Since 1961, hunting trips are unlikely without the crelicam ebony wood-handled, leather sheath Buck knives.
The legacy of Hoyt Buck, a young Kansas blacksmith, is still there in every high-quality pocket knife with a razor-sharp blade. If anyone tries to pick and compare Buck 110 vs 112, the person will be in a sweet dilemma on which best buck knife to choose.
Numerous hunting and camping trips while carrying different Buck blade models give me the confidence to compare between Buck knife 110 vs 112. Both are unique for the particular use and environment.
I have made your job easy by offering a feature and function-based face-off. Before you click the check, the price button lets dig into the 110-year old knife, making mastery at its best.
How old is your Buck knife?
You can easily check the age of your buck knife. The production age is stamped on the blade with the following words
- 1951-1967: BUCK
- 1967-1972: BUCK, USA
- 1972-1986: BUCK 110, USA
From 1986, Buck Inc. started using symbols instead of words. Go over those symbols to check out the age of your Buck knife.
The 50th anniversary 110 knives are marked with an Anvil, and the USA is stamped below it. Both the 110 and 112 knives are marked with dots in different positions.
Buck 110 Folding Hunter Review
This is the first model that passed through the production line of Buck Inc. and still reigning the folded hunter knife market. Since 1961, Buck 110, aka Buck 0110BRS, is one of the most famous outdoor and hunting knives in the world.
Buck 110 Knife Specs
- Made in the USA
- 420HC Chip-shaped blade
- 0.12-inch Blade Thickness
- 3 ¾ -inches Blade Length
- Knife weight 205-grams
- Crelicam ebony Handle
- Leather sheath
- Warranty is Forever
Blade Type and Shape
Buck blades are skinny and sharp. The crescent tip is responsible for the 0.12-inch thickness. You will also get a sharp point due to this crescent-shaped blade.
One of the main reasons behind the massive popularity of this folded blade hunting knife is the sharp clip point blade. You can use it to make a puncture in meat, leather, and other soft materials without damage.
Blade Material and Finish
If you try to compare between buck 110 vs buck 112, one thing will be common. It is 420HC steel.
Edge retention may not be remarkable for this steel; however, you will get the ease of sharpening. Moreover, in every environment and use, the blade will be free from any corrosion.
Industry leader Paul Bos made this softer blade ready for all the tough and rigid jobs through his signature Heat Treating process. If you ever been to Post Falls, Idaho takes a tour in Paul’s Heat Lab, where Paul Farner now takes care of all the Hot processes.
Handle Material
Ebony is the primary material for almost every key heritage Buck knife handles. Like the 420HC steel, you will find this wood common in Buck Ranger 112 vs 110 Folding Hunter knife comparison.
Ebony was the handle material for every Buck knife till the 1990s’. Federal regulation on endangered woods makes Buck Inc. switch to resin-treated timber. However, the recent collaboration with Taylor Guitars, one of the most famous musical instrument manufacturers of the world, brought back the old ebony.
Nickel Silver bolsters on the most natural-looking crelicam ebony will entice anyone to buy one of the heritage products of the Buck. The list is long Buck 110 Folding Hunter Knife, 112 Ranger Knife, 113 Ranger Skinner, 055 the 55, and many more.
Height
The 110 Buck knife is 1.2-inch high. It is a perfect height for every outdoor and indoor work. Cutting, slicing, or scraping is easy with this height. You can make sufficient deep cuts with the blade.
Weight
The weight of the knife perfectly balances the blade and handle ratio. You will feel the knife in your firm grip with the 205-grams weight. Some of the users have found the knife blade-heavy; however, the light ebony handle is accurately designed to counterweight that. Keep the weight in mind while comparing Buck 110 vs 112.
Lockback Mechanism
Each time you open this folded knife, the blade will be locked until the rocker is pushed. This is the Lockback mechanism of every Buck folding knife. It offers great convenience like fixed blades knives when you are doing any tough job.
This Lockback technique requires two-hand closing that ensures safety. Besides, it also prevents any accidental closing of the blade during any job.
