Stealth Run #013 - Carbon Fiber 110 Auto Elite MagnaCut Drop Point

How .. How do you all buy one off their website?

Is everyone who is buying one a supply or procurement officers for the Armed Forces, National Guard, the Air National Guard, militia of a state, or a local government ?
 
Nice knife, but I've never been very interested in autos, so I'll pass. I like those carbon fiber scales, though. Now, if they's just put them on a 112 Slim, in Magnacut............
 
Buck’s pricing me right out of the market.
I've been thinking about this too. Here are some numbers. Feel free to fact check if I miscalculated something.

In 2014, a 110 from Walmart or Amazon cost me $27.99. I bought several of the 50th anniversary models at that price.

Walmart offers 2 110 options today. One in a box, and one in clamshell for $89.99 and 84.99 respectively.

This is a 204% price increase in 12 years on the flagship model, or approximately 10% compound annual price increase rate.

A couple of online inflation calculators, including the "official" one from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics say $28 in 2014 should be $39 in 2026 adjusted for inflation. I tend to not believe the published inflation rate matches consumer experience, but still.

The stealth runs and limited editions obviously follow a different pricing model than the standard models.
 
Last edited:
I've been thinking about this too. Here are some numbers. Fell free to fact check if I miscalculated something.

In 2014, a 110 from Walmart or Amazon cost me $27.99. I bought several of the 50th anniversary models at that price.

Walmart offers 2 110 options today. One in a box, and one in clamshell for $89.99 and 84.99 respectively.

This is a 204% price increase in 12 years on the flagship model, or approximately 10% compound annual price increase rate.

A couple of online inflation calculators, including the "official" one from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics say $28 in 2014 should be $39 in 2026 adjusted for inflation. I tend to not believe the published inflation rate matches consumer experience, but still.

The stealth runs and limited editions obviously follow a different pricing model than the standard models.
 
Now track the prices of copper, brass, and steel. Also track the costs of benefits like health insurance. You can see where the increases have partly come from. Another metric is the devaluation of the dollar.
Oh I get it. All I was saying is it’s forcing me out of the buck knife collecting. But maybe on a good note when I decide to sell the ones I have I could ask premium prices for them.
 
A couple of caveats I should have included in my statement above.

- Buck is keeping production in the USA. They deserve tremendous credit for that.
- The 2014 110 had laminate scales, and the 2026 version has ebony wood, which brings higher value to me.
- Other outdoor gear manufacturers have also had substantial price increases over the same period, it's not just Buck.
 
Now track the prices of copper, brass, and steel. Also track the costs of benefits like health insurance. You can see where the increases have partly come from. Another metric is the devaluation of the dollar.
Yeah, this is why I struggle to believe the published US inflation rate. Cost of doing business has risen way higher than the published inflation rate.
 
I like it but not sure Buck will ship an auto to California.
Buck Knives will not ship automatic knives to Canada and the following states...CA, CT, MD, MN, NM, NJ, VT, or WA, with the exception of the 839 Mini Deploy knife which can ship to California and the 112 Auto which we can ship to Vermont.


I’m in MN, can’t order one here.
 
I've been thinking about this too. Here are some numbers. Fell free to fact check if I miscalculated something.

In 2014, a 110 from Walmart or Amazon cost me $27.99. I bought several of the 50th anniversary models at that price.

Walmart offers 2 110 options today. One in a box, and one in clamshell for $89.99 and 84.99 respectively.

This is a 204% price increase in 12 years on the flagship model, or approximately 10% compound annual price increase rate.

A couple of online inflation calculators, including the "official" one from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics say $28 in 2014 should be $39 in 2026 adjusted for inflation. I tend to not believe the published inflation rate matches consumer experience, but still.

The stealth runs and limited editions obviously follow a different pricing model than the standard models.

I'm a huge fan of Buck knives, and for the longest time, I kept several Buck 110s on hand to give as gifts, and to "enable" friends and trusted coworkers into becoming knife folks like me. In addition, their prices in years past were such that you could pick one up on a whim for a relatively small amount of money, making them perfect for "scratching the itch" for a new knife.

These days, Bucks cost enough that to purchase one is generally a specific action that I have to plan out, I also do not purchase new Buck 110s to give away, choosing instead to purchase cheaper knives (some of them Buck Bantams!) to fill this role instead.

I was fortunate in the case of this stealth run that the money I'd had set aside for another knife was available for me to drop on this knife instead (as the other knife is general production and will be there when I'm ready to buy).

Everything in our lives seems to cost more these days, and sadly quality knives are no exception.
 
I believe it's worth noting that there are very few fixed blade Cru-Wear knives that were a better value than the recent BOTM offering.
Many are priced higher. Some considerably higher.

I think Walmart beat Buck up on pricing in the past. They have a history of doing that to suppliers/manufacturers. That accounts for the past pricing.

I don't trust current inflation number claims. We all know they don't make sense.
There are items I've purchased online that have practically doubled in price over the past year.

🫤✌️
 
I believe it's worth noting that there are very few fixed blade Cru-Wear knives that were a better value than the recent BOTM offering.
Many are priced higher. Some considerably higher.

This was my thought buying that last week... The closest comparable knife is probably the slightly shorter Zero Tolerance 0004, and that is $280ish. Benchmade's Anonimous is $325.
 
Buck Knives will not ship automatic knives to Canada and the following states...CA, CT, MD, MN, NM, NJ, VT, or WA, with the exception of the 839 Mini Deploy knife which can ship to California and the 112 Auto which we can ship to Vermont.


I’m in MN, can’t order one here.

Which is interesting because other online retailers will ship auto knives to CA. Buck just probably doesn’t want to deal with Californias BS which is understandable.
 
Back
Top