Past loves/fads?

[UnknownVT]

At one time I was fascinated with the Buck Folding Hunter/Ranger lockback series - especially the blade grind.......
They were reputed to be sharp but very difficult to sharpen (on a 425M or 420HC? really? )

Anyway those were the days before the popular one-handed opening and liner-lock knives, and the good old lockback ruled.....
that also meant money was tighter - so I just covetted the full-priced Ranger 112.

Until the BuckLite with Plastic handles came along -
the first ones had thick maroon thermo plastic handles which were based on the 112FG - Finger Groove model Ranger - other than the handle it came with the blade (grind) I was so enamored with.

top to bottom - Blaze Orange (later) BuckLite 422; maroon original BuckLite 422; 2002 100th Anniversary Buck Ranger 112.

Blades -

Hard to illustrate with a photo about the grinds -

But a closer look especially the edge near the tang/kick of the blades -

shows the maroon BuckLite has a wider grind "bevel" which is convexed - withOUT a hard shoulder to the edge bevel.

The slightly later orange BuckLite has a narrower "bevel" also convexed - doesn't look as nice - but perhaps practically "better" for cutting.

The much later 2002 100th Anniversary Ranger actually has a distinct edge bevel - although it is smoothed out to eliminate the hard shoulder.....

This edge pic around the tip show this a bit better -

I like the original maroon BuckLite's blade better than the later orange, and the most recent 2002 100th Anniversary Ranger to me is the worst of the three - although I have some Bucks that actually have a distinct edge bevel with NO attempt to smooth out the shoulder at all ..... (and don't even talk to me about the Buck NightHawk)....

To me that maroon handled BluckLite 422 feels right in my hand with good balance - the full-priced Ranger (now that I have one- bought actually at a bargain price from WalMart at 25 bucks ) feels heavy, handle heavy. The blaze orange BuckLite - although has the same thickness overall - feels lighter and less substantial.

Holding and handling the original maroon BuckLite 422 - seems to bring back those feelings again - even though I've obviously "moved on"......


Comments?

How about your past loves/fads?

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/

 

[Gossman Knives]

Hi Vincent,
The ones you refer to as being hard to sharpen was when Buck used a hard 440C steel for their blades. They held an edge for a long time but people complained they were a bear to sharpen. I guess I never came out of my love affair with the 110 & 112. Still my favorite pick. It's funny though, I'm not that fond of the hollow grind but I kinda grew up with the 110 and there's just something about it that I can't put my finger on. I've had the one hand wonders but I guess I never got used to the concept of them being better. The 110 has really proved itself over time. I guess I'll remain a dinosaur.
Scott

 

[DeadManWalking]

Brings back some memories for me as well. As a scout I loved Buck knives and had a 110 a 119 and one of the earliest Bucklites. I even still have the short lived Bucklight (the flashlight).

I can also remember being way into slipjoint trappers at the time... I bought every one I could afford. Maybe I should get back into them

 

[PWork]

Imperial Jackmasters in my mis-spent youth (5-14 yrs old).
Buck 110 from jr high to early adulthood.
Spyderco my first 15 yrs of marriage.
....Now it's Victorinox and Chris Reeve.

Paul

 

[abo4ster]

I used to love the Gerber Brass Folders and Silver Knights. Good quality back in the 80's.

 

[J.Davey]

ages 11-14: Hollow handled survival knives (when First Blood came out)
15-18: Modern Kukris (Benchmade Bushmaster)
18-present: Modern Bowies, Benchmade and (recently) Kershaw folders , 6-7 inch blade camp knives, neck knives (SPOT is my fave), and just starting with carbon. Yeah, I'm a trend follower

 

[CRH]

My first collection as a kid was Barlows. It was politically and socially acceptable for kids to have knives in those days. I was collecting on a paper route budget so mostly it was cheapos. I did have a few vintage models that I picked up at flea markets. Sometimes people would just give me an old knife that they found laying around in a drawer some where. I would spend hours sharpening up those old knives on Arkansas stones.

My grandmother got me started when she gave me a Case Barlow that belonged to my grandfather.

 

[GarageBoy]

Benchmade and equivalents with liner locks

 

[Morgoth412]

I guess my old fad was tacticals. I thought they where so kool, and could do anything.

