Buck 110

The Buck 110 is a classic. It's also dated and overrated. I'm not trying to get anyone mad, but I've seen people who turn their noses up at AUS8 and 440C who think the Buck (with its 420HC blade) is the greatest thing since lithium batteries. A lot of it, frankly, is simply nostalgia. It's heavy, opens slowly, seems solid and was given to many lads as a first knife by a loved one, so of course it's going to be a beloved knife. It's certainly decent, but it's not something you see a lot of people EDCing. I also think the Cabela's Alaskans by Buck (both standard and stag) are outstanding choices for outdoorsmen. But if you buy one, buy it because you want one. They are GREAT deals. And people wear the sheath upside down so the knife drops into their hands for faster access.

It's not my first choice, or even my tenth or twentieth, but I bought the Cabela's one simply to get the S30V blade. I also got the Native for the same reason. If you're going to own a premium blade, you don't have to spend hundreds of $$$ to get one. I put mine in my emergency bag where it's been ever since. And it's pretty cool to get it out every now and again and play with it. Still won't carry it, though.
 
stockman242, Thanks man, i just orderd one from TSC . I think that was a great deal on one. I always wanted a 110. Thanks for the info.
 
Wildone39 said:
stockman242, Thanks man, i just orderd one from TSC . I think that was a great deal on one. I always wanted a 110. Thanks for the info.
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$17.99 is an unbelievable price for such a great knife. If I didn't already have five, I'd order one :)

You'll love the 110 and the quality will amaze you.

Let us know what you think of it when you get it....
 
Confederate said:
The Buck 110 is a classic. It's also dated and overrated. I'm not trying to get anyone mad, but I've seen people who turn their noses up at AUS8 and 440C who think the Buck (with its 420HC blade) is the greatest thing since lithium batteries. A lot of it, frankly, is simply nostalgia. It's heavy, opens slowly, seems solid and was given to many lads as a first knife by a loved one, so of course it's going to be a beloved knife. It's certainly decent, but it's not something you see a lot of people EDCing. I also think the Cabela's Alaskans by Buck (both standard and stag) are outstanding choices for outdoorsmen. But if you buy one, buy it because you want one. They are GREAT deals. And people wear the sheath upside down so the knife drops into their hands for faster access.

It's not my first choice, or even my tenth or twentieth, but I bought the Cabela's one simply to get the S30V blade. I also got the Native for the same reason. If you're going to own a premium blade, you don't have to spend hundreds of $$$ to get one. I put mine in my emergency bag where it's been ever since. And it's pretty cool to get it out every now and again and play with it. Still won't carry it, though.
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I agree. The 110 is a solid knife and a good buy, but the 420 HC is very average steel, and it's way too heavy for an edc. (at least for me it is)
 
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If a knife will get sharp and work for you I would not call it dated.

It is a very inexpensive knife for what you get.

I would not call it dated I would call it a great value.

420HC might be an average steel but they are not trying to sell it to you for a C-note. You can readilly find one for less than $30 and has been shown you can find them for less than $20.

Anyone know if that price the same at a TSC Store?
 
Wildone39 said:
stockman242, Thanks man, i just orderd one from TSC . I think that was a great deal on one. I always wanted a 110. Thanks for the info.
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Sure, no problem. You'll love the knife.

Hard H2O said:
[..]
Anyone know if that price the same at a TSC Store?
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As I said, the last time I was there (about a month ago) I remember it costing about 18$. Dont know if they vary from store to store though.

Peter
 
The TSC is the cheapest place I have seen for one ( thanks to stockman242). I have looked all over the net trying to find the best price on one and the cheapest Ive seen is around 30.00. Thats why I was shocked at TSC prices. That is a good deal, so I went ahead an orderd one. I dont need it, hell I have over 130 knives already, I just didnt have one of those. I always wanted one. I remeber the Dukes of Hazzerd boys carrying one on there side in the show. Im proud to get one. It should be here in a week. total cost with shipping and all was around 24.00. Cant beat that. Stockman242, I owe you one man!
 
I ordered 10 from TSC and got free shipping and $18.00 discount.Heck of a deal! Thanks for the heads up on this.Why would they be selling so cheap?Closeout?There is no possibility they are making money on the deal.Is their?This may not be good news for Buck knives.
 
Hard H2O said:
If a knife will get sharp and work for you I would not call it dated. It is a very inexpensive knife for what you get. I would not call it dated I would call it a great value.
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With all due respect, what you say is true, but.... I mentioned somewhere earlier that an el cheapo M-Tech might be a good "first knife" for a kid and got some flack that I took to heart. I mean, they were right. Sometime I get too preoccupied with a pocketbook, but it got me to thinking—why are inexpensive knives needed? Maybe these other guys were onto something. In fact, they were.

