Hmmm . . . looks like a POPULAR thread you have started here.
Thirty five years ago this (Buck 110; see first photo) was the Sebenza, for me anyway. Of course I pounced on it as soon as I had enough pennies saved up.
I had underestimated how much blade thickness, in this case excess thickness, can effect cutting ability of the things us City Slickers cut. I’m better off using the dull side of a putty spreader spatula for cutting up a thick cardboard box, or a thin box come to that.
In addition the tip just kind of has a mind of it’s own and wasn’t what was needed for what I do though . . . look at it . . . it is beautiful to behold; in fact the whole package one can just fondle and appreciate for long periods. a classic beauty if there ever was one.
The grip / handle . . . sheeewwhhhhhooooo . . . where do I start ?
too slick, too ass end heavy by a pound or two, lock is on the end rather than in the middle (must have been a reason for that that escapes me ) would be alright I guess to slide one’s fingers down to the end of the knife and let it dangle while operating the lock release if it weren’t for that slick finish and the weight adds that final straw to the pile by prying it from your slick helpless fingers. (I am exaggerating but you get the idea). Hardly FRN is it ?
Back then I was surprised at it not being particularly sharp or a good cutting tool and not easy for a complete nube to sharpen and it seemed to loose it’s sharpness fairly fast. Now I can reprofile it and really sharpen it but back then combined with the thickness it was a deal breaker and it became a paper weight. Literally. A job for which it is gloriously well suited and I can highly recommend it for by the way.
One positive note is : You know how the Cold Steel Ti Lite is billed to be an excellent blunt end weapon or skull cracker ? It can't hold a candle to using the Buck 110 that way. Like carrying a freekin 16 oz ball pean hammer in your pocket.
Love, love, love this knife and I will never sell it but it is not an EDC.
Way back then I replaced it with these two which surprised and pleased in a good way.
Yes, made a sheath for it and EDCed it for ten years. Frightening isn’t it ? !
And this little Buck. Sheeple friendly and all that. EDCed with and well before the above fixed blade. Was able to sharpen it and even cut stuff with it
The other knife I overestimated was the Manix in S110V
If I were headed to work for a week and needed a versatile knife I would have expected the Manix with this steel to have been number one from this line up; see photo below. In actuality it was a sorry dead last.
Why :
this particular batch of this alloy did not live up to the
norm for S110V literally the Opinel in Carbon would have performed BETTER and LONGER. No exaggeration.
Far more difficult to work the lock release one handed than expected (I had to develop “technique” and dexterity not to mention stamina to operate it. I work with my hands with tools repairing fine machines all day so one would think . . . perhaps . . . closing a knife . . . a knife that was designed to be closed one handed . . . would be within my abilities.
The closed knife, to my surprise, was not a pocket hog for me but I was surprised at how limited it was in grip options and versatility specifically to cutting angle changes once deployed.
I could say many good things about it but these were the surprises.
A good surprise was how well it opened using a middle finger flick; none of my other Spydie hole knives come close. I miss that.
