Two Buck 110 Customs

robotech · Jan 18, 2013

Here are my latest attempts are customizing Buck 110's. I have done five like this, and a buck 112.
I like the concept, but hate the weight of the Buck 110. So, I decided to try to make my own lightweight frames and liners for several 110s (and a 112).
So, I ground out some 316 Stainless stock (.030 Marine Stainless. VERY corrosion resistant). While I was at it, I also cut some finger choils in the liners and scales.
I used the blades, lock bars, back spacers, and springs from donor knives. Everything else was custom.
Pivot, pins, screws, clips (when I put one on) scales, and even had to modify the lock bars and back spacers for the deeper finger choils. All hand fitted.

The 1st one has the parts from an Cabella Alaskan Guide. The black blade is S30V. Black canvas Micarta with yellow G-10 liners. No clip.
Black Designer pivot set, black screws. Weight is 3.8oz, down from 7.8oz stock!

Here I am showing the scales after layering.

This one has a satin S30V blade from a BCCI knife. I really swooped the frame in the choils. Pretty radical.
Antique Bone linen Micarta and white G-7 liners. Gorgeous Carmel color and a soft warm effect. Titanium low ride clip that I polished and flamed from a blue to a bronze to accent the scale color out.
Screws are socket head T-8 TORX, pivot a designer set. Weight is 3.6OZ with the clip!

And here are pics of the other Buck 110/112 customs I have done, in review.

Orange G-10, with white G-10 liner, Buck 112

The last ones were cut from 0.36" 316 SS. Slightly thicker liners. Harder to work with, too. Haven't noticed any strength difference with the .030 I used above, but probably not a good idea to go any thinner.

Tree Boa. CPM-154 blade. Toxic green scales with a snake skin effect. Black G-10 liner. TI low ride clip.

Jade Queen. S30V blade from Alaskan Guide. Jade G-10 over a white liner. No clip. Another RADICAL swoop design.

And my 1st attempt at this. I had a broken blade 110. So I ground the stock 420HC blade down and built a custom SS frame. This one is 3/8" smaller than the 110, as I cut the blade down. Slightly larger than a 112. This one has Earth Brown/Coyote brown/Tan G-10 scales. Kinda funky, but it is the 1st.

I have a Spyderco Blackhawk project going. Cutting new liners and shape frame for the Blackhawk blade.
A Spyderco Pingo getting new silkies and a thumb stud.
Two Buck Strider Taranis.
More to come on those.
That's all Folks.

theHobbyist · Jan 18, 2013

Those are really nice, the orange one with the white liners remind me of an orange creamsicle lol

robotech · Jan 18, 2013

How about this combo. I call it Candy Corn, LOL

OHALLUM · Jan 18, 2013

Great work Robotech. Those look super. Did you have to drill and tap for the torx screws, or use the existing pin holes? They really look different without the bolsters. How does the clip work? Does it make the knife seem lighter? ??? Too many questions, sorry.

Blessings

Omar

robotech · Jan 18, 2013

OHALLUM said:
Great work Robotech. Those look super. Did you have to drill and tap for the torx screws, or use the existing pin holes? They really look different without the bolsters. How does the clip work? Does it make the knife seem lighter? ??? Too many questions, sorry.

Blessings

Omar

The TORX 8 are 2-56 screws that are needed to use the 1/8" pivots. I replaced all the stock pins with them.
I do have to drill the steeliners to insert them.
And I have to drill and tap the liner for the clip screws.
Clip works fine, as it is tapped into the liner, not the scales.
The knives are lighter, and thinner.
The stock Buck 110 weighs 7.8OZ and the brass/nickle bolsters are over 5OZ by itself. None of the above knives go over 3.8oZ. The heaviest by .1OZ is the black canvas as those scales are a bit thicker than the others when I add the white liner to it.
The Buck 112 gets down to 3.1OZ.
If you want to see how these are done, go here
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/990845-Custom-Buck-110-Work-Log-Picture-Heavy
here
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/993879-Another-Custom-Buck-110
and here.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/963946-Just-Finished-Buck-110-Mod-1st-one!!

OHALLUM · Jan 18, 2013

Thanks for the links to your build. Very interesting, and excellent work by the way. Mmmmmm (brain buzzing) Probably won't get much sleep tonight.