I don't need an $18 knife. If faced with getting a low budget knife, you know what I'd get? I'd get a Byrd Cara Cara with an FRN frame. I'd rather have one of those that I can carry easily and it would be equally as dependable. Shoot, for only $68 dollars I can get an Alaskan with an primo S30V blade.

It's like flashlights. There was a time when having a Mag-Lite was the bee's knees. But now they're just clubs. I mean, you pull out a modern flashlight and it blows away the biggest, heaviest Mag-Lites out there. If you're a cop and can get an LED version, fine, but the incandescents are only good for door stops and weapons.

The Buck 110 is a lot of knife for the money, but the bosters discolor if you don't watch it and the weight of the knife is balanced all in the handle. Someone here not too long ago chronicled a journey I think in South America or somewhere with a Cara Cara. Just shows what a cheap knife can do. Fiberglass reinforced plastic is still plastic, but if you don't think they're tough, talk to a Glock owner. FRN doesn't rust, rot, mold or warp, and King Kong couldn't break most FRN knives on the market.

The G10 Cara Cara is even better. It may make you stutter once in a while, but you won't regret buying one for about twenty bucks.

SpydercoNativeByrdCaraCara.jpg


Zytel and G10 make getting quality knives at bargain
prices a snap. Look at the Spyderco Native and the
larger Cara Cara. The Zytel Cara Cara goes for about
eighteen bucks and are excellent knives.
 
That is an incredible price for a Buck 110! I just order three of them to put stone scales on.

Thanks for the tip.........
 
Confederate said:
With all due respect, what you say is true, but.... I mentioned somewhere earlier that an el cheapo M-Tech might be a good "first knife" for a kid and got some flack that I took to heart. I mean, they were right. Sometime I get too preoccupied with a pocketbook, but it got me to thinking—why are inexpensive knives needed? Maybe these other guys were onto something. In fact, they were.

[Snip]

The Buck 110 is a lot of knife for the money, but the bosters discolor if you don't watch it and the weight of the knife is balanced all in the handle. Someone here not too long ago chronicled a journey I think in South America or somewhere with a Cara Cara. Just shows what a cheap knife can do. Fiberglass reinforced plastic is still plastic, but if you don't think they're tough, talk to a Glock owner. FRN doesn't rust, rot, mold or warp, and King Kong couldn't break most FRN knives on the market.

The G10 Cara Cara is even better. It may make you stutter once in a while, but you won't regret buying one for about twenty bucks.

Zytel and G10 make getting quality knives at bargain
prices a snap. Look at the Spyderco Native and the
larger Cara Cara. The Zytel Cara Cara goes for about
eighteen bucks and are excellent knives.
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My main problem with the 110 is the weight.

I prefer fixed blades camping and hunting. So I would not use one there. In the pack weight is not such a consideration. I have a Buck 103 and a custom I use.

For an EDC I have used an inexpensive Kershaw Vapor with a 3 in. AUS6A blade weighing in at 3.25 oz. and a Buck 871 Ghost Rider with a 3 in. 420HC blade weighing in at 5.0 oz. The 110 with a 3.75 in. blade weighs in at 7.2 oz. If it were a couple of ounces lighter and had a clip I would for sure try one out.

I wish they still made the plastic handled versions. What do those bolsters do for you anyway other than add weight?

It is still a bargain compaired to other knives. It is not the best. It is a classic. I may have to pick one up at that price and give it a try.
 
There were once upon a time the bucklites in a zytel like handle, and another model that had solid Ti handle slabs, that was an awesome knife. While 420HC isn't the latest supersteel it's pretty darned good. Not too wear resistant but that's never been a real issue for me. They grind the edges nice and thin so they cut, and keep cutting well after repeated sharpenings. I just find them a bit too heavy with metal bolsters, I used to have a bucklite but gave it away to a family member a while back, that size/bulk of knife I tend to keep in a leather pouch sheath instead of a pocket.
 
Do the 110s from TSC have sheaths with them? Leather or nylon?

