The "Buck 110" of the 21st century?

I think the Paperstone models are a great evolution of the 110/112 series. I have the Ecolite 112 and it's a great knife. Much lighter too, while probably sacrificing little if any strength to the wood and brass examples.
 
I still havent tried one of those ecolite buck's. Kinda remind me of the cheap pencils I used to have as a kid >_<
 
Poez said:
I still have difficulty believing that Spyderco would be a popular "people's knife" as many here believe. They are too ugly and too expensive to enjoy the popularity among general public and be an example others would like to follow.
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What knives DO you like?
The Spartan is ugly, all Spyderco's are ugly...I can't remember a post of yours about a knife you DID like.:confused:

Besides, the popularity of pocket clips and the oft copied opening hole says you're wrong about the potential for imitation.;)
 
I believe if you count the numbers the Endura/Delica would probably be the closest to the 110 of any other knife out there.
 
stabman said:
What knives DO you like?
The Spartan is ugly, all Spyderco's are ugly...I can't remember a post of yours about a knife you DID like.:confused:

Besides, the popularity of pocket clips and the oft copied opening hole says you're wrong about the potential for imitation.;)
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I can't prove it but Poez sounds like a Benchmade kinda guy. More traditional folder "look." :)
 
Hahahaha let's not derail :D hmmm better question which knife in each manufacturer's line is most likely their "110" (Buck aside!)
ex: Benchmade: Griptilian etc; Spyderco: Endura etc
 
I agree on the delica/endura for us knife nuts but from the average joe I get a lot of "is that a sog or a gerber or top of the line kershaw" when I pull out a knife. Honestly the top model/models would probably now be something from the bear grylls line, they are just about everywhere and I haven't met someone who hasn't seen his show.
 
ThePharce said:
I'm going to go a completely different direction. The only modern thing I've seen which had the same impact (and spawning the same number of copies) as the Buck 110?

The Leatherman Multitool. Period.
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Agreed. Have owned many multitools by Leatherman, Gerber, Swisstools...The LM Wave is my favorite to this day. And I still own a Buck 110. It gets used often even in the face of competition with the many, more expensive folders in my drawer. As far as game changers for this century, Spyderco has done some great things, yet are not as easily available as Benchmade. Benchmades are relatively cheap, tough, and can be found all over the place.
 
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I will agree that the Buck 110 is still contemporaneous today as yesterday, but many people are looking to a knife that is lighter and has a pocket clip.

I still use the 110 but the Spyderco Endura is the current ubiquitous champ.
 
ThePharce said:
Here's the difference......For many many years after the 110 was introduced, there were no legit competitors. There was nothing that could really compare. It was simply in a class by itself.
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How many years did it take for the competitors to show up?

I think Schrade introduced their liner lock "Mustang" folding hunters (125OT and 127UH) somewhere before 1975. But when I think of the real direct competitors, I think of the Schrade LB7 and the similar Kabar (not sure of date).

To me, what the Buck 110 represents is the iconic examplar of a whole set of things. There may have been lockbacks previously or even dark wood sides with brass bolster before, but the basic shape and combination became known as "the Buck knife", even if made by somebody else.

I have about zero interest in modern pocket tactical type knives that have the thumb assist, liner locks and a pocket clip. With my almost entire lack of interest in that kind of knife, even I call them "Spyderco-type" knives. That basic template has been done and redone and done again, really more than the Buck 110 template was, and that's saying something. I would actually say it goes the other way around though - that the Buck 110 was the Spyderco of it's day. That's how pervasive the Spyderco template has become.

I think it's not entirely fair to compare the length of time that the Buck 110 stayed uncopied. I think the fixed blade hunter was firmly in place at the time and it really took the 110's sturdiness to convince the world that a folder of any sort could be used for such rough work. In this way, the Spyderco's adoption followed along a trail that was already blazed by the 110.

My 110 is by my keyboard as I type this. So is my Schrade 5OT. Sort of a mini Buck.
 
But by the same token, Spyderco claims to be the first company to offer pocket clips on knives. Now, it's hard to find a modern production pocket knife that DOESN'T come with a clip.

