Wal-Mart 110. Worth it?

krakoa

krakoa

Joined
Jul 10, 2003
Messages
174
Now, I'm not asking if a Wal-Mart 110 is worth the asking price, because it clearly is. What I want to know is, are 110s purchased elsewhere likely to be of a higher caliber, so to speak, in the fit-and-finish department? Not so much where it counts, I suppose, but my 110 has a really roughly finished nail nick, something I've never seen on anyone else's knife, and I was appreciating the tightness of the overall fit of my Father-in-law's 110 the other day, when I realized it was only made in 1996 (judging by the backward C date stamp), [which by the way has a perfect nail nick], and I can't help but wonder if Buck is being bullied by Wal-Mart into producing a less-than-optimally-finished 110. I have heard in the past that Wal-Mart (starting to feel dirty typing that so frequently) forces manufacturers to lower their costs every year they do business with them, and so far, I haven't given up on Buck's commitment to quality or anything, but my future 110 purchases will probably be limited to other retailers, or the Custom Shoppe (and if my beautiful wife reads this, I'm only joking about that Custom job, with the BG-42 and all). Anyone else care to comment?
 
I have bought 110s from Cabelas ('Alaskan Guide' S30V), the Custom Shop, other sporting goods stores locally and on trips, Buck's Custom shop, and from Wally-world. I have paid from $11 for closeout priced 'collector's tins' to $170 for a teardrop Damascus custom. They have all been the same quality as to fit and function and selected materials. Oh, the Wally-world clampacks usually come with a nylon PRC-made sheath, rather than the stinky Mexican-made leather unit (Anyone ever figure out what the stench is from? Tanning?). No matter, I pocket carry. My worst 110 is my 560XLT (110 blade) - the Ti handles drag making opening/closing much more difficult than any regular 110. The 110 is super - and, from what I can tell, they only make one 'quality'.

Stainz
 
In the last month I have bought new 2008 110's from both Wal-Mart and a regular Sporting Goods store and I can find no difference in quality between them.
 
I try not to set foot in a Wal-Mart unless in dire straits (I find them to be symbolic of everything that's wrong with America) but, from what I've read here, the plastic "clam" pack prevents people from really examining the knife and they tend to often find flaws later.

I'll take my Bucks in a bio-degradable box, thank you. Plastic packaging should be (and I think soon will be) outlawed.
 
Rocinante said:
I try not to set foot in a Wal-Mart unless in dire straits (I find them to be symbolic of everything that's wrong with America) but, from what I've read here, the plastic "clam" pack prevents people from really examining the knife and they tend to often find flaws later.
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Ironically enough, my Wal-Mart 110 was in a box and the Sporting Goods store one was clamshell.

I agree on plastic clamshell packaging, I understand why retailers want it, without a dedicated knife counter, they can hire fewer employees, but I hate not being able to handle a knife directly.

Although when buying Bucks I worry less than with other companies.
 
i don't see how buck could take and separate out wally's production...
any single knife could slip by the last person to see it in the line..
a short sequence of an error i think would be cought..
plastic pack..i dont like either
 
Plastic Packs, I think I put this in the 110 Stories thread quite some time back.

Roamed into an Oshmans Sporting Goods once, before they became Sports Authority, and there was a rack of discounted 2002 anvil 110's. The 100 year one with the emblem.

Wife found the rack and picked out one with nice wood graining for her back pack.

I told her those would be collectible some day and she went through them and gathered up 5 or 6 more. She opened one of them and carried it in her hunting pack for a couple of years until one day I was cleaning up a 112.

I guess up to then she had never keyed on the diff. So she traded the 110 for the 112.

anywho....the plas pak saved me an hour or so that it would have taken her to go through a bunch of boxes looking for good wood....:eek: :D

Back On Topic - Walmart Buck 110's are as good as any.

And should you find a flaw in a clammie packed Buck. Simply take it back to Walmart, or where ever and they most likely will exchange with no hassles. And we know Buck will make it right.
 
krakoa said:
Now, I'm not asking if a Wal-Mart 110 is worth the asking price, because it clearly is. What I want to know is, are 110s purchased elsewhere likely to be of a higher caliber, so to speak, in the fit-and-finish department? Not so much where it counts, I suppose, but my 110 has a really roughly finished nail nick, something I've never seen on anyone else's knife, and I was appreciating the tightness of the overall fit of my Father-in-law's 110 the other day, when I realized it was only made in 1996 (judging by the backward C date stamp), [which by the way has a perfect nail nick], and I can't help but wonder if Buck is being bullied by Wal-Mart into producing a less-than-optimally-finished 110. I have heard in the past that Wal-Mart (starting to feel dirty typing that so frequently) forces manufacturers to lower their costs every year they do business with them, and so far, I haven't given up on Buck's commitment to quality or anything, but my future 110 purchases will probably be limited to other retailers, or the Custom Shoppe (and if my beautiful wife reads this, I'm only joking about that Custom job, with the BG-42 and all). Anyone else care to comment?
Click to expand...

