Disappointed by the Buck 110

R

rlewpolar

Joined
Oct 4, 2022
Messages
746
I caught the Buck bug several months ago and went on a bit of a buying binge on the fixed blade side of things. I now own two Buck 120s, a Buck 119, Buck 124, Buck 105 and Buck 117. They are all superb. Beautifully finished, razor sharp, light and fast handling (well, maybe not the 124 but I digress).

I decided to expand the small collection and add a folder and bought a Buck 110, the classic iconic folder by Buck. Wow, was I disappointed. Heavy, the lock doesn’t seem all that strong, the blade centering was absolutely awful as was the action. Rough and crude is the only way to describe it. I thought ok, maybe I got a lemon. So I retuned it and got another one. This one was even worse. I think I’m done with Buck folders for now. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by my Spyderco and Cold Steel folders all these years. The Buck folders (at least the classic ones) just don’t seem worth it. Maybe I just need to accept them for what they are but with so many great and affordable folders out there these days, who is actually buying these? Is it just the old guys who are nostalgic for days gone by?
 
I bought one a couple years ago and I don't know what it was but the brass started to tarnish almost immediately. I didn't store it in the leather pouch, but it made me wonder if they were using different leather materials or process for that pouch. There is always going to be some tarnishing, unless you store it in an argon gas filled capsule, but it was fast.

There's also the fact of mixed metals, with the strip of steel between the two sides of the brass bolsters, that could be accelerating tarnish (I've read of similar problems with brass bolts on Roman iron breast plates prematurely disintegrating them). I know that some stainless steels can be in direct contact with brass without much problem, but I don't think that 420HC is one of them. I'm not sure if it's something that can be fixed by taking it apart and electro-plating the brass components. As it is this knife is crying out for some G10 liners.
 
you can buy some flitz polish and use it to occasionally give your buck 110 its shine back, it works pretty well

they do have a modern slim version of the buck 110 with s30v, g10 scales, and pocket clip but the blade shape is different, they also recently released the buck 110 hunter sport which has the original blade shape and thick handles with micarta scales in the middle, the only drawback is that the thumbstuds can get in the way of cutting sometimes


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The 110 is kind of a knife from long ago that is both caked in nostalgia and performance. In the long, long ago, there were no forums to pour over. There were no YouTube experts delving into the most minute of details of what is good/bad about a knife.

The 110 was what it was, and still is, a chunk of brass and wood with a locking clip point blade of stainless steel. It was a workhorse that most could afford but wasn't a beater. It was designed to be the folding knife a hunter could rely on, it became the biker's knife of choice, and it ended up on the workbelt of a generation of contractors.

They are heavy. Centering is a bit hit and miss, but within spec. The steel of those from a clam package in a box store is mostly just serviceable compared to what we can get today. The only way to carry them easily is in a pouch (I still remember the work/sweat worn outline of a 110 on my dad's front jeans pocket from him carrying it loose).

Short of getting a custom, some slop is generally to be expected as you can't really tune them. In many ways, that can be frustrating. In others, it's kinda cool to see something survive long enough to be copied by dozens of makers yet still be able to sell the "real" version of itself over half a century later. I'm not going to defend the 110 as the ideal knife for anyone these days who is really honest about what they need. I feel they are antiquated for all intents and purposes compared to what you can get...but don't tell my dad that ;). He still dresses to work every day. He still slides on his work jeans. Instead of a worn spot on his pocket he has one of a dozen sheaths I've made him over the years, but he does not leave the house without his 110 on his hip. It's a habit that he's acquired over the last 50 years.

110s kinda are what they are. Just like my old man.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
The 110 is kind of a knife from long ago that is both caked in nostalgia and performance. In the long, long ago, there were no forums to pour over. There were no YouTube experts delving into the most minute of details of what is good/bad about a knife.

The 110 was what it was, and still is, a chunk of brass and wood with a locking clip point blade of stainless steel. It was a workhorse that most could afford but wasn't a beater. It was designed to be the folding knife a hunter could rely on, it became the biker's knife of choice, and it ended up on the workbelt of a generation of contractors.

They are heavy. Centering is a bit hit and miss, but within spec. The steel of those from a clam package in a box store is mostly just serviceable compared to what we can get today. The only way to carry them easily is in a pouch (I still remember the work/sweat worn outline of a 110 on my dad's front jeans pocket from him carrying it loose).

Short of getting a custom, some slop is generally to be expected as you can't really tune them. In many ways, that can be frustrating. In others, it's kinda cool to see something survive long enough to be copied by dozens of makers yet still be able to sell the "real" version of itself over half a century later. I'm not going to defend the 110 as the ideal knife for anyone these days who is really honest about what they need. I feel they are antiquated for all intents and purposes compared to what you can get...but don't tell my dad that ;). He still dresses to work every day. He still slides on his work jeans. Instead of a worn spot on his pocket he has one of a dozen sheaths I've made him over the years, but he does not leave the house without his 110 on his hip. It's a habit that he's acquired over the last 50 years.

