Buck is taking their two most famous folders, the 110 and 112, and making them thoroughly modern with the new Crossbar Elite series. Cutting edge steel, an ambidextrous lock, and lightweight construction are all present and accounted for on these knives.
We will spare you the Buck 110/112 history lesson today and dive right into the details. First and foremost is the blade, which on both models is made from CPM MagnaCut. We also certainly do not have to delve into the story of this steel again, but suffice it to say seeing it on these storied folders is exciting – particularly when you consider that this is MagnaCut with a custom heat treat from Paul Bos. Bos’s heat treats are famous for wringing every last drop of performance out of a steel, and that’s an especially exciting prospect when the steel in question is already a high-performing recipe.
The name may have given this away, but the Crossbar Elites are also equipped, not with lock backs, but in fact a crossbar lock – an Axislike, in other words. We’ve seen a lot of riffs on the 110/112 over the years, but we would venture to say the presence of this particularly mechanism gives the Crossbar Elites the highest fidget factor out of any version yet. The mechanism is housed underneath aluminum bolsters (rather than the standard brass ones), and of course can be accessed equally easy from either side. These knives can also be carried on either side thanks to their reversible deep carry pocket clips.
Less showy, but of no less interest, is the construction on the Crossbar Elites. While the unmistakable look of the 110/112 is maintained – right down to the double bolsters and the ebony scales – the knives are assembled with screws rather than pins. That means that users can tweak and service their knives if the mood strikes them (and they’re confident in their ability to put it all back together again…). The renovated construction also comes with a notable weight savings, with the larger 110 weighing 3.5 oz., and the 112 coming in at 3.1 oz.
Both models are available now.
Knife in Featured Image: Buck Crossbar Elite 110
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