Buck knives & their sheaths vs. Schrade

C

cardimon

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Sep 20, 2000
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Having spent an evening handling my new Buck knives and their sheaths, here are my impressions.

The fit and finish of my new Buck 110 and 112 are excellent. They sit well in my hand and are really nice to hold. They also look fabulous. The wooden handle portions have a beautiful deep luster. The delrin handles of my Schrade Old Timer 7OT simply don't compare. The delrin looks fine on my smaller pocket folders, but on this biggie the handles LOOK artificial. The rounded edges on the bolsters of the 110 and 112 also look much better than the bolsters on my Schrade 7OT.

I love my 7OT (just as a dad loves all his kids), but overall, the Buck 110 and 112 simply look much better, "richer" really, than the Schrade 7OT, and also sit more solidly in my hand.

I don't dislike the sheaths as much as I thought I did (although I still want nylon sheaths). What stands out most to my close-up inspection is that the stitching seems vaguely off-kilter. If they were handstitched, I understand and appreciate their individuality. If they were done by machine, then the mcahine needs a wee bit of calibration. The added-on belt loops are well constructed. I like the design because they stick out from the body of the sheath and are very easy to thread a wide belt through.

Comparing the Buck and Schrade leather sheaths, somehow the tan Schrade color looks better than the black color of the Buck sheaths, but the belt loops of the Buck sheaths are far easier to deal with, in my opinion, than the integral belt cut-outs on the Schrade sheath.

Additional opinions, anyone?
 
Additional opinions? Sure. With the possible exception of the carbon steel Old Timer slipjoints, I don't think any Schrade product should even be used in the same sentence as Buck.

There are plenty of nylon sheaths available on the market. And, as to which color leather sheath you find better looking, take a look <a href="http://www.buckknives.com/products/acc_shth_products.php?Category=27">here</a>. You'll find everything you need.
 
I generally find Buck slipjoints to be better than Schrade's Old Timer (and I don't even like the Uncle Henry fake stag slipjoints).

Having said that, I'll take a Schrade Uncle Henry LB7 over the Buck 110 any day of the week.
I also think Schrade has very nice sheathes.

You really can't go wrong with either.

Allen.
 
>"I'll take a Schrade Uncle Henry LB7 over the Buck 110 any day of the week."

=============================

Even Tuesday!? ;) Seriously though, <i>why</i>? I think this could be a constructive look at the difference between the two.


As for me, I used to have an LB7 that I liked a lot. I also had a 112 that was great. They're both gone now, replaced by an easy-to-carry lightweight Spyderco Endura.
 
Originally posted by mnblade
I don't think any Schrade product should even be used in the same sentence as Buck.
Click to expand...

May I ask why? You obviously have more experience with a greater variety of knife brands than I do.
 
Originally posted by mnblade
>As for me, I used to have an LB7 that I liked a lot. I also had a 112 that was great. They're both gone now, replaced by an easy-to-carry lightweight Spyderco Endura.
Click to expand...

When you say "gone," what do you mean? Given away or put in a drawer?
 
Originally posted by allenC
I'll take a Schrade Uncle Henry LB7 over the Buck 110 any day of the week.

Allen.
Click to expand...

Really? I'd love to know why. Nitty gritty details, please.
 
I wrote:
"I don't think any Schrade product should even be used in the same sentence as Buck."

Then cardimon wrote:
"May I ask why? You obviously have more experience with a greater variety of knife brands than I do."

==================================

You may. First and foremost, steel. I've owned a number of each and was always satisfied with Buck's edge-taking and holding abilities. I love Schrade's carbon steel, but have found their Schrade+ (which is used on most of their knives) to be sub par.

Next, product line. Buck's is much wider. They cover it all, from the stellar 526 gentleman's folder through the venerable 110 to the fixed blade General. Schrade simply doesn't offer as much choice.

Customer service. Buck's the best thing going, period.

Incidentally, nothing in my original post would indicate that I "obviously have more experience with a greater variety of knife brands" than you. Nothing at all. :rolleyes: You asked for "additional opinions" and I offered one.
 
I wrote:
"As for me, I used to have an LB7 that I liked a lot. I also had a 112 that was great. They're both gone now, replaced by an easy-to-carry lightweight Spyderco Endura."

Then Cardimon asked:
"When you say "gone," what do you mean? Given away or put in a drawer?"

====================================

I sold both. I still do have another LB7. It's in mint condition; I gave it to my grandfather for his birthday when I was a kid. That was shortly before he passed away. When my mom cleaned out his apartment, I got the knife back plus a couple others that were his.
 
Originally posted by mnblade

Incidentally, nothing in my original post would indicate that I "obviously have more experience with a greater variety of knife brands" than you. Nothing at all. You asked for "additional opinions" and I offered one.
Click to expand...

Actually, I wasn't being sarcastic. Apologies if I came off souding that way. You simply seem to have wider knowledge than me. Most of my folders are Schrades. I have only one Buck. Not by design, though. I seem to encounter more Schrades on sale when I have a few bucks in my pocket! I may have a few more Bucks shortly. I've discovered the Buck 525 Gent and 526 Executive. They look really nice.
 
I prefer the LB7 for a few reasons:

1) The brass is much more subdued on the LB7 instead of shiney like on the 110.

2) The lock/backspring pivot on the LB7 is flush with the handle and is thicker than the 110. It's also made of steel instead of brass.

3) The LB7 handle is beveled on the edges and is more comfortable in my hand.

4) I like the LB7 sheath better.

5) And the LB7 costs less than the 110 (at least when I bought mine back in 1987).

All are minor differences, and as I said before, you can't go wrong with either one.

My brother prefers a Puma over both the 110 and the LB7...go figure.

Allen.
 
I have the 110 and think it's a great knife, but I don't like the black sheath it came with. I got mine a few years ago on sale at Sports Authority; both the knife and sheath came in clamshell packaging.

IMO, the belt loop on this sheath is positioned too low, making it ride too high on my belt. When I wear it, it pokes me in the side and is awkward for me to get to. I remember the old (1970s) belt sheath for my late dad's 110 did not ride high like that. That is my only complaint about the 110. Other than I think I may like the 112 better.
Jim
 
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