A question for Joe and or CJ about the Eco's

Plumberdv

Plumberdv

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This may ruffle some feathers, but I'd like to know why the decision was made to give the Ecolite's the 110 and 112 designation instead of their own number. I may be the only one (wouldn't be the first time), but I think it cheapens their 110 and 112 line of knives. :( They may be an OK knife, but they aren't in the same class as the originals IMHO.

If they are considered enough of a knife to be given that number, why weren't the 186's and 560's or even some of that size Bucklites also given the 110 number?? If the Ecolites deserve it, then certainly the others did also.
 
Plumberdv said:
This may ruffle some feathers, but I'd like to know why the decision was made to give the Ecolite's the 110 and 112 designation instead of their own number. I may be the only one (wouldn't be the first time), but I think it cheapens their 110 and 112 line of knives. :( They may be an OK knife, but they aren't in the same class as the originals IMHO.

If they are considered enough of a knife to be given that number, why weren't the 186's and 560's or even some of that size Bucklites also given the 110 number?? If the Ecolites deserve it, then certainly the others did also.
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Hi Dave,

I hope Joe, Jeff, or CJ answer your question, I'd like to here what they say.

My guess would be simply cost. They already have the 110 & 112 stamped blades and handling/storage is worked out. If they change to a new number, though the cost would be small for the stamping it's still a cost to change the tooling and a bigger cost to store and handle the new numbered blades. That is my guess. It's called "KISS" (keep it simple stupid) the simpler the better, the less of a change over the better, it helps to keep the operating cost and error rates down.
jb4570
 
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I can't answer your question Dave, But I look at the 110s and 112s as not being a specific knife or design, but each is a family of knives, sorta like a species with numerous sub-species.

A 110 can be this:



A 110 can be this:



A 110 can be this:

 
I have to disagree (repectfully) with wolfdog on this, at least in part. The pimped out 110's by various craftsmen such as Prater and Yellowhorse are still 110's that have had someone's artistry and craftsmanship applied to them but they started life as a REAL 110.

The 110 and, to some extent the 112, is an American Icon and is probably the most recognised knife in the USA if not the world. It's the KING and the others are just pretenders to the throne. If the Ecolites had been offered as 422 Ecolites they would probably have been the King of their own series, because in my opinion that's what they are. A fancied up Lite.

The 422 had the same blade design as the 110, but was given it's own number. The shape of the blade doesn't make it a 110 and that's all either share with the REAL 110.

422a.jpg


The Ecolites share the blade shape with both and IMO should have been given a BuckLite series number.

I'll get off my soapbox now.;)
 
wow WOW what a good question !!
i wandered of this many years now..
i dont think it is chuck or cj that name the knives
for my own thoughts i finley come to consiter that
if a 110 blade will fit in the frame (as the seem to be doing now)
it is in the one ten family like wolf thinks so i display them with all the rest
and i agree with JB in that per past practice they should have a diff number ..

what i figured out on my own is most likely they were trying to preserve the
legon of the 110 and there for assigned differing numbers
this also helps with easier bookkeeping and inventory..
now the one ten is so well known that the legion of the
110 helps sell them as a slightly different version of the same knife
this is easer now as they are computerrised and
so no problems with the slight diff on the books

but i was not there so dont know this is only my thoughts
justifying the why i collect the related knives..
 
dave, no one has to justify why they collect anything. There have been numerous 110 offshoots, 111, original 186, 560, 422 and none were ever called a 110 although the blades are the same. I have a 110 with a 560 blade, a 560? No. I also have a 560 with a 110 blade and that doesn't make it a 110.

I agree with you that Buck is relying on the "110" designation to make the knife seem more desirable. Same thing Ford did in the early '70's when they gave the "Mustang" name to a car that was really just a Pinto in disguise.
 
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Plumberdv said:
dave, no one has to justify why they collect anything. There have been numerous 110 offshoots, 111, original 186, 560, 422 and none were ever called a 110 although the blades are the same. I have a 110 with a 560 blade, a 560? No. I also have a 560 with a 110 blade and that doesn't make it a 110.

