All About Pocket Knives

Just got this out for a pic and thought I'd show it here. Some time ago, I decided I needed one of the most popular knives ever made: A 110. I didn't want an ordinary one.. heck I like knives a little on the cool, not average side. I could have ordered a limited edition, or ordered one made to my specs on the Buck web site, but with my tastes, that could get expensive. So noting that Buck was offering Paul Bos S30V blade exchanges on 110's, I went in search of an old one. Took a bit, but I found it, a pre-1973 issue, that some fool had used a bench grinder to sharpen. For $5.00 it was mine. Immediately it went off to Buck.

Wow. What a job those wizards did for me, for the huge sum of $30 or $35 . Gone were the scratches on the bolsters-- hell there had been deep dings in it. The wood was like beautiful, all finished and shined like new. Better than new... I think Buck does a better job of finishing the knives when they redo them. And there is the blade, all nicely marked with the Idaho stamp and the Bos stamp.

I can't say enough good about Buck and their service. I had told the lady over the phone that this would not be a warranty work job, that I was not the original owner, but she never wavered, not allowing me to send any more $ than she quoted me.

So I am happy with my out of the ordinary Buck 100

Phil

Buck CS is among the best. I have sent in a couple 110s with broken blades, they replaced them no questions asked. They even polish up the handles and bolsters while they're at it; but that don't really matter much because I just end up tearing the handles off and replacing them with something else. You've got the best of both worlds there Phil!

Dumb question I suppose, but got to ask, what is the Paul Bos S30V blade exchange and why is that better that the 110 vintage blade?

I have an old Buck 110, and the only problem I have with it is that it is a b***h to sharpen! "Harder than a hooker's heart on payday in San Diego.", as we used to say in the Navy!

That's nice, and that’s a good bit of information on Buck, thanks......

I have a couple 110s, I'd be interested also. Is the S30V easier to sharpen?

I know it's supposed to be an all around "better" steel, sharpenabilty (is that a word) certainly comes into play.

gary

gmusic wrote:That's nice, and that’s a good bit of information on Buck, thanks......

I have a couple 110s, I'd be interested also. Is the S30V easier to sharpen?

I know it's supposed to be an all around "better" steel, sharpenabilty (is that a word) certainly comes into play.

gary

S30V is regarded as a super steel alloy made by Crucible Steel in Syracuse, New York. Paul Bos is famed for his heat treating of steel blades. Here is a cut and paste from a website, I know they use powder metallurgy processes but not enough to explain it well.

S30V is made using the powder metallurgy process, a process that reduces molten alloy components to minute balls – or powder – which results in every grain comprising the exact composition of alloy elements. The powder is compressed under significant force to a homogenous, solid state and the steel is rolled to required stock size. Molecules are uniform, inclusions of impurities are insignificant and the development of large chrome carbides is a thing of the past! Well, that sounds good to me and I do have a couple pieces of this steel in my shop.

It is designed to form vanadium carbides which are tougher than chromium carbides. Edge retention offers almost a 150% improvement over 440C. Grinding is rated as excellent (grindability) so I would guess that it is not too much different to sharpen than 440C. Just a guess from reading about it, I have no experience with it, but I do intend to do so, hopefully by this winter.

I went to the Buck web site, but I can find no mention of this service. Can someone point me in the right direction?

Thanks.

Hey Grizz,

Here is the link for Buck knives. It has an 800 # for customer relations, I'm sure they can fix you up.



http://www.buckknives.com/contact.php

Thanks for the responses. If I had known that Buck was no longer installing S30V blades in older 110s, I would have not have posted it. I had my knife done a couple of months ago, but it seems they discontinued it. YOu can still get a regular blade installed as part of their lifetime warranty.

Hukk is right about the properties of S30V. I have one other knife with such a blade and it does hold an edge and it is not difficult to sharpen, although it rarely needs it. I think it to be a fine steel and worth the extra money.

While at the buck site, check out the 'custom shop'. Order up a 110 or 193 in a variety of blades and handles. Neat.

Phil

I sent a 110 in to Buck for a BG-42 blade a couple years ago. I ordered it with partial serrations. It came back beautiful & scary sharp. Only $35 including the shipping. I got it back in less than 2 weeks.

Superb customer service.

Dale

I called Buck repair. They told me that my life time warranty on a knife that they no longer sell or have parts for. Can not be fixed, but the would replace it with a close to it new buck knife.
Here I sit asking you men what should I do????
I have a buck 180 single blade and it opens up about 15 degrees more than it should. Some thing is wrong I can not see. I can send it in and they will replace it with a new buck 186 fl. it is smaller I found one. Here is a photo of it.
Does any one have parts for a Buck 180 ???

I'd go for it, the oddesy is a better knife than the crosslock IMHO

I would say take the 186. I have one and it is my favorite Bucks and one of my favorites of that style of knife. It opens with a flick of the thumb, locks up solid, has a great edge and it holds it's edge.

I like mine so much I have been thinking about getting another one.

Dale