The "Buck 110" of the 21st century?

Nothing quite approached the Buck 110 yet, but judging by sheer availability and comparable quality Kershaw Skyline could be getting there.
 
FuSchniken said:
Delica/Endura. They changed the game.
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Once again, I don't think so. Y'all are thinking like knife fanatics. Think like the average joe. For most people, any lockback knife with wooden scales is called a "Buck Knife". There aren't average Joes saying the same about Spydercos. They are, otoh, calling every multitool a 'leatherman'.

I say this after having an Endura in my pocket all day. Good knife, but not an icon to the non knife user.
 
See, here's the thing. I used my endura for quite a while at our bar in dallas and a great many people would be like "Oh, a Spyderco, thats a nice knife." They wouldn't be able to differentiate spyderco models but they knew what it was because of the clip, the handle, and the hole. I would have to say that with SO many different available knives out there the simple recognition by general public would equate somewhat with the popularity of the 110. Obviously, nothing will ever truly compete with the Buck, but for a saturated market, it's pretty damn close.

It would be hard to me to believe that the Police model with serrations wouldn't be recognized by Joe Everyday in a heartbeat. They might not name it, but they've seen it.

The Leatherman argument is a valid point.
 
FuSchniken said:
See, here's the thing. I used my endura for quite a while at our bar in dallas and a great many people would be like "Oh, a Spyderco, thats a nice knife." They wouldn't be able to differentiate spyderco models but they knew what it was because of the clip, the handle, and the hole. I would have to say that with SO many different available knives out there the simple recognition by general public would equate somewhat with the popularity of the 110. Obviously, nothing will ever truly compete with the Buck, but for a saturated market, it's pretty damn close.

It would be hard to me to believe that the Police model with serrations wouldn't be recognized by Joe Everyday in a heartbeat. They might not name it, but they've seen it.

The Leatherman argument is a valid point.
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I've got a Spyderco in my pocket everyday and use it every chance I get. I'm also around lots of construction workers of various trades, spend a lot of time in a welding/ machine shop, and spend lots of time outdoors and fishing. I don't think I have had the first person know what a Spyderco is and I'm asked to see my knife quite a bit. These are young guys all the way up to retired men. I've even given away a dozen or so Spydercos and they still don't really know what they are months later when I offer to sharpen them.

Maybe it where I'm from but from my experience there is no way I would equate any Spyderco to the recognition a 110 has. The only thing that might compare with a 110 these days is another 110, a multi blade 'case' slipjoint, or a SAK.
 
While this is a terrific, creative concept, I submit we're not doing the fundamentals.

First thing to do is define what makes the 110 special.

Only then can we compare other knives to these criteria. This would eliminate all the "I really like the xxx knife, personally" responses.

Off the top of my head, as a start:

--introduction in a mass produced knife of a new concept

--iconic design

--enormous sales, indicating that the knife has moved to a place in the public consciousness in general (as opposed to among knife followers)

I would submit that a successor to the 110 has to meet all three of these, just as the 110 did.

What knife fits all of these requirements today, or is likely to in the future?
 
Well if you want to focus on iconic designs, I think it would be the Buck/Gerber big folders, the Swiss Army Knives, and the Boy Scout folders. I think Spyderco has a leg up on joining the club due to the spydie hole and the clipit features. Then of course there's the stiletto switchblades. ;)
 
ThePharce hit the nail on the head.

My initial reaction to this question was "the Spyderco Delica or Endura." However, ASBOB pointed out three factors that I believe are good criteria for our analysis. Given those criteria, the Leatherman is probably the Buck 110 of the modern generation.

Our society likes multi-function objects: phones that text and get online, computers that play movies and music, cars that go anywhere while playing movies and music, and so forth. To that end, why carry a pocket knife when one can carry a toolbox on the hip?

Multitools are all the rage and here to stay; non-knife people generally recognize multitools as a "leatherman"; they can be purchased in Wal-Mart and Home Depot - I vote for the Leatherman as the modern Buck 110. The Leatherman didn't replace the 110, but it has achieved similar notoriety and thus should be considered the 110's relative equal.
 
Trout Tamer said:
ThePharce hit the nail on the head.

My initial reaction to this question was "the Spyderco Delica or Endura." However, ASBOB pointed out three factors that I believe are good criteria for our analysis. Given those criteria, the Leatherman is probably the Buck 110 of the modern generation.

