Which is better? the 110 or the 112?

Todd, Welcome. Pilgrim suggested going to a well inventoryed knife store and handeling both. Then purchase the one you like.
If you enjoy a more traditional, folding, locking knife--get both. Perhaps a difference in the two is the 110 has been offered with a greater variety of steels. After making your move let us know what you think. DM
 
I have owned a few of each. While I have no complaints about the 110, the first time I held a 112 in hand, I knew that I really liked it...

I'm 6'2" , 220 pounds and have big hands. The smaller size of the 112 was not a problem, in fact the 112 feels like it was designed just for my hands. I've always prefered knives a little on the smaller size though. No doubt the 110 is very popular, millions of people can't be wrong, and the knife is still going strong.

As others mentioned, go to a store where you can look at, and hold both models. If you don't have a store close by that you can do that at, buy one of each online, they aren't very expensive. Figure out which one you really like, and sell the other.
 
Truth be told, at this very moment, I have:
110 (3-liner/no-dot) in belt sheath
112 (1986/88 Joe & Danny special hybrid frankenstein) in front jeans pocket

:D
 
The "best" is the one you find most to your liking. I can say that the model 110 outsells the model 112 in every way you want to consider the matchup. Buck sells more 110s, the BCCI sells 110s at a vastly superior pace over comparable 112s and my customers buy 110s far and away over 112s. I have small hands, yet I prefer to use a 110. This is exactly opposite what I would expect. It may be that my preference is based upon what I got used to using and a model 110 was my first Buck knife purchased almost thirty years ago. I never gave the 112 a chance to become my favorite.
It seems to me that sales figures since 1971 (when the model 112 was added to Buck Knives' line) overwhelmingly indicate that the model 110 is preferred by more people. But, that is a clear indication of popularity, not necessarily of value ... just my two cents!
 
ACTUALLY, considering the OP stated it was for camping use, I would prefer the 119 to a folder.

I like 110's and 112's VERY much, but when I did a LOT of camping and spent a lot of time in the woods, the 119 was more useful for MY needs.

Peter
 
Depends on what you're using that 119 for......are you chopping wood and killing bears?

Better to take an axe and a smaller knife and stay away from bears.

;)
 
I used that 119 for light chopping, cutting sticks for cooking, cutting food and even throwing! Perhaps you are bold enough to kill bears with a 119 but not I BG42!

As an example of the advantage of a fixed blade for camping, a buddy had his BRAND new 110 and attempted to chop a small branch from a live tree to cook some hotdogs with. His first swipe caused the pin to fail and the blade fell out! Even though it was HIS misuse causing the problem, Buck replaced it.

Throwing the 119 caused the phenolic to crack on my 119 and Buck was going to fix that too. I asked to pay extra and they put on a piece of stag. It came back so nice I haven't used it since:

P10108211.jpg
 
Like I said, take an axe and you won't have to abuse your knife.

You can abuse a bear a lot better with an axe as well.

:D
 
BG42EDGE said:
Time for 110 Dave to tell his story of why the 112 was created.
:D
We should also remember that the 112 clearly has some advantages over a "pocketknife" of similar size.
If it didn't......it wouldn't be.
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ok ... as no one else has...
((sorry for late on this but been off line due to more kidney stones))
the navy had/has a blade leanth limit
that for the most part never was enforced
some time around 1970 or late 1989
there was a fight on the uss ranger
and 110s were used during this melay
sooooo the nav in its wisdom enforced the leanth issue, out west any way
thus lots and lots of 110's got the point broke off to be made legal

of note - Al was a Navy salor once upon a time
well he wanted the salors to be able to carry a buck knife
shorter jest inside the leanth limit of uncle samy rules
this one was designed with a hook handle so as that when working on lines
that your hand would not slip up on the blade
the tip on a 112 is harder to break off .. i am not sure why but it is
it is of note that the 112 was designed such as that
the 110 and 112 blades would not interchange
((( as of yet i have not heard relable information as to why this was done)))
but i was told that a 110 could be made to fit in side of a 112
by makeing the lock bar inlet on the 110 blade bigger to fit the 112 lock bar..but
it is not possable for a 112 to fit in side a 110 handle with a 110 lock bar

when i was in the navy on the east coast i seen lots of west coast men useing 112's from 72 to 75
it was at this time in 72 that i tryed a 112 .. and found i liked the bigger 110 better
but always envied the 112 hook... and wished the 110 could be had that way
of note all the above is strictly hear say and dont quote me !!!
i am jest the 110 lb weakling on the other side of the room...
 
thatotherguy said:
Exactly! Wood, brass, and clippoint or nothin!

:D
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Heh.

