The recent thread here on the Queen Mountain Man renewed my interest in this design. I was wondering a few things. In regards to a standard Buck 110, how do they compare in price, blade steel, blade thickness, handle ergonomics, overall size, blade grinds, durability etc? I had planned on purchasing one at some point but I kind of forgot about them. From the looks of them I'd be very satisfied with it but I'd still like to hear from people who have used both these knives.
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Queen Mountain Man VS Buck 110
- Thread starter Vivi
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2001
- Messages
- 18,423
Your getting to of my favorite knives together here!
Queen #3L Carved Stag Bone and a Elk Stag Buck 110.
As you can see, the Queen is shorter and it's also somewhat thinner than a 110. The Queen is lighter in your pocket than a 110 also.
A "stock" Queen #3L is gonna run around $60.00, almost twice that of a Buck 110, (the Elk Stag Custom above ran just over $100.00) but you are getting D2 steel which is a big plus. Although Buck's 420HC is a great working steel that will get the job done.
Blades are about the same thickness on either knife, ergonomics are great on both, but for heavy field work, the Buck's are better.
Both knives are well built, the Queen's can come from the factory with an occasional slight blade play, I've never had it effect the use of the knife, but it's VERY rare for a Buck 110 to have any.
I am a big fan of both patterns and own several variations of both, and if I just had to say which one was stronger, it would be the Buck 110, but only by a slim margin.
Queen #3L Carved Stag Bone and a Elk Stag Buck 110.
As you can see, the Queen is shorter and it's also somewhat thinner than a 110. The Queen is lighter in your pocket than a 110 also.
A "stock" Queen #3L is gonna run around $60.00, almost twice that of a Buck 110, (the Elk Stag Custom above ran just over $100.00) but you are getting D2 steel which is a big plus. Although Buck's 420HC is a great working steel that will get the job done.
Blades are about the same thickness on either knife, ergonomics are great on both, but for heavy field work, the Buck's are better.
Both knives are well built, the Queen's can come from the factory with an occasional slight blade play, I've never had it effect the use of the knife, but it's VERY rare for a Buck 110 to have any.
I am a big fan of both patterns and own several variations of both, and if I just had to say which one was stronger, it would be the Buck 110, but only by a slim margin.
Excellent post Confederate, thank you. If I remember correctly, the Queen is flat ground, as opposed to the Buck's hollow? From the look sof it the 110 has the advantadge of price, blade shape, grip security and ergonomics for me, while the queen would have a better grind and the ability to hold an edge longer. Despite this, I still want to try out a Mountain Man. Maybe I'll end up liking it more than the 110, maybe not. Either way it looks like a fine knife.
If memory serves me, if you want a different steel, you can get the mountain main in 1095 as a special factory order from some people and you can get it as a Schatt and Morgan with ATS34 and 420hc. You can also get the buck 110 in s30v from cabelas.
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2001
- Messages
- 18,423
That Buck Elk Stag is "Jammin" LC, very nice...The only way for me to be able to make a true comparison is for you to mail the Buck to me and let me compare it to my two Mountain Man folders.
Sunburst
Sure thing, I'll send it out in the morning by carrier ant...should reach you in about 130 years.
Blue Sky
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2002
- Messages
- 3,529
I had a Mountain Man for a short while not long ago, and while I loved the pattern the knife was weak. The liners were thin, and when you checked the blade for side play (there was a fair amount) you could see the handle flex away from the scales. One of the bigger disappointments knife-wise I've had, even more so because it was a SFO and I had to wait a while for it. A 110 is much stronger IMO.
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2001
- Messages
- 1,055
I've got an S&M MM and a Buck 110. The Buck is a stronger knife overall. If I were going on a camping trip I'd bring the Buck. It also came seriously sharp, whereas the Schatt was lucky to be able to cut butter. Fixable, obviously, but a point Buck's favor, especially since they cost half as much.
-- Sam
-- Sam
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2005
- Messages
- 1,771
I don't have a S&M........yet, but I have a few 110's. Walmart had them on promo last Christmas for about $25. After Christmas they had them on close-out. I picked several up for $20 to $22.50 each. I even got one for $15 in MT. They came in a metal box with the nylon sheath.
I took one of the $20 110's and dropped it off at the factory on my way through Post Falls. About 3 weeks later I got it back with a BG-42 1/2 serrated blade for a mere $35 including postage! It is so sharp that the hair jumps off your arm when the knife clears the sheath, before it is even opened (almost). Scary sharp!
$55 for a GREAT knife.
Dale
I took one of the $20 110's and dropped it off at the factory on my way through Post Falls. About 3 weeks later I got it back with a BG-42 1/2 serrated blade for a mere $35 including postage!
It is so sharp that the hair jumps off your arm when the knife clears the sheath, before it is even opened (almost). Scary sharp! $55 for a GREAT knife.
Dale
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2005
- Messages
- 2,533
I agree with everything that's been said about the buck being stronger. However I thing the Mtn Man is worth a try for it's other qualities, i.e. lighter, more pocketable, and flat ground. The buck may be cheaper, but you can get a Mtn Man with wood handles and D2 steel for $50 which seems like a pretty good trade off to me.