Our society likes multi-function objects: phones that text and get online, computers that play movies and music, cars that go anywhere while playing movies and music, and so forth. To that end, why carry a pocket knife when one can carry a toolbox on the hip?

Multitools are all the rage and here to stay; non-knife people generally recognize multitools as a "leatherman"; they can be purchased in Wal-Mart and Home Depot - I vote for the Leatherman as the modern Buck 110. The Leatherman didn't replace the 110, but it has achieved similar notoriety and thus should be considered the 110's relative equal.
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Thats VERY true
 
The Endurance is the best choice. The Benchmade 710, Chris Reeve Sebenza, and Kershaw Leek bear consideration.
 
While the Buck 110 was simply the next evolution of the traditional slip joint, the Leatherman is, imho, the next evolution of the SAK. Spyderco, Benchmade, Kershaw, etc are all excellent. However, none have made anything which would be iconic to John Q Public. However, for guys (and gals) who are in to knives.......thanks! Y'all make some damned cool stuff!
 
Like I was saying before, it all boils down to availability. Spyderco is out guys.... A great knife, but IMO not the least bit recognizable, and downright ugly to most non knife people I've shown it to. As common as they are to us, it's more of a specialty item that takes a certain special degree of effort to seek out.

Its hard to step back and think like a non knife guy. Sebenzas, some Benchmade models and spydercos are all iconic knives, but are they iconic to the average Joe? He wouldn't know what a Sebenza is, and would absolutely scoff at the price if he saw one. I'd be willing to bet that he would scoff at a double digit price for a spyderco or benchmade in a lower end price range.

Spydercos are not at Walmart, K-Mart, Target etc. If a regular ol' guy needs a knife, or gets the knife as a gift, it's likely coming from one of these places. Most everyone recognizes Buck, Gerber, Leatherman, and now Kershaw, and most are in the double digit price range. If they're not getting the Buck 110, (which is the most likely knife a man would choose in a lineup of similarly priced knives) It's going to be one of those choices in some form. I didn't consider the Leatherman before, and that is an excellent suggestion.
 
I don't think anything new trumps the 110. The only thing close would be the Leatherman tool, imo--I've heard many non-knife people call a multi-tool a 'Leatherman' regardless of brand, much like how some will refer to a lock-back as a 'Buck-Knife' or any red-handled multi-blade folder a 'Swiss Army Knife.'

Amongst enthusiasts, maybe the Spyderco Endura/Delica, but I suspect either a Tenacious or Ontario RAT-1 might be a little more ubiquitous... The Kershaw Skyline is still super-popular as well. I'm not convinced any of these knives are as common as the Buck 110 though.
 
Leatherman's gonna have to be a SAK evolution... Now being all technical about this question has a chance of killing the fun :( so if Endura/Delica's aren't the new "110" does that mean those cheapo gas station china market knives are :eek:?
 
Josh Mason said:
Like I was saying before, it all boils down to availability. Spyderco is out guys.... A great knife, but IMO not the least bit recognizable, and downright ugly to most non knife people I've shown it to. As common as they are to us, it's more of a specialty item that takes a certain special degree of effort to seek out.

Its hard to step back and think like a non knife guy. Sebenzas, some Benchmade models and spydercos are all iconic knives, but are they iconic to the average Joe? He wouldn't know what a Sebenza is, and would absolutely scoff at the price if he saw one. I'd be willing to bet that he would scoff at a double digit price for a spyderco or benchmade in a lower end price range.

Spydercos are not at Walmart, K-Mart, Target etc. If a regular ol' guy needs a knife, or gets the knife as a gift, it's likely coming from one of these places. Most everyone recognizes Buck, Gerber, Leatherman, and now Kershaw, and most are in the double digit price range. If they're not getting the Buck 110, (which is the most likely knife a man would choose in a lineup of similarly priced knives) It's going to be one of those choices in some form. I didn't consider the Leatherman before, and that is an excellent suggestion.
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What your saying basically is that the Chinese no names knives are the next 110
Because the average Joe considers them acceptable
 
The most commonly carried knife by non-knife people in my experience is the CRKT M16. Sold by the boatload and recognized by many. Also has a unique appearance.
 
I think I'm going to start carrying my 110 again. Damn I love that knife.
 
I would like to know the sales #s for the legendary Buck 110 over the past five years and compare it to any other single bladed folder over the same period. I bet it is still the longstanding champion.

Does anyone really think that more Delicas are sold than 110's?

It is possible, but I wouldn't bet on it.
 
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