By: Rusty Odom
THE BUCK 110 original and SLIM PRO
This review is about the Buck 110 Slim Pro folding lock back pocket knife. As a young kid growing up in Tennessee, carrying a pocket knife was second nature. I can remember at an early age, maybe 6 or 7, having a classic Buck 110 with the ebony handles, classic brass bolster, solid lockup and unlock of the thumb button. I don’t know what I ever did with that particular knife but I wish I had it now. I can remember the heft it had in the pocket of my husky corduroy jeans. Many children nowadays will not remember those jeans, the ones that built up static electricity when you walked and your thighs rubbed together. You know the ones, they had double layered knees that would never wear out, even if you were dragged behind your dad’s pickup truck. Now back to the knife, the Buck, the heavy weight, built like a tank, you could dig with it, hammer with it, pry with it, but it was made to cut. I wouldn't suggest doing any of the other things listed besides cutting, but man what a knife. I don't know where mine came from or even what it cost at the time, but it was worth a fortune in my eyes as a kid.
The 110 was designed in 1963 by Al Buck, for sportsmans looking for a sturdy folding knife, for those that did not want to carry a fixed blade. This model knife has been the number one selling knife in the world since it was first marketed, something has to be said about a design that has lasted almost 60 years.
The lockback mechanism is that works off of a rocking bar that locks against the blade when opened all the way. I have cut myself more than once with a folding knife that didn’t have a locking blade because i was not using it the right way.
The original 110:
Closed length 4 ⅞” long
Blade length 3 ¾” long
Blade thickness 0.120 (almost ⅛”)
Weight 7.2 oz
Blade material is 420 HC (high carbon stainless steel)
Ebony handles
Brass bolster
Black leather belt sheath
Price $55 to $79
Now to the new era of the Buck 110, the Slim Pro Series:
The 110 Slim Pro is an improvement on the original 110, in my opinion it is a EDC gentleman's knife. It has all the traditional features of the original but as the name states, it is slimmer, comes with a decent deep pocket clip and a thumb stud. The pocket clip is also reversible for the lefties out there. The blade is S30V stainless, which has better edge retention, hardness and corrosion resistance then the original 420. Now both are great blades, the 420 material has been and is still being used on all major brands of knives. (https://knifeinformer.com/discovering-the-best-knife-steel/) I inserted a link if anyone is interested in reading over the specs of the different knife blade materials. To the common person it might as well be Greek unless you have some kind of metal working or metallurgy background. I myself used to be a machinist in my younger days so I understand it somewhat.
The 110 Slim Pro:
Overall length 8.625” (8 ⅝”)
Closed length 4.875 (4 ⅞”)
Blade thickness .0120”
Weight 3.4oz (almost 4 ounces lighter than the original 110)
Handles are Micarta or G10 material
Pocket Clip
One hand opening with thumb stud
Price $94.00
So to compare these two knives almost seems like comparing apples and oranges as the old saying goes. But I can tell you I have been carrying both knives on my person for several months. I have been cutting various items like cardboard, rope, myself, and then and I mean then I had the perfect time to test them out. A coworker of mine was running emergency traffic while driving an ambulance, when a nice buck stepped out in front of her. I received a phone call around 8:30 PM telling me she had just had an accident in the ambulance and hit a deer. So the first thing that came to my mind was, is the deer salvageable. I can see where everyone is going with that statement I just made. But deer meat to me is like caviar to a Russian. I knew she had to be okay because she was calling me. I wasn’t that uncaring, I knew where the conversion was going to go anyway so I just brought it up first. So after getting the general location of the accident, loading up my Plott hound to track it, my 7 year old son and my 13 year old daughter, we were off. As soon as we located the deer about 100 yards off the roadway, I realized the only knife I had on me was the 110 Slim. So after doing a pretty good trauma assessment and realizing it looked pretty good, it was time to go to work. The knife cut through the hide like butter, all the good stuff came out intact which made me feel good about the meat. After getting it hung up on the kids swing set I let it hang over night and gathered the tools of the trade for the next morning's work. I almost started out with my Cutco hunting knife that I have been using for over a decade but decided to use the Bucks. (How Ironic) I skinned the entire deer with the Slim Pro and it was still pretty dang sharp after that chore. I then swapped to the original 110 and went to town disassembling the various quarters of meat. I did notice that the handles on the original got pretty slick with bloody hands and I lost my grip on the handle a few times. I took the Slim pro and hit the blade on an Arkansas stone to straighten the edge up and went back to cutting meat. With the Slim being a good bit lighter and of course slimmer I had less hand fatigue. The micarta handles gave a more secure purchase with wet hands. After all of the processing was done I went to the cutting board and started cutting up jerky strips, round steak, tenderloins, backstrap etc with both blades. I really liked the weight of the original while making cuts through bigger pieces and the Slim Pro for the more delicate cuts. They both performed great and honestly I couldn't tell a difference in the material that the blades were made out of, I think it all comes down to personal preference to which knife you want to use.
Now as an EDC knife I have to take the Slim Pro, the pocket clip, the knife being lighter and thinner gives it a huge plus in my book. The original comes with a black leather belt sheath to tote it in or you can put it in your front pocket. I have carried it both ways and I am not a fan of having it jumping around in my pocket, it seems to bind up and just uncomfortable to me. I don't mind the belt sheath, but sometimes I have a lot of stuff already attached to my belt and the weight difference between the two and not having a pocket clip, it loses an advantage to me. So this all goes back to what you are going to do with the knives, how you are going to carry them and what your primary use is.
I have to say that I have really enjoyed carrying the 110 Slim Pro for months now, it was razor sharp out of the box, I love how it sets deep into my pocket and the clip is secure. It is a little stiff to open unlike some of the tactical folders I have and on the market, but it is not a tactical knife. This jewel is an EDC that you can open with one hand, it will cut as good or better than other knives on the market in its price range. It still holds that classic original clip point blade with a solid lockup that Al intended with the first model back in 1963. I consider this a blade of all occasions, a do most blade, a gentleman's knife that doesn't mind getting dirty and putting in a hard day's work. If you want to know the best part about both of these knives are? They both are 100% American made with a lifetime warranty. So you choose which one you want, you won’t go wrong either way.
Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points
Claim to Fame
Best selling knife since 1963
American made
Classic Style
Sharp
Target Market:
Dedicated knife people
Hunters
EDC
Those who like quality
FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):
See above in review section
What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?
Different material for handles
Aftermarket sheaths for belt carry (cross draw)
Stainless Bolster for original
What others are saying?:
One knife for a lifetime.
Beautiful classic, very sharp.
Great knife, all American made
Price point:
MSRP:
110 Hunter - $55.00 - $79.00
Slim Pro - $94.00
Retail:
110 Hunter - $44.99
Slim Pro - $89.99
I need it now! Availability:
Our Rating:
Pros:
American made
Sharp
Great construction
Good quality for the money.
Cons:
Might be a little bulky
One blade style for both knives
Original handles are slippery to hold when wet
