Why I stopped carrying my 110

Hickory n steel

Hickory n steel

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Over the past few years I have grown to really love fairly small pocket knives and the 305 has become my favorite model from Buck, because of this I hadn't carried my 110 in probably 2 years.
It's one of the coolest knives there is and I find myself drawn to it but just couldn't really carry mine anymore.

On Monday I decided to carry the 110 for the week and the first time I pulled it out to cut something it just felt right in a bit of an odd way, and that's when it dawned on me.

These are belt knives


And these are pocket knives


That first time I pulled the 110 off my hip and cut something with it on Monday, that was just like using the 102 or 113 or any of my other traditional belt knives I carry regularly.
For all intents and purposes is seems my 110 is the same as any other belt knife I carry.


Since this recent change of mindset, I think the 110 is very likely to start seeing frequent carry and use again now that I have realized that for me it fits the role of a belt knife and not a pocket knife.
 
Congratulations!

I did something similar. I hadn't carried my 560 daily in years. I've been bouncing between all manner of Buck's from Marksmans, Slim Pro's, 500s, slipjoints, even smaller fixed blades like the Spur and 050 (that small Hood employee offering). Even a couple of different Microtechs that I really like.

In my defense, I always carried my S90V 110 while hunting, and I hunt from August to May and then some.


I also have a 118 in my pack when hunting.

One day I decided to go from pocket to belt, and in my case it was my 560. Hardly know it's there, which is quite welcome. I would even throw a 303 in my pocket in case I needed to resize something without the sheep getting in an uproar.

I reserve the right to change my mind tomorrow, but I don't see my 560 getting bumped again.

I just wish I could find another old nylon sheath with the horizontal straps on it. I'll have to dig through some more boxes, I guess.
 
Truth be told a smaller knife will do most cutting chores easily. For years my only knife was a 503 Prince and it worked well. But now that I have expanded my choices a 110/112 size/style knife just feels right. I DO slightly prefer a lighter version if I actually put it in my pocket instead of a shieth. I held a aluminum frame 110 and that was almost perfect. If Buck makes a regular style 112 (not a Take Apart) in a aluminum frame with a super steel drop point THAT would be perfect..
 
AntDog said:
Any knife’s a pocket knife if you’re ballsy enough and don’t skip leg day. I carry my 110 in my pocket all the time.
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Sure, but when you mostly carry pocket knives that many people would consider too small then it helps to think of a knife like the 110 as a belt knife instead of a like the pocket knife.
I thought of it as a pocket knife ( not how it's carried but how you view and approach using it ) because it folds and that mindset didn't work out for me.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Sure, but when you mostly carry pocket knives that many people would consider too small then it helps to think of a knife like the 110 as a belt knife instead of a like the pocket knife.
I thought of it as a pocket knife ( not how it's carried but how you view and approach using it ) because it folds and that mindset didn't work out for me.
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For me, it’s like the USPS flat rate boxes - if it fits, it “ships”. I’ve carried heavier and bigger than a 110 in my pocket with no problems. Some of the XL Cold Steel folders bottom out.

Lots of 110s are relegated to belt carry only, just saying mine isn’t. Whatever works for YOU is how you should carry it.
 
I belt carry a 110 everyday.. without it I feel im missing something. its too heavy for a pocket knife to me, falls flat and I dont care for that.....but put a pocket clip on it and perfect pocket knife......makes it a favorite pocket knife and why I collect the pocket clip 110s.
 
Yes that’s what I came to realize many years ago. I didn’t always carry a large belt knife but I kept one in my pickup. Now I carry my 303 cadet in pocket and a larger blade clipped to the top of my pocket. The new 110 sport is lighter and the clip just makes it more handy and it’s becoming my favorite edc. If I’m outdoors and lots of room I will strap on a belt sheath knife but at work a sheath can get hung up when I’m working in close quarters so that’s why I like in pocket carry.

A small in pocket knife and a larger blade will cover a lot of tasks.
 