Buck 112 Ranger Review
The tremendous popularity of the 119 knives inspired the Buck to introduce the shorter version Buck 113 or Buck 0112BRS. This short but sturdy knife has numerous versions for different purposes. However, the Buck 112 ebony handles Ranger knife is the most famous version.
Buck Ranger 112 Specs
- Made in the USA
- 420HC Chip-shaped blade
- 0.12-inch Blade Thickness
- 3-inches Blade Length
- Knife weight 159.4-grams
- Crelicam ebony Handle
- Leather sheath
- Warranty is Forever
Blade Type and Shape
Ultra-thin blade with extreme flexibility-nothing can describe the 112 Buck knife blades. The 0.12-inch thickness and clip-point, the sharp tip gives the blade its extra edge for outstanding performance outdoors.
The HC stands for High Carbon with a 0.4 to 0.5% carbon in it. The other dominant element is Chromium, with 13% of the entire alloy content. High carbon makes the blade softer but flexible for every day uses. In contrast, the Chromium gives the knife its legendary shine.
The unique shape of the blade makes it suitable for any cutting job that needs extra pressure. A relatively shorter length ( 3-inches) of the blade than the handle makes it more like a handle heavy knife.
Blade Material and Finish
Like the 110, the 112 blades are made with 420HC steel. This soft but corrosion-resistant steel offers maximum flexibility. Though you will get a lower edge-retention feature but sharpening the edge is super easy.
Heat treatment makes the different molecules of the alloy change their physical properties to enhance the toughness of the blade. Cutting small branches, slicing soft meats, or making a hole in the leather or damp wood is convenient with the sharp clip point.
When you distinguish between Buck knife 112 vs 110, this high carbon blade ties the knot between them as a member of the great Buck family.
Handle Material
Genuine crelicam ebony with brass bolster is one of the distinctive features of the knife. The ebony is resin treated and collected from the conservation of Taylor Guitars.
Brass rivets hold the ebony panel on the metal frame of the handle for better durability. Resin treated wood is resistant to any moisture or heat-related damages. Besides, it will prevent any accidental slips while the knife is in use.
Height
From the spine to the heel, the blade is 1.2-inches high. Yes, there will be no difference while comparing Buck 110 vs 112 sizes except for the blade length. You can make a relatively deep cut with the height and thin edge.
Despite the lower height, the blade is highly maneuverable in any situation. You can work in every tough condition where other outdoor knives will just give up.
Weight
Shorter blade length also reduced the weight. The entire knife weighs only 159.4-grams. Around 40-grams lighter than the 110 auto folded knife.
The lighter weight makes the knife easy to carry. However, it won’t be a good idea to use the knife for any heavy-duty tasks like cutting small branches or puncturing holes in the leather.
Lockback Technique
Each time the blade is open, the lock back mechanism will lock it. This locking up will prevent any accidental closure of the blade and will keep your hand safe from opening up.
A slight push on the rocker will close the blade in the same way in Buck 110 knife. As two hands are required to close, so it is much safer than any other folding knife.
Differences between Buck 110 vs 112
These two great Buck knives are different from each other in two aspects-length, and weight.
Length
Buck 112 blade is ¾ inch shorter than any 110 blades. Despite massive popularity, why Buck Inc. shortened the blade?
The story involved a fight between a couple of soldiers. Those enraged guys used a pocket knife and hurt each other. Later the commanding officer ordered a particular length for a pocket knife for the army.
Buck Inc. grabbed that opportunity and shortened the length of their legendary 110 to fit the regulated size. This is how the 112 knives were introduced. The blade length in 110 is 3 ¾ – inches, whereas the 112 is only 3-inches.
Weight
Because of the shorter blade and overall length, 112 is lighter than the Buck 110. The 112 comes with 159.4-grams weight, whereas the 11o weighs around 205-grams.
The longer 420HC blade of 110 is the main reason behind the extra weight of the knife. Additional length of the handle also plays a role in increasing the weight of 110.
