Pretenders to the throne!

BuckShack said:
This Grohmann is similar in size and does resemble a 110

R380S.jpg
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It sure does. How old is it?
 
Rupestris said:
The first time I saw that one was a couple years ago and I was smitten. That is, until I saw the price. They are very proud of their wares.

Still a good looking knife.
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In my experience they're knives are worth it though.
They say their steel is German 4110 whatever that is, and that it's comparable to US 440a.
they also say that they maintain a 56-58Rc which sounds about like what I've experienced with my mini Russel, if it is just a German version of 440a they must treat it very well and be telling the truth about their Rockwell numbers because mine holds and edge very well.
 
I’ve owned a few pretenders over the years, including a Puma which was the priciest, but none could ever top the Buck 110. These two Sears Craftsman from the 1980s are the only ones I have left. The top one is made in the USA and very close in size and shape to the classic 110. Don't know the blade steel but from sharpening it feels and behaves very much like 440C. The bottom one was made in Japan.

Something else about pretenders is that every one I have owned just didn't seem to age as well as the real Buck's do. The Schrade's in my opinion were probably the best of them. Wish I still had them just to show, maybe someone here does, but the Gerber and Ka-Bar copycats were interesting in their own way.

 
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Most of those knock-offs have inferior 420J or worse steel in them, if I remember correctly. Puma made a nice and beautiful copy of the 110, but they were heat treated so hard the blades were brittle. I've seen many of them break for no apparent reason.
 
The Puma I once had I think was called "The Game Warden" and it had that German 1.4116 steel which polished up nicely but did not hold an edge for very long. In my opinion it was a softer metal than 420.
 
DocT said:
Most of those knock-offs have inferior 420J or worse steel in them, if I remember correctly. Puma made a nice and beautiful copy of the 110, but they were heat treated so hard the blades were brittle. I've seen many of them break for no apparent reason.
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I'm not sure I understand. When you say "most" are you referring to the Schrade and Camillus offerings as well? If so, why would Schrade and Camillus not use the same steel and heat treat that they used in all their other knives just because the model in question was a "knock-off"?

If you have a link or some documentation that Puma, Schrade, Camillus, Case, or any other reputable brand used 420J on their versions of the 110 folding hunter, I'd love to see it.

Hickory n steel said:
In my experience they're knives are worth it though.
They say their steel is German 4110 whatever that is, and that it's comparable to US 440a.
they also say that they maintain a 56-58Rc which sounds about like what I've experienced with my mini Russel, if it is just a German version of 440a they must treat it very well and be telling the truth about their Rockwell numbers because mine holds and edge very well.
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Nope. $160USD is more than I'm willing to pay. That amount of money can get you a very nice custom 110 or several nice 110's from C&C.

Besides, you said it yourself.

Hickory n steel said:
...because if it looks like a Buck 110 it damn well better be one.
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DocT said:
Most of those knock-offs have inferior 420J or worse steel in them,
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I did some checking and several references for the G-96 say ATS-34 was used. At the time, that was considered a pretty good steel.

Bert
 
Rupestris said:
I'm not sure I understand. When you say "most" are you referring to the Schrade and Camillus offerings as well? If so, why would Schrade and Camillus not use the same steel and heat treat that they used in all their other knives just because the model in question was a "knock-off"?

If you have a link or some documentation that Puma, Schrade, Camillus, Case, or any other reputable brand used 420J on their versions of the 110 folding hunter, I'd love to see it.



Nope. $160USD is more than I'm willing to pay. That amount of money can get you a very nice custom 110 or several nice 110's from C&C.

Besides, you said it yourself.
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Are you sure you're looking at the right knife ?
On their website I believe the standard mini Russel lockback is about $85.
And they sometomes offer blems for about $45.
 
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Roamad said:
I think the Schrade LB7 is a very good knife, and I own a few. It's actually better ergonomically, at least for me. But I don't think the blade steel is as good as Buck's.
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+1. I have a USA made LB7 from the early 80's and it really is a fantastic knife and it takes a wicked edge.
 
I came across this thing in a drawer buncha years ago. I thought it was lost after moving from home to college to Charlotte and then to Pittsburgh. I got it out of an Austad catalog when I was about 12 or so, I would imagine. My first lockback. I thought it was great, but always wished I could open it with a flick of a wrist(took 40 more years for Buck to actually make one). I know I didn't use it hard as kid. When I found it, I put it in the glove box in by truck. I came to realize the first time I used it that the lock was broken and would easily close on a finger if not careful. Stuck it in my gun cabinet for sentimentality but of course, never use it.





Who needs em anyhow?:)
 
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