll hold an edge longer - but not several times as long - maybe 40% longer. My use varies from whittling to trimming dinner to opening packages - including blister packs. It takes a good bit more time to re-edge, too, with my Syderco 'Sharpmaker'. Admittedly, my Bucks in S30V, the AG and Kalinga Pro examples, are still hair-poppers, after admittedly sparingly small use. My heavy use S30V blade is actually a Spyderco Native - it has seen fan belts, hoses, etc, as well as the other previously mentioned 'targets'. The only meat my knives have been subjected to for cutting came from Publix's cooler. That Native in S30V took some time and dedication to resharpen.

I've noticed an interesting phenomonon of the S30V blades - they cut paper better with a dedicated pulling of the blade, like a Damascus blade's micro-sawing function. A sharpened 420HC is like a razor. My direct comparison between 154CM and 420HC, in my new-this-year 005RWS vs 005GYS Gen5's, has been simple. After some whittling, the pair are still similar - still shavers.

Oddly, this has led to a great appreciation for the basic 420HC-steel Buck 110, for $25 or less - much less after Christmas if they have leftover 'Collector Tin' versions on closeout. Still, they are a bargain. My opinion is that the AG is also a bargain - if you like it's looks - and the deserved bragging rites of S30V steel.

Now, someone mentioned sheaths... they came with sheaths? I say a folder doesn't need one. Yeah, it's big - and the brass bolsters get scratched rubbing against keys, etc, but I hate belt mounted sheaths/holsters. Fixed blades, that's a different matter. I guess the sheaths are what is bouncing around inside the boxes... and those nylon sheaths in the back of my storage cabinet (Bottom of my display cabinet.) must've come with the blister packed 110's. YMMV.

Here is the assortment of EDCs, besides the Spydie Native, my 'utility' knife, that I EDC. It includes, top down: Buck Kalinga Pro folder #419 (S30V); Bear MGC #597D (Damascus - blade & knife made here in AL!); Buck Custom Shop 110 in teardrop Damascus; Buck/Cabela's AG 110 (S30V); Buck 576XLT - Ti-handled 110 (420HC); and a $25 Wally World Buck 110 (420HC).

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Stainz
 
My AG blade is very dark like black, 2006 and I really like the well made burgundy sheath w/ the AG logo stamped on it. I would'nt carry it any other way than in the sheath. Yes, I've noticed most others pictured are lighter than mine. Hence, I originally bought the AG and std FG 110 and quickly sent them to Leroy to have the blades switched. The dark blade in the bright red handle did'nt look right and if I'm going to carry a 110 is going to be a FG up grade frame.DM
 
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