Most of you have heard of Buck Knives. They are almost an American icon at this point, as they have been in business for over 110 years. An image that probably comes into many of our minds when the phrase “Buck Knives” comes up, is one of a skinning blade, or the wood handled one you probably had if you were in the Boy Scouts (Just Scouts now I think, who can keep track?) That was the last time I ever had a Buck Knife in my possession until I recently received a Buck 110 Folding Hunter Pro knife. (Made in the good ole U.S.A.)
First impressions out of the box; this knife is clean. It looks like a classic Buck/stiletto/tactical hybrid. Every piece is perfectly mated and smoothed out. The handle is made with brushed nickel silver bolster and G10 grips that complement each other very well. The G10 adds great grip, and there are no issues maintaining a grip on the knife, even when wet. The handle is a bit on the thinner side, but the overall thickness of the knife (not a blade) is wide enough to ensure a good purchase with large hands.
Opening the knife reveals the S30V, hollow ground, clip point blade. The blade shape lends itself more towards detail work, but I wouldn’t hesitate to use the knife for more challenging cutting work. The blade length is a respectable 3.75” bringing the total length when opened to 8.625”. The lockup on this thing is TIGHT. When opened, it gives a very positive snap sound when the blade is locked out. Blade play is pretty much non-existent, and it is still able to maintain a smooth and easy opening. The Buck 110 Pro uses a lock back locking system, that I doubt will fail at any point.
There are a few cons (in my opinion.) First and foremost, the thumbnail opener. Now I understand this is an upgrade to a classic knife and maybe some will value the classic controls, but I’m not a fan of the thumbnail opener at all. Maybe on a Swiss Army knife or Leatherman, sure, but on a single blade folder, I think they should just go away. They do make thumb stud adapters that you can place onto the knife, but a knife like this really should come with a different opening system. The second con is weight. This thing is pretty heavy, about a half pound (7.70 oz. to be exact.) Now, this knife was made using heavy-duty materials, and I’m no knife maker, but it’s just a little heavy to comfortably carry in a pocket. This knife does come with a sheath, but it does not come with a pocket clip. I’m sure that some people value the sheath (as Buck knows its audience,) but it’s just not something I would ever use. A pocket clip or optional pocket clip attachment would make this much more practical for the average joe to carry around. The sheath looks great and feels like a quality sheath, but an optional clip would have been more valuable IMO.
Overall, The Buck 110 Folding Hunter Pro is a nice folder with some great features. They do have an automatic version as well, roughly $100 more than the thumbnail opening version. Whether or not you think an auto opener warrants that much more is for you to decide. This knife can be had for right around $100 most places and I think that is more than a fair price for the quality you are receiving. It also comes with Buck’s Forever warranty, and they clearly back their products. It’s a great knife in terms of feel and durability, and it looks sexy as hell, but I don’t think it will be replacing the old Benchmade just yet.
Author – Tim M. is an Army Ranger who has served in Afghanistan and is currently a K9 handler for ARSOF. In his free time, he enjoys shooting, working out and hitting the trails with the dog.