Buck 110 & Case xx

For a belt knife I don't think that you can beat a Buck 110. I carried one on my belt all four years of high school. (Don't try that today!)

However, I have a love affair with Case CV folders, and whenever I see a model I don't have I buy it. I then do the "Dr. Pepper" treatment to them and keep them oiled. Funny story, my Dad took both a Case CV and a Buck stainless folder to Vietnam. The Case rusted up, the Buck didn't. No matter what I tell him about proper care of CV knives he still thinks that Case are junk.

Buck is the original, nuff said.

Buck, as the Preacher said above.

I had a Buck back in the day. Still have it in a drawer somewhere, but there are far better options to either today. Within my circle of friends we were about evenly divided between the Buck and Schrade Uncle Henry. Never knew anyone who actually owned the Case.

jmr40 said:

I had a Buck back in the day. Still have it in a drawer somewhere, but there are far better options to either today. Within my circle of friends we were about evenly divided between the Buck and Schrade Uncle Henry. Never knew anyone who actually owned the Case.

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Far better options as opposed to what? quicker opening? better steel? Yeah I can see those points but the Buck is a legend and rightfully so. I'd gladly take a buck in a cross draw sheath than a benchmade in the pocket anyday.

Far better options as opposed to what? quicker opening? better steel? Yeah I can see those points but the Buck is a legend and rightfully so. I'd gladly take a buck in a cross draw sheath than a benchmade in the pocket anyday.

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These are legendary as well, but there comes a time to move on.



Unless nostalgia is more important than function. And nostalgia is OK. I just prefer better steel than the Buck 110 uses. At least in their production knives. They do offer some custom options at reasonable prices. I've considered having one of these built with SV30 steel and nicer scales. If you like the 110 you might consider this.

https://www.buckknives.com/custom-knife/customizable-110-folding-hunter-reg-knife/CKS110/

hso said:

Steel

The steels used in both the Buck and the Case were improvements over steel used in most folders in the past and steels have advanced since then. They could take advantage of these developments if there was a demand. Obviously even Buck thinks there's a segment that like the 110 but want a more advanced steel since they offer S30V on the custom 110s. Case has a very traditional market that is less interested in changes so they don't have the motivation to.

Since any knife of this size can be carried on the belt in a sheath (lots of pistol mag pouches carry knives) there are many knives from many manufacturers of all sorts of design (Microtechs) that ride on belts instead of in pockets.

These venerable knives deserve the interest in them, but veneration shouldn't go so far as to make them sacred cows.

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I definitely understand what your saying, but for my needs a 110 is damn near perfect when I go into town it doesn't carry that black evil look (I know we aren't supposed to care what they think but avoiding trouble is worth it if you can) and when I do need a knife it fits the bill nicely 420HC will do my needs I don't need a super steel but I will say I did like the looks of that custom option for S30V

For looks I preferred the Case Mako over the Buck 110 but never owned either of them. One of the most solidly built lockblade knives I have is a Gerber FSII and then not long after that I came across a great deal on a Puma Model 270.

I've owned this Buck 110 since the early 70, Macassar Ebony handle and all. I carried it for years during my outdoor days. I can find no fault with it

I have owned and carried a few 110's since the early 70's and then one of those Puma's in the 90's. The Bucks were a "standard" carry knife for many of us in the Navy back then. Lost, left or broke them over the years though...
I picked up one of the new Bucks a few years back when they were stupid cheap at the wally and it still is a good knife. I usually carry it in the hunting pouch as a back up but it sometimes rides on the belt for nostalgia.

I have mentioned before that the 110 and 112 (I believe that is the shorter version) seemed almost an item of uniform in my Infantry outfit and folks attached qualifier badges to the flap like Airborne or "Skeeter" wings or even marksmanship and driving qualifier barges.