I agree with you that Buck is relying on the "110" designation to make the knife seem more desirable. Same thing Ford did in the early '70's when they gave the "Mustang" name to a car that was really just a Pinto in disguise.
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I follow your thought process, and I agree. By the way, the 422 is a 112 size blade and the 426 was the 110 equivalent. I was pleased that the 486 was designated as such, and not a 110, although it is a variant. Maybe if they add the option of a pocket clip on the Ecolites, it will be given a 400 series numbering....and this is just 2 cents hitting the floor:)
 
Plumberdv said:
The pimped out 110's by various craftsmen such as Prater and Yellowhorse are still 110's that have had someone's artistry and craftsmanship applied to them but they started life as a REAL 110.
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Perhaps the Ecolites started off as REAL 110s on the design board (or computer screen, whichever they used) and then became modified to what you see as the Ecolite 110. Perhaps the 422 started out as its own concept (to make an economy cousin). Just speculating here. The real answer may come tomorrow when everyone is back at the Buck factory.

Good discussion in any case. I do see your point and you make a good argument.
 
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Plumberdv said:
...I'd like to know why the decision was made to give the Ecolite's the 110 and 112 designation instead of their own number. I may be the only one (wouldn't be the first time), but I think it cheapens their 110 and 112 line of knives.
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IMHO---the point was to market them as the "green" models of the knives because of the recycled content of the handle material. I don't think it detracts from the original versions at all. That's my take on it.
 
I think it's the blade size and shape.. I dont see how it cheapens the original?
If you want wood handle 110 go for it.. The 186 at the time 1980's was a cutting edge design (with a clip and made out of titanium) and deserved it's own class IMHO...:D
 
I have to admit I thought the same thing Plum, The sillouhette is the same and it has liners would be my guess, but when it comes right down to it, I would surmise it is name recognition marketing. I'm on the fence about it and whether it cheapens or not....hmm.
 
Perhaps I am just that guy that Buck was hoping for when they decided to go with the Paperstone handles and call it a 110.

See, I've know many people that have carried/used a "real" 110. But for me, it looked like a big chunky knife that couldn't be carried unless you strapped that monstrosity of a case on to your belt just to hold it. Sure, it worked great. The 110 seemingly always has. But as soon as I handled one of them, I knew that my thinking (for me) was correct. For me, there were plenty of other knives out there that were half the size of the chunky 110 that could do the same or better at whatever task I threw at it.

Recently though, I found the Vantage Pro. A great knife without being too big and too "old man" for my tastes. And because of this really great knife, I reopened (so to speak) my mind to Buck knives.

Now lo and behold, there is a 110 that isn't that chunky old man knife that everybody's grandpa carried to work every day. There is a 110 out there now for those that don't want a knife with handles that look like they were made out of some rescued wood paneling from a condemned 1970's house.

This new 110 is finally a "real" 110 for me. Thank you Buck. :)
 
Actually, to take Plumberdv's idea of a "REAL 110", the only REAL 110 would have a brass frame, Macassar Ebony scales and a forged 44C blade. I see Plumberdv's point, but I still look at the 110 as a family. :)
 
the 110 is an "old man" knife????:eek::grumpy:...i prefer to think of it as a "classic"
 
jb4570 said:
Hi Dave,

I hope Joe, Jeff, or CJ answer your question, I'd like to here what they say.

My guess would be simply cost. They already have the 110 & 112 stamped blades and handling/storage is worked out. If they change to a new number, though the cost would be small for the stamping it's still a cost to change the tooling and a bigger cost to store and handle the new numbered blades. That is my guess. It's called "KISS" (keep it simple stupid) the simpler the better, the less of a change over the better, it helps to keep the operating cost and error rates down.
jb4570
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Interesting questions and thoughts...
It has more to do with what JB said than anything else would be my take on it.
 
wolfdog said:
Actually, to take Plumberdv's idea of a "REAL 110", the only REAL 110 would have a brass frame, Macassar Ebony scales and a forged 44C blade. I see Plumberdv's point, but I still look at the 110 as a family. :)
Click to expand...

Does every man in your family have the same name just because they have the same general design? ;)
 
Plumberdv said:
Does every man in your family have the same name just because they have the same general design? ;)
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I'm the only man in my family.. I am extremely out-numbered at home.

In this case, the family last name is 110, Eco is the 1st name.. (now that is a spin!)
 
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