What steel was used on the original 110?

L

Lavan

Joined
Nov 8, 2000
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2,301
I still have the one I bought in 64 or 65. I ...did...get it shaving sharp on a stone. Took an hour or so. I gave one to a buddy as a going away present when he got out of college and headed east. He could NOT get it sharp. Finally had ME do it.

grrrrr..

But....after a looooonnnnnnggggg session, got it done. It was so tough that I made sharpenings a VERY long time between.
 
I believe the 110 came out in 1963/64, the original steel was 440C, used until 1980, in 1981 they changed to 425M, and in 1994 they changed to 420HC.
 
A new Buck 110 should be significantly easier to sharpen than an original model. The old 440C alloy is harder and has more chrome; both features contributing to more difficult sharpening. The new 420HC alloy is not only softer, it also has a finer grain structure that lets it take a sharper edge. The newer 110's use a thinner edge profile (Edge 2000) than the original specifically to facilitate sharpening and improving cutting performance. You must be getting old. :)
 
The edge geometry on the first 110's gave the knife the reputation of being hard to sharpen but it held it edge very well. Like the previous post mentioned, the new Edge 2000 geometry makes for an edge that is much easier to re sharpen. By the way, a 110 from that time frame is worth considerably more than the $16.00 price!
Take care,
 
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