I never cared for a Buck 110 size knife in my normal carry pocket (LFP) or riding alongside my wallet (LRP - my alternate carry pocket). I consider the 110 a belt knife to wear in a sheath. However, I lucked into a great pair of pants via mailorder from BPS a couple years ago, some Rugged Flex jeans by Carhartt. The ”watch pocket” is like none I have ever seen and a Buck 110 will not only disappear in it, but I don’t feel it when I sit (the reason I don’t like an oversize knife in my LFP). In this picture I have the knife up a little so you can see it in the photo, in actuality it will slide down another inch and you don’t see the butt at all. Very comfortable and nice - only works with this one pair of pants though. OH
Buck-110-LT-and-Carhartt-Rugged-Flex-jeans-1.jpg
 
I decided to stick with my 110 again this week, and I just may do the same next week.
Lately I kind of feel like I did when I first got the knife as I graduated high school, except this time I'm using more than admiring it and I'm not worried about the finger prints.
 
TAH said:
Interesting discussion. I have always considered the 110 to be a full-size sheath knife that was designed to fold to make it compact and easy to carry.
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Yes, I wonder if that is why Buck went with the 101, a 110 fixed blade. It is easily drawn from their pouch sheath and has the same handling characteristics. Just don't have to open it.
gbivr6y.jpg
 
pjsjr said:
Yes, I wonder if that is why Buck went with the 101, a 110 fixed blade. It is easily drawn from their pouch sheath and has the same handling characteristics. Just don't have to open it.
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I wonder what was going on in the early 60s that told Buck a 4" fixed blade knife is just too long and cumbersome to carry. Let's make one that folds. 😁
 
TAH said:
I wonder what was going on in the early 60s that told Buck a 4" fixed blade knife is just too long and cumbersome to carry. Let's make one that folds. 😁
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I know exactly what you mean.


One thing I find interesting is how similar in size the 110 is to the 102, yet they're kind of intended / sold for 2 different class of game.
Why is the 102 generally considered a small hunting knife and marketed as a bird & trout, yet the 110 seems to commonly marketed and used for deer ?
It's almost like it's not the size in general but relative size compared to others that tends to be the defining factor.
The 102 is a B&T fixed blade, yet something around the size of the 302 would be considered a B&T folder ?

Am I wrong or does that seem to be how the marketing goes ?
 
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I went with an older 4 dot 110FG in a Buck nylon sheath. It was good but i could never get the knife sharp enough? I switched to the same set up with a 2017 112FG and i barely notice i’m carrying it.
DN
 
Hickory n steel said:
I know exactly what you mean.


One thing I find interesting is how similar in size the 110 is to the 102, yet they're kind of intended / sold for 2 different class of game.
Why is the 102 generally considered a small hunting knife and marketed as a bird & trout, yet the 110 seems to commonly marketed and used for deer ?
It's almost like it's not the size in general but relative size compared to others that tends to be the defining factor.
The 102 is a B&T fixed blade, yet something around the size of the 302 would be considered a B&T folder ?

Am I wrong or does that seem to be how the marketing goes ?
Click to expand...
In my opinion I'd say the handle size is the significant difference. It is fatiguing to the hand to clean a large animal with a small grip knife; B&T knives are designed for cleaning small game and fish. The 102 is definitely B&T size while the 110 is big game size. Clean a deer with a 102, then clean another with a 118 - blades are similar but you'll see what I mean on handle size. OH
 
I love the 110, but I use mine as a general purpose knife. I have a serious question specifically for hunters who use a 110 on game. What is it about the 110's design that is worth the additional maintenance of cleaning it out over a similarly styled 4" fixed blade knife with a comfortable handle? For me, it would not be the first knife I would grab to clean game because it's a folding knife. To Preston's point, the 101 seems like a much better choice for cleaning game.

The only answer I see is that the 110, being a good compact all-round knife, is the perfect choice for the hunter who is strictly a one-knife man.
 
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