My first Buck 110

B

bearcut

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Sep 3, 2006
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I saw my first 110 in 1970. I wanted one right away. I think they cost around $25 back then. As a ten year old in a somewhat poor family, it was way beyond my means. Time passed, tastes changed, and I wasn't interested in this folder much anymore.

Recently, I decided that it was time to finally acquire a 110. I saw the 50th anniversary models but they didn't look all that great, especially to someone who owns many modern high dollar folders.


Then, I found the Buck Custom shop webpage!

I ordered a 110 with brass bolsters since I wanted to keep that classic look. The scales had to be upscale, (pun intended), so I opted for the black buffalo. The blade is upgraded to S30V, just because. I didn't get the rivets because I didn't remember them being on the ones I saw back in 1972, maybe they were on them, I don't know. I also opted for finger grooves.

At last I will have the iconic Buck 110 folder in my collection.

I must be having a second childhood thing going on because I also ordered a Martin MCE2. This is a copy of the infamous Lile First Blood hollow handle knife. I had a Buck 184 that I bought in 1984 or 85. It was the one that came out before the blood groove "buckmaster" logo. It was a poor mans Lile because I recall it costing me about $125, which was a lot less than the Lile which I think sold for around $600 back then.


The wait begins.....
 
It just takes some people longer than others. :)

Congratulations!!

The 1972 110 would have had two smaller pins and the rocker rivet in solid Macassar ebony wood. (You could always look for one of those 1972 110's in excellent condition to go with your Custom Shop 110)

My experience has been that the wait isn't as long as advertised. I believe all mine have come within three weeks of placing the order. Hope yours is the same.
 
Thats a great combination of materials for your 1st 110. I have had that up many times when knife dreaming on the website. I think no rivots is the way to go on buffalo. Like stumps says, late 60's and 70's knives had pins. The "tiny" pins as listed on the 110 data sheet would often recess below the ebony scales and arent very noticable. Without looking it up, cuz I'm lazy, I think the 3rd version, 2nd variation did not have scale rivots, just a rocker. I guess that would be 67 or 68. Pretty bad when I'm too lazy to go back to the main page and look up a sticky:rolleyes:


Ok I'm back after visiting sticky. 3rd ver 4th variation is the only 110 without inlay rivots, not the 2nd variation. Listed as 68-70(but same date is on var 5-9, so guessing 68)
 
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bearcut said:
I saw my first 110 in 1970. I wanted one right away. I think they cost around $25 back then.
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Only $25 and they're not much more today. Hats off to Buck. I own a few Bucks myself but ready to take the plunge with a 112.
 
According to the "Inflation Calculator", what cost $25 in 1972 would cost $137.36 in 2013. Lots of kids today have trouble affording a $100 folder, which is why they buy the cheaper Kershaws and Spydercos. I guess not that much has changed.

I'm sure technology has helped Buck keep the price low. I would guess the earlier 110's were more handmade than the current production ones.

The only other knives I remember back then were Case and SAKs. They were cheaper, but definitely not as A-vant garde as the Buck. It was way ahead of everything else.

I really haven't held a 110 for several decades, it will be interesting comparing it to newer designs.
 
I can remember back in the mid '60s wanting a Buck 110. It was the only knife to have but it was expensive. My dad, a NASA engineer, gave me one and it was a doozy. I still have that knife. It was so sharp from the factory, that a boy put many cuts on his hand and pants without knowing it. It was common, in those Freak/Hippy days, to have jeans that would begin to fray due to the sharpness of the 110 as we wiped off our knives after use on our jeans. I was given a 425 110 later and it was still the same sharpness and handmade goodness of Buck. Later, Buck was more production and less quality. I still have, and use, those old Bucks.
 
