Criticizing the Buck 110

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jayjaygee

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I know, I know, it's sacrilege. But I was working with my Buck 110 yesterday and I realized I don't like it. I am not saying it's not a great knife, and if I have knife work to do and the 110 is there, I'll breathe a sigh of relief. I skinned a BIG buck with one back in October. It's great. But is it good?

I realized it's just waaay to off balance for me to enjoy. I felt like I was trying to hold a heavyish rock in my hand while also using a knife. Weird.

Anyone else got anything to say?
 
I'll also add that I have a 110 slim select that is one of my favorite everyday knives, though a little long for the pocket (and not nearly as tough as the basic 110 of course.) The 112 slim select is my EDC lately. And I recently saw a pic of a 110 variant in the buck/winter thread that I thought was about the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
 
lambertiana said:
110 slim select has a pocket clip
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Yep, I have it and love it. I wouldn't count on it like a regular 110 but for everyday use, I like it much more. And it's tougher than I expected. I spend a day tearing up burlap bags and cutting roots with it. Stopped to sharpen mid-day and kept working. Still good as new. That's the 110 slim select.
 
Terry M. said:
I don’t have a 110 (blasphemy I know) but sure wouldn’t have minded getting my hands on one of those limited Magnacut versions.
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Does magnacut weigh more or less than 420? If it's less, then it might feel even more off-balance? I don't know, I haven't handled one of those. But I have never had any problems with Buck's 420.
 
Just my opinion, but the things you don't like are what most people, myself included, do like. It has a large handle made of brass and ebony. It's very easy to hold on to, especially when it's cold, wet, etc.
We all have different tastes and the consumer has literally thousands of options. It's a win-win situation for all of us.
 
1911bphil said:
Just my opinion, but the things you don't like are what most people, myself included, do like. It has a large handle made of brass and ebony. It's very easy to hold on to, especially when it's cold, wet, etc.
We all have different tastes and the consumer has literally thousands of options. It's a win-win situation for all of us.
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This is exactly why I created the thread, wanting to hear what other people think. Thanks for sharing that. And I agree about it being easy to hold on to, that's probably why I grabbed it yesterday when it was -16 outside. Also very good when wearing gloves. And the look of the brass and ebony can't be beat in my opinion.
 
jayjaygee said:
Does magnacut weigh more or less than 420? If it's less, then it might feel even more off-balance? I don't know, I haven't handled one of those. But I have never had any problems with Buck's 420.
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The steel isn’t the issue. It’s the brass that makes it heavy. The 110 is a legend and earned its status legitimately. However, this is 2024, finding a knife that does everything a 110 does as good or better in a much lighter package is like stabbing bears in a barrel.
 
It's a relic from a bygone era where hard use knives often relied on heavy materials to maintain strength. It's a folding knife that was designed around hunting chores, which it does well. It became THE biker knife not long after as it was durable, intimidating, and certainly looked the part hanging off ones belt. My old man bought one because they are on the hips of guys he rode with and in the biker rags he used to subscribe to. It became his go-to work knife for nearly 50 years.

I think it's a limited design in today's world. It's produced because people find it nostalgic but also because it really is a good design if you can get past how heavy it is. I would like to get an Auto 110 just for fun. My dad turns 70 next year and keeps threatening to retire. I think the company we own will big him a gussied up custom 110. I think he'll get way more enjoyment out of that instead of a gold watch.

So, in short, if the 110 doesn't float your boat, there are plenty of great options out there. I don't see it going away anytime soon. I mean you could make the case that 5 shot .38s are silly because you can get a 6 (or more) round 9mm in the same size package, but I still see a lot of .38s out there.
 
Untitled by GaryWGraley, on Flickr

The weight gives some gravitas feel when you use it, solid, dependable decades of history behind it.

NOW, the initial feeling when using it can be off-putting when you are use to 'modern' folders, this one is just one that needs a bit of time to gain familiarity with and you might come to appreciate it more.
G2
 
jmh33 said:
I bet there have been/ and continue to be a whole lot of large game animals cleaned with a Buck 110.
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Gary W. Graley said:
this one is just one that needs a bit of time to gain familiarity with and you might come to appreciate it more.
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True. Let me ask you guy (and anyone else) - how much *control* do you feel like you have, with the heavy handle and relatively light blade? I'm thinking of going smaller for my deer cleaners for next year, maybe a Buck 113 or something like that. The Buck 110 did the job this year for sure, but what's your take on control vs a more "modern" knife - folder or otherwise?
 
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