Need to replace blade on Great-Grandfather's buck knife

G

Gyvanth

Joined
Aug 2, 2012
Messages
2
Hey guys, I've had my great-grandfather's buck knife for awhile now, but it hasn't seen much use. He and my grandfather after him put a lot of work into this knife, and this the blade has been shortened incredibly. It no longer sits flush in the groove when closed, and because the blade had to be reshaped, the point is very wide and couldn't pierce through anything more than thin paper. I don't want to get a new knife, because this knife is like a family heirloom. Rather, I want to replace the blade. I believe it is a Buck 112, because that is what the blade says, but it seems much larger than any of the Buck 112's I've seen online. I've attached some pictures to show you the problem. How should I go about replacing the blade? Where can I get this done?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/i9848blu15cs0gt/2012-08-02 00.19.34.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/pui8myjcqi8yogg/2012-08-02 00.21.55.jpg
 
I think it should be put in a glass case solo and displayed for the world to see. Something you can pass it on to your son or daughter. A knife like that would be better retired. Just my 0.02
 
It's definately a 112 from 1988, not a 112 blade in a 110 frame. The shape of the front bolster is one giveaway and it's the same size as any other 112. The blade would be 425M and Buck could easily install a new blade to make it very usable again. The new blade will be 420HC which will perform very well for you. At the time of the blade swap, they can/will do a spa job on it and it will be like new again.
 
I agree with Plum, send her in for reblade and spa, best 10 bucks you'll ever spend.

Welcome to the forum
 
Send it in..If your not happy with it get it fixed and use it..Thats what your great grandfather would probably like you to do..Use it not just look at it..
 
Make sure you tell them that it is a family heirloom and you DO NOT want it replaced but fixed. Better yet, send it to BUCK ,ATTN. Joe Houser and he will take very good care of the knife. Just let him know the story.
 
Thanks guys. When you guys say "spa", what exactly is done to the knife? Is it just cleaned up? I don't want anything on the handle to be replaced, especially the wood. It's a little chewed up but it adds a lot to it.
 
When/if you send it in, just tell them what you want done. The spa work is usually a fantastic cleanup job with nothing replaced. They polish the brass and handles to like new in those cases where the nicks and dings aren't too deep. As has been said already, send it to Joe Houser, care of Buck with a note telling him what you want done.

Here's an old 112 that belonged to my deceased father in law. I found it in his tool box and sent it to Buck. They replaced the blade and polished it up very nicely for me.

Before:

Untitled-1copy-1.jpg


old112.jpg


After:

old112a.jpg


old112b.jpg


old112c.jpg
 
Gy, Buck won't do much to the wood handles if you instruct them not to. Just replace the blade. DM
 
I've had good luck with Joe Houser. You need to bug him though! Make sure he remembers who you are and which knife is yours.
Joe helped me fix up a Buck 110 Build Out that developed blade play.
 
Gyvanth said:
Hey guys, I've had my great-grandfather's buck knife for awhile now, but it hasn't seen much use. He and my grandfather after him put a lot of work into this knife, and this the blade has been shortened incredibly. It no longer sits flush in the groove when closed, and because the blade had to be reshaped, the point is very wide and couldn't pierce through anything more than thin paper. I don't want to get a new knife, because this knife is like a family heirloom. Rather, I want to replace the blade.
Click to expand...

If this knife was a family heirloom for me, I would do as you describe - get the blade replaced.

For me, the heart and soul of a knife is the handle/frame. One, that's the part that contains the sweat of your forefathers. Two, blades are meant to be replaced when damaged and used up, just like brake pads. That might not even be the original blade and if it isn't, the meaning of the knife isn't diminished in anyway, imo. Third, there is no greater respect to be paid to the knife and them to continue to use it.

Different people will feel different about these things. I understand the appeal of putting in a drawer to be saved and protected. But how would you pass that on to your son?

"Here boy, this is the knife that your great-great and great-father used."

"Did you use it too dad?"

"Oh dear no! I kept it safe in my sock drawer for 30 years."

That just doesn't work for me and I'm pretty sure wouldn't work for my kid either.

Here's a non-Buck example. My grand-fathers Johnson Woolen Mackinaw, Winchester and nameless Bowie.


grandpas-stuff by Pinnah, on Flickr

I use the jacket and gun (knife isn't my pref) and they're going to my kid someday, but not until I put some knicks and tears in them my own self.
 
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