My 2 dot 110 (with softened bolsters) is in my pocket right now! Picture below.

Couple of thoughts on this...

One "must have" feature for any camping knife is that it must be long enough in the blade for food preparation. I find blades 3" and shorter (like on the 112) and that have an extreme clip (as on both the 110 and 112) to be less versatile compared to other blade profiles. For me, a harder choice than between the 110 and 112 would be between the 110 (longer) and the 500 Duke (shorter, but more versatile profile for me).

Also, for the OP, I think a lot of this depends on what is meant by "camping". When I go backpacking (or ski touring or bike camping), weight and pocket-ability is definitely an issue. I'm not dealing with a belt holster when doing any of those activities and neither the 110 or 112 is really light enough for pocket carry when being that active. I think the (gasp) Ecolites are really nice and eventually will get one. Would also look very closely at the 482s for a light weight lock back (just wish it didn't have the pocket clip).

If "camping" means car camping, then IMO one is free to carry what ever makes you happy. I don't see anything about camping that requires anything more than what is needed for EDC use, with the exception being that I definitely prefer longer blades with a wider tip for food prep. No slur meant towards the bushcraft crowd, but if I'm car camping, I have a proper camp axe/hatchet with me.

buck110.jpg
 
Thanks for everybody's comments. I consider them insights really.

I went with the 110. The 112 did feel, to me, an odd fit with my hand, and I did have some concerns about the food prep vs. the 110. I like the paperstone idea, and perhaps a 112 paperstone is in the future. I DO know I can't carry either the 112 or 110 around in my pocket; just doesn't work too well for me.
 
I DO know I can't carry either the 112 or 110 around in my pocket; just doesn't work too well for me.
Click to expand...

I do it all the time.

The good Cabela's pants have a Velcro flap pocket on the side of the right leg that fits the 110/112 perfectly.

You never even know it's there.

:)

As far as paperstone goes......is it as strong as paper or as strong as stone? Is the name just a marketing gimmick?

I'd find out before buying.

Whatever it is, it's not as strong as Macassar Ebony.

Light weight objects may let you down when you need them the most.

:eek:
 
Todd Volker said:
Thanks for everybody's comments. I consider them insights really.

I went with the 110. The 112 did feel, to me, an odd fit with my hand, and I did have some concerns about the food prep vs. the 110. I like the paperstone idea, and perhaps a 112 paperstone is in the future. I DO know I can't carry either the 112 or 110 around in my pocket; just doesn't work too well for me.
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Well done. Really hard to argue with the 110. IMO, everybody should own a 110, just because its the 110, if you know what I mean. Other knives can be sort of like the 110, but only the 110 is the 110. (I graduated from the Yogi Bera school of logic, doncha know.)

Regarding pocket carry, I'm not advocating, just testifying. I find that pocket carrying the 110 is easier if:
1) I wear baggy pants with deep pockets and held up by a solid belt. I spend 90% of my time wearing carpenter jeans of some sort and they work well.
2) The bolsters are softened. The bolsters of my 2 dot were as square as a preacher at a dance party. I think the newer 110s have more rounded edges to the bolsters and I can't recommend this to anybody else, but I took a mill file to mine and the pocket carry improved by a gazillion percent.
3) Practice. I carry a (can I say this here) an Opinel #8 9 days out of 10, which is insanely light compared to the 110 but almost as long. So, I've gotten used to the size of the 110 in my pocket in a lighter package. I pocket carry my 110 for a day or so every couple of weeks. One thing its done is gotten me used to carrying other knives in my pocket.

Again, not suggesting. Just testifying.
 
The 110 can reach the bottom of the peanut butter jar better than the 112. Both are great knives, though.
 
Alberta Ed said:
The 110 can reach the bottom of the peanut butter jar better than the 112.
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This! Hahaha, whenever I have a knife on me, and it's smaller than my 110s, I'm always annoyed when I go to make a smammich and I can't reach the bottom of the jar.

Honestly, I carry a 110 or a 112 in my pockets all the time. Just regular jeans, not usually any fancy side pockets or other such things. They work out just fine.

As far as paperstone goes... It may not be quite "traditional," but I understand that it is very similar to Micarta (which is VERY strong). And, wasn't Micarta used on some of the 1st 112s ever made? Sooo.... ;)
 
I'm sure anything made by Buck is tested out and of suitable strength.

It's probably not as strong as a good old 110 or 112 from the 70s or 80s, though.

And I don't think ANYBODY will try to say that it is.

Lightweight, yes......but that's not a big deal with a knife unless you're on a two week backpacking trip where you cut your toothbrush in half to make it lighter.

;)
 
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