-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Help me choose the materials for my custom 110
- Thread starter jefroman
- Start date
jefroman, To get a "custom" 110 first decide if you going to use it or "collect" it.
Then decide what handle shape your hand likes. Yes, your hand. What your eyes
like and how it feels in your hand are not always the same. If you don't know
try and find a dealer that carries both plain and finger groove 110's. Once
that issue is decided then pick what you like for bolster material ,silver or brass.
Going next to the scale material, bone, stag, horn, Etc. The scales are also
going be hand friendly so this one is kinda iffy. Finally, decide what blade
steel. Blade steel,again, depends on use or collect. For use the standard blade
is ok or Bg-42 is always a good upgrade. Bottom line......Take your time
and decide what YOU like. Then buy one of the best knives you'll
ever own. You won't be one bit sorry.
Then decide what handle shape your hand likes. Yes, your hand. What your eyes
like and how it feels in your hand are not always the same. If you don't know
try and find a dealer that carries both plain and finger groove 110's. Once
that issue is decided then pick what you like for bolster material ,silver or brass.
Going next to the scale material, bone, stag, horn, Etc. The scales are also
going be hand friendly so this one is kinda iffy. Finally, decide what blade
steel. Blade steel,again, depends on use or collect. For use the standard blade
is ok or Bg-42 is always a good upgrade. Bottom line......Take your time
and decide what YOU like. Then buy one of the best knives you'll
ever own. You won't be one bit sorry.
Buzzbait
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2001
- Messages
- 6,697
These are some tough questions. There are so many options at PCKS, its hard to choose. I guess thats why some people have so many different PCKS Bucks. Ill try to highlight a few finer points, but much of this is personal preference.
Finger grooves / no finger grooves I cant help you here. You either like them or you dont
Rivets / no rivets Rivets hold the various handle materials onto the frame of the knife. The No Rivets options uses glue. The rivets are probably more sturdy in the end, but dont look quite as nice.
Handle materials This is a big personal preference deal, as this feature determines most of a knifes aesthetics. Wood is a good sturdy material, but no outrageously waterproof. Stag and bone can crack when dropped hard, but provide a nice grip. Id say that horn and bone are wonderfully waterproof and wear resistant.
When it comes to steel selection, intended use is the key. BG-42 is a sensational all around steel. Actually, its my favorite steel. It sharpens pretty easily, and takes a wicked edge. ATS-34 is also good, but not like BG-42. 420HC takes a good edge, but doesnt hold it as long as BG-42 or ATS-34. The 420HC is whats used on a standard Buck110. Its nicely stainless. The BuckCote steels, if memory serves me right, are chisel ground blades. Chisel grinds have pros and cons. I wouldnt get one without first studying up on their strengths and weaknesses. Damascus steel is gorgeous looking, and great for a mantelpiece kind of knife.
Serrations Again, this is all about what the knife will be used for. Study up on serrations if you dont have a complete understand as to their usefulness.
Bolsters Whatever color you like. The brass tends to tarnish a little faster than nickel/silver.
Engraving Heck, its cheap. Just dont engrave your wifes name on it, unless you plan on giving the Buck to her as a gift.
Sheath type You can handle that one without my help.
Just for the record. Heres what I ordered:
Stag, fingergrooved handle, without rivets
Serrated BG-42 blade
Brass bolsters
Black leather sheath
The knife was sent back afterwards for engraving
I love this knife!!!!
Finger grooves / no finger grooves I cant help you here. You either like them or you dont
Rivets / no rivets Rivets hold the various handle materials onto the frame of the knife. The No Rivets options uses glue. The rivets are probably more sturdy in the end, but dont look quite as nice.
Handle materials This is a big personal preference deal, as this feature determines most of a knifes aesthetics. Wood is a good sturdy material, but no outrageously waterproof. Stag and bone can crack when dropped hard, but provide a nice grip. Id say that horn and bone are wonderfully waterproof and wear resistant.
When it comes to steel selection, intended use is the key. BG-42 is a sensational all around steel. Actually, its my favorite steel. It sharpens pretty easily, and takes a wicked edge. ATS-34 is also good, but not like BG-42. 420HC takes a good edge, but doesnt hold it as long as BG-42 or ATS-34. The 420HC is whats used on a standard Buck110. Its nicely stainless. The BuckCote steels, if memory serves me right, are chisel ground blades. Chisel grinds have pros and cons. I wouldnt get one without first studying up on their strengths and weaknesses. Damascus steel is gorgeous looking, and great for a mantelpiece kind of knife.
Serrations Again, this is all about what the knife will be used for. Study up on serrations if you dont have a complete understand as to their usefulness.
Bolsters Whatever color you like. The brass tends to tarnish a little faster than nickel/silver.
Engraving Heck, its cheap. Just dont engrave your wifes name on it, unless you plan on giving the Buck to her as a gift.
Sheath type You can handle that one without my help.
Just for the record. Heres what I ordered:
Stag, fingergrooved handle, without rivets
Serrated BG-42 blade
Brass bolsters
Black leather sheath
The knife was sent back afterwards for engraving
I love this knife!!!!
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2000
- Messages
- 346
Well, glad you narrowed it down some!
It all depends on what you want, and what fits your hands.
Here's the most recent family portrait of mine:
from left to right:
oak & damascus, orangewood & champaign ionfusion, water buffalo & damascus, "standard" 110, checkered rosewood & ion fusion, indigo & bg42, brown bone & bg42, stag & bg42, and
green cam & gold ionfusion.
Below are two 560's rebladed with BG42, and above are four 532's, the cherry and blue on top, and two walnuts, one very light, below.
Maybe that can give you some ideas. Wish I could get a better picture.
The 110 that I ordered from Pete's WAS in rams horn. When the knife arrived I was very
disappointed with the horn used. I was rough and de-laminating so I sent it back. I asked
Buck to fix the scales or to put stag on it. When the knife came back it was in stag with
a VERY nice letter explaning that rams horn would no longer be offered as good horn
was not available. Sure enough I checked the next day to find that rams horn wasn't on
the Pete's page anymore. A measure of how good a business is is how they handle
problems. For my money Buck is light years ahead of most companies knife or not.
disappointed with the horn used. I was rough and de-laminating so I sent it back. I asked
Buck to fix the scales or to put stag on it. When the knife came back it was in stag with
a VERY nice letter explaning that rams horn would no longer be offered as good horn
was not available. Sure enough I checked the next day to find that rams horn wasn't on
the Pete's page anymore. A measure of how good a business is is how they handle
problems. For my money Buck is light years ahead of most companies knife or not.