Question about my Buck

GaDawgs72

GaDawgs72

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I have a custom shop 110 I pulled out to take pictures as I’m getting ready to list it. Knife is probably 4 years old and hasn’t seen the light of day in probably 2. I noticed an area on one of the bolsters that has some discoloration. Pic attached.

- Is this a normal thing with Bucks?
- Can this be polished out?
- Does this affect the value?

One other question. I know for a fact I ordered and received nickel bolsters. Is it normal for them to take on this yellowish hue?

Thanks

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You're fine. It's verdigris, or patina & is normal for brass to discolor like that. If you want, it can be easily polished out with Brasso, Flitz, etc., but I'd let it as is.
 
Ironbut said:
You're fine. It's verdigris, or patina & is normal for brass to discolor like that. If you want, it can be easily polished out with Brasso, Flitz, etc., but I'd let it as is.
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Thanks
 
Both of these 112's have Nickel Silver bolsters. The top one is starting to tarnish from pocket carry but mine doesn't have a yellowish hue. I've read that Nickel Silver is a form of Brass or something like that so the yellowish hue on yours is probably nothing to worry about.
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I’m gonna take some new pics tomorrow. The sun was going down and may have added to the yellowing.
 
I wouldn't leave it as it is. I would polish it with Flitz or something. Then put oil on it. Don't store the knife with the sheath where any outgassing from the sheath can get to the bolsters. My fear is if you just leave it alone, pits will start to form. That dark oxidation is not good. I just bought 4 113s that had that and the bolsters were pitted. I sent them to Buck for SPA treatment. I also wrap my knives in this acid free deli sandwich brown paper. A knife seller recommended it.
 
Happy Hippo said:
I wouldn't leave it as it is. I would polish it with Flitz or something. Then put oil on it. Don't store the knife with the sheath where any outgassing from the sheath can get to the bolsters. My fear is if you just leave it alone, pits will start to form. That dark oxidation is not good. I just bought 4 113s that had that and the bolsters were pitted. I sent them to Buck for SPA treatment. I also wrap my knives in this acid free deli sandwich brown paper. A knife seller recommended it.
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I just ordered some flitz from Amazon for tomorrow. I’ll go over it and see how it goes. Take some more pics.
 
Happy Hippo said:
I wouldn't leave it as it is. I would polish it with Flitz or something. Then put oil on it. Don't store the knife with the sheath where any outgassing from the sheath can get to the bolsters. My fear is if you just leave it alone, pits will start to form. That dark oxidation is not good. I just bought 4 113s that had that and the bolsters were pitted. I sent them to Buck for SPA treatment. I also wrap my knives in this acid free deli sandwich brown paper. A knife seller recommended it.
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Cotton jewelers polishing cloths ok?
 
Happy Hippo said:
Maybe at the end. I just use paper towels. They'll be a lot of black on them. And a final rubdown with a microfiber cloth to wipe off the excess oil. But I don't claim to be an expert.
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I’m going to have to pay more attention to my surroundings too with such a mirror finish. Some of that yellow could be coming from walls, ceilings, blinds etc.
 
GaDawgs72 said:
I’m going to have to pay more attention to my surroundings too with such a mirror finish. Some of that yellow could be coming from walls, ceilings, blinds etc.
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You can use Flitz on the nickel silver too. Nickel silver has no silver in it. It has mostly copper, then nickel, then zinc. i don't like bolsters with uneven patina. The normal darker copper patina is ok, but if it's black or green, I feel it should come off.
 
GaDawgs72 said:
I’m going to have to pay more attention to my surroundings too with such a mirror finish. Some of that yellow could be coming from walls, ceilings, blinds etc.
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That’s a good point. It has happened to me on several occasions. The most frequent is that my Nickel Silver bolsters look grey because of the grey walls in our living room where I fiddle with my knives the most.
 
GaDawgs72 said:
I just ordered some flitz from Amazon for tomorrow. I’ll go over it and see how it goes. Take some more pics.
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I don't always polish out patina, depends on the knife and how the patina looks. Some patina on knives I have seen looks great.

Recommendations (what works for me) :

A little amount of polishing compound goes a long way.

First starting to polish, a lot of black will be on your (I use old white t-shirts), use a new area frequently.

Careful to not get any compound or black on your stag.

When I polish a bolster, I cut up an old t-shirt to various size small pieces. Put a small amount of polish to the t-shirt piece. T-shirt pieces turn black quickly - use a new piece. Cut to whatever size is comfortable for you to do the polishing. Important to use a clean area (of t-shirt) frequently.

At first, don't polish to the exact edge of the bolster where it meets the handle. By polishing almost to the edge you will avoid getting polishing compound or black on the Stag.

Once you have polished enough where no more black shows up on the new t-shirt pieces then polish closer to the edge. By simple human inaccuracy of trying to not get close to the edge (bolster & stag) you will polish the edge.
 
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jbmonkey said:
nickel silver ends up just like brass. very normal. I know as I own may of both and they both end up the same.
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I don't know. Just recently, I bought 5 Vanguards from a guy. They all were stored in their sheaths. The two n/s ones needed no work. The 3 brass ones had the green and dark oxidation on them. Same with the 110s I recently recieved.
 
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