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2006
- Messages
- 718
I have a few Bucks and a Mountain Man Bonestag with D2 steel. I love the look and feel of the Mountain Man but the blade play is terrible. You can hold it by the grip and use it as a rattle. A great design with great materials but something lacking in execution. All of my Bucks are rock solid though I find them a bit heavy.
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2001
- Messages
- 1,055
Oh yeah, I agree completely. I was just pointing out the strength of the Buck in case that was an issue. Frankly, I see the Buck more as a "using" knife, and the Queen/S&M MMs as collectors, though they are certainly usable. That was the basis of my "camping" comment. I wouldn't think twice about trying to pry something loose with my $17 Buck (eBay - new - yes, for a 110!), but I would think twice about doing it with my S&M MM. It's more of a "gentlemen's folder."
The MM will definitely ride in the pocket better than the 150lb gorilla of a Buck, too. There's a reason they give you a belt sheath with the latter.
-- Sam
- Joined
- May 26, 1999
- Messages
- 1,964
Unfortunately, I got suckered into buying a Mountain Man last month. Even though I had heard so many bad reports about them, it's such a good looking knife that I couldn't resist.
It really is an excellent design: the handle is very comfortable and the blade shape is great. Mine had a gritty opening though and a huge amount of up-and-down blade play when locked open.
Even worse, the edge would chip/tear during normal use. When sharpened at 15 degrees per side, I would see little chips in the blade just from cutting things like cardboard and twine. It's the only knife that I've ever owned where I had reason to suspect a bad heat treat. (Blade steel was 1095 on this one, BTW.)
I sent the knife back to Queen exactly four weeks ago. Haven't heard from them yet, but their warranty & repair has a good reputation, so I'm hopeful that they'll fix it up nicely.
I've never owned a 110. The ones that I've handled seemed to be very solid and well built though. It puts a smile on my face just to hold one because they're such a massive knife. I keep meaning to pick one up, but haven't gotten around to it yet for some reason.
It really is an excellent design: the handle is very comfortable and the blade shape is great. Mine had a gritty opening though and a huge amount of up-and-down blade play when locked open.
Even worse, the edge would chip/tear during normal use. When sharpened at 15 degrees per side, I would see little chips in the blade just from cutting things like cardboard and twine. It's the only knife that I've ever owned where I had reason to suspect a bad heat treat. (Blade steel was 1095 on this one, BTW.)
I sent the knife back to Queen exactly four weeks ago. Haven't heard from them yet, but their warranty & repair has a good reputation, so I'm hopeful that they'll fix it up nicely.
I've never owned a 110. The ones that I've handled seemed to be very solid and well built though. It puts a smile on my face just to hold one because they're such a massive knife. I keep meaning to pick one up, but haven't gotten around to it yet for some reason.
I recently received a Queen MM 3L with cocobolo scales in a knife trade, so here are a few pics comparing it with my Cabela's Alaskan Guide 110....
The Mountain Man I have does not have any blade-play to speak of, but it is definitely not as robust as the 110.
As you can see, the liners are quite abit thinner and the knife overall is not as beefy as the 110.
Still, it is a beauty and it is lighter in weight.
Allen.
The Mountain Man I have does not have any blade-play to speak of, but it is definitely not as robust as the 110.
As you can see, the liners are quite abit thinner and the knife overall is not as beefy as the 110.
Still, it is a beauty and it is lighter in weight.
Allen.
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2003
- Messages
- 3,154
Great pics in this thread. :thumbup:
I have several 110s, old, new and custom shop, and a couple of Mountain Men. My first MM was the Schatt File & Wire with the ATS-34 steel, and I had to send a couple back before I got one I considered right. Then I got the Queen Stag Bone model and sent that back and got a nicer one in return. I really like Queen knives, but I've gotten several with various issues. If you're picky, you may need to send back 1 or 2 before you get one that's just right. But it may be worth it to you because, as others have suggested, the pattern is very cool.
Cerulean, sorry you got bad 1095. I wonder whether Ontario did the HT.
I've never had a problem with a 110 other than some grittiness in the action, which I've always solved by flushing it out with dish soap and hot water, followed by Miltec.
AllenC's photos say it all in terms of which knife is stronger -- the 110 is way more robust. For hard use, I'd go with the 110.
I have several 110s, old, new and custom shop, and a couple of Mountain Men. My first MM was the Schatt File & Wire with the ATS-34 steel, and I had to send a couple back before I got one I considered right. Then I got the Queen Stag Bone model and sent that back and got a nicer one in return. I really like Queen knives, but I've gotten several with various issues. If you're picky, you may need to send back 1 or 2 before you get one that's just right. But it may be worth it to you because, as others have suggested, the pattern is very cool.
Cerulean, sorry you got bad 1095. I wonder whether Ontario did the HT.
I've never had a problem with a 110 other than some grittiness in the action, which I've always solved by flushing it out with dish soap and hot water, followed by Miltec.
AllenC's photos say it all in terms of which knife is stronger -- the 110 is way more robust. For hard use, I'd go with the 110.
- Joined
- May 26, 1999
- Messages
- 1,964
I thought I should mention here that I got my Mountain Man back from Queen yesterday. They replaced the backspring on it. There's still quite a bit of vertical play, but it's not as bad as before. They also replaced the blade and the new one is working out well, so I'm a happy camper. :thumbup: