Thoughts and questions on recent 110 blade play posts.

TAH

TAH

Joined
Jul 3, 2001
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Lately, it seems there have been many threads and posts stating that new 110s develop early blade play from normal use and the overall quality is declining. With the exception of changes in blade and handle materials, aren't these knives basically built the same way as they were 40 years ago? A blade sandwiched between two brass bolsters held in place with a pin. Yes, I understand there is more to it with the rest of the locking mechanism, but this design is not rocket science.

With today's manufacturing technology, the ability to achieve extreme tolerances and ISO type quality standards, I don't understand how this early blade play can be happening. If in fact 110s from the 70s and 80s are “better”, as so many have stated, what exactly was Buck doing differently back then that resulted in a lock up with less chance of early blade play?

Thanks for your thoughts and keeping this a friendly discussion. :)
 
I tried a couple of searches and couldn't find more than a couple of posts regarding blade play with the 110. More than a few mentions of the same issue by the same person over time but not "many" by a long shot. As far as how Buck builds the 110 I don't know that they do much different from year to year. I mean there are only what, maybe a dozen parts to the 110 so other than cosmetic changes or changes in blade I don't think the basic design has changed much other than the way they make the brass frame and changing the rocker pin from brass to stainless. As you say, "it's not rocket science". Not much to it so any opinions as to what's "better" are probably pretty subjective. If you prefer the rounded frame over the square frame I guess that could mean you feel the rounded is "better"?

I have seen mention of worn out tooling and or fixtures as a possible issue but does anyone really think Buck hasn't or can't replace equipment, jigs, etc. when they need to? Do I believe people get a "bad" one from time to time? Sure, no one is perfect. Do I believe these "bad" ones number in the hundreds or even thousands? Nope.
 
The 110 was designed to be a folding, easier to carry, alternative to a fixed blade hunting knife, primarily to cut game flesh and other routine related tasks. The lock system has been proven over 50 years, and millions sold, when used for its intended purposes.

I think it's possible for one carried and used for long periods to develop some play, after all, it's a steel blade pivoting on a brass pin, but I also think a lot of the "it fell apart" stories are the result of people pushing it into tasks few folders are really intended for.
 
I agree with both of you fully. No explanation needed. Its been a fine knife for years and years to many people, fpr many different tasks. :)
 
Thanks Bad and Bear. You both make good points. I have also heard there was more "hand work" in the older knives. What type of hand work was involved? Did it have anything to do with assembly or was it more for grinding, polishing and final finish?
 
I got a brand new 110 coming today. I wasn't going to buy one but the one at Walmart looked a lot better than the one I bought about 7 years ago, that did get loose very, very fast. It looked like the backspring/lock was flush and tight. Overall the fit and finish looked much improved. So, I had a few dollars to spend at eBay and ordered a 50 year 110. I'll see today how mine looks and I don't need it to use, so I've not decided if I'll try it out or just keep it mint yet. (how many knives can a person need for use?)
 
I read an article awhile back that really made me think about taking what I read on forums and the internet with a grain of salt. The article wasn't about knives but dealt more about elcectronic products but the article was about how companies actually hire "trolls" and their job is to get on any type of social media, forums etc. and bad mouth products, and post bad reviews about certain products while hyping their own. Often times, one troll will have several usernames. And people seem to be easy swayed from what they read on the internet.
I wouldn't doubt that the same doesn't apply to knives. It seems like the most hyped knives on the internet are never seen in real life, at least where I live. Most everyone I know or people I happen to see using a knife seem to either carry a Buck, a case or even just some cheaper knife knife from a discount store. I just don't see the average person that uses a knife ever carrying or using some of the more hyped knives on the internet.
 
There's a lot of people think the 110 isn't what it used to be. I don't think it makes sense they all are on some other brands payroll. It's easy to find information about it. I had one that became loose very quickly, I will see how my new one does today. I guess people think Rough Rider is paying this guy?

[video=youtube;IS6HJTv6h0g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS6HJTv6h0g[/video]
 
I'm not saying there aren't honest bad knives and bad reviews. But some posters, if you look at all of their past posts and all they do is bad mouth x-brand of knives and they spend an awful lot of energy trying to degrade certain brands that it makes you wonder. I enjoy Buck knives as well as other brands and if someone's knife isn't my cup of tea, I wouldn't attack them. The knife hobby should be fun. Just makes you wonder about the trolling when some people spend all that effort attacking different brands of knives what their agenda really is.
 
Last night I was going thru 11 110's that were all made in 2014 and while going thru them I felt for blade play and found none that had anything I would worry about. A couple had just a tad bit of movement that could be felt side to side but again not anything I would be worried about. I think of the standard 110 as a knife to be used and not one to pick apart if it is not flawless. The 110 is designed to cut flesh, open boxes etc. Not cutting nails or batoning or any other extreme hard use. American made and can be had for $30+. Hard to beat that combination.
 
I'll be happy if my new one holds up under the same light use, that had my old tight out of the box one, loose in 4 directions in short order. And I've sure not got any money for saying so. This one if it doesn't hold up it will go back to Buck unlike the last.
 
I found the video a little disconcerting. The guy talks about lack of edge retention on two Buck models as a sign of QC issues but doesn't indicate what the thinks the issue is? I guess he is inferring that they are not heat treated properly? He doesn't say. Also he points to the way the scales are sanded down to match the bolsters as a QC issue. All Buck 110's are done that way and since they are all done by hand there will be some variance. Not a QC issue in my viewpoint unless you consider hand finishing unacceptable. I can't tell from the video how much side to side there is. I have found on occasion that a small amount of blade play can be corrected by cleaning the pivot with soap and hot water. Not sure but I think crud or buffing compound gets in the lock and can keep it from seating 100%
 
So I'm supposed to watch a youtube video by some man named "the cutlery novice" and take what he says as gospel? How do I know this isn't some 40 year old man living in his parents basement? I couldn't find much information about him to deem him credible. I'd much rather ask a guy that I see using one or wearing one on his belt.
 
Quote Originally Posted by J Hubbard View Post
Over 80% of our knvies are US made. That # is planned to go up.
we welcome all feedback good or bad. The bad, we use to try to improve ourselves.

As always if some of you that have not returned our knives and want to (instead of putting them away in a drawer), contact us and we will take care of you.

I'm seeing a pattern of we did have some production issues over the fall on our 110 builds.

Jeff


There you go there has been problems with the 110, hopefully they're straightened out by now, as that was from 2013. Going to the mailbox to see if my new one is here.
 
jec88 said:
So I'm supposed to watch a youtube video by some man named "the cutlery novice" and take what he says as gospel? How do I know this isn't some 40 year old man living in his parents basement? I couldn't find much information about him to deem him credible. I'd much rather ask a guy that I see using one or wearing one on his belt.
Click to expand...

I actually found his comment on the Buck 110 in general to be positive. I just took exception with his comments on QC aren't really QC issues to my mind since they can be explained as variances due to the hand finishing process or he just didn't provide enough info such as saying two examples lacked edge retention.
 
It really seems improved over the last one I owned. No blade play, no gritty sounds when opening, very smooth opening, everything is pretty darn tight, blade is centered closed, no play closed. Nothing wrong at all cosmetically.
It's sharp but the edge grinds are a bit off. Buck I think has improved them from what I owned about 7 years ago. I feel it's a nice knife for 38 dollars and change shipped. It's very nice looking, I hate to even use it being I sure don't need to.
 
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