--oops, went to their site and it says that it comes with a black leather sheath. Now I'm interested :P
 
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Wildone39 said:
I think Im the only one on Bladeforums that doesnt own a Buck110 knife. I checked Walmart website and its showing not selling that knife anymore. Is it becoming a rare knife?
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Nope, you're not the only one. I don't have one (yet, TSC is now out of stock). I have had a Schrade LB7, which is practically the same thing, for nearly 30 years to compensate. My Dad has a Buck 110, we called them our camping knives when I was growing up because that was about the only time they got carried and used. Great knives, great value, great memories, not so great for EDC but that doesn't make them bad.
 
Blue Sky said:
I carry one in my back pocket alongside my wallet all the time, so don't be too put-off by those who say it's too heavy. Try it and you may find it is not. ;)
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i edc'd either a 110 or a gerber FS11 for ~ 20 yrs, it is too heavy lol, unless its in a sheath, and i if am gonna wear a sheath i just go fixed blade.
 
In my experience 420hc is, the way Buck heat treats it, great stuff. It easily takes a very good edge and its edge retention is nothing to look down upon.
 
What makes the Buck 110 so great?

First consider the handle:
Yep, its got heavy brass bolsters and wood slabs.
Yep, its thick and kinda chunky.
But its perfect for what it is designed to do....which is to allow the user to cut for hours and hours.
The handle is smooth and has no sharp edges to dig in to the hand....and no pocket-clip to cause blisters.
And its thick enough to allow comfortable cutting without causing undue hand fatigue.
Thinner knive handles are great for carrying in the pocket.
And they're okay for a knife that is used only to cut the occassional piece of twine or to open a package now and then.
But they suck when you have to do some prolonged cutting or difficult cutting....that's why most fixed-blades and folders, designed for long term cutting, don't have thin narrow handles.
And the bolsters have a purpose too....besides looking beautiful, they also protect the wood slabs when the knife is dropped.
If you drop a Buck 110 it will most likely land on the bolsters, dinging the brass yes, but also protecting the wood.
Not to mention that the bolsters give the Buck 110 balance and weight:
When open, the Buck 110 is a little handle-heavy which affords excellent point and blade control.
The overall weight of the knife actually helps the user make nice smooth slices....the same way that a nicely weighted putter helps the golfer make nice smooth putts, and the same way that a nicely weighted pool-cue helps the player make nice smooth shots in billiards.

Consider the blade:
Every knife blade is a compromise in one aspect or another....thinner ones usually slice better than thicker ones, fine tips are great for delicate needle work but blunt tips are better for prying....etc...
The Buck 110's blade is a very nice compromise.
It's an excellent slicer with a strong enough blade to take some mild abuse, yet it has a fine precise tip for delicate work.
To be sure it aint no sharpened crow-bar....and it wasn't designed to used as a pick-axe.

A word about carrying the Buck 110...
I like the pouch.
Yep, I actually like carrying my knife in a pouch on my belt.
It's nice having my pockets free again, and I don't worry about my pocket-clip scratching the furniture or my truck.
After carrying pocket-clip folders for many years, there are few if any chairs around the house without scratches from the clip....the same with door frames and the side of my truck (tight parking spaces and a pocket-clip equals scratched paint :mad:).
And since I typically wear my shirt untucked, I don't advertise the fact that I'm carrying a knife everywhere I go.

Is it slower to deploy?
Yes, without a doubt.

But just how slow is it?
I can have my Buck 110 open in my hand and ready to cut in three seconds....four seconds if I use one hand.
No, it's not as fast as a fixed-blade or a waved Endura 4, but I can't recall ever needing to draw my knife in less than three seconds.


Don't get me wrong....I still love all kinds of knives.
And I even carry a pocket-clip folder at work (hospital scrubs don't have belts).
But I still believe that the Buck 110 is still one of the best knives a person can EDC.
 
allenC said:
Is it slower to deploy?
Yes, without a doubt.

But just how slow is it?
I can have my Buck 110 open in my hand and ready to cut in three seconds....four seconds if I use one hand.
No, it's not as fast as a fixed-blade or a waved Endura 4, but I can't recall ever needing to draw my knife in less than three seconds.
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I agree. AO knives look cool and impress when opened but what ROI are you getting for the extra money that the AO cost over a non AO.

My Buck 871 can open as quick as an AO. It doesn't snap like an AO but it cost a bit less than one.

Most of the things I cut have stopped moving and aren't going to get away if I am slow in getting the blade out.

That price at TSC is looking rather apealling.
 
I knew a few guys that could get a 110 open so fast you'd think it was a auto. Ask any biker or Vietnam Vet... this was THE tactical knife. That being said I might pick one up since I live down the street from Wally.
 
When I hit the lottery I will buy one of the dual action 110 conversions. Those look real neat.
 
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