Buck VS. Bolt

[knifestory]

In fairness- the advertisements always showed fixed blades, while I only had the 110 folder for this test. Still an unexpected result!

[jic]

It's the bolt that's the problem: Buck used unhardened stove bolts, while virtually all modern bolts you can find are hardened. Source: an old _Knives Digest_ I have neither the time nor inclination to dig out.

[danielfreytes]

They also don't make bolts the same either.

[croatiancroissant]

I make bolts for a living, thread rolling and thread grinding to be exact. They tend to make them out of tougher materials today, and then they’re hardened for wear. Also, knives today are more brittle. Used to be you had to resharpen a knife constantly, but it was more likely to bent than chip or snap. Now, they’re made to hold an edge longer, but can’t take shock or bending.

[hasdrubal]

Got a Buck knife off my wife as a gift and was delighted to see it was made in the US (I'm not American ). So when it came time for Christmas I asked for a second larger Buck knife....was thrilled when it arrived....and gutted to discover it had been made under licence in the PRC.

[georgelin]

I’m assuming that at the time of the advertisement, the metal used in bolts were weaker than what was used in your test. Maybe try a buck knife in s30 or s45. Powdered steels should do better.

[Skaggs]

The knives didn’t get weaker, the bolts got stronger.

[cyklofil]

Fun fact: Polish cavalry sabres from 1920s had to be tested from factory before service. One of the tests was cutting 1cm mild steel rod

[MYNAMECHEF_FilthyFrank]

Buck has been a great knife brand for me for decades, I feel like the bolts changed more than the knives too

[vanmcbryan]

Back in the day Buck knives had to be sent back to the company to be sharpened. The steel was unbelievably hard but very few owners could sharpen their knives. VERY FEW!!!

[colefetters]

As someone with a 50 year old motorcycle I can tell you that in the 70s they probably could cut bolts. Modern bolts are so much stronger

[thetravelingbard]

To be fair, this is probably less of a decrease in knife quality and more of an increase in bolt quality

[matthewcorridor]

I feel like everyone's failing to consider that maybe the old ads were just lying about that. These are from the same era of ads that told people how good cigarettes are for your health, after all

[TylerSnyder]

Back in the 60's-70's they used 440C with quite a thicker edge grind that didn't cut as well but if course was more durable.
I'm pretty sure the bolts were softer too.
They switched to 425m in the 80's then 420HC in 1991 because so many people were complaining they couldn't sharpen them.
They had also switched to their far superior " Edge 2000 " blade grind in this time as well so they cut much better and are thinner behind the edge.

They certainly " don't make 'em like they used to ", but they're just as good in while being superior in cutting performance.

[hammerlanediesel]

Good sir, buck knives are made of 420 high carbon hardend steel. It isnt made to handle hard blows do to its tight grain structure and carbon content, it cracks and snaps.

[Mark_]

Old buck knives were made from the same steel used to make files, hard as a coffin nail but it was a chore to maintain.

[zenclark]

It was one of those marketing ploys that made it through corporate because everyone thought "who's stupid enough to actually try this with their new knife?"

[johnmarston]

Didn’t know buck knives stole the Garand ping

[propblastnd]

I bought my first Buck 110 in 1969 and still have it. They used a different steel back then that was much more difficult to sharpen

[timfadden]

I saw that ad, bought the knife shown and tried it. Cut through the bolt and chipped the cement. Knife did not suffer at all. Still sharp.