Look what I found today! Buck 311 Trapper

[Baykeeper]

Here's a bump of my old thread to ask a question of 300bucks and/or bertl, that is if they are still subscribed to the thread.
I recently ran across this knife online, (didn't buy it, wish I had, but I am still curious about it's age).
It's a Buck 301BKS, obviously manufactured post 1986 by Buck, but this particular knife, as you can see in the photo, has no date code. I wasn't aware of any Buck-built post 1985-6 knives, (other than SFO's), that didn't contain a date code, and can't find a reference to that anywhere in the documents I have copied from various sources.
Do you guys know? Curious minds want to know! Thanks ahead of time.
And oh, by the way; Happy New Year!

[300Bucks]

Neither of us left, just busy season. Also as moderator of another forum I sometimes don't get to slip over here to be a regular guy as often as I want. I watch the posting dates on threads and those I have already read I just go by until something new is posted.

Interesting knife, how's that for an answer...ha. My first knee jerk will be a mistake stamp. Wish you would have bought it so we could see back of other blades looking for a 'Proto' etch. They might have changed some small detail and ran a couple dozen as tests and not stamped a date. As you can tell I am guessing. It newer rather than later, the style of stamping is newer.

If I can't mess around to find answer, will steal photo and send it to some folks. We can always send photo to Joe Houser at Buck, he just so busy may take a month for him to get back to us.

300

[Baykeeper]

Neither of us left, just busy season. Also as moderator of another forum I sometimes don't get to slip over here to be a regular guy as often as I want. I watch the posting dates on threads and those I have already read I just go by until something new is posted.

Interesting knife, how's that for an answer...ha. My first knee jerk will be a mistake stamp. Wish you would have bought it so we could see back of other blades looking for a 'Proto' etch. They might have changed some small detail and ran a couple dozen as tests and not stamped a date. As you can tell I am guessing. It newer rather than later, the style of stamping is newer.

If I can't mess around to find answer, will steal photo and send it to some folks. We can always send photo to Joe Houser at Buck, he just so busy may take a month for him to get back to us.

300

You should know me well enough by now to know that I REALLY WANTED IT!! Unfortunately, someone else noticed, and it went ballistic in the final seconds. There was obviously someone else with an eye out for such "oddities", who like me was lurking in the background, and they had more money to blow than I did. I have to stop at a certain point to assure that I can get through the month, and then mourn my poverty while watching someone else make off with the booty, (you know how sailing on the bay can be sometimes). Happened again today, missed out on a yellow CC-made #313, (see below). I really wanted that too, (really, REALLY), but it went up a path I just couldn't afford to follow.
Oh well, that 301 was different enough that I wanted to show it to you and ask the obvious question of "Huh??" I wondered whether it was possibly a "second", or possibly a factory-replaced blade, or maybe even a counterfeit. There have even been a few CC-made Bucks I've seen recently that supposedly came out of Camillus' safe after they sold off their assets, so it could even have been a factory "sample" or something like that. I checked all the pieces and parts of the spreadsheet that I have and found no mention of such a stamp, so if nothing else I can say "you have taught me well", at least well enough to notice an anomaly like a missing date code.
Well, you win some you lose some. At least I can learn something about them even if I don't own them. Thanks, hope you are having a great new year.

[bertl]

Baykeeper,

I went back and looked at photos of the original listing. It is a three spring model and looks like a hollow grind. (No stamping on the back side of the blades, 300Bucks.) If it is a hollow grind, that puts it at about 1999 or later. Other than not having a date code, there doesn't seem to be anything unusual. My guess is that it's a case of a stamping error.

Bert

[Old Hunter]

Strictly a guess, but I agree - greatest probability is a stamping error. OH
Ps That yellow handled Muskrat is one I haven't seen before - so many variations - so little money!

[Baykeeper]

Strictly a guess, but I agree - greatest probability is a stamping error. OH
Ps That yellow handled Muskrat is one I haven't seen before -so many variations - so little money!

