The Buck 110 Revisited
I think it was my first post many years ago (I can’t even find it) I spoke about two of the first folding knives I carried for protection, back in the ’80s during my Army days.
One was the Gerber Folding Sportsman (FS) II, and the other was the Buck 110. Both had a clip-on thumb stud called the Flickett. (For you youngsters, before the late 80s (?) folding knives didn’t have thumb studs, thumbholes, or pocket clips.) While the FSII was smaller and handier to carry, it was delicate. I dropped one once, and it wouldn’t open after that. I never had that problem with a Buck folder. Of course, I didn’t habitually drop them.
I was briefly separated from my FSII the day I arrived at my unit in Fischbach, Germany. Shortly after being assigned a room and dropping off my duffle bag and luggage, the entire unit was called to a formation.
It was for a “health and welfare” inspection, the Army’s term for searching for contraband.
We were all searched, and they confiscated my FSII and a Cold Steel key chain push dagger with a one inch, yes, ONE INCH blade. The Military Police Investigator told me the knives were illegal because they can be concealed. The push dagger has a one-inch blade. OF COURSE, it can be concealed. You also can’t do a whole lot of damage with it.
Our rooms were also searched. I hadn’t unpacked yet, and my Buck 110 was still in my duffle bag, along with a Webley Tempest pellet pistol and most likely another knife or two. When I told the MP who was searching my room that my belongings were still packed, he left me alone and went to another room.
Several months later, through some shenanigans with the unit armorer, I was able to get the FSII back. Until that then, my Buck 110 replaced the FSII as my constant companion.
Sometime last year, I was reminiscing about my old Buck 110 and got nostalgic. My only remaining Buck 110 was stolen from my car about a dozen years ago while it was in the shop. I did an Amazon search for another one. The Buck 110, and its smaller brother, the 112, are still in production.
Groovy! I purchased a 110, 112 and, a 110 with a black plastic handle. I did an Amazon search and a Startpage search (I don’t use Google. Google sucks) for the Flickett.
Alas, it seems it is no longer being made. I then did a search for folding knife thumb studs and found one. The Kwik thumb stud is round and is attached by a screw and Hex wrench. (See photos) What I really like about these new thumb studs is how much smaller they are compared to the Flickett. These studs will cause a lot less wear and tear in your pocket.
While searching for Buck 110s, I was treated to a welcome surprise. Buck now makes automatic knives (i.e., switchblades) in 110 and 112 (see photos). Automatic knives are illegal in the People’s Republic of California, except for a few select people. However, the company had no problem shipping a 110 and 112 to me. On a happy note, several states have thrown out their anti-switchblade laws. KnifeRights.org may be partially responsible for that. After all, a switchblade is just a knife. It doesn’t open any faster than folders with thumb studs and thumbholes. Even if they did, so what? If you need a knife to defend yourself, you need it quick.
The lockup on the Buck automatics is solid. I put thumb studs on them to both draw attention away from the release button and to give my thumb something to grip when I hold it,
When I wasn’t carrying the Buck in my pocket, carried it a sheath, which I wore on my hip, upside down.
I used a trick I learned from G. Gordon Liddy’s (One of my heroes) book, WILL. I soaked the sheath in warm water, rubbed Vaseline on and in it as best as I could, wrapped the knife in plastic, and placed the knife in the sheath. I let it sit overnight or for a few days.
When I assumed it had enough time to dry, I took out the knife, wiped off any excess Vaseline and placed it back into the sheath. After all that, it would fit snuggly but would fall from the sheath (Usually anyway) when I unfastened it, allowing it to fall into my hand. Usually, though, I just kept it in my pocket.
Instead of going through all that for the new Bucks, I searched for a pancake-style sheath. The only type I was able to find that fit the Buck was a horizontal pancake sheath ( recently checked Amazon several days ago and there are vertical sheaths listed now) . That’s good enough for me. I experimented with carrying it cross draw and small of the back. Both carry positions work, but a cross draw is more comfortable to draw and replace.
If you want to go retro, you’ll like the modern Buck 110 and 110.
The staff at Making the Cut.
