Why I believe the 110 is so misunderstood .

Hickory n steel

Hickory n steel

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Complaints about the thickness, heft , & weight are common with the 110 and always have been.
I think the biggest reason is because the 110 is widely misunderstood.
The 110 & 112 folds so people falsely think of them as pocket knives, and they view the belt sheath carry as a flaw or something not realizing that they are folding belt knives specifically intended to be carried in the sheath on your belt.

My assumption is that many people wanted a full handed locking pocket knife and bought a 110 because they were prevalent , not knowing there were Mercator K55's and Opinels that might have been more of what they had in mind.
The 110 wouldn't have sold as much, but would have been bought more by people who understood it and wanted it for what it is.
Today a lot of people still hate the 110 as an antiquated or heavy pocket knife not understanding that it's just a belt knife that folds.
The modernized 110's may suggest something a little different, but I bet most buyers were existing 110 fans.

I firmly believe that the 110 is perfect when properly understood and anybody who favors a sizable locking folder that hates on the 110 is just wrong and misunderstands it.
There are people who just dislike it, but most people are comparing apples to oranges.
I kind of grew to dislike the 110 when I fell in love with the little 305, until I finally realized that it wasn't a pocket knife.
 
ferider said:
I see your point, but I don't mind the weight / size in the pocket. People routinely carry an iPhone in their pocket, which is not much lighter. The main enemy for the 110 for me is the 110 Auto.

And regarding the hate: :)

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I'd never carry one loose in my pocket, but I'm sure there's a solution that would work for me if I didn't already have a small organizer full of stuff in my pocket that weighs more than a 110.
It would carry well in my vest pocket for sure.

By the way it wasn't really my point because I'm not a 110 hater, the weight is just the most common thing people I hear people trash the 110 for.

If somebody hates the 110 because they can't drop it loose into a pair of basketball shorts or PJ's there's something wrong with them.
 
1911bphil said:
If Buck put a pocket clip on a regular 110, I doubt anyone would complain about the weight. My 4 Max Scout weighs more, but carries just fine due to the clip. This is just my humble opinion.
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They'd still complain that it takes 2 hands to open and that you can't hammer hammer it through stuff or pry without breaking the tip.

many people would probably like the clip though
 
If I understand correctly, the main point here is that certain knives are suited to certain tasks. This is very true.

I haven't personally heard any hate for the 110. The weight is a factor for me, in terms of pocket carry. I learned long ago that a heavy knife will eventually wear a hole in your pocket. I also don't enjoy having something slapping me in the thigh with every step. I carry my 110AE in a horizontal belt sheath. No bulky object hanging off my hip, I can't even tell its there, but it is readily available. In use, I prefer a chunky handle, and a bit of weight.

My Dad is 81 and has owned a standard 110 since the mid 70s, but rarely carried it because he's not a sheath person. I showed him my 110 LT and he loved it. It has become his main carry knife, replacing the Case knife that he carried for 30+ years. So the weight (and the need for sheath carry) is an issue for some folks.

I doubt that the haters are having any real impact on 110 sales. ferider ferider I'm curious why you say that the auto is the enemy of the 110? Not arguing your point, just trying to understand.

Just my 2c, YMMV
 
I did not get my first 110 until around 2009. Yes, it's heavy, It's stout and I agree, probably best carried on the belt. I really don't use mine much, but being a Buckaphile, I felt like I should own one. Just does not really fit my life style. I also have a 112 I carried for a couple of months at work to see if I could justify purchasing one from the Custom Shop. Just too much knife for office work... :rolleyes: MY 501 and any of the 300 series are better suited for me. For woods carry I like the 102 or 105. Lightweight and sturdy enough. Like Hickory, I see the 110 as a compromise belt carried folder for a woodsman and tradesmen needing a tough knife that can kind of do-it-all. I like 'em a lot.
 
Midnight Rider said:
I doubt that the haters are having any real impact on 110 sales. ferider ferider I'm curious why you say that the auto is the enemy of the 110? Not arguing your point, just trying to understand.
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Just for me personally. Makes the whole one vs. two handed opening thing a non-issue. I understand that the Auto was introduced late (2017?), of course, so didn't have much impact in the overall historical success of the 110.

I really like the 110: the blade size and shape is still the Goldilocks of folder compromises for me. Was my dream knife when I was a little boy, but - due to lock - illegal in Germany, and all my dad could negotiate with my mom back then was me carrying a SAK instead ....

I don't wear basketball shorts though, 99.9% of the time I wear jeans, and many of my smaller folders have the clip removed, so maybe that has helped :)
 
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Sometimes I believe it is also all about the pants. The lightweight dress pants that I wear to the office, church, etc. just do not pair well with either a brass 110 or 112 for me. Jeans or work pants however are a different story. But I agree that they had it right with the belt sheath from the beginning.
 
For a long time, I was discouraged about trying to pocket-carry a 110 (or my Buck 111, more specifically, and occasionally a 112). I never liked how they always ended up sideways at the bottom of my pocket. But having spent some time here on the forum, I tried the often suggested 'safety pin trick' with my front pockets, which enables vertical carry for large folders. Using the safety pin solved my issues, so I no longer hesitate at dropping a larger folder into my front pocket for daily carry.
 
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Midnight Rider said:
If I understand correctly, the main point here is that certain knives are suited to certain tasks. This is very true.
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In a way yes.
Basically I'm saying many people who hate on the 110 are missing it's point and comparing apples to oranges.

And I'm not talking about people who simply aren't 110 users, but people who firmly believe that the 110 is a terrible knife and have this attitude of superiority towards those who they think are stupid for not dumping the 110 in favor of a Spyderco or something.
They'll say things like " why would anybody still carry a Buck 110 in 2025 " or something like that.
These people exist, you'll encounter them most in YouTube comment sections, but they are out there.
 
There are lots of lightweight 110s available like the Slim Pro, but while it's great to carry that thin handle does tend to bite. The regular brass frame 110 is more ergonomic IMHO. (And my Custom Shop 110 with nickel silver frame, elk grips and Magnacut steel is even better.😁)
 
Alberta Ed said:
There are lots of lightweight 110s available like the Slim Pro, but while it's great to carry that thin handle does tend to bite. The regular brass frame 110 is more ergonomic IMHO. (And my Custom Shop 110 with nickel silver frame, elk grips and Magnacut steel is even better.😁)
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That's why the 110LT is great.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Except the 110Lt came first and is actually a 110, to me those slims don't look like a 110 and I don't don't consider them to be one.
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This one (top) is phantastic .... wish they had them earlier.

i-Q97Lbvk-X2.jpg
 
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