Ain't that the truth. Stamping error or not I don't think that made that 301 worth more than a brand new version with date stamp, so I let it go. Knowing a little bit about the chronology of the 300 Series caused me to notice the lack of the stamp, and that piqued my curiosity.
The yellow 313 was a different story, though mislabeled as a "Stockman" it drew some attention and went for a rather substantial price, (in my world at least). It's nice to know that there are a few rarities still floating around on the bay. That was the first photo of a yellow version I ever even saw, didn't know any even existed, so at least I know they are out there now.
The search continues, thanks for responding guys.

[bertl]

Baykeeper,

According to Joe Houser the yellow Delrin 313 was produced in 1995 and only 1000 were made. I got lucky a few years ago and found one New In Box for a very good price. Just keep looking.

Bert

[Baykeeper]

Baykeeper,

According to Joe Houser the yellow Delrin 313 was produced in 1995 and only 1000 were made. I got lucky a few years ago and found one New In Box for a very good price. Just keep looking.

Bert

Yup, I am always looking, if not always "getting". Didn't think I would ever have a Grandaddy Barlow, but ran across one of those, perhaps another yellow 313 will appear one of these days, (or maybe a California Toothpick, regular Barlow, etc, etc). I'm a "half-full" kinda guy, so I'm very appreciative of what I already have, and always optimistic I that I will eventually find them all.

[Baykeeper]

Ya know, the words "rare" & "vintage" are sure thrown around a lot on certain websites. I am always looking for Bucks of one variety or another, and many thanks to you guys I have a smattering of knowledge to use while looking, but those two words seem to be the stock words used when describing a Buck knife.....ANY Buck knife. I can't count how many four or five year old, (or less), knives that are described as rare and vintage, with supposed values that reflect that description. Wears me out going through all those bulls**t listings, but I guess that's what ya gotta do to find the treasures.
Well, having done my due diligence looking at all those "rare" & "vintage" knives, I at least recently found something worth having, or at least something I actually wanted, and am waiting for a '98 #312 Mini Trapper, (stock handles, not customized like so many others I see on that website), and a '68-'72 CC-made #305, (with pins), arriving soon. I'll post pics when they get here, (I like my #314 so much I just had to have it's miniature, and just wanted that version of the #305 'cause I wanted it. Is that wrong? Is that a known symptom of our shared affliction?). Recently I'm finding I like the pre Idaho Buck-made knives, and the #312 will be my second one. I guess living in CA gives me an affinity for them.

The search continues............still looking for affordable versions of the #315 Yachtsman & #321 Bird Knife.

[Old Hunter]

Affliction? Is knife collecting listed as an affliction in the APA manual? Probably should be!

I know you already know, but pre-Idaho Buck 300's were made even further away from CA - in NY! Wouldn't it have been cool to have had a third series of Buck 300's - the CA made models - that would have done it.

[Baykeeper]

Affliction? Is knife collecting listed as an affliction in the APA manual? Probably should be!

I know you already know, but pre-Idaho Buck 300's were made even further away from CA - in NY! Wouldn't it have been cool to have had a third series of Buck 300's - the CA made models - that would have done it.

Hey, good idea, maybe it should be listed! If ya gotta have an affliction, I guess collecting knives is one of the more harmless ones, (though it can be an expensive one).
From what I have read in the various documents from 300bucks, both the #312 & #314 were indeed listed as made by Buck, not Camillus. Since Buck didn't leave California until 2003, and the subject knives are date stamped in the 90's, they had to have been made in CA. Buck took back most of the 300 Series in 1986, though they eliminated several models at that time. All of the series still being sold after that date were made by Buck, (except for a few SFO's made by Camillus). Check the attached hand written document that 300 provided, (which is posted elsewhere on AAPK). Also, there is a noticeable difference in the grinds of CC-made vs Buck-made, being flat & hollow respectively, (at least the #312 & #314 are hollow ground). None of the 300 Series made by Camillus that I know of had hollow ground blades.

