- Joined
- Jun 29, 1999
- Messages
- 9,315
After reading another review on this excellent knife, I just had to chip in my 2 cents. Here it is.
Buck’s been in the lightweight folder business for a long time. The first one I bought, maybe three decades ago, was a fairly thick, maroon-handled drop-point, the handle slabs pinned together. May have been 440C. It’s still around in a tackle box somewhere; I cleaned a lot of fish with that knife. About 15 years ago I found a nice Buck 110 with a one-piece black FRN handle at a construction site, which somebody had dropped by a pile of empty cement sacks (sacrilege – you’re supposed to use a box cutter for that, or somebody else’s knife). It had quite a nick in the blade, but I sharpened that out and later gave it away. Both those knives had riveted pivots, which proved perfectly sound, and neither displayed any wobble.
I have a couple of traditional brass handled 110’s, one in 420HC with gorgeous wooden grips and a BassPro 110 with a grey hard-coated CPM-154 blade and rather plain-looking cherry wood grips. Got that in 2009 when Chuck Buck happened to be at the grand opening of the Cross Iron Mills BassPro shop just north of Calgary, where he was setting up the impressive Buck Knives display. He autographed the blade of my 110 and also demonstrated the BassPro model. A few weeks later I found it on the display rack, somewhat gummy with black gunk, but it cleaned up perfectly. I also have a 112 Ranger with oak grips and S30V blade from Buck’s Custom Shop, which I liked it so much I got one with walnut grips for my BIL.
I’ve read about and seen Buck’s latest lightweight, the 110 Folding Hunter LT in various outlets around Calgary (BassPro, MEC), but only in 420HC. That’s excellent steel IMHO and I could live with it just fine, but Buck’s S30V, also Paul Bos heat-treated, is superb. My elegant little Ranger cuts like a miniature chainsaw.
The 110, introduced in 1963 by Al Buck, way back in the Dark Ages when I was in high school, is a classic that’s lasted for more than half a century for good reason, and a lot of that is the clip blade. He sure got that right, in addition to the frame and grips. It is a great slicer and as long as you don’t abuse it by using it as a screwdriver, it’ll likely outlast you. And if you do screw it up, Buck will fix it for a nominal charge. Best warranty in the business. Too bad those of us of similar vintage can’t get sent in for the spa treatment; maybe we could if we’d come with a warranty.
The only drawback to the standard 110, which many folks find acceptable anyway, is the weight. The brass framed 110s and 112s are a tad bulky and heavy for pocket carry, so they come with a belt sheath – both Buck’s leather and nylon belt sheaths are perfectly fine and equally durable (I find the nylon more comfortable). If they don’t suit, there are plenty of sheath makers here on BladeForums who can whip up a really classy one for you. As the years go on, I appreciate light weight more and more, something I can drop into a pocket and never notice until I need it. Just a tad over 3 ounces sounded great. And it’s 100% made in the USA at Post Falls, Idaho, just down the road from Calgary, another big plus IMHO. If you’re ever in Post Falls drop by Buck’s plant and take a tour if you can.
So I ordered a Buck Slim Pro with black G-10 grips on-line, just for fun. It arrived three days later via pricey ExpressPost, which is what Canada Post calls what is normal delivery in the US.
First impression: Classy, slim and elegant. James Bond would pair this knife with his Casino Royale tuxedo and Omega Seamaster. Vesper Lynd could tuck one away, too, some place discrete, yet readily accessible. Hmm. The black G-10 grips are lightly textured but won’t saw through your pocket like some other makes which I won’t mention, but go by Cold Steel and Emerson. I like G-10; it’s practically indestructible, extremely stiff and has a natural lubricity so bronze washers aren’t necessary. The reversible stainless steel clip – with a nifty Buck trademark anvil cutout -- is likewise minimalist and positioned for deep pocket carry; it practically disappears in your jeans pocket. The clip is firm but not so tight it won’t slip over a seam like some others (see above). Nicely polished blade, hair-popping sharp with just a ghost of a burr. A few swipes on the DMT extra fine and the burr vanished. Opening/closing is firm; you can open it single-handed using the dual thumb studs, but with my touch of arthritis I find it easier with two hands. Same for closing, although you could possibly manage that single-handed, too. The studs don’t interfere with sharpening. There is absolutely no wobble or play when open, and the blade remains perfectly centered, open or closed.
This one’s going to see a lot of pocket time. Now, where did I put my tuxedo and Seamaster…
Buck’s been in the lightweight folder business for a long time. The first one I bought, maybe three decades ago, was a fairly thick, maroon-handled drop-point, the handle slabs pinned together. May have been 440C. It’s still around in a tackle box somewhere; I cleaned a lot of fish with that knife. About 15 years ago I found a nice Buck 110 with a one-piece black FRN handle at a construction site, which somebody had dropped by a pile of empty cement sacks (sacrilege – you’re supposed to use a box cutter for that, or somebody else’s knife). It had quite a nick in the blade, but I sharpened that out and later gave it away. Both those knives had riveted pivots, which proved perfectly sound, and neither displayed any wobble.
I have a couple of traditional brass handled 110’s, one in 420HC with gorgeous wooden grips and a BassPro 110 with a grey hard-coated CPM-154 blade and rather plain-looking cherry wood grips. Got that in 2009 when Chuck Buck happened to be at the grand opening of the Cross Iron Mills BassPro shop just north of Calgary, where he was setting up the impressive Buck Knives display. He autographed the blade of my 110 and also demonstrated the BassPro model. A few weeks later I found it on the display rack, somewhat gummy with black gunk, but it cleaned up perfectly. I also have a 112 Ranger with oak grips and S30V blade from Buck’s Custom Shop, which I liked it so much I got one with walnut grips for my BIL.
I’ve read about and seen Buck’s latest lightweight, the 110 Folding Hunter LT in various outlets around Calgary (BassPro, MEC), but only in 420HC. That’s excellent steel IMHO and I could live with it just fine, but Buck’s S30V, also Paul Bos heat-treated, is superb. My elegant little Ranger cuts like a miniature chainsaw.
The 110, introduced in 1963 by Al Buck, way back in the Dark Ages when I was in high school, is a classic that’s lasted for more than half a century for good reason, and a lot of that is the clip blade. He sure got that right, in addition to the frame and grips. It is a great slicer and as long as you don’t abuse it by using it as a screwdriver, it’ll likely outlast you. And if you do screw it up, Buck will fix it for a nominal charge. Best warranty in the business. Too bad those of us of similar vintage can’t get sent in for the spa treatment; maybe we could if we’d come with a warranty.
The only drawback to the standard 110, which many folks find acceptable anyway, is the weight. The brass framed 110s and 112s are a tad bulky and heavy for pocket carry, so they come with a belt sheath – both Buck’s leather and nylon belt sheaths are perfectly fine and equally durable (I find the nylon more comfortable). If they don’t suit, there are plenty of sheath makers here on BladeForums who can whip up a really classy one for you. As the years go on, I appreciate light weight more and more, something I can drop into a pocket and never notice until I need it. Just a tad over 3 ounces sounded great. And it’s 100% made in the USA at Post Falls, Idaho, just down the road from Calgary, another big plus IMHO. If you’re ever in Post Falls drop by Buck’s plant and take a tour if you can.
So I ordered a Buck Slim Pro with black G-10 grips on-line, just for fun. It arrived three days later via pricey ExpressPost, which is what Canada Post calls what is normal delivery in the US.
First impression: Classy, slim and elegant. James Bond would pair this knife with his Casino Royale tuxedo and Omega Seamaster. Vesper Lynd could tuck one away, too, some place discrete, yet readily accessible. Hmm. The black G-10 grips are lightly textured but won’t saw through your pocket like some other makes which I won’t mention, but go by Cold Steel and Emerson. I like G-10; it’s practically indestructible, extremely stiff and has a natural lubricity so bronze washers aren’t necessary. The reversible stainless steel clip – with a nifty Buck trademark anvil cutout -- is likewise minimalist and positioned for deep pocket carry; it practically disappears in your jeans pocket. The clip is firm but not so tight it won’t slip over a seam like some others (see above). Nicely polished blade, hair-popping sharp with just a ghost of a burr. A few swipes on the DMT extra fine and the burr vanished. Opening/closing is firm; you can open it single-handed using the dual thumb studs, but with my touch of arthritis I find it easier with two hands. Same for closing, although you could possibly manage that single-handed, too. The studs don’t interfere with sharpening. There is absolutely no wobble or play when open, and the blade remains perfectly centered, open or closed.
This one’s going to see a lot of pocket time. Now, where did I put my tuxedo and Seamaster…
