Need help on purchasing a 110

CMC7189

CMC7189

Joined
Oct 19, 2023
Messages
8
I’ve had two of these knives over the last 35 years and sold them both at one point. I’m kicking myself in the butt. I’m in the market for another that I will keep this time. I’ve been looking at antique stores etc for worn out models that I can send in to buck and get a replacement blade and a cleaning. Buck told me for $10 and shipping they would do that. Seems like a bargain. What I’m wondering is when does the price not become worth it when for another 10-20 bucks you could have a new knife from the store? What I mean is I keep seeing 80s and 90s and even 2000s vintage Buck 110 folders on eBay in various states of condition and they seem to be commanding $35-$50 some with a sheath and some without. If I bought a late 80s or early 90s model With a sheath for $40 and some shipping and then sent it into Buck for another 15 or $20 and got it cleaned and polished and a new blade put in it, I’d be at the price of a new knife. What I’m wondering is there something desirable about a 40 year-old buck knife with a new blade , or are they the exact same quality as what’s currently being produced? I’m looking for something to use hunting and I’m not a collector. Where would you draw the line at price point for this kind of project?

I tried to call Buck and ask them as I figured they would be the utmost experts but their phones seem to be acting up.
 
Since you have stated it is going to be a user, I am not sure why you need a new blade. I personally like a 40 year old Buck 110 with an old blade. I find them easy to sharpen. These models had a blocky handle which fits better in my big hand. It is all going to be your preference and it sounds like it would be a push on price for a 'new' v 'vintage' Buck 110.
 
Add the price of shipping to all those options, and the time it takes to ship it.
Most eBay sellers ship economy ground and I've had it take 2 weeks to receive the item.

Any old knife you buy and then want Buck to re-blade, well you have to ship that as well. And then of course wait for them to send it back.

Go into a store and find a nice new one that you like.
And be done with it.
 
I'll add my opinion, for what it's worth. I agree with the "buy a new one" crowd. Are they making the new ones the same as the 80s ones? No. Are they still making excellent quality knives at a decent price point? Absolutely! Plus, you could have a new one in your hands and ready to use within a week or so. Re-blading could take 6 weeks (I've gotten them faster, but that's average). Good luck, however you decide.
 
Try looking at pawn shops also. I have seen plenty of 110s for $25-35 that had been used as screwdrivers and needed new blades. Remember that it will cost you $10 to ship it to Buck and $10 for Buck to replace the blade. Buck has a 10% off coupon on their web site which if you use it, it would drop the price of a new 110 to below $60. You can also buy the Buck 110 LT for $38 if you are just looking for a hunting knife.
 
Its simple. Add up all the costs and don’t forget the cost of a new sheath.

knife+shipping+shipping to Buck+$10+a new sheath has to be less than the cost of a new knife.

So it really isn’t worth it for one knife. I’ve never sent in less than 3 knives at a time.

In the past, I had one I wanted to send in, so I fished some out of the Bay, then sent them all in at once. Which saved on shipping. Both for me and for Buck.
 
GPyro said:
Add the price of shipping to all those options, and the time it takes to ship it.
Most eBay sellers ship economy ground and I've had it take 2 weeks to receive the item.

Any old knife you buy and then want Buck to re-blade, well you have to ship that as well. And then of course wait for them to send it back.

Go into a store and find a nice new one that you like.
And be done with it.
Click to expand...
^ What he said!
You can get a new 110 for $65, or a 110 LT for under $40. They're made in the USA, and have a lifetime warranty. Considering what other brands of knives cost, the price of a new Buck is a bargain as far as I'm concerned.
 
I don’t understand the impulse to replace the blade. It is the best part of buying and older Buck knife (some of the older knives used better steel). The blades are heavy enough to last a long time and very few have been used in meat packing plants, so there are plenty of goods ones out there. An example that hasn’t been grossly abused just needs a little cleaning and you are good to go.

N2s
 
not2sharp said:
I don’t understand the impulse to replace the blade. It is the best part of buying and older Buck knife (some of the older knives used better steel). The blades are heavy enough to last a long time and very few have been used in meat packing plants, so there are plenty of goods ones out there. An example that hasn’t been grossly abused just needs a little cleaning and you are good to go.

N2s
Click to expand...

Very true, plus the ones that are trashed still sell for more than they are worth.
 
