Why I have a fondness for the Buck 110 Folding Hunter

[VICMAN]

I keep items concealed to avoid attention. 

I agree with not trying to attract attention in today's society.
It is a different world than when I was growing up.

[LoopCutter]

May ask where in Indiana you are?, I live in Fort Wayne but travel for work through Michigan and Indiana.  Today in Indy, in Lafayette and Terre Haute on Wednesday...


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[Spartan19]

Great thread Vicman! For someone who comes from the "tactical" generation, I'll take a traditional knife any day! You just can't improve on perfection!

[pfrsantos]

I keep items concealed to avoid attention. 

I agree with not trying to attract attention in today's society.
It is a different world than when I was growing up.

Yup, I miss the days when you could show your knife in public and compare it to what everyone else (yup, everyone!) was carrying...

[pfrsantos]

I keep items concealed to avoid attention. 

I agree with not trying to attract attention in today's society.
It is a different world than when I was growing up.

Yup, I miss the days when you could show your knife in public and compare it to what everyone else (yup, everyone!) was carrying...

Miss the!

[VICMAN]

May ask where in Indiana you are?,

I live in Richmond.
My sister and brother-in-law have lived in Fort Wayne since 1980

[VICMAN]

Great thread Vicman! For someone who comes from the "tactical" generation, I'll take a traditional knife any day! You just can't improve on perfection!

Thanks Spartan! 

[VICMAN]

Yup, I miss the days when you could show your knife in public and compare it to what everyone else (yup, everyone!) was carrying...

I agree! I long for those times to return.

[Kampfer]

Don't get me wrong, I love the 110, just haven't own one yet.

[Kampfer]

I wonder how many people actually EDC the 110?
My  to them.

[Nix]

I wonder how many people actually EDC the 110?
My  to them.

I'm just guessing here, but I'd estimate that I carried a 110 somewhere between 120-130 days in 2017, maybe a bit more. I carry a 110 often. I've made my own friction sheath for it, so it's a bit more accessible and easier to pull out. That little change really increased my 110 carry pattern. Seems like a small detail, but, for what ever reason, that made a difference for me.

[Nix]

I thought it'd be interesting to do a little comparison of the weight of some of my big folders. I know the 110 is considered a 'heavy' knife, but that weight just doesn't seem to get my attention. Just how much heavier is the Buck 110 than other knives? 

Here's a fairly standard 110 with wood scales and brass bolsters, weighed out on my kitchen scale:



For the metrically challenged that's about 7.25 ounces (A bit shy of 1/2 pound). Not a feather-weight at all.

dks mentioned the Paperstone variant of the 110. Let's check out the "tale of the tape":



Wow! Just 55% of the brass-lined 110's weight.

Here's the thing, for me, the handle of the Paperstone is just not as comfortable and the standard 110. The cut-outs are in odd places and create sharp edges that dig into the hand. Not a knife for extended use. I've considered giving this knife away....but then I've taken it on some hikes and canoe and kayak trips where I thought a lighter knife might be handy. So, for now, it stays in the rotation.

The Spyderco PM2 would seem to be a comparable knife to the 110. Similar handle length, slightly shorter blade. How does that stack up?



Note: this is the way I carry this PM2, no clip, string lanyard. I was surprised that it came in so close to the Paperstone, it actually feels a bit heavier. Like the Paperstone, the handle of the PM2 just isn't as comfortable to me as the standard 110's handle is. I think they sacrificed comfort for a slimmer handle. That's my assessment, not the truth.

The Buck 110 has inspired many different knives and variations. This next one, Lakota Prohawk, is slightly smaller than a 110, but has an awesome clip blade. Steel bolsters, but it borrows the Buck's brass liners



So pretty darn close to the weight of a 110. This knife also rides nicely in a belt sheath, but there's no way I'd pocket carry it. The geometry is too awkward.

Lastly, I thought I'd compare the 110 to a large 'modern' Benchmade. The Contego is a bit larger than the Buck, so it isn't a completely fair comparison, but I don't see many people complain about the weight of the Contego.



Surprised again! I figured the Contego would weigh in around 180-190 grams. Still, the Contego is designed to be worn in the pocket, using one of those annoying pocket clips (Mine still has it's clip on). So all that weight is pulling on your pants, not your belt. Maybe I should make a belt sheath for it and lose the clip. Hmmmm..... The difference in weight between the Buck 110 and the mighty Contego is only 41 grams.



That's $1.06 in pocket change.

Interesting results, for me at least. Nothing Earth-shaking. And I'm certainly not going to let the weight of a little pocket change stop me from carrying one of the world's great folding knives.

[VICMAN]

I wonder how many people actually EDC the 110?
My  to them.

The weight has never bothered me, but at the moment I have a Vic 580 Clipper knife in  my right front pocket, a Vic Cadet in my watch pocket of my jeans, a right side denim pocket I sewed on my jeans has a Vic Swiss Champ in it, my right rear pocket has a Buck 110 with Indigo Blue Scales and an S30V blade and a Case Trapper in it, my left rear pocket has a Buck 112 and a Case Carhartt Trapper in it, and my left front pocket has a Leatherman Supertool 300 and a Case Mini Trapper in it.

I also have a flip phone, and a pouch with a round diamond sharper and a sharpening steel, and a money clip in my right front pocket, a coin pouch in my right rear pocket and my car and house keys in my left front pocket......that is a normal days EDC for me and, with the exception of a flip phone, has been for over 30 years, so you can see why the weight of the Buck 110 does not bother me.

It just depends what a person is accustomed to.

[dks]

dks mentioned the Paperstone variant of the 110.

     Someone actually noticed         

Sometimes I wonder if I should bother posting anything useful, or just stay in the spam threads...              