110s kinda are what they are. Just like my old man.
Click to expand...
Exactly, this sums it up. It's an icon from a bygone era. Still one of the easiest large folders to sharpen in my opinion. Still very reasonably priced with a good warranty. Most were used and used hard, I've seen them at flea markets with half or more of the blade sharpened away but they're still functional, if now ugly. Some guy probably carried it for 25 years or more and used it every day, if only those old knives could talk.
 
SimplyMinded said:
I've seen them at flea markets with half or more of the blade sharpened away
Click to expand...
And buck will still spa service those old veterans...

I'm not a huge fan of the classic 110, too heavy. I've handled several of the modern variants, and own one of the lts they are all great. Since the weight is the only thing I really cared about initially, plus the lt variant goes for about a Jackson at DLT. Which gets you an American made knife, at a price competitive with the likes of a douk douk, svord peasant, or an okapi. Sure the centering is hit and miss, but it's the same with my Spyderco delica.

So far as blade steel is concerned, bucks 420 isn't anything to wind oneself up over in this day of guys wanting to cut ten billion linear miles of cardboard between sharpening, but for what I need a knife for it's certainly no slouch either. Plus I can sharpen it on my Arkansas stones (just a personal preference as far as that's concerned I have ceramic stones and diamonds, just something special about using the arks that I find appealing).
 
I guess I got lucky with my 110, albeit nearly 40 years ago. Sharp, centered blade, and locks up perfect. They are available in S30V now, too. It is big and heavy, and and not something I would want to carry around all day. So these days it waits patiently in a drawer, for me call on it again. I like it.
 
The Grendels said:
I bought one a couple years ago and I don't know what it was but the brass started to tarnish almost immediately. I didn't store it in the leather pouch, but it made me wonder if they were using different leather materials or process for that pouch. There is always going to be some tarnishing, unless you store it in an argon gas filled capsule, but it was fast.

There's also the fact of mixed metals, with the strip of steel between the two sides of the brass bolsters, that could be accelerating tarnish (I've read of similar problems with brass bolts on Roman iron breast plates prematurely disintegrating them). I know that some stainless steels can be in direct contact with brass without much problem, but I don't think that 420HC is one of them. I'm not sure if it's something that can be fixed by taking it apart and electro-plating the brass components. As it is this knife is crying out for some G10 liners.
Click to expand...
If you meant G-10 scales, they make those. I have the Pro version in S30V with G10 instead of the wood. It definitely feels solid. A bit more solid than the regular 110 I had (ended up gifting it to my friend who lost his 110).
I don’t use it,’for the same reason I didn’t use my 420hc version. No pocket clip, and they can’t be opened/closed easily or quick, or one handed. I’m glad I own it tho… I think every knife enthusiast should own at least 1 Buck. And being S30V with that famous Bos Heat Treat, if I ever did use it, I have a feeling it would cut for a very long time.

ETA : I remember seeing a full titanium 110 recently, limited edition maybe, but it was like $400 :-/ IIRC it had a pocket clip, TORX screws, good steel. Just too much money unless you’re a serious Buck collector
 
I own several Buck 110s, from a standard run model, to a couple of supersteel variants that have been released. What I love about them is that they are a large, handfilling chunk of nostalgia. Do I carry any of them? No, as I have a large number of folders with more modern designs, and slipjoints that are smaller that I carry instead. But honestly, they are a piece of Americana and I love them for it. I DO have one of the Buck Hunter Sports (pictured above) as well as one of the 112 Sports, those I DO carry. I just love how they've kept that classic handfilling shape, and make no apologies for their design. I like that Buck has brought the model into present day with slim versions in various modern steels, with pocket clips and so on, but for me, I'll always have a place in my heart for the original. If you need a knife, they fit the bill 100%. If you need a fidgit toy or some modern conveniences like one-hand opening (and just as importantly, closing), then pick something else.
 
Thanks for all the thoughtful responses. I especially appreciated Steely Gunz’s beautifully written missive. The reason for my discontent maybe is that I happened to receive another pocketknife at the same time as the Buck which is similar enough in price, size and use to make a direct comparison.

The Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter was the exact same price as the 110 (I have the silver nickel bolster version). Has S35v steel, G10 scales so better materials. Triad lock so there is no comparison there in terms of lock strength. The centering is perfect. The grinds are perfect. Smooth action, it’s lighter and has a very good pocket clip. I would say the CS is twice as good as the Buck for the same price. Which led me to the question, who would still buy the 110 when there are knives like the Ultimate Hunter out there?

I dunno, I think Buck could do a better job of QC at least before letting their iconic folder out the door. Maybe I will take one of the other poster’s advice and go looking for one at a store. This one is going back.

https://imgur.com/a/WqO94Vc
 
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