I go through a 110 about every 2 years and I've yet to replace one because I broke it - they last until I wear them motherfuckers out as evidenced by the picture below.
The top knife was bought this morning, the bottom one is just a tad over 2 years old. You can tell I can't stand a dull knife, huh? And I use a stone to sharpen my knives for the most part.
I don't do a whole lot of modifications to the new knife other than grind some serrations into the brass where my thumb rests when cutting upwards to keep same from slipping and riding up the blade.
I'll also take some valve lapping compound and work it into the knife, spending a day or two doing it, so I can slide it out of it's sheath and thumb it open one handed.
I'll use the same sheath seeing as it's already molded to the shape of a Buck. I don't care for their stock leather sheaths anyways, that fucking snap goes after about 6 months so I bought a handful of cordura sheaths a few years back and I like those real well.
I always carry my knife the exact same way in it's sheath so there's no fumbling to open it - It comes out and my thumb lays on the flat of the blade and pushes it open. Yes, I know everybody has their favorite knives. This is mine. It does everything I ask of it reasonably well be it skinning out a coyote, hammering small nails, trimming my fingernails or cutting through copper wire. And they don't break.
Buck Knives - Wirecutter approved. There's a reason the motherfuckers have been around since 1902.
If you break a Buck knife send it to Buck. They will fix it for free. I had two broken ones, and I sent them back asking how much to fix them. They came back about two months later fixed & sharpened. No charge. Great company.
ReplyDeleteThe 110 is a great knife. I've had seveal over the years.
ReplyDeleteYou're probably using a flat stone in a medium grit to sharpen it, right? Either carborundum or India stone? If you pick up a crock stick-style sharpener with the ceramic rods you can use it to do touch-up honings to keep the blade razor-sharp, and use the flat stones only when the edge bevel is gone. You'll save yourself a lot of money in replacing knives that way, and the crock stick will last your lifetime, as long as you don't drop the rods onto a hard surface.
ReplyDeleteI've lost more Buck knives than I care to admit. Either from stupidity or mischance, but they are quality blades.
ReplyDeleteJust don't ever stab one into a table thinking the lock won't fail. I lost two-thirds of my pinkie that way a lot of years ago.
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ReplyDeleteGreat post and straight to the point.