[VICMAN]

dks mentioned the Paperstone variant of the 110.

     Someone actually noticed         

Sometimes I wonder if I should bother posting anything useful, or just stay in the spam threads...              

Keep posting dks. You really did have a useful post.

[Nix]

The weight has never bothered me, but at the moment I have a Vic 580 Clipper knife in  my right front pocket, a Vic Cadet in my watch pocket of my jeans, a right side denim pocket I sewed on my jeans has a Vic Swiss Champ in it, my right rear pocket has a Buck 110 with Indigo Blue Scales and an S30V blade and a Case Trapper in it, my left rear pocket has a Buck 112 and a Case Carhartt Trapper in it, and my left front pocket has a Leatherman Supertool 300 and a Case Mini Trapper in it.

I also have a flip phone, and a pouch with a round diamond sharper and a sharpening steel, and a money clip in my right front pocket, a coin pouch in my right rear pocket and my car and house keys in my left front pocket......that is a normal days EDC for me and, with the exception of a flip phone, has been for over 30 years, so you can see why the weight of the Buck 110 does not bother me.

It just depends what a person is accustomed to.

 

Right now I have a Vic Outrider...and...a small flashlight. 

[VICMAN]

The weight has never bothered me, but at the moment I have a Vic 580 Clipper knife in  my right front pocket, a Vic Cadet in my watch pocket of my jeans, a right side denim pocket I sewed on my jeans has a Vic Swiss Champ in it, my right rear pocket has a Buck 110 with Indigo Blue Scales and an S30V blade and a Case Trapper in it, my left rear pocket has a Buck 112 and a Case Carhartt Trapper in it, and my left front pocket has a Leatherman Supertool 300 and a Case Mini Trapper in it.

I also have a flip phone, and a pouch with a round diamond sharper and a sharpening steel, and a money clip in my right front pocket, a coin pouch in my right rear pocket and my car and house keys in my left front pocket......that is a normal days EDC for me and, with the exception of a flip phone, has been for over 30 years, so you can see why the weight of the Buck 110 does not bother me.

It just depends what a person is accustomed to.

 

Right now I have a Vic Outrider...and...a small flashlight. 

(Image removed from quote.)

LOL 

[Kampfer]

I am a heavy EDCer I think,  could carry up to 10 oz in right front pocket comfortably, as long as I can get a huge blade from it.
My Espada weights about 10oz, don't mind it at all. It speaks "Don't **** with me and back the **** off" fluently.


You can see I am actually a big fan of the 110 style folders, just not a fan of brass.

[Nix]

So a Buck 110 would actually be a step down for you.....

[Kampfer]

So a Buck 110 would actually be a step down for you.....

Yup, don't mind the 7oz at all, just the blade is too small for the weight.

[Ray S]

I guess in the final analysis it all boils down to the old saying:"Different strokes for different folks". When I was gainfully employed a large knife was almost a necessity for breaking down cardboard boxes or constructing others for shipping large and/or oddball sized items.I tried many different knives over the years and never really found the,"ideal" knife for the job. The Buck 186 Titan was probably the closest as to light weight and with the pocket clip removed was reasonably comfortable to use. I also favored an Ithaca Track folder that was probably pretty close to the weight of a Buck 110 but thinner in handle and a more comfortable grip.Drop point blade 1/8th of an inch thick with a 1/4 inch pivot pin ensured no blade wobble at all.They were more of a custom knife than a true production model(mine is # 775) they rarely come up for sale.I bought mine at a flea market with a badly pitted blade and many dings in the bolsters for $5 and it cleaned up pretty nicely .Holds a great edge and is a convex grind.If I were going back to doing what I used to do I would be using it.Here is a picture of it.

[Vladimir]

I just love the design of 110...my good friend has one and he gave it to me to try it, but it's simply to big for me.
But than I saw that there is actually a smaller version, the 55, and that would be perfect for me.
It's just that I can't buy one locally, and sellers on eBay ask to much for shipping, so I keep looking.
But, I will get one, for sure.

[VICMAN]

You can see I am actually a big fan of the 110 style folders, just not a fan of brass.

Here's 3 Buck 110's you might like the looks of. They have S30V blades

Click on 903.89 for full picture

[Kampfer]

You can see I am actually a big fan of the 110 style folders, just not a fan of brass.

Here's 3 Buck 110's you might like the looks of. They have S30V blades

Click on 903.89 for full picture

Love them 

[VICMAN]

Yup, don't mind the 7oz at all, just the blade is too small for the weight.

That is the difference in personal preference.
I prefer weight to be in the handle and you prefer to have the blade heavier.
There is no right or wrong, it is just what a person prefers.

You have some nice knives Kampfer! 

[Kampfer]

Yup, don't mind the 7oz at all, just the blade is too small for the weight.

That is the difference in personal preference.
I prefer weight to be in the handle and you prefer to have the blade heavier.
There is no right or wrong, it is just what a person prefers.

You have some nice knives Kampfer! 

I love yours! Impressive collection.

[VICMAN]

I thought it'd be interesting to do a little comparison of the weight of some of my big folders.

Interesting comparison.
Nice group of knives Nix!

[VICMAN]

I carry a 110 often. I've made my own friction sheath for it, so it's a bit more accessible and easier to pull out. That little change really increased my 110 carry pattern. Seems like a small detail, but, for what ever reason, that made a difference for me.
[/quote]

That is smart thinking Nix. It is good to experiment to find out which carry works best for you.

[Barry Rowland]

Here she is, in all her glory!  When I got to the store, there was only one left, which came in a tin and had a black leather sheath.  I haven't cleaned it up yet, but what a piece of craftsmanship!

[magentus]

Gorgeous Barry (and the knife  )