Bearcut, you won't be disappointed. I was a late comer to the 110 myself. I got my first about 5 years ago. I can't believe I waited so long. I ordered my Custom Shop for my 50th birthday. Very well pleased. I was not new to Buck knives I bought my first in 1976 when I was 12. The 110 is a heavy "Manly" knife. Robust and capable in all weather. You may not need it for everyday uses, but very comforting to have when needed.
 
imafritz said:
Thats a great combination of materials for your 1st 110. I have had that up many times when knife dreaming on the website. I think no rivots is the way to go on buffalo. Like stumps says, late 60's and 70's knives had pins. The "tiny" pins as listed on the 110 data sheet would often recess below the ebony scales and arent very noticable. Without looking it up, cuz I'm lazy, I think the 3rd version, 2nd variation did not have scale rivots, just a rocker. I guess that would be 67 or 68. Pretty bad when I'm too lazy to go back to the main page and look up a sticky:rolleyes:


Ok I'm back after visiting sticky. 3rd ver 4th variation is the only 110 without inlay rivots, not the 2nd variation. Listed as 68-70(but same date is on var 5-9, so guessing 68)
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This may be the one Fritz is talking about having no inlay rivets. Very rare. Any of the customs I ever ordered, were without them. Love the clean look.
I think I gave a little less than $19 for my first 110 in '70 or so. Retired it to a drawer in the bedroom out of harms way in getting mixed up with the rest of the hoard.
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I have a 2 dot Buck 110 with the original box and papers and the sales receipt.It was purchased at Woolco store #6051 on October 20,1977 for 15.99.With state and federal sales tax of .83 and .84 cents the total price was $17.66.Smoky Mountain Knife Works website lists a new 110 for 39.99 So it is still a bargain albeit with sloppier fit and finish and plywood scales.
 
As Larry said and Hawkeye5 seems to agrees no inlays my choice also, but hey pins no pins a 110 starts it right, with no sun



Other side with full Sun Fresh from the Spa was new in box but 40 plus years in the box She deserved a spa Treatment good luck with your 110 (fare warning they tend to multiple)

 
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After seeing the various styles I'm glad I opted for no pins on this one.

So, what was the wood on the 1972 110 models?
 
Pack Rat that Is a really elegant looking 110 blade and the sleek frame and no pins showing on the scales is awesome as well.
 
willis said:
Pack Rat that Is a really elegant looking 110 blade and the sleek frame and no pins showing on the scales is awesome as well.
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Thanks Willis. There are a few others here that have that one as well. Not many, but at least a couple. I need to dig this one out and look. It might be one of the thinner ones of the early years.
Can't remember.
 
willis said:
I have a 2 dot Buck 110 with the original box and papers and the sales receipt.It was purchased at Woolco store #6051 on October 20,1977 for 15.99.With state and federal sales tax of .83 and .84 cents the total price was $17.66.Smoky Mountain Knife Works website lists a new 110 for 39.99 So it is still a bargain albeit with sloppier fit and finish and plywood scales.
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Bummer that you got one with sloppy. I have a brand new one laying here that I snagged out of a pawn shop a couple weeks back and it is as perfect as any 110 I own.

Plywood, I guess you could say that. Here is a quote from a past thread you may find interesting.

**************
I don't remember the exact year but seems like 97 or 98. They were supposed to be for a subsequent year but we were so excited about the design we pressed them into that current year's new products.

As to Fibron...that was a brand name for the laminated/impregnated birch handles. We use the same material basically from a different source today. ..
The process is very similiar to making plywood. You start with sheets of Birch veneer. Then you put those sheets in a vaccum chamber and flood the chamber with resin (and color). The resin is thus sucked into every pore and stabalizes the wood, protecting it from heat and water. The wood acts like the fiber in fiberglass and gives a supporting structure for the resin.

Then you put those resin impregnated sheets under heat and pressure. The resin remelts and welds the sheets together. Based on how you stack them you can get multi-colored effects and if there are contours on the handle it can be a very attractive look. With a 110 being so flat the vendor creates a special top layer for the handle insert and when we switched from real Ebony the impregnated wood consistently looked more like real wood then real wood.

Better look and Better Performance was a no brainer.

CJ Buck wrote that in a post that was talking about Fibron handles.

Thought you might find it interesting.
 
Welcome to the start of an addiction ;) The history, the variations, the different models are all good reasons to collect 110's :)
 
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