what steel was used

E

elementfe

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May 3, 2008
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In my early teens (1970-ish) I had a beautiful fixed blade hunter with a fairly slim clip point. I still think of it as the best knife ever- everything about it was Just Right.
Now that I'm making knives, I'm very curious- what steel was Buck using at that time?
Around 1978 I had a sturdy folder in a belt sheath that I was NEVER that happy with, and even at the time wondered if the steel composition had changed.
Sorry, I know this has been asked a million times, but a handful of searches just increased my confusion.
Thanks for any info!
Andy G.
 
Before 1981.---440C
1981 to 1993.--425M
1993-----420HC

It's entirely possible that the 440C in your 1970 knife was different from your 1978 knife.

Certain individual knives just turn out better than others because there are many variables in making a steel blade.

Luckily, there are so many Buck knives around that you can find one on e-Bay or at a knife show or even from someone on this forum.......you CAN again own that old knife of your dreams.

But sometimes NO knife can ever compare with that "perfect" first one.

This difference is more psychological than physical.

:D
 
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BG42EDGE said:
sometimes NO knife can ever compare with that "perfect" first one.

This difference is more psychological than physical.

:D
Click to expand...

Thanks BG!
I think I'll be happy with fond memories of that one and use the inspiration to make twenty new ones!
440c is already a new favorite steel.

The folder had a much thicker edge cross section, and it's entirely possible that I just didn't have the gear and know how to get a useful edge from it- I felt at the time that it was very difficult to sharpen, but If I'd redone the profile it might have been a different story.
Main thing was, the first one was great out of the box, the second one would have needed help to suit me.
 
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Yes, you're right about the 110 blade c. 1978.

Although it started out as a fairly slim and handy knife, the 110 had gradually evolved into something like a tank.....the blade was pretty thick, wide and massive compared to your early knife (which was probably a 102 or pre-102 and had a longer, more slender and slightly thinner blade).

The 440C was and is a great steel, but they had to stop using it because it didn't work well for mass production.
 
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