Krak, when was your rough nick knife made?

Buck did have some quality control issues after moving to Idaho and training of new workers.

I don't think it is a walmartie issue. But wadda I know....

and Hi neighbor... :)
 
Stainz said:
(Anyone ever figure out what the stench is from? Tanning?)
Click to expand...

Possibly the Tannic acid used in the tanning process... :confused:

...Or those rascally Mexicans are selling decomposed horse hides again...(after selling the meat to MacDonald's)... :)
 
All the 110's that leave this factory are of the same quality, the only difference with the Wal Mart model is the sheath as previously mentioned.
 
Wal-mart usually sells the 110 in clampacks. One problem with clampacks is that there is some play in the package where the knife is stored. This tends to scratch the brass depending how often the package is handled. I saw 5 buck 110 at Wal-mart and all of the brass butts were scratched. I go to a sporting goods store and look at one out of the box and the brass is
pristine. :) You'll pay about $10 - $12 more though. :(
 
Personally, I don't think I've ever bought a Buck from Wally. I think I bought a Kershaw once. They just don't seem to have any"soul'. But that's just me. Most of my purchases seem to have a story to go with them that doesn't involve my parking space at WallMart.
 
I purchased a new 110 from Wally world last month after finding this site/Buck forum, to retire my 1979 110. I was very pleased with the 110 at the counter, it was being sold in a standard Buck box, no clam pack. I must admit I was very pleased with the, dare I say "newer" rounded version. The fit and finish was first class. I actually like the nylon sheath over the old leather sheath for hunting, especially if the newer ones smell as I have read about here. I am happy to have found others who enjoy Bucks with pride as I do! I am looking forward to my first custom 110 from Buck in the near future.
 
I think the original question may be motivated by some of Wal-Mart's gun sales. I know that some lower-end gun models have been exclusively sold at Wal-Mart stores. For instance, I have a black synthetic-stocked Remington 1100 that looks a lot like Remington's Express 870s. Bought it at the low, low clearance price of $320 when Wal-Mart stopped stocking that shotgun. Great dove gun. I've been using it for years, but it's certainly not as fancy as a walnut-stocked, blued 1100.

Jeff S1 said:
I purchased a new 110 from Wally world last month after finding this site/Buck forum, to retire my 1979 110. I was very pleased with the 110 at the counter, it was being sold in a standard Buck box, no clam pack. I must admit I was very pleased with the, dare I say "newer" rounded version. The fit and finish was first class. I actually like the nylon sheath over the old leather sheath for hunting, especially if the newer ones smell as I have read about here. I am happy to have found others who enjoy Bucks with pride as I do! I am looking forward to my first custom 110 from Buck in the near future.
Click to expand...

+1 :thumbup:

Every 110 I've bought from Wally World has been as good or better than versions I've bought elsewhere. My Academy tends to carry 110s with the leather sheath in clam pack (which means you can't see the other side of the knife). The nearest Wal-Mart, on the other hand, has tended to carry 110s with the nylon sheath (which I prefer) and in a box (which means you can examine the entire knife). YMMV.
 
I guess what I really meant to say was that, I'd have no problems whatsoever with my 110, if I hadn't handled my Father-in-Law's perfectly finished knife, made just a few years ago (I think), which led me to believe I may have missed out on something. Oh, and mine is a downward pointing arrow model (2007, if I remember right). I'm gathering that mine is one that just managed to slip by the QC dudes, and I'm ok with that, really. I'm thinking of customizing mine, either by just polishing it out with my Dremel, or maybe turning it into a full, um, fuller. Probably just polish it out. Thanks for all the replies, guys.
 
krakoa said:
I guess what I really meant to say was that, I'd have no problems whatsoever with my 110, if I hadn't handled my Father-in-Law's perfectly finished knife, made just a few years ago (I think), which led me to believe I may have missed out on something. Oh, and mine is a downward pointing arrow model (2007, if I remember right). I'm gathering that mine is one that just managed to slip by the QC dudes, and I'm ok with that, really. I'm thinking of customizing mine, either by just polishing it out with my Dremel, or maybe turning it into a full, um, fuller. Probably just polish it out. Thanks for all the replies, guys.
Click to expand...

Krakoa, take some before and after pics of your modifications.
Its always interesting to see what the guys are doing to their knives :D

Holler sometimes if you wanna play with some more oldies. :D
 
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