What is Buck's Steel history?

[VorpalRain]

Buck had some regular runs of Damascus 110s 1988-1991. Got it from Parker-Edwards Damascus and P-E went bankrupt in 1989.

Damascus from Meier Damascus was used after that for a while.

Buck hasn't been real forthcoming with their sources of Damascus......there may have been others.

 

[BuckShack]

Interesting information on Damascus. This one is from 1989.

 

[BuckShack]

420HC - 420HC Black Oxide - Damascus - 5160 - D2 - BG-42 - S30V

 

[300Bucks]

David, you got a better memory than me. Wouldn't it be great if someone invented a small meter that could indicated the type of steel in a knife blade......and it only cost $20.00 I might even buy one..... 300

 

[VorpalRain]

David, you got a better memory than me. Wouldn't it be great if someone invented a small meter that could indicated the type of steel in a knife blade......and it only cost $20.00 I might even buy one..... 300

I want one too. I can tell Damascus by looking at it......that's as far as it goes.

 

[VorpalRain]

A bunch of Damascus 110s came out of the Custom Shoppe around 2008.

Probably from leftover stock from the 88-89 runs.

Some lacked the Custom Shoppe stamp and some had it and also had the "Designer's Choice" marking on the other side.

Maybe some were done with finished blades left over from 89 and some were done with blanks that hadn't been stamped.

There was a rumor that Alabama Damascus had provided some. As usual, confusion reigned.

More Buck oddities were created.

 

[David Martin]

I'd buy one even at $49.99 . DM

 

[Bernie G.]

I take it as valid when it's a documented fact that I can quote.....not mysterious and verbose claims that somebody mentioned this or that sometime or somewhere.

Thanks for a revealing exchange.

 

[VorpalRain]

Yes, that's the best way to judge whether or not a claim is valid.

This ain't my first rodeo.

 

[David Martin]

Dan, where did you go as we're giving you your monies worth. DM

 

[Old Hunter]

V-R: "I can tell Damascus by looking at it......that's as far as it goes."

Gave me a good chuckle - that is the extent of my ability too!

 

[DunRanull]

Here you go....

Before 1981 it was 440C
In 1981 to 1993 it became 425M
Starting 1993 and beyond 420HC

The salient fact in all this is that most people don't realize just how good 420HC is.......but with the Buck heat treat it's competitive with some of the best steels--at a bargain price.

I had two 440C Bucks. One sprouted legs and took off, the other was literally run over by a speeding semi. True (if long) story... None of the Buck steels have been that great since. IMO.

 

[DunRanull]

The time lines for 440C, 425M, and 420HC are right, but let's not forget that in between these dates, from time to time, Buck would put out knives in a variety of steels, such as BG-42 (great stuff), D2, among others. Still later they produced knives in S30V for regular production for Cabelas and special runs, as well as S35VN, S90V, and other steels.

I had a 1971 120 General which I picked up on good advice when disgusted with my USMC KaBar. Wish Ida kept the KaBar just cuz, but I didn't. Just pitched it. Anyway that 440C was a hard b*tch to sharpen- took me a while to get the hang of it... carried that 120 for nigh 40 years and I and a pocket knife could do most anything I wanted done.. Had other knives too, but that 120 was really the mainstay of my blades then. Then it just walked off... lost & gone... dunno how or where, and the replacement just isnt the same steel. 'S OK, tho, other than the annoyance at the loss of a long-time companion... cuz I got a plethora of CS C-V blades,

 

[Robert Ptacek]

I think the reason most people had trouble was back in the day Buck ground blades with a semi-hollow grind.The edge thickened out again as it approached the actual cutting edge.If you look at older knives in the right light you can see the semi-hollow.