Steel type for buck 110 folding hunter

The standard steel in Buck's 110 is 420HC, often dissed on these forums but a tough, highly corrosion resistant steel that takes a fine edge and is relatively easy to resharpen. You can also get other steels from Buck's Custom Shop (S30V), and Buck makes a model in S30V for Cabela's and in CPM 154 for BassPro. I have the latter; the blade has a very hard (TiNi?) coating and takes a superb edge. TiNi is short for Titanium Nitride, extremely scratch and peel resistant; it is applied by plasma deposition in a vacuum. I believe Buck also made a few limited runs in other steels, but others here may have more information.
 
420HC Stainless is the steel used for the 110 as well is Buck's common steel offering on their American blades.From my experience with Buck's 420HC how good you find it to be depends on the user.It's more successful at edge holding as a steel used on natural materials(game cleaning,hiking/camping,or a farmer's steel).Most of Buck's best work with their steel is their precise heat treatment and edge geometry....very crucial with stainless steel blades.
 
From '64 till 80 they used 440C,
From '80 till '85 they used 425M
From 1985 on they have used 420HC hardened to 58HRC as their standard alloy.
You can get S30V bladed 110's from the Buck Custom shop.

IIRC, there have been sprint runs in other steels, including 154CM and BG-42
 
Yes thanks for the info. I always forget the time frames, and which steels, Buck has used. Their 420HC, and the combination of whatever else Buck does, really works just about perfect for me.
 
Specifically for the 110....
440C goes up to and including the 3-dots
425m starts with the 4-dot knives, that would be 1981 or 82
The change from 425m to 420HC takes place in 1992.
 
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Yes, Desoto I saw that too. But just thought I'd let you handle it. This ^ is correct with a few exceptions. The model 124 is one and perhaps the 401 Kalinga.
These used 425M steel a year or so longer. Somebody dug that out and posted it a few months back. I even think your dates are sound even among the 100
series knives. With 440C starting in 62 maybe a little earlier. I must give you an 'at a boy'.
Buck's also had a run using cpm 154 for Bass Pro. Where did Manny go? DM
 
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My fingers and toes tell me the 110 has made an appearance in more than 10 steel types. This includes factory, club, and custom shop offerings.
 
Tony quit doing that. I had to count them up.
Manny were giving you some good information here. DM
 
Here is my list of steels used in the 110. Some are standard steels others include Build Outs, or BCCI knives. I suppose a person could include the ION Fusion blades as the cutting edge was Titanium.

#1 440C
#2 425M
#3 420HC
#4 BG42
#5 ATS34
#6 CPM154
#7 154CM
#8 D2
#9 S30V
#10 S35VN
 
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Yes that one also. I have a Damascus and overlooked it. I should have ordered one of the S35VN as that is the only steel I do not have a 110 sample of. It is the one that slipped through the crack (my memory).
 
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