Buck 110 or the Vanguard...Did I Make the Right Decision?

[Confederate]

Both the Buck 110 and Vanguard are great knives and I have both (Cabela's Alaskan models), but I got the urge to buy another one, mostly because I had a $20 off coupon on an order of $100 or more. (I also had some Cabela's "bucks" from their credit card). Anyway, I first considered getting only the Vanguard because it's such a gorgeous knife, but then I wondered if it was worth the extra thirty...ummm...bucks. Both are good strong knives with premium steel and good balance and I ended up going with the 110 and spending $40 on a Gerber Method Multitool that was on sale.

The Cabela's Vanguard and 110 are both great deals and, sadly, unavailable in retail outlets. To those who have both, what are the relative merits of each? And is the S30V blade steel worth the price difference between the Cabela's models and Buck's regular 420HC knives in your opinion?

So did I make the right decision? Does anyone have a Gerber Method and was I better off getting two goodies instead of one?

The venerable Buck Alaskan 110.

The Gerber Method Multitool...a good deal?

 

[enderwiggin]

I've kind of sworn off buying Gerber. I don't like the way they've started using no-name steel. I've had good experiences with their multitools in the past, but now I'd much rather have something like the Leatherman Skeletool CX with a decent blade on it.

Their tools also chip out a little easier than I would like. Not saying I didn't abuse my Gerber multitool, I just think there are more durable out there.

Personally? If you're going to order a Buck 110 from Cabelas, I would get the S30V model. You will be very happy with it

 

[enderwiggin]

I've kind of sworn off buying Gerber. I don't like the way they've started using no-name steel. I've had good experiences with their multitools in the past, but now I'd much rather have something like the Leatherman Skeletool CX with a decent blade on it.

Their tools also chip out a little easier than I would like. Not saying I didn't abuse my Gerber multitool, I just think there are more durable out there.

Personally? If you're going to order a Buck 110 from Cabelas, I would get the S30V model. You will be very happy with it

 

[Confederate]

I agree on Gerber. I also just bought a Leatherman Charge Ti, so I'll probably end up giving the Method to someone as a gift. I just didn't see that the Vanguard was worth $30 more than the 110. I noticed on my Vanguard that the fit of the knife to the sheath wasn't the greatest, and the 110 had almost just as much going for it. I like both knives, though.

 

[steelscout30]

I myself have not only sworn off Gerbers---I hardly ever started.

The only Gerber knife in my collection is a Gerber 600-series DET multitool I bought for my collection because I liked the black coating, metal, and punch tool.

In regards to the Buck line of Alaskan Guide knives available from Cabela's, you can't go wrong with any of them. I very much enjoy the 110 with the Bos-treated S30V blade, but the Vanguard certainly isn't a bad knife either. I carry both on the belt---it just depends if your taste runs to fixed or folding knives.

 

[TheGame]

I have seen too many Gerbers fail for me to own one. I had a Multi-tool (not sure hich) I gave it to my neighbor because he wouldn't ever abuse it or use it as hard as I would.

 

[Confederate]

Well, I got the Gerber Method and I was very much underwhelmed by it. I had another multitool that I'd once bought for ten dollars (better than nothing, but leaving a lot to be desired). The Gerber was a better quality tool, but the cases for each looked as though they had been made in the same factory. It was cheap, thin nylon with one 3/4-inch strip sown between two horizontal strips. That was the belt loop! I'd had similar nylon cases before and they never lasted more than a couple of months. The blades (saw, knife, scissors, etc.) were so short they are almost useless.

As for the 110, what a wonderful knife! It's hard to find anything wrong with that kind of quality. I also like the quality of my Leatherman Charge Ti. If Gerber would concentrate on quality and design, they'd really be a nice company. The Method could have been a better tool if the grip had been less wide and the stainless tools a better length and grade. I do like the tools that lock better than those that just open like a slip joint, and the Method's tools lock!

The Spyderco Native was a tremendous deal for $40 at Wal*Mart, but the Alaskan Buck 110 is a better all around knife that just reeks of quality. For daily chores, I prefer the Natives and CS Voyagers, but outdoors the Buck wins hands down.