Once I realized a flat ground Spyderco or Victorinox with a utility type blade could out cut them the fad kind of left me.
-Kevin

 

[UnknownVT]

I think we're somewhat spoilt with the web and on-line access to get almost instant information and pictures of almost any knife - then we can check and compare prices there and then.

Anything that's new or unknown to us we merely have to come here on BF and ask....

But there is also something about poring through paper catalogs.

It was dangerous - especially those sales catalogs we'd get a few time a year like those from SMKW. I'd be on the phone that very same evening to find most of the things I wanted were already sold out

But once in a while I'd get some of those things - I have an "ivory" colored "scrimshaw" version of the 422 BuckLite bought as a closeout - somewhere - I know I have one because I found the box and papers for it...... ....

however I have not mislaid this:

25th Anniversary Buck 110 Folding Hunter.

To be honest I know the 110 is a classic - but it is in proportion just a bit too long for me - I much prefer the Buck 112 Ranger size/proportions with the maroon BuckLite 422 (or the ivory color scrimshaw ) versions being the right weight/balance for me..........

However a commemorative like that and considering the significance of the 110 folding hunter to Buck - I could not pass up - and I'm pretty sure I got it at a very good closeout price too.

Thanks everyone for the great input - makes for really interesting reading -

Please keep 'em coming!

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/

 

[ABN]

Many years ago, when I was just a little shaver, I wanted a Buck Folding Hunter more than anything else in the world. My father, who carried a 110 with him when working, thought it was too much knife for a "first folder."

So he gave me a Coleman Boy Scout knife with a blade as dull as a butter knife. :yawn: Right into the dresser drawer it went.

Within a few months, we were able to reach a compromise -- a BuckLite 422 Boy Scout knife with red handles. I used and abused that knife through so many boyhood adventures... In the process, the cordura sheath was stained, the blade scratched, and the tip rounded off. Some years later, I finally retired the folder because I was worried about losing it.

To this day, no knife brings back as many good memories as the 422.

-Alex

 

[Don Luis]

The Buck 110 folding hunter is such a a classic, I´ve never had one but have others like it, I had a Buck 112 for about 20 years, great knife, still have a Buck 422 from the 80´s, pretty nice and I have added a thumbstud, I also have a Schrade LB7, a Puma prince and a similar less expensive Puma, these three from the 70´s.

My true love since I got my first in the 60´s have been Schrades, mostly stockman pattern but also some lockbacks.

And SAKS of course.

 

[UnknownVT]

My true love since I got my first in the 60´s have been Schrades, mostly stockman pattern but also some lockbacks.
And SAKS of course.

Always good to hear from you Don.

The SAK, as most know, is a past to present love and infactuation with me - 'nuff-said.

The Stockman pattern I've also been interested in, since I thought it was a typical traditional American folding knife pattern.

I (would have) thought that the Stockman - especially a Case would be very popular as an in-pocket carry - I even recently chased down a Case CrV (chrome vanadium) bladed Stockman 6318 pattern - influenced by someone over on rec.knives who shall remain a chipmunk

But this doesn't seem the case ( pun intended )
- at least not here on BF.

Here's the CrV bladed Case Stockman 6318 pattern in Amber bone -
along with the Schrade Uncle Henry Signature Stockman..................

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/

 

[steve1701d]

Gerber Folding Sportsmen knives, and Gerbers in general, were my knife of choice for quite a while.

 

[UnknownVT]

While digging through things looking for another knife - I came across this one - another past interest - I got this as a gift back in the early 1980's

It's a Lakota FinWing -
with its famous ergonomic and stand-able handle -
a worm's eye view of the flattened bolster/guard and butt-end -

According to the Lakota page on the 273 FinWing - that's supposed to be cocobolo wood handles - that's the strangest natural cocobolo I've ever seen - looking very much like laminated woods - stuff like Pakkawood, Dymondwood, Staminawood - to me.

However the interesting thing that I've just noticed - is the blade (made in Seki City, Japan) - due to age perhaps, or just being kept in the sheath -

The photos might not show it that well, but it almost looks like it is revealing differential tempering - on a stainless steel ?
Again, Lakota says their current Mastercraft knife series are of AUS 8-A -
but remember I got this knife in perhaps 1982-3 - so was AUS-8A around being used on knives already?

This knife shows some slight modification - ok, repair, in that it used to have a very pointy point which of course through use got bent - so I just ground a new point to it - which I thought made it look even better........

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/