I'll start off by saying - as many have said - a quick trip to WM or most big box stores of your choosing will net you a brand new 110 w/sheath for $65 plus tax. It's hard to go wrong with that. Now in the past, you could easily find used 110's for next to nothing because most everyone considered them a worn out old Buck knife. But that was the "pre-patina" days. We now live in strange times. For some reason, there are a bunch of people clamoring for a knife that looks like they've used it for years - but haven't. So much so, they pay premium prices for them.

That being said, if your heart is set on an old style 110 - or even if you want a newer more rounded style 110 - they are out there if you are patient. There are a few sellers still offering 110's at reasonable prices. I took a picture of four I fished out of the "bay" in the last year or so. They all cost me less than $30 each. The bottom two were pretty rough, but with a little elbow grease they cleaned up nicely. It's really not hard to do yourself. The top two are untouched except for putting a better edge on the blades. The bottom blade was obviously owned by someone with a heavy hand on the sharpener, but it too is now razor sharp. NONE of them needed to be sent in to have the blades replaced. All of them have VERY serviceable blades. The top one came with the factory edge still in place.

rJyWW9M.jpeg


Only one of these came with a sheath so you would have to add in that cost, unless you do like I do a lot of times. Throw it in your pocket.
So that's my 2 cents. I'm a bit nostalgic and like to carry the old square style occasionally because that was the style of my first 110 back when I was a kid, but I have many of the more modern style now too and appreciate the rounded grip it affords. You really can't go wrong with either.

If you like a treasure hunt, peruse your local antique shops and pawn shops - along with scanning online auctions. The deals are out there. (Fair warning, that can get addictive.) But if you just want, as you know from past experience, one of the best folding hunters available along with a brand new sheath - most big box stores have them in stock. You can have one in your hands today. If it's simply going to be a user, this is the route I would take. It's a sure thing.

The question of worth really comes down to what is most important to you. "Worth" for me isn't necessarily about the money I spend. It's about the enjoyment I get from using whatever tool I have in my possession. I don't buy them to make money or save money. I buy them to enjoy the ownership and subsequent use. I hope that makes sense. I often get more enjoyment out of buying an old one and making it mine. There is "worth" in that for me. Will I make my money back someday? I probably won't, but my kids might.
 
I mostly did it to get Ebony handles. Now that ebony is back I probably wouldn’t bother.

There is a really special one I ended up with. It was a like new nickel silver ebony 110, it looked unused but the blade was snapped. It was a special etched blade, but forget what it commemorated. It is now one of my favorites.
 
If it wasnt said here, I didnt read all the comments, A 40year old knife rebladed is going to get a modern 420HC
Blade.
Not the blade of a 40 year old or older.
The frame will be the same. And it will come back looking new.
 
Another option, check the Buck Knife sales forum button at the top of this page - used Buck 110 Folding Hunters of all ages come up frequently enough that you could find one in a week. Most are coming from fellow Buck Knife fans and have more accurate and honest descriptions than many of the auction listings. Get a couple, an everyday user and a backup. OH
 
CMC7189 said:
I’ve had two of these knives over the last 35 years and sold them both at one point. I’m kicking myself in the butt. I’m in the market for another that I will keep this time. I’ve been looking at antique stores etc for worn out models that I can send in to buck and get a replacement blade and a cleaning. Buck told me for $10 and shipping they would do that. Seems like a bargain. What I’m wondering is when does the price not become worth it when for another 10-20 bucks you could have a new knife from the store? What I mean is I keep seeing 80s and 90s and even 2000s vintage Buck 110 folders on eBay in various states of condition and they seem to be commanding $35-$50 some with a sheath and some without. If I bought a late 80s or early 90s model With a sheath for $40 and some shipping and then sent it into Buck for another 15 or $20 and got it cleaned and polished and a new blade put in it, I’d be at the price of a new knife. What I’m wondering is there something desirable about a 40 year-old buck knife with a new blade , or are they the exact same quality as what’s currently being produced? I’m looking for something to use hunting and I’m not a collector. Where would you draw the line at price point for this kind of project?

I tried to call Buck and ask them as I figured they would be the utmost experts but their phones seem to be acting up.
Click to expand...

I will not address collector value, as I am a novice in that arena. In terms of a tool to use, I don't see much intrinsic value in an older knife over new production. The only exception is if you prefer the flatter, more angular shape of older 110s and 112s compare to the rounded form they have today. The current blade and edge geometry beats past versions hands down. In my opinion, 420HC with a good heat treatment is superior to 440C for a using tool. You could make a good argument that 425M has some modest advantages, but it's not worth a premium price in my opinion. I'd go new unless you find a smoking deal on vintage.
 
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