Would there be a demand for them

W

will62

Joined
Oct 18, 2002
Messages
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I have talked to people while here in the sandbox who view traditional blades as weak and out of date. They feel these blades are suited more for the Senior Citizen crowd.

Would making a lockback like a Buck 110 in some of the new materials appeal to users of the tactical knife? Imagine a traditional style knife made with carbon fiber scales, titanium bolsters and one of the newer steels for the blade. It would look traditional but be modern at the same time.

Just an idea to throw out and see how it goes over. Or maybe I have been over here too long and finally cooked my brain:eek:
 
Ooh, interesting one, will62. Not sure how it would go over, though. Might get some traditional guys balking at the lack of traditional materials, and the Tactical crowd might laugh at the lack of tactical features.
I don't know.
 
Great idea for a custom. Buck did make a variant of the 110 with titanium handles , it's no longer available .
 
I must admit I'm probably the only knife knut on the planet who never understood the popularity of the Buck folding hunter. I know, I know, but I can't help it. The knife weights about what a small boat anchor does, has one single blade, and thats it. In the days when I did carry a big single lockblade it was an Old Timer 125.

But if you did want a Buck in more modern materials, saving weight would be the main thing. You guys have 80 pounds of gear to hump, why have something heavier than it has to be. In fact I would'nt bother with separate scales and bolsters at all, just make it with one piece alloy handles like on a Victorinox soldier. It would be light, thinner, and way less noticable on your person. A knife does not need bolsters to have strengh, for example the sak soldier or sodbuster design.

A Buck folding hunter with checkered alox scales may be a pretty nice knife.
 
I must admit I'm probably the only knife knut on the planet who never understood the popularity of the Buck folding hunter
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You are not the only one, I don't get it either.

I think the proposal won't work, it's the 40+ year old design, lack of pocket clip, the too heavy, traditional not modern materials that make people love it as near as I can tell.

If you changed all that stuff, the you wouldn't have a Buck anymore, you'd have a Spyderco or Benchmade.
 
Jackknife, your not the only one. I never understood the large folders. If it's going to be in my pocket, it better not drag my pants down. If it's too big to go in my pocket and has to be worn on my belt, then it might as well be a fixed blade.
I never understood people who carry a large pocket knife on there belt. If it's too big to carry in your pocket, it's not a pocket knife.
As far as a pocket knife in my pocket goes, a 3 1/2" jack or stockman is pushing the limit of being too large.
If a 3 1/2" or smaller folder can't do the job, then my fixed blade can, and that usually only happens when I'm fishing or camping, in which case I always were a belt(fixed blade) knife.
 
will62 said:
Would making a lockback like a Buck 110 in some of the new materials appeal to users of the tactical knife? Imagine a traditional style knife made with carbon fiber scales, titanium bolsters and one of the newer steels for the blade. It would look traditional but be modern at the same time.
Click to expand...

Will, I don't think a traditional style knife with carbon fiber scales would look very traditional in the final analysis.

Buck has done runs on the 110 in the past with upgraded steel and a variety of scale material. I have one in BG-42 and it's sharp as heck but it's seen no carry time for one reason or another. Still, I keep it because it's a "classic".
 
will62 said:
Would making a lockback like a Buck 110 in some of the new materials appeal to users of the tactical knife? Imagine a traditional style knife made ...
Click to expand...

Maybe at heart I'm just a really old fart, but I never considered the Buck 110 too terribly traditional. Mind you, it's not "tactical" -- perish the thought. But with a lock and stainless blades, it's not the folksiest blade either. Not a slam against the Buck 110 and its fans -- just an observation.
 
I've got the Ti handled version of the 110 with a BG-42 blade. It's quite a bit lighter than a resular 110.

Some may say it's the best of both worlds, others the worst. If you're really into modern tacticals, you'd likely have other ideas of what to do with the Ti and BG-42. If you're a traditionalist, this knife probably wouldn't interest you.

Anyway, the answer to your question probably lies in the fact that Buck stopped making them.
 
I believe that there would be a demand for them.

