Review Buck 110 Auto Elite :/

J

Jakeemt

Joined
Mar 14, 2015
Messages
14
Hey guys mostly lurk rarely post. However, I felt I needed to post this. I should start by saying I have a decent collection of bucks. A 119,118, vanguard, 110, and 110 Alaskan guide. I haven't purchased from buck in quite awhile though but, when I saw this knife on the website I knew I had to have it. G10 scales, auto opening, s30v blade, plus Buck's quality, whats not to like? So I gave Knife Center 200 bucks and a few days later it was at my house. Opening the package it was a nice looking blade and the auto feature was fast and crisp but, that's where the positives stopped. There were two minor issues and then one really serious problem. First it had some kinda black clay bits along the blade edge that were really stuck to it and second the snap on the sheath was off center. These two issues alone weren't anything major but, the blade was. It had substantial wobble both side to side and up down at full lock up. I could actually watch the liner flexing with just minor finger pressure and the side to side play was at a minimum 1/8th of an inch (though in fairness I didn't measure it). Naturally being a buck guy I got in touch with buck and to their credit I got a response the next day. I spoke with Matt over at CS who said a very small amount of side to side play is normal because of the auto feature but, never anything up down/front to back. He suggested I send it to knife center who would exchange it since it was clearly a lemon. So I did and again to Knife Centers credit they paid for shipping, I also included a letter with the description Matt gave me and asked for a new one that fit the description above. Sadly that did not happen. I spoke to them after they received my knife and they checked every other 110 auto elite they had in stock and not one of them fit that description. They told me that every single knife in stock had front to back play and varying degrees of side to side play as well. They gave me a choice of a refund or sending me the least sloppy knife. I took the refund. For 200 bucks that's just not acceptable. I purchased a bench made assisted a year or two ago for less money that is still tight as the day I got it. I expect liner locks to develop a little play after years of use but, not come that way and especially not with such a premium model. I let Matt know what was up and of course he apologized but, I never did get the knife I wanted and I doubt I will be purchasing any Buck knives I cannot personally handle and inspect in the future. Which is a shame. Hopefully they work it out.
 
My 110 pro auto doesn't have the issues that you described. The reason Matt didn't have you send it in, is because Federal Law would have prevented them from sending it back to you. They are fighting that law as I write this. Knife Center should have sent it to Buck and had it repaired for you, IMHO, then they could have sent it to you or have it drop shipped to you...
 
Howdy Jake, My AE about a year ago from the same place and it had the same wobble issues. I didn't contact Buck about it but sent it back to KC. I asked that they supply one with no wobble. A few days later I was told they couldn't fulfill the order and was refunded.

I ordered the standard 110 auto at Christmas and asked it be checked before sending it out. It took two weeks but I received a knife that was IMO, flawless. It has never left my side since.

Hope it all works out.

pete
 
Bad luck of the draw. Now and again one has wobble.
 
Jakeemt said:
Hey guys mostly lurk rarely post. However, I felt I needed to post this. I should start by saying I have a decent collection of bucks. A 119,118, vanguard, 110, and 110 Alaskan guide. I haven't purchased from buck in quite awhile though but, when I saw this knife on the website I knew I had to have it. G10 scales, auto opening, s30v blade, plus Buck's quality, whats not to like? So I gave Knife Center 200 bucks and a few days later it was at my house. Opening the package it was a nice looking blade and the auto feature was fast and crisp but, that's where the positives stopped. There were two minor issues and then one really serious problem. First it had some kinda black clay bits along the blade edge that were really stuck to it and second the snap on the sheath was off center. These two issues alone weren't anything major but, the blade was. It had substantial wobble both side to side and up down at full lock up. I could actually watch the liner flexing with just minor finger pressure and the side to side play was at a minimum 1/8th of an inch (though in fairness I didn't measure it). Naturally being a buck guy I got in touch with buck and to their credit I got a response the next day. I spoke with Matt over at CS who said a very small amount of side to side play is normal because of the auto feature but, never anything up down/front to back. He suggested I send it to knife center who would exchange it since it was clearly a lemon. So I did and again to Knife Centers credit they paid for shipping, I also included a letter with the description Matt gave me and asked for a new one that fit the description above. Sadly that did not happen. I spoke to them after they received my knife and they checked every other 110 auto elite they had in stock and not one of them fit that description. They told me that every single knife in stock had front to back play and varying degrees of side to side play as well. They gave me a choice of a refund or sending me the least sloppy knife. I took the refund. For 200 bucks that's just not acceptable. I purchased a bench made assisted a year or two ago for less money that is still tight as the day I got it. I expect liner locks to develop a little play after years of use but, not come that way and especially not with such a premium model. I let Matt know what was up and of course he apologized but, I never did get the knife I wanted and I doubt I will be purchasing any Buck knives I cannot personally handle and inspect in the future. Which is a shame. Hopefully they work it out.
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paragraphs please....so hard to read on a phone...comes across as a wall of text. thank you.
 
Makael said:
Bad luck of the draw. Now and again one has wobble.
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well that's just the thing I figured that would be the case went I sent it back but, they had none that were without it. Of course they may have had only 2 more on hand but, still. Also I would have been cool with them sending it back. They just offered new knife or refund.
 
It's definitely difficult to get it just right when assembling because of the mechanism there has to be give and take with tolerances. It seems what you experienced is definitely not the norm. I've handled 3 and all were great knives.
It seems you really want the knife. Contact DLT. They have a good presence here on the forum and I've had good luck with them. Im sure the guy Jordan would help you.
 
I bought one at Kittery trading post in Maine and it was absolutely perfect,thrn I bought a second regular wood model and it too was perfect,and I handled 4 more auto elites that were also perfect,so I'm gussing you got a dud for sure .I love my autos but if the springs ever fail I can't send it back to buck because they can't legally send it back to me.
 
RAZORBLADES said:
I bought one at Kittery trading post in Maine and it was absolutely perfect,thrn I bought a second regular wood model and it too was perfect,and I handled 4 more auto elites that were also perfect,so I'm gussing you got a dud for sure .I love my autos but if the springs ever fail I can't send it back to buck because they can't legally send it back to me.
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a dealer in your state can for you though. send it to buck and get it back from buck repaired and hand it back to ya.
 
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