831-241-8760
I think it was my first post many years ago (I can’t even find it) I spoke about two of the first folding knives I carried for protection, back in the ’80s during my Army days.
One was the Gerber Folding Sportsman (FS) II, and the other was the Buck 110. Both had a clip-on thumb stud called the Flickett. (For you youngsters, before the late 80s (?) folding knives didn’t have thumb studs, thumbholes, or pocket clips.) While the FSII was smaller and handier to carry, it was delicate. I dropped one once, and it wouldn’t open after that. I never had that problem with a Buck folder. Of course, I didn’t habitually drop them.
I was briefly separated from my FSII the day I arrived at my unit in Fischbach, Germany. Shortly after being assigned a room and dropping off my duffle bag and luggage, the entire unit was called to a formation.
It was for a “health and welfare” inspection, the Army’s term for searching for contraband.
We were all searched, and they confiscated my FSII and a Cold Steel key chain push dagger with a one inch, yes, ONE INCH blade. The Military Police Investigator told me the knives were illegal because they can be concealed. The push dagger has a one-inch blade. OF COURSE, it can be concealed. You also can’t do a whole lot of damage with it.
Our rooms were also searched. I hadn’t unpacked yet, and my Buck 110 was still in my duffle bag, along with a Webley Tempest pellet pistol and most likely another knife or two. When I told the MP who was searching my room that my belongings were still packed, he left me alone and went to another room.
Several months later, through some shenanigans with the unit armorer, I was able to get the FSII back. Until that then, my Buck 110 replaced the FSII as my constant companion.
Sometime last year, I was reminiscing about my old Buck 110 and got nostalgic. My only remaining Buck 110 was stolen from my car about a dozen years ago while it was in the shop. I did an Amazon search for another one. The Buck 110, and its smaller brother, the 112, are still in production.
Groovy! I purchased a 110, 112 and, a 110 with a black plastic handle. I did an Amazon search and a Startpage search (I don’t use Google. Google sucks) for the Flickett.
Alas, it seems it is no longer being made. I then did a search for folding knife thumb studs and found one. The Kwik thumb stud is round and is attached by a screw and Hex wrench. (See photos) What I really like about these new thumb studs is how much smaller they are compared to the Flickett. These studs will cause a lot less wear and tear in your pocket.
While searching for Buck 110s, I was treated to a welcome surprise. Buck now makes automatic knives (i.e., switchblades) in 110 and 112 (see photos). Automatic knives are illegal in the People’s Republic of California, except for a few select people. However, the company had no problem shipping a 110 and 112 to me. On a happy note, several states have thrown out their anti-switchblade laws. KnifeRights.org may be partially responsible for that. After all, a switchblade is just a knife. It doesn’t open any faster than folders with thumb studs and thumbholes. Even if they did, so what? If you need a knife to defend yourself, you need it quick.
The lockup on the Buck automatics is solid. I put thumb studs on them to both draw attention away from the release button and to give my thumb something to grip when I hold it,
When I wasn’t carrying the Buck in my pocket, carried it a sheath, which I wore on my hip, upside down.
I used a trick I learned from G. Gordon Liddy’s (One of my heroes) book, WILL. I soaked the sheath in warm water, rubbed Vaseline on and in it as best as I could, wrapped the knife in plastic, and placed the knife in the sheath. I let it sit overnight or for a few days.
When I assumed it had enough time to dry, I took out the knife, wiped off any excess Vaseline and placed it back into the sheath. After all that, it would fit snuggly but would fall from the sheath (Usually anyway) when I unfastened it, allowing it to fall into my hand. Usually, though, I just kept it in my pocket.
Instead of going through all that for the new Bucks, I searched for a pancake-style sheath. The only type I was able to find that fit the Buck was a horizontal pancake sheath ( recently checked Amazon several days ago and there are vertical sheaths listed now) . That’s good enough for me. I experimented with carrying it cross draw and small of the back. Both carry positions work, but a cross draw is more comfortable to draw and replace.
If you want to go retro, you’ll like the modern Buck 110 and 110.
The staff at Making the Cut.
831-241-8760
posted by ROBOT at 15:27
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