Due in no small part to reading more of this forum I have begun carrying my slipjoint folders more and more, acquiring a half dozen of them this summer. After picking up a S&M Wildcat driller and EDCing that for a month or so, and after seeing someone mention one in "Best Slipjoint Thread?" (or something like that) I picked up at the Spyderco Factory Outlet a DKPK or Denmark Penknife.

S30V steel, G10 handles, slipjoint. All the cutting power of that Wildcat Driller at about half the weight. I removed the clip from the Spyderco and have been carrying it RFP just like all the other slipjoints.

I believe that traditional style blades could use a bit of an upgrade with some modern materials and steels. Wasn't that the point of AG Russsel asking as to what patterns, and what steels we wanted?

A Wharncliff whittler with S30 steel, I'd be all over it. I have a Case Seahorse Whittler in G10 Blaze Orange ...if it were offered with a carbon blade and Black G10, or Carbon Fiber...I'd take one in a second. I think we can all think of an example where more modern materials mated to a traditional folksy design would be swell.

Changing my statement from the first part of this post, there may not be a demand for them, but I think the interest could justify such an endeavour.

But then of course I could be way off base.
 
On a side note I think the idea that old-style knives are outdated for modern-military use is funny. I can't think of one scenario where the military of the mid twentieth and prior had it easier than we did when opportunities arose for a sharp, pointy object. It’s not like wood was softer, rope was brittle, and times were easier back then. They did fine with what they had.

Now, i'm not saying that technology hasn't created superior products and designs over the years that can be more beneficial for a given situation a Soldier might face. I just can't think of an instance when I served as an infantryman that an appropriately matched traditional pattern couldn't keep-up with my benchmades, even in a survival situation.

It's all about what's aesthetically pleasing I think. If it looks high-speed and is made from high-speed materials, then high-speed grunts will eat them up.
 
Sierra hit's the nail..
I never understood the need of modern tactical knifes, there are reliable locks around since the days big ratcheting navajas have been used for serious fights, sticktangs in heavy swords and carbon steel over hundrets of years.
Shure, if you can open a blade with one hand, this IS a benefit.

Back to the question...
I don't think that there would be a big market.
Even carbon scales and other blade material won't convert a traditional blade in a tactical.
it will convert a traditional in a traditional with new materials.

If the argument is, that a traditional won't stand up the use in a modern war (I doub't) a traditonal with modern materials won't make the blade stronger.
I think the tactical crew is looking for blades a 4mm strong, rugged looks, sawtooths, chisel grinds and tanto blades and liner locks.

regards
surfer
 
The 560 was a 110 with integral titanium frame/scales/bolsters mentioned by KeithAM . Until this year, one could send it to the custom shop for a blade change to S30V or BG-42. A One-Arm Bandit thumb stud made it a one-hander, and there are pocket clips that work fine. A more modern arrangement is hard to imagine.

I got one just in time to have Buck stop offering the blade change:grumpy: so I sold it. They even made one to easily disassemble for maintenance, and in different finishes.

The problem was it was no longer a 110 that many sought, and it would total out at over $100 instead of $40 like many are used to. A great knife to be sure, but not a 110 any longer. Maybe some are just not destined to be "modernized". :) Regards, ss.

By the way- I seem to view "traditional" as any that I can remember from my childhood, regardless. I suspect it changes with each generation.:D
 
If you want a tactical, buy a tactical. If you want a traditional buy a traditional. Bastardizing a hybrid knife to try to make it suit both needs/mindsets of the knife buying world will just make a Frankenknife that won't suit anybody. :o
 
When I was in the sandbox, I carried a modern black tactical switchblade clipped to my right front pocket, a Tinker on my belt, and had a Gerber Multiplier around all the time, whether it was stashed in my gear or on my belt. I had a bayonet and a fighting knife as well, but they really just got carried around -- emergency tools that never ran into an emergency. The knife I used most was the Tinker, followed by the switchblade because I could easily open it one-handed. I played with it a lot because of that, too. The knife blade on the Gerber has never been used, but I carried it for a pocket tool-box, and used it as a pliers and such a lot.

So, the closest to a "traditional" that I carried was the Tinker, and it's also what I used the most. Folks have been carrying basically that same knife to war for 100 years. Pretty traditional, isn't it! And really, the most useful.
 
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