Brass bolsters and wood scales, to me, aren't very iconic of the 21st century at all. Not that there's anything wrong with them, but as far as knives that "changed the game" in the 21st century like the Buck 110 did with it's introduction, the Delica is certainly one of them.

Saying that the Buck 110 is still the standard for 21st century knives is like saying the Model T Ford is the standard for 21st century cars.

It's still a game-changer and a classic, but there have been a lot of changes made since then.
 
There's a difference. There aren't a whole lot of Model T's on the road. There are a WHOLE lot of Buck 110s being sold. It's much easier to find a 110 than a Delica.


I know I know......Spyderco is the greatest knife company ever and everything else sucks. All hail Spyderco. :jerkit:
 
If the Delica is so iconic, and I bought my first back in 1995 so don't go there, my dad would know what it is. And he doesn't. Maybe some day but not yet. Or, maybe to knife nuts, but not the general knife USER.
 
FYI, if my previous post was found to be in poor taste, I apologize. I do own and frequently EDC a Spyderco. However, the CONSTANT Spyderco love on this forum gets old. It's a great knife company. There are many other great knife companies. After reading repeated posts of people morally offended because someone dared to challenge the Delica and Endura being just as impactful to the knife world as the Buck 110, I just couldn't take it anymore.

It was NOT meant as trolling. It was meant to make a point, sarcastic or not. I do realize in hindsight that it was in poor taste.

Apologies.
 
The only 'real' knife I have ever seen owned by anyone is a Gerber Paraframe. Couple of my friends have it, nephew, and uncle. Always see strangers with it camping or fishing. It costs 15 bucks, light as hell, looks 'cool', and is available everywhere. Crap steel, but regular guys don't care about that. If it breaks they throw it away. It's better than the other knives they own, which are 5-10 dollar liner lock fantasy folders.
Endura/Delica is the answer for knife collectors.
 
I have to wonder if an iconic knife for the next century will ever happen. I wonder if it's possible. Think about TV. At one time the television got maybe four chanels and 95 out of a hundred tv's that were turned on were tuned to I Love Lucy when that show was on. (I'm making up numbers to make my point, but I am close.) Now with even the basic cable package coming in with in excess of a hundred channels, we will never have that type of market saturation for a single show again. How many knives were READILY available when Buck started selling the 110 folding hunter? Couple handfuls I expect at the local hardware store. (the Case display, Uncle Henry, Old Timer and Buck) I would be willing to bet it was well under thirty different choices unless you were at an extremely well stocked place....and I would be willing to bet that most corner hardware stores probably carried closer to ten models or less.


What's the situation today? How many Spyderco models are available right now? Gerber? Benchmade? Buck? Queen? Case? Boker? Swiss army knives? Go to a gun and knife show, look at the big knife sellers, HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of options. Sure some people still shop at brick and mortar stores, but even my 70+ year old inlaws buy stuff online. I just don't think one single knife model will ever reach the saturation point that the Buck 110 did....until they start selling lightsabers.

I'd be curious to see the numbers, out of the pocketknife carrying population, what percent carried a buck 110? when I was younger and hunted, fully fifty percent of the men that had folders had a buck 110...I don't think any knife will ever reach that saturation point again. too many choices. And even if the iconic knife DESIGN is based on the endura/delica it isn't the same thing.(black scales, one hand opening, clips, locking, etc) You could say all cars are based on the model T, but they ain't the same.

Grizz
 
Back in the day the Buck 110 (and its copies) was an EDC..now I think that goes to spyderco.

I carry an endura everyday. Its light and thin and it clips nicely to my dress slacks - it's long enough that it doesn't "flip out" of my pants pocket when I go for my phone or change.
 
The Buck 110 still rocks big time,but to answer the op question,id have to agree with many that the BM mini grip and the Spydie Delica are the icons of the new century!God,i love that Axis lock!
 
I think AG Russell would be an elder in the community with the inside knowledge AND knowledge of sales to answer this question pretty accurately...
 
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