Buck 112 "Nail Nick" Questions

TAH

TAH

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Jul 3, 2001
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For some reason, I can't open the 112 Data Sheet in the stickies and my search turned up empty, but I know this has been discussed.

1) How long was the 112 produced without a nail nick in the blade?
2) Why was the 112 released without a nail nick, when all other folding knives in Buck's line had one at the time?

Thanks!

8yqpJaP.jpg
 
from the Timeline file I have on my disk:

Category IV, Stamped BUCK, *112**, U.S.A. 1980 to 1981 ?

Version 1. Left hand stamp, stainless spring holder, Macasar Ebony inlays, three 1/8” brass inlay rivets and stainless rocker rivet.
Version 2. Same as above except nail notch added.
 
On September 9th, 2005 Joe Houser wrote this in this thread.

Buck 112 Finger Nail Groove.

Did Buck make a 112 without a finger nail groove in the blade?
bladeforums.com bladeforums.com

The first 112's did not have a nail notch.
The Ranger was introduced in 1972 and the nail notch was not added until about 1980 or 1981. The guy in charge of marketing at the time convinced everyone that if Buck added the notch, the knife would sell as well as the 110 Folding Hunter which always had a notch.
We added the notch, sales stayed the same, rest is history. :rolleyes:
I hope this helps and welcome to the forums!
 
DeSotoSky said:
On September 9th, 2005 Joe Houser wrote this in this thread.

Buck 112 Finger Nail Groove.

Did Buck make a 112 without a finger nail groove in the blade?
bladeforums.com bladeforums.com

The first 112's did not have a nail notch.
The Ranger was introduced in 1972 and the nail notch was not added until about 1980 or 1981. The guy in charge of marketing at the time convinced everyone that if Buck added the notch, the knife would sell as well as the 110 Folding Hunter which always had a notch.
We added the notch, sales stayed the same, rest is history. :rolleyes:
I hope this helps and welcome to the forums!
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So the marketing guy didn't want the 112 to sell as well as the 110 and everyone at Buck agreed? What a strange reason.
 
It’s funny, I realized the other day I don’t use the nail notch on my 110s or 112s lol. I pinch the blade to grasp and open them. I guess if they got crudded up and stiff to open I might use the notch but usually I don’t need much force to open the blades but I’ve never had one open unintentionally.
 
I read and re-read Joe's statement.
I think it can be interpreted 2 ways and I don't know which is right.
It could be interpreted your way or alternatively, marketing wanted to increase sales with the notch and
surprisingly they did not change after it was added.

This addresses the addition of the notch but what I think TAH TAH wants to know is why no notch to begin with in 1972. /Roger
 
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way I read it is....... marketing guy saw 112 wasnt selling well, no surprise there never really has. marketing guy wanted to sell as many 112s as the 110s. he thought adding a nail notch would get people to buy it. so they put the nail in the 112. then as before people didnt want to buy it and the sales didnt improve but the notch stayed.
 
DeSotoSky said:
alternatively, marketing wanted to increase sales with the notch and
surprisingly they did not change after it was added.
Click to expand...
jbmonkey said:
way I read it is....... marketing guy saw 112 wasnt selling well, no surprise there never really has. marketing guy wanted to sell as many 112s as the 110s. he thought adding a nail notch would get people to buy it. so they put the nail in the 112. then as before people didnt want to buy it and the sales didnt improve but the notch stayed.
Click to expand...
This makes more sense.


DeSotoSky said:
This addresses the addition of the notch but what I think TAH TAH wants to know is why no notch to begin with in 1972. /Roger
Click to expand...
Yes, that is my primary question.
 
TAH said:
This makes more sense.



Yes, that is my primary question.
Click to expand...
don't know if anyone knows or remembers, I'd guess cost saving. one less process of steps in production. just a guess though. reason it might have been on 110 is maybe as simple as marketing pushing for it on tradition and research. most traditional models use one so id wager it was appealing to buyers, more than a need.

likewise maybe why marketing fellas research on this nail notch showed what he thought would boost sales of the 112 by adding a nail notch. so why he pushed for it. making all this up though, really don't know.


on 110, blade is easily opened without nail notch. truth be told dont think I open one that way myself. blade grind has the thick spine and distinct hollow grind makes grabbing the blade to open very easy even if sweaty or grease covered hands, etc. I have used the nail notch for a one hand open by using my thumb to catch it and push open......have done that but sweaty hand and strong backspring, makes that system not so effective.
 
jbmonkey said:
don't know if anyone knows or remembers, I'd guess cost saving. one less process of steps in production. just a guess though. reason it might have been on 110 is maybe as simple as marketing pushing for it on tradition and research. most traditional models use one so id wager it was appealing to buyers, more than a need.

likewise maybe why marketing fellas research on this nail notch showed what he thought would boost sales of the 112 by adding a nail notch. so why he pushed for it. making all this up though, really don't know.


on 110, blade is easily opened without nail notch. truth be told dont think I open one that way myself. blade grind has the thick spine and distinct hollow grind makes grabbing the blade to open very easy even if sweaty or grease covered hands, etc. I have used the nail notch for a one hand open by using my thumb to catch it and push open......have done that but sweaty hand and strong backspring, makes that system not so effective.
Click to expand...
Keeping production cost down could very well be the reason. I don't use the nail notch on my 110 either. To be honest, I wish it didn't have one. Looks better, IMO. Like you said, Buck probably realized a nail notch isn't really needed on a folding knife that has plenty of blade to grab when closed, but tradition is a hard thing change. I wonder if sales would drop if Buck eliminated the nail notch on the 110 and 112 today.
 
TAH said:
Keeping production cost down could very well be the reason. I don't use the nail notch on my 110 either. To be honest, I wish it didn't have one. Looks better, IMO. Like you said, Buck probably realized a nail notch isn't really needed on a folding knife that has plenty of blade to grab when closed, but tradition is a hard thing change. I wonder if sales would drop if Buck eliminated the nail notch on the 110 and 112 today.
Click to expand...
if we asked on the traditional forum bet we'd get a 50 50 or some sort of split.. also bet we'd see some very demanding opinions of their pick is the only right one.😁

id also bet sales wouldn't suffer if it was gone. many new comers buying the modern production 110s likely are used to folders without nail notches.
 
I have a Custom 112 with no nail nick that is really stiff..When I try to open it I have to be careful. A partial chip flint (just the to of the blade) Drop point would be perfect!
 
DeSotoSky said:
... The guy in charge of marketing at the time convinced everyone that if Buck added the notch, the knife would sell...
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now i m curious who this guy was. :)
so did that guy get to keep his job?
i don't suppose he was a deep cover conspirator for a rival concern?
but seriously, who uses a nail nick?

opening-buck-110-hunting-knife-review


especially once that stud thingy came along?...

Kwik Thumb Stud - Stainless
 
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all these years of tradition has eaten into profits.
i hope everyone appreciates the huge sacrifice and actually see the point of a decorative embelishment in the likes of a nail nick :)
 
Don't change it though... listen to all the "I liked the old Mnandi notch better" over in the CRK threads ;-)
 
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jbmonkey said:
if we asked on the traditional forum bet we'd get a 50 50 or some sort of split.. also bet we'd see some very demanding opinions of their pick is the only right one.😁

id also bet sales wouldn't suffer if it was gone. many new comers buying the modern production 110s likely are used to folders without nail notches.
Click to expand...
No need to ask there I'll just tell you how it should be here LOL. It should stay, even when i pinch the blade it gives a better purchase. In fact i hardly use my nail but i still use the notch for traction.
To me it in no way detracts from the aesthetics.
 
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