How did the traditional American use the Buck 112?

[Maximumbob54]

My Mom told me a long time ago, "When an old person dies, it's like a library burned down. All that information is lost." She told me that way before there were computers or the internet. Back when people actually had to know stuff. Today, everybody walks around with all the information in the world available to them on the smart phone, that they're never without, yet I've never seen so many stupid people in my life.

You're reminding me of when I was a little kid asking my grandmother what the "thing" was in the corner of the kitchen. It was their first icebox fridge. At the time as a kid I had no idea people used to get a chunk of ice to put in a rack to keep food chilled. I've read more about it now but at the time I couldn't fathom not having electricity. She went on to tell me about having to change out leather washers in the pump handle to get water and spreading straw around in the winter to keep warm. We may not have a perfect society but we've massively shifted the bar on how we define poverty these days. I doubt anyone here has recently been sweeping the dirt floor to keep the dirt floor clean...

 

[donnord]

I bought my 112 new back in 83 I think. I carried it all the time every where. When I was in the Merchant Marines it was my only knife and got well used. I still have and carry it when I working in the garage. Its been reground a time or three. I used to cut valve packing with it by hitting the spine with a small sledge hammer to make a clean cut. Here's what it looks like now. I would kinda like to get it re-bladed but once the team at Buck sees it they may choose to put it out of its misery, I'm the only one who is going to do that.

 

[jmh33]

I bought my 112 new back in 83 I think. I carried it all the time every where. When I was in the Merchant Marines it was my only knife and got well used. I still have and carry it when I working in the garage. Its been reground a time or three. I used to cut valve packing with it by hitting the spine with a small sledge hammer to make a clean cut. Here's what it looks like now. I would kinda like to get it re-bladed but once the team at Buck sees it they may choose to put it out of its misery, I'm the only one who is going to do that.

View attachment 2818590

If you choose to do the Spa/reblade it will come back looking like it did when you took it out of the box in 83!!
Just saying.
John

 

[donnord]

I dunno one scale is cracked and the hinge pin looks like it may have moved. There a little bit of blade wobble too, she's a tough old bird.

 

[Railsplitter]

I bought my 112 new back in 83 I think. I carried it all the time every where. When I was in the Merchant Marines it was my only knife and got well used. I still have and carry it when I working in the garage. Its been reground a time or three. I used to cut valve packing with it by hitting the spine with a small sledge hammer to make a clean cut. Here's what it looks like now. I would kinda like to get it re-bladed but once the team at Buck sees it they may choose to put it out of its misery, I'm the only one who is going to do that.

View attachment 2818590

I can’t speak for the team at Buck but based on what I’ve seen and read about knives sent to the Spa, they would probably replace the cracked scale but they would also leave it as is if you requested that.

A new blade wouldn’t be a problem at all for them and I have never heard of the Spa team putting a knife out its misery. Not saying it never happens. Just that I’ve never heard of it. Especially if it’s against the customer’s wishes.

 

[donnord]

Thanks for that repl Railsplitter. My statement was based on many companies will just send you a new knife if it is too much hassle to repair the old one. Good to know that Buck will leave the character marks in place. The "put it out of its misery" was a lame attempt at comedy. I will likely send to them in the next few months.

 

[bucksway]

Be sure to wrap a note ON the knife saying what you want done. Be sure to say it has sentimental value. You can't keep the old blade tho..

 

[arizonaranchman]

Interesting responses, all. I've been following this thread thinking that the OP will reply to the welcomes and nothing, just crickets.

Another forum that I frequent is plagued with AI and bots, Usually it's the one and done, like I'm thinking we have here.

Could be a bot yes, BUT this is a great conversation and I've had fun reading the responses and seeing the pics of the TWO GREATEST BUCK knives ever made.

Culprit99 and Modoc ED... GREAT posts and pics! I love to see those old battered workin' man's knives from the greatest generation (not safe queens!).

 

[arizonaranchman]

I bought my 112 new back in 83 I think. I carried it all the time every where. When I was in the Merchant Marines it was my only knife and got well used. I still have and carry it when I working in the garage. Its been reground a time or three. I used to cut valve packing with it by hitting the spine with a small sledge hammer to make a clean cut. Here's what it looks like now. I would kinda like to get it re-bladed but once the team at Buck sees it they may choose to put it out of its misery, I'm the only one who is going to do that.

View attachment 2818590

I LOVE THIS knife! What a fantastic example of a knife that's LIVED life in the real world day in and day out. A true companion that never let you down. More pis of that knife (the other side, etc) would be awesome as I love old veterans like this. Thank you for sharing this!

 

[brianv]

My Mom told me a long time ago, "When an old person dies, it's like a library burned down. All that information is lost." She told me that way before there were computers or the internet. Back when people actually had to know stuff. Today, everybody walks around with all the information in the world available to them on the smart phone, that they're never without, yet I've never seen so many stupid people in my life.

Your Mom was so right!

 

[Flambeau]

And dont forget.. the origin of the 112 was the Navy in San Diego. They wanted a 110 with a shorter blade. The traditional American may have been a Sailor in the US Navy.

You might be surprised how true this was.
I served on two destroyers and two tours to SE Asia, one tour on each of the two.
Many guys carried a 110 on their belt daily. Of course I wanted one, but there were non to be had over there. The Navy Exchange in Subic Bay (PI) and Yokusuka (Japan) were always out of stock.
While stateside between tours, my Dad gave me one with my name engraved on it (1973) and I wore it on my next tour and carried it as a civilian following my discharge.
Dressed a number of whitetails with it. Over time I replaced it with a sheath knife, which I prefer for dressing deer, turkeys, etc.
I just had Buck do a "spa" treatment on that same knife, beautiful job on it.
FWIW, I never saw a 112 while in the fleet. A few fellows did sport a Buck Kalinga when they first came out.
Intimidating knife when worn with Navy dungarees.....or likely with anything else too.

 

[pjsjr]

A few fellows did sport a Buck Kalinga when they first came out.

Just curious. Fixed or folder? The Kalinga came both ways.

 

[Flambeau]

Kalinga sheath knives (fixed blade).
I'm not familiar with a folding version.
Saw a 73' Kalinga at a knife show this past March, vendor was asking $200.

 

[pjsjr]

I'm not familiar with a folding version.

They're out there, but discontinued. I don't have one, maybe someone will post a photo. Google will show them.

 

[Flambeau]

I forgot to mention above that many of the guys removed the closing flap from the 110 belt sheath, so the knife could be accessed conveniently and quickly.

 

[iball]

Back when I was in the Army on tanks (19K) in the 90s and 00s most of us tankers carried a 110 *and* a Leatherman. The 110 was used for cutting straps and the like, the Leatherman for he pliers.
When the first Gerber multi-toold hit the market we found Gerber pliers would break more easily as compared to Leatherman multi-tool pliers so tankers went back to Leatherman multi-tools and it's kind of stayed that way.