Question on Buck's model 110 styling...

PocketKnifeJimmy

PocketKnifeJimmy

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Aug 4, 2013
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The Buck 110 has that unmistakable profile... one copied by so many companies, abroad and domestic. Though most don't try to exactly copy the knife, that distinct look is obviously there. My question... was the Buck 110 handle shape/profile something unique at the time, or was it itself a pretty basic copy of something else?
 
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And of course I am speaking about this knife :-)
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_Knives

The Model 110

On April 18, 1963, just two years after their incorporation, the Buck board of directors voted to authorize development of a new folding utility and hunting knife.[1] The new design featured a sturdy locking mechanism and a substantial clip point blade suitable for butchering and skinning large game.[1] This would become the world-famous Buck Model 110 Folding Hunter.[1]

The Buck Model 110 has a 3¾–inch blade, a high-tension lock and a low-pressure release, the handles are typically wood and the bolsters are made of heavy-gauge brass.[1] Introduced in 1964, the Buck Folding Hunter was one of the first lockback folding knives considered strong enough to do the work of a fixed-blade knife.[6] Its debut revolutionized hunting knives, rapidly becoming one of the most popular knives ever made,[1] with some 15 million Model 110 knives produced since 1964.[7][8] Before 1981, the specially heat treated stainless steel used was 440C, from 1981 to 1992 it was 425M, and after 1993 Buck has used 420HC stainless steel.[9] Its design is one of the most imitated knife patterns in the world.

http://www.knife-depot.com/knife-information-146.html

Incorporation and the Model 110 Folding Hunter Alfred Buck took over where his father left off. In the early 50s, he expanded advertising of Buck knives to mail order catalogs. In 1961, Buck was incorporated and in 1964, the company introduced the Model 110 Folding Hunter knife, which was a huge seller and became one of the most popular knives ever made. Buck 110 Folding Hunter The 110 had a 3 ¾ inch blade. The handles were typically made of wood and the bolsters constructed of brass. Its staple features were its high-tension lock and low-pressure release. The 110 was so successful that it turned 'Buck' into a broad term for all folding locked-blade knives. - See more at: http://www.knife-depot.com/knife-information-146.html#sthash.LLZherdY.dpuf

Tom
 
Yes, thank you :-) I have read that before, but still wonder, even with Buck having some firsts with their new design, was the overall shape something really different, or based on other(s) design? In other words, was the Buck handle styling something that at the time was nothing like anything else on the market?
 
PocketKnifeJimmy said:
Yes, thank you :-) I have read that before, but still wonder, even with Buck having some firsts with their new design, was the overall shape something really different, or based on other(s) design? In other words, was the Buck handle styling something that at the time was nothing like anything else on the market?
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Jimmy, the Buck 110 was at that time a most unique looking knife, and was a first. I was around a good while before ti was, and I never remember seeing anything quite like it. Growing up carrying pocket knives during the post ww2 era, knives were pretty convention. The only single blade lockers we saw were either the Italian style switchblades in the hands of James Dean wannabes, or some German knives like the Mercator K55 or locking sodbusters by F. Herder with wood handles.

I remever when they came out with the Buck 110. I had wondered at the time if one of the Buck designers was an old sailor and missed carrying a boat anchor around.:D I'd never seen that much brass on one knife before. Dropped in a sock, it'd kill somebody if you smacked him with it. All kidding aside, it was a revelution in the knife industry. Everyone wanted to have one. Costruction workers, cops, servicemen, truck drivers. They were sold in army PX's at a reduced price from what the civilians on the outside had to pay. In a very short time, everyone with a knife factory was copying the thing. From China to Pakistan the market was flooded with Buck clones. Even Puma, who had the greatest trim little stag handle folding hunter, came out with a line of Buck looking knives. I will say, Puma had the good sense to thin them down a bit.

The Buck was very unique in it's time.

Carl.
 
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Excellent question, I have wondered the same thing. It is fairly unusual that a design is truly "new under the sun." Especially when that design is a relatively recent one. But it appears that the 110 is one of em.
 
MarkPinTx said:
Excellent question, I have wondered the same thing. It is fairly unusual that a design is truly "new under the sun." Especially when that design is a relatively recent one. But it appears that the 110 is one of em.
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Totally with you on this.. it is cool knowing that about the Buck 110 :-) While I do like my other American made versions (Schrade and Camillus/Craftsman)... it is the Buck that holds the original title... cool!!!! :-)
 
Here is a picture with a 110 in the center and a few Craftsman knives on each side.

 
I have always wondered the same thing about the design. Rather than the Buck 110 I went with the Schrade (2-blade) immitation and carried that knife in the field all the time as well as for hunting. People say you can't clean a folder properly after field dressing chores, but I have never had a problem. My first 110 was about 20 years ago outfitted with stag handles and damascus. It was a bit pricey at the time (around $100). You don't see many of them.

Back in the day, folks always had problems getting Bucks sharp. Puma was the same way. That's why I went with Schrade.

I was in a pawn shop yesterday purposely looking for Schrade USA knives. They had a couple old ones. Saw one that caught my eye and it was a Parker Eagle IMAI (Model K-540) with a bone handle (Japan). The pawn shop mentioned they've had it a lo-ng time. It looked essentially unused, but no box or leather pouch. Wanted to look at it closer and play with it.
 
22-rimfire said:
I have always wondered the same thing about the design. Rather than the Buck 110 I went with the Schrade (2-blade) immitation and carried that knife in the field all the time as well as for hunting. People say you can't clean a folder properly after field dressing chores, but I have never had a problem. My first 110 was about 20 years ago outfitted with stag handles and damascus. It was a bit pricey at the time (around $100). You don't see many of them.

Back in the day, folks always had problems getting Bucks sharp. Puma was the same way. That's why I went with Schrade.

I was in a pawn shop yesterday purposely looking for Schrade USA knives. They had a couple old ones. Saw one that caught my eye and it was a Parker Eagle IMAI (Model K-540) with a bone handle (Japan). The pawn shop mentioned they've had it a lo-ng time. It looked essentially unused, but no box or leather pouch. Wanted to look at it closer and play with it.
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I knew a couple of fellas who switched from Bucks to Schrades because they could not sharpen the Buck. They were using natural stones. You need aluminum oxide or diamond stones to sharpen 440C in a reasonable amount of time.
 
To get an idea of the impact, originality and uniqueness of the Buck 110, many localities and jurisdictions around the country either established or re-wrote existing laws based on the mis-use of this knife, and all it's subsequent knock-offs and clones. I think much of this originated back in the '70s, when the Buck knife was really surging in popularity. The city of San Antonio, Texas is said to have outlawed locking folders based on the gang-related impact of the knife. In many jurisdictions, when police have confiscated such knives from those unfortunate enough to be arrested by them, basically any large lock-blade folder is often documented as a 'four-inch buck knife', whether it's actually a Buck 110 or not. Defined as such in legal documentation, it seems to reach back to a time when everybody new exactly what that was, thanks to the new 'standard' established by Buck at the time.


David
 
knarfeng said:
I knew a couple of fellas who switched from Bucks to Schrades because they could not sharpen the Buck. They were using natural stones. You need aluminum oxide or diamond stones to sharpen 440C in a reasonable amount of time.
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In those days, I had never heard of diamond bench stones. It is not like today when you can walk into most home centers (Lowe's or Home Depot) and buy such a beast. I had Arkansas stones then. I still have them for the most part, just seldom use them. I sharpened my Case knife with a Case water stone.
 
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