Buck 110 Intitial Impressions

The 110 is a classic..however IMO its time is past and its a heavy made out of lead lumbering dinosaur of a knife now.

I used to use the 110 a lot but then about 10 years I got a Spyderco Millie..it was game over for the 110..it does everything just as good as the 110 at a whole lot less weight.

The 110 is long gone and I don't miss trying to carry the piece of lead one bit.
 
I'd never CARRY a 110, but I have one. Mine's a custom shop order though, so fit and finish and blade quality was all superb on mine. I suppose when you're paying $100 for a custom version you get better QC than the mass produced $40 one, heh,

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elkins45 said:
Well...there was this:

not my photo
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But it was quite a bit more expensive than the Buck. IIRC when the Buck was selling for around $25 the Gerber Magnum Folding Hunter sold for around $40. That's what I paid for mine back in 1980 at the Acorn shop in Gatlnburg, TN, and it was a lot of money for me at the time as a senior in high school. The extra $15 got you a dropped point blade shape and genuine 440C steel instead of the 420HC or whatever Buck was using at the time. I sprang for the extra mainly because I had been reading books about custom knives and really wanted the Loveless-inspired dropped point blade.

It's also too heavy by modern standards. I still have mine but just for sentimental reasons.
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In 1980 a Buck 110 would have had 440C as well.
 
Bugout Bill said:
I believe that they switched over to 420HC because of complaints that their 440C was too difficult to sharpen. By all accounts, Buck's 440C was superb.
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They switched to 425M in 1981 because 440C was too hard and was wearing out their punches. They went to 420HC in 1994
 
I also got one due to its alluring fame. They certainly look rather nice.. but for me, it kind of ends there. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1057047-Are-you-serious-Buck :(

I do like the belt pouch though, it's very rugged and traditional. I modified mine though, mainly out of boredom but also for a practical purpose of quicker access. (I removed the lid flap, tightened and shortened the belt loop, wet moulded it and waxed it)




I'd deffinately say the sheath mod is worth a try if you like the knife. :)

Use warm water and a blow dryer for the wet form! ;)
 
My favorite Buck knife just too large to carry everyday when you work in an office. I would definitely carry in the woods, camping or hunting. Great, piece of Americana.
 
Samon said:
I also got one due to its alluring fame. They certainly look rather nice.. but for me, it kind of ends there. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1057047-Are-you-serious-Buck :(

I do like the belt pouch though, it's very rugged and traditional. I modified mine though, mainly out of boredom but also for a practical purpose of quicker access. (I removed the lid flap, tightened and shortened the belt loop, wet moulded it and waxed it)




I'd deffinately say the sheath mod is worth a try if you like the knife. :)

Use warm water and a blow dryer for the wet form! ;)
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Nice job on that sheath. I particularly like what you did with the snap.
 
I got a Bass Pro 110. It has a nice feeling heft to it. It doesn't really fit my EDC preferences (belt sheath is a bit bulky, and it's too big a knife to just drop freely in pocket).

 
I love the look of the Buck 110-style knives, and the heft is nice too. I like the old Schrades too, and I have both now, and I agree both are too big for regular pocket carry.

Back in '81 or so, I traded for a U.S. Schrade LB7, their clone of the Buck 110. (In high school, I did carry my old Schrade LB7 upright in my back pocket, next to my wallet.) All of the old U.S. Schrades and most of the Buck 110 style lockbacks that I've owned have been outstanding, but some of the old Schrades were better than others. And I've had Bucks that were all over the place as far as fit, gaps, scale finish, blade grinds, etc. But honestly, for around $40., they're still one of the best deals on the market.

While I was in the navy in the 80's, I knew Boatswain's Mates, supply guys, Marines, and at least a couple of helicopter aircrewmen who carried Buck 110 style lockbacks as well - U.S. Schrade, Kabar, Camillus, Case, etc., as long as it had a stainless steel blade. (Some aircrew would carry the 110, in lieu of the standard survival knife, if they were allowed to by squadron policy.)

The U.S. Schrade LB7 types weigh a little more than the Buck 110's, IIRC. Fit & Finish on the old Schrade is the best of any lockback I've ever seen, and it's been through hell. No play in any direction.


In 1996, I bought a U.S. Schrade 7OT, and I worked the handle edges down to look & feel more like the Buck 110. (Bottom knife here.) This old 7OT has seen the most hard use, bordering on abuse, of any of my knives, and it's still tight, with just an itty-bitty-little-bit of side play.


~Chris
 
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The custom shop versions were near perfection back in the day. I wish I had ordered several more (at a little over $100) at the time!

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Ooooh, with the now-discontinued BG-42 blade, nonetheless! What a nice piece. Wish I had jumped on one of those, a few years back. Still kicking myself, now that they no longer use BG-42 and since the prices have jacked up.
 
NYOutdoors said:
It was purchased from Dick's Sporting Goods, so probably the same as the ones that Walmart gets in. I just hate the knife so much and I can't bring myself to send it back to them for some reason.
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Other than the packaging, (certain retailers want blister packs not boxes) I don't believe Buck makes their 110's any different. The one you buy from the Buck website is the same as the one you buy at any retailer.
 
Badhammer said:
Other than the packaging, (certain retailers want blister packs not boxes) I don't believe Buck makes their 110's any different. The one you buy from the Buck website is the same as the one you buy at any retailer.
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To save a couple dollars, many of the 110 knives sold at Wal Mart have nylon sheaths instead of leather. The knives are probably the same.
 
The Buck 110 is an icon and will no doubt stir large reactions.

Historically, it legitimized the concept of a locking folder in the US, so in that light, everybody should have one.

Whether or not they make a good EDC knife or even the best hunting knife is another story. First, it's massively heavy. Second, the extreme clip makes it prone to snapped tips and is of dubious value for cleaning game. IMO, the Buck 500 is a nicer knife in every way. Drop point. Easier carry. And I prefer the Schrade 51OT to any Buck folder on account of the flat grind. IMO, Buck's stubborn attachment to the hollow grind is one of their larger mistakes in today's EDC market.

In the end, I've concluded that EDC for me is more about wood working and food prep and less about game cleaning. I come to prefer Opinels over Bucks for this reason. Lighter, more durable joint and lock, bett er grind for wood working and easily modifiable blade shape.


Buck 110 and Opinel #10 by Pinnah, on Flickr
 
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The 'flaws' you mention are easily fixed, as you note. If not to your satisfaction, Buck has an amazingly forgiving warranty service if you send it back. Tip damage is not uncommon with 110s, but most often (I suspect) results from improper use, like sticking into a tree or using as a screwdriver.
 
Quick update: I'm currently running my 110 with a Kwik-thumb thumbstud. It is a wonderful addition to the Buck 110.
 
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