T
The Tourist
Guest
For decades, the Buck 110 has been the stereotypic folder of hunters, craftsmen who work outdoors and bikers. In fact, it's one of the few knives easily recognized by folks who don't even like knives.
As good as it is for general purposes, it doesn't really meet the needs of bikers. However, for many years it was all we had. In very real terms a Myerchin B300 better in every way. But as you knife makers know, there have been lots of advances since 1964, the year the Buck 110 was designed.
Have you ever thought of making a superior product? If you were going to do the design in the modern day, what would you do? I have a few thoughts.
First off, lose the brass! Yikes, where do they think we ride, inside the Palace of Versailles? We have spring rains and muggy Augusts where I play.
The alloy for the blade blank is going to be a challenge, perhaps a compromise. We are used to the "high carbon, low chromium" varieties, but perhaps more chrome is realistic. After all, alloys like ZDP-189 are fully 20% chromium.
An idiot should be able to sharpen it. Like it or not, you don't have to be a member of Mensa to buy a Harley. 'Nuff said.
We must consider the "human factor." A guy who will buy a 1,000 dollar Weatherby and an even more expensive Leupold scope will search out a nine-dollar folder. They do it every time. Several years ago I offered Chinese Schrade folders (a 110 knock-off) as a gimmee for a major purchase, or as a direct sale for about seven dollars. I moved seven cases of them.
I don't think a Loveless drop point will sell. For some reason, most folks like clip-points unless we can figure out esthetics. For example Gerber offered two Gators. One had mundane steel in a clip-point, the other had 154-CM in a drop-point. Guess which one sells the most.
The sheath (if provided) must have a horizontal belt attachment. Shorter bike jackets either catch or do not wrap tightly against cold air. I'm not even sure if leather is the best choice. It does get soggy and retains
moisture against the knife.
As much as I like the Buck heavy folders (I'm more of a 112 kind of guy), the Myerchin product is superior in every way, and I would choose that instead.
But if you were Buck's designer trying to maintain clients, what would you build?
And more to the point, I'd like to see pictures of knives you have built for us demanding, cheap, honing impaired throttle jockeys!
As good as it is for general purposes, it doesn't really meet the needs of bikers. However, for many years it was all we had. In very real terms a Myerchin B300 better in every way. But as you knife makers know, there have been lots of advances since 1964, the year the Buck 110 was designed.
Have you ever thought of making a superior product? If you were going to do the design in the modern day, what would you do? I have a few thoughts.
First off, lose the brass! Yikes, where do they think we ride, inside the Palace of Versailles? We have spring rains and muggy Augusts where I play.
The alloy for the blade blank is going to be a challenge, perhaps a compromise. We are used to the "high carbon, low chromium" varieties, but perhaps more chrome is realistic. After all, alloys like ZDP-189 are fully 20% chromium.
An idiot should be able to sharpen it. Like it or not, you don't have to be a member of Mensa to buy a Harley. 'Nuff said.
We must consider the "human factor." A guy who will buy a 1,000 dollar Weatherby and an even more expensive Leupold scope will search out a nine-dollar folder. They do it every time. Several years ago I offered Chinese Schrade folders (a 110 knock-off) as a gimmee for a major purchase, or as a direct sale for about seven dollars. I moved seven cases of them.
I don't think a Loveless drop point will sell. For some reason, most folks like clip-points unless we can figure out esthetics. For example Gerber offered two Gators. One had mundane steel in a clip-point, the other had 154-CM in a drop-point. Guess which one sells the most.
The sheath (if provided) must have a horizontal belt attachment. Shorter bike jackets either catch or do not wrap tightly against cold air. I'm not even sure if leather is the best choice. It does get soggy and retains
moisture against the knife.
As much as I like the Buck heavy folders (I'm more of a 112 kind of guy), the Myerchin product is superior in every way, and I would choose that instead.
But if you were Buck's designer trying to maintain clients, what would you build?
And more to the point, I'd like to see pictures of knives you have built for us demanding, cheap, honing impaired throttle jockeys!