The Buck 110 lockback folding hunter is a classic knife, & an icon.  Personally, while I own at least two of these knives (the classic design, & a "custom shop" design), I'm not the biggest fan of the basic design (too heavy, too square, two-hand opening).  One of the features I despise most about this knife is the blade steel on the classic model -- 420HC.  Back when 420 steels crashed onto the knife scene, it was a cost-cutting measure -- 420 was cheaper to purchase than 440C, and because it was softer it was easier & thus cheaper to work than the 440C they'd used before that. 

Sure, Buck formulated a heat-treat process to better harden their steels, but this is far from uniform (I've had three budget Buck knives -- 2 folders & a fixed blade -- that wouldn't hold an edge well at all).  The Buck heat treat might be phenomenally successful in their pricier knives, but given my experience with budget Buck knives, I'm really not inclined to put my more expensive Bucks to the test, especially since one of them is very sentimental.

But what really gets to me about Buck's switch to 420 blade steel is the insult to their customers.  There are few names in cutlery more recognizable than Buck's, & there are few knife companies that had more options for knife manufacturing than Buck -- but still, 420 steel is what they chose.  Most likely for production at scale -- but this was, to be clear, a cost-cutting measure over all else.  

Buck rolled the dice & placed their bet, & overall I'd say they've been winning -- they still have a significant market share & wide-spread name recognition.  But they've been jacking up the price of that knife with 420 blade steel & all the aesthetics of a brick over the years.  I think I bought my basic 110 when the market price was in the $45 - $54 range.  Apparently the retail price went up to $65 at some point -- but we're even past that point.  Now, the retail price of the Buck 110 is $89.99, aka $90.

$90.

Just let that sink in.  I understand that there are a lot of fans of the Buck 110 -- some of whom may even be reading this post, & I very much apologize for upsetting anyone whom I would consider a friend over my opinions on the 110.  But I can't stay silent any longer.  I can't hold back my feelings on how Buck has been shorting customers for decades over the 110 since they transitioned to 420 steels for this knife.  Not now, now that this knife has gone up to $90.

To repeat:  $90.  

That's almost $100.  How many options are there for knives in this price range?  Maybe not many, if you're only shopping the big box stores.  But anyone who's willing to drop $100 on a knife (don't forget sales taxes, after all) knows how to shop online, & they'll soon find myriad options at that price point when they do.

$90.

Apparently, Buck hasn't changed the prices for any of its more expensive custom-shop Buck 110's.  As one YouTuber put it, Buck hasn't raised the ceiling, but instead only raised the floor.  I understand having affection for certain knives -- & with all the peculiarities of the 110, including its place in knife history.  And all the kids whose family members may have carried 110's, I very much understand the sentimental nature of the 110 for so many people who grew up around them.  But again, my issue isn't with the users or collectors, but with the company itself.

And again, accounting for sales tax, this is now a $100 knife.  This is horrifying, & it's absurd.  We're not far at all from the model number and the price tag being perfectly in line.