-kBob

Actually I am not a fan of a lot of the newer super steels. the only complaint with my benchmade mini grip is it takes a diamond steel to sharpen in a reasonable time . I don't buy the I ain't got time to care for a carbon steel blade .
From bucks web sight
This advanced steel, S30V, contains carbon as well as high amounts of Chromium, Molybdenum and Vanadium. This steel combines fantastic edge retention and high ductility combined with corrosion resistance. Double-tempered - it can be hardened to a Rockwell hardness of Rc 59.5-61. However, it is difficult to resharpen yourself, but we do offer sharpening services for a nominal fee.
I can sharpen it but not with the Arkansas stone I carry I prefer knives I can sharpen as I go to ones I need a diamond bench stone to sharpen , But it amazes me the number of people that can't sharpen knives with a decent stone
My major complaint with the 110 and 119 is the clip point tip is fragile . I would prefer carbon steel blade . I knife store has a run of buck 110's with a drop point 5060 steel I just ordered one . First knife I have bought in a couple years

For actual carry, the mako is a pain in the thigh. The sharper point of the grip/bolster seems to dig in and poke where the more blunt bolster of the 110 rides better. For style the mako has it hands down, but for use the Buck sees pocket time. Interestingly enough I have owned 2 of each and have traded them both away. I got a nice sharpfinger for one of the bucks, but don’t remember the trades for the others.

hso said:

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HSO, that Case 3154LC CV is now on my radar. Thanks to adding to my financial downfall, you enabler.

plumberroy said:

Actually I am not a fan of a lot of the newer super steels. the only complaint with my benchmade mini grip is it takes a diamond steel to sharpen in a reasonable time . I don't buy the I ain't got time to care for a carbon steel blade .
From bucks web sight
This advanced steel, S30V, contains carbon as well as high amounts of Chromium, Molybdenum and Vanadium. This steel combines fantastic edge retention and high ductility combined with corrosion resistance. Double-tempered - it can be hardened to a Rockwell hardness of Rc 59.5-61. However, it is difficult to resharpen yourself, but we do offer sharpening services for a nominal fee.
I can sharpen it but not with the Arkansas stone I carry I prefer knives I can sharpen as I go to ones I need a diamond bench stone to sharpen , But it amazes me the number of people that can't sharpen knives with a decent stone
My major complaint with the 110 and 119 is the clip point tip is fragile . I would prefer carbon steel blade . I knife store has a run of buck 110's with a drop point 5060 steel I just ordered one . First knife I have bought in a couple years

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It's pretty sad that Buck is peddling that misinformation, likely to scare customers into paying for their sharpening service.

I'm surprised that you personally find 154CM (the steel used on the Mini Grip) hard to sharpen. I've touched up 154CM, S30V, CTS-XHP, and even CTS-204P on the bottom of a ceramic coffee mug. I've recently taken to using an old leather belt to strop knives for touch ups, and it works even on the higher hardness / more abrasion resistant steels like 204P. If you need more than a strop in the field, DMT makes a little keychain diamond steel that's all of $11 on Amazon - https://smile.amazon.com/DMT-F70F-Diamond-Mini-Sharp-Sharpener/dp/B00004WFT5/. DMT and other companies make a wide variety of other little pocketable diamond steels too. I'm not buying the 'you need a big diamond bench stone, and you can't sharpen modern steels as you go' argument.

Here's a YouTube video from USA Made Blade where the owner uses a loaded strop to demonstrate touching up a 20CV or 204P blade ZT that's had a weeks worth of cardboard and other cutting on it:

Sorry to be a heretic but my objection to the Buck 110 lies not with the steel, but with the design. Way too heavy, and the upswept blade tip is a terrrible shape for gutting. It’s a decent skinner shape but it forces you to be way too cautious when opening up the belly to avoid hooking that tip into the paunch.

I have the old Schrade version and I took it to the grinder and rounded it off for that reason.

The upswept tip has lots of historical cachet but knife design has left it in the dust. The modern dropped point hunter as popularized by Bob Loveless is a much better all-around design IMO.

For me it`s the Buck 110. Have a small collection of them . Nothing wrong with the other choice . More of an personal choice.

Buck 110 is too heavy for my personal liking. Had one decades ago and moved it on. 8-10 years ago I got fine looking 110 with Sambar Stag scales. Decided it was too heavy of course and sold it.

I handled a Case but I bought a Buck 110!