A heavier pocket knife can generate enough power to make any cutting or slicing job easier. On the contrary, a lightweight pocket knife is easy to carry and conceal for any emergency. You may miss the power, but the maneuverability will compensate for it.
5 Best Buck Knives
FAQ
You may have some queries in mind while making a match between Buck 110 vs 112. We will try to solve those queries in this section. Hope, our FAQ section will come in very handy. Let’s dive deep into it.
Is the Buck 110 a good knife?
The thin blade made with flexible steel and the vintage ebony handle makes this knife both aesthetically pleasing and functionally top-notch.
No matter how tough the cutting job is outdoors, this highly maneuverable knife can take care of them.
How old is the Buck knife company?
110 first saw the light under the supervision of Hoyt’s grandson Chuck and his wife, Lori. This duo revolutionized the market with the introduction of the 110 models. Since then, no outdoor trip or camping is complete without one of those knives.
What is the best self-defense knife for EDC?
Buck knives, along with other drop-point, dagger, and tanto knives, are equally useful to save yourself in any unwanted situation. The lightweight and low profile tip with a wide belly of the buck knives works perfectly on any hand as an ultimate self-defense weapon.
What is the benefit of a tanto-style edge on a knife?
Unlike the Buck knives, the point is sturdy and can puncture any rough surface. Hardpoint will be a determining factor while contrasting between Buck 110 Auto vs 112 Auto. However, these buck knives will still lag behind the tanto style point.
Lack of the belly section in a tanto style blade limits its functionality in a regular knife job. Any clip-point blade like the Bucks can smoothly perform skinning, carving, and slicing. However, you may find it difficult with a tanto style blade.
Maintenance and Sharpening Tips for Folding Knives
Taking care of your favorite buck knife is easy. However, you need to maintain a few things straight.
- Clean the knife regularly after each use. It is mandatory to clean the blade after returning from any outdoor trip regardless of the use.
- Use a residue-free, mild cleaner
- Do not store a wet knife inside the sheath. It will ruin both. Make sure you wipe the blade with a soft cloth and air dry.
- Clean every single part of the knife individually. The spring and the Lockback parts are most important.
- The opening and Lockback mechanism needs to oil regularly after a thorough cleaning.
- The Buck Inc. recommend Wax Lubricant to oil the mechanism
- It is essential to keep the blade sharpened all time
- Use non-abrasive metal polish to remove any rust
- If you found any problem with the knife, do not try to repair it. Buck Inc. has a dedicated knife repair section. Just mail them the knife.
- It goes for every blade you have. Keep the knife in a dry place.
According to Al Buck, all the Buck knives need to sharpen regularly. If the blade is nicked, dull, or inconsistent, use a coarse grit sharpener to sharpen the edge.
Mark the bevel of the blade with a felt pen and start sharpening. If the ink is still on the bevel top, it means the back of the knife is too far from the stone. If the ink is still on the bottom, it means you are holding the blade too flat.
Maintain a consistent angle typically from 13 to 16-degree with the stone. You will see no ink left on the blade. That means your blade is razor-sharp again. In any folding or Buck ranger review, you will find this technique of Al Buck.
If the blade just needs some polishing before storing or the trip, use a medium grit sharpener. Buck Inc. manufactures some excellent sharpening tools. Go over them and pick the perfect one.
Final Thoughts
The best thing about any Buck knife is its portability and extreme flexibility. Besides, Buck knives warranty info also ensures you a lifelong commitment from one of the oldest knife makers in the world.
While contrasting Buck 110 vs 112, it’s almost impossible to ignore all the great features. The blade may be a little softer than any other outdoor knife. Still, you cannot overlook the ease of sharpening and flexibility.
Only the weight and length differentiate these two great outdoor folding knives. Otherwise, it is challenging to say which one is best. But if you ask my personal opinion, I will go with the 110 for tough outings and will keep the 112 more like my everyday pocket knife.
There is nothing you don’t know about the Bucks’ and their great knives. So do not wait for any sales or discount on those knives. You won’t get such quality at that much affordable price.
Get the Buck knife and hit the road for the next adventure.
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