Blessings,

Omar

Sulaco · Jan 18, 2013

Buck should make some knives like that first one. They'd sell like hotcakes! Good work!

David Martin · Jan 18, 2013

They already did way back in the mid 80's. They're called the Bucklite series, same look with finger grooves and all. Nothing radical here and later they added the pocket clips. So, noting new... DM

robotech · Jan 18, 2013

David Martin said:
They already did way back in the mid 80's. They're called the Bucklite series, same look with finger grooves and all. Nothing radical here and later they added the pocket clips. So, noting new... DM

Where is your custom frame built Buck 110?
Don't bother.
You are wrong. Buck NEVER made a knife like this.
Move on, you are crapping on my thread.

David Martin · Jan 18, 2013

Ok, I'll let it go. It's your thread. DM

Pursuit Hunter · Jan 18, 2013

Very nice. I haven't drooled over a 110 since 1976. I think I'm havin' a flashback.

robotech · Jan 19, 2013

Pursuit Hunter said:
Very nice. I haven't drooled over a 110 since 1976. I think I'm havin' a flashback.

LOL, I have had a few, myself.
thanks for the compliments, it's appreciated.
A lot of work goes into modifying these. This is just a hobby for me.

2006Vette · Jan 19, 2013

The one with the antique bone linen micarta scales and clip is really nice. Looks very pocket friendly.

robotech · Jan 19, 2013

kryptonite_51 said:
The one with the antique bone linen micarta scales and clip is really nice. Looks very pocket friendly.

It is pocket friendly at 3.6OZ.
And at 3/8" thick, very slim.
It's still a 5" knife with a 4" blade. So 3.6 is like a feather for that size knife.

ConBon · Jan 21, 2013

Very good job, they look excellent.

I'd buy one if I had the cash,
Connor

vic2367 · Jan 22, 2013

very nicely done on the 110/112s !!

robotech · Jan 22, 2013

Thank you!
I don't usually do work for others, but a friend has asked me to build a Buck Tarani for him, and I am building one for my own collection.
His is a coarse yellow G-10 with a gray G-10 liner. Spool standoffs, pivot mod, and clip placement moved for deeper ride.
And ALL hardware polished.
For my self, a red Carbon Fiber G-10 layer with a red G-10 liner.
I am making that pivot mod .020 thinner than my normal mod. So I got a thinner set of stand offs. I have to heat and bend the liner lock to allow easier unlocking (moving it over by.040"), and milling .020" from the liner lock scale to allow more room to prevent detent problems. This allows for a .040 thinner than stock knife, and a true centered blade for the Buck Strider.
I have a couple of Titanium strips and going to make a custom clip, a low rider, in a reverse cone shape to match the Buck Strider shape.
I am going to do a black Tactical Duracoat on the liners, blade. Then red duracoat a tiger stripe on the blade, then red duracoat the clip, stand offs, and screws.
Have the scales done and just waiting for warmer weather to duracoat.
Found a perfect fit thumbstud for the Spyderco Pingo, and trying to decide whether to make the scales in coarse Yellow or coarse Orange G-10 with a black G-10 liner. Purchased a 1/16" carbide bur to cut the wire clip mount into the scale.
And I have a full on custom frame build for a Spyderco Blackhawk blade. The lock bar developed up and down play (actually arrived from the factory that way, a decade ago) so I have to cut lock bar, leaf spring, steel liner and scales. May go with an OD Canvas. So, I can pretty much design a new shape for the frame since I am only using the blade from the knife.
A lot on the plate, but it's just to stay busy. Creating a new website and updating some software I have developed, too.

robotech · Jan 27, 2013

Here is my friends yellow G-10 Buck Strider I just finished. Tried to get pics while the sun was up, and didn't finish. Some of the pics are washed out, so the yellow isn't popping. The first two pics are good.
Buck Strider 882 Tarani. Coarse Yellow G-10 with gray liner. This stuff is gorgeous, but a dirt magnet. Still need to clean it up.
My pivot mod and thinner standoffs to match, in a spool design. Socket head T-8 screws. All but the blade polished, even the pivot.
Drilled and tapped clip screw holes for lower ride.