Is 110 Steel Mediocre Until Heat Treating?

TIZWIN

TIZWIN

Gold Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2006
Messages
1,145
Here's a question for my new pals and fellow 110 collectors. Do you consider the steel in a current, standard Buck 110 inherently inferior to, say, S30V or BG-42? And if so, is it the Bos heat treatment which elevates the steel to what seems to be a par with at least Spyderco's VG10?

Or is it just a case of "steel snobbery?" Another example of knife arcana that is lost on sheeple?
 
Buck_110 said:
TIZWIN:

The correct heat treatment is everything! You can start out with the very best blade steel available, incorrectly heat treat it, and end up with garbage. A great example would be comparing CRK's S30V to Paul Bos's S30V. Although the Sebenza has the tightest working tolerances of any folding knife I have ever handled in my life, and is without a shadow of a doubt a tank, Buck's S30V with Paul Bos heat treatment will outperform CRK's S30V any day of the week. Keep in mind we are talking about just the blade steel here, not comparing a Sebenza to a 110.

If you have ever owned a CRK knife with S30V blade steel and have sharpened it many times, you will notice how much softer the underlying steel is when exposed through sharpening. You will NOT have this with Paul Bos S30V. Strider also uses S30V blade steel, which is also heat treated by Paul Bos.

Surely you can find a better made knife than a Buck; but you will not find a knife with better blade steel. I would put a Buck 110 with 420HC up against a CRK Sebenza with S30V any day of the week...in a real world test. Anybody can go by technical data sheets on steel manufacturers web sites, but what does that really prove? Nothing at all really, as they do NOT do the final heat treating...the knife manufacturer does this.
Click to expand...

Well said! I only hope Paul Bos has a mentor program going so his talent is not lost some day.
 
Buck_110 said:
TIZWIN:

The correct heat treatment is everything! You can start out with the very best blade steel available, incorrectly heat treat it, and end up with garbage. A great example would be comparing CRK's S30V to Paul Bos's S30V. Although the Sebenza has the tightest working tolerances of any folding knife I have ever handled in my life, and is without a shadow of a doubt a tank, Buck's S30V with Paul Bos heat treatment will outperform CRK's S30V any day of the week. Keep in mind we are talking about just the blade steel here, not comparing a Sebenza to a 110.

If you have ever owned a CRK knife with S30V blade steel and have sharpened it many times, you will notice how much softer the underlying steel is when exposed through sharpening. You will NOT have this with Paul Bos S30V. Strider also uses S30V blade steel, which is also heat treated by Paul Bos.

Surely you can find a better made knife than a Buck; but you will not find a knife with better blade steel. I would put a Buck 110 with 420HC up against a CRK Sebenza with S30V any day of the week...in a real world test. Anybody can go by technical data sheets on steel manufacturers web sites, but what does that really prove? Nothing at all really, as they do NOT do the final heat treating...the knife manufacturer does this.
Click to expand...

Nothing left for me to post Buck_110 covered it perfectly!
Nothing wrong with 420HC...:thumbup: :thumbup:
 
buck knives' 420 hc is better than many other manufactures' high end stuff,i've never had a moments trouble with 420 hc ,its an all round great working steel,at a great price.........still like the old 440c steel too!
 
I dont see S30 V as all that good a steel. I have a Sebenza and Umfaan as well as a 110 in BG42 and the Sebenza wins hands down! It gets sharpened twice a year and the 110 3-4 times. Now if you compare Buck's BG42, ATS 34 and 420HC in 110's it's that order and with E2K there aint much difference. My favorite is the Damascus 110 Custom. It just keeps cutting and cutting.
 
guy g said:
I dont see S30 V as all that good a steel. I have a Sebenza and Umfaan as well as a 110 in BG42 and the Sebenza wins hands down!
Click to expand...
Your statement has me confused. :confused: You say that you don't think that S30V is all that great but then go on to say the Sebenza (S30V) beats the BG-42, ATS 34 & 420HC 110 hands down. Which is it?
 
OH YEAH???? Well your mommy wears Army boots and dresses you funny!!!!

When I first read this thread I knew it was gonna be interesting...oh wait, that was the China Syndrome thread. Oh, no, the Akounua Vs. Kalinga...micarta or Corolon...Strider or NightHawk...Laser cuts or etched...110 or 112...taste great or less filling...

I think I need another beer...
 
Sorry about that. My Sebenza and Umfaan are both in BG42. I have a Small Seb and a Spyderco Native in S30V and have hesatated on Bucks because I'm not impressed so far with S30V.Now that I've straightened that out, you can start picking apart my steel choices again. will be home Friday. guy
 
Buckaholic, your avatar has made me realize that steel type is way down on the list of things that really matter.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top