[Old Hunter]

Oh no, then I've got a new genre of Buck's to classify - my CALIF. 300 series. Oh brother! That's an obvious thing that never slapped me in the face until right now. If it was a snake.......OH

[Baykeeper]

Oh no, then I've got a new genre of Buck's to classify - my CALIF. 300 series. Oh brother! That's an obvious thing that never slapped me in the face until right now. If it was a snake.......OH

Could be a new thing, ya never know. Actually, I'm a little curious. I had, (then sold), an Idaho-made #305, sold it because mainly I collect CC-made knives, but also because it really was not a very well made knife IMHO; at least compared to the CC-made versions. Since I got the #314, which was made in CA, I definitely noticed that it was a far and away better quality knife than that Idaho-made #305 was, (quality being fit & finish in this case). Of course now I want to get various versions of knives made in both locations and do a side by side comparison. I realize, of course, ALL of this could be a case study of symptons in the newly discovered "affliction" that I seem to have, I mean it looks like my mind is actually inventing a new field of collection to justify buying a bunch of new knives just so I can compare the two manufacturing locations. How's that for an "affliction"? I'm doomed, where's Dr. Phil when ya need him? Now I'm wondering who grows the best potatoes.....ARRRGGHHH!!

[Baykeeper]

Old, used & abused just like me; a '68-71 Buck #305, with handle pins, no model number, thumb notch on pile side of handle, single spring, one brass spacer. Still has most of the blade profile(s) left, still snaps, (sorta, just like me), and genuine pocket worn handles, just like I like them. Both blades are tight in the bolsters, so obviously not an SC knife with Swindon key blade attachment, (not a hint of blade wiggle on this old knife). I enjoy having a tool that has been used and appreciated, so the few scratches on the blades and dings on the handles don't bother me a bit. My second example of early CC-made 300 Series with handle pins. Sorry for the poor photos, still getting used to a new camera.
Still waiting for a #312 to arrive, so stay tuned.

[Baykeeper]

The new arrival, 1996 #312 Mini Trapper. Very good used condition, shows a bit of use on the handles, but the hollow ground blades are pristine. A fine knife, but it has a few things about it that I can criticize. First, the nail nic on the master blade is hard to get to, (though due to the size and shape of the blade I don't know where else they could have placed it), which is a bit awkward if nothing else, and the springs, though adequate, are a bit on the weak side, especially when compared to the springs on the #314 & more especially on the CC-made #311. Otherwise a great knife, and more pocket friendly at 3 1/2" closed than it's other Trapper brethren.
I'm also including a family photo of the Buck Trapper family, (top to bottom, #312, #314, #311).

[Baykeeper]

Filled a gap in my collection today, not perfectly, but I filled it. #315 Yachtsman by Camillus. Stand back and squint and it looks pretty good, and like I said it fills a gap in the collection. This one has it's issues, spike won't lock, small cracks around a boogered handle pin, very rusty springs, etc, but the good news is it didn't cost that much and it fills a hole in my display. I can't see any specific reason why the spike won't lock, perhaps the rusty springs, (springs are not broken), but it doesn't look that bad from across the room, so it ain't all that bad of a deal, (I guess?). That leaves the #321 Bird Knife for me to have a "basic" set of 300 Series CC-made knives, (not even close to all the "versions" though). Hopefully I'll have one of those soon, who knows. Here it is, just like me, old, a bit worn out, but still functioning, (kinda).

[Old Hunter]

Baykeeper, Nice addition to your Buck 300 series collection! I have only one 315 myself, but it is the bolsterless version - that is what I found when I was looking - I like the looks of the bolster model like you have better. Good luck on that Buck 321 Bird knife - I saw one for sale here either in the AAPK stores or maybe on ebay just last week when I was browsing for Buck Knives. Here is my Buck 321, a gift from my Dad when he quit hunting a few years ago - he carried it a lot of years. OH

[Baykeeper]

Baykeeper, Nice addition to your Buck 300 series collection! I have only one 315 myself, but it is the bolsterless version - that is what I found when I was looking - I like the looks of the bolster model like you have better. Good luck on that Buck 321 Bird knife - I saw one for sale here either in the AAPK stores or maybe on ebay just last week when I was browsing for Buck Knives. Here is my Buck 321, a gift from my Dad when he quit hunting a few years ago - he carried it a lot of years. OH

Thanks OH, at least I finally have one. Since I posted the photo I found a guy who might possibly be able to repair and restore it, so I'm waiting to hear back about that. Even if not I'm still happy to have a representative of that model in the collection, and I will be looking for a non bolstered version too. I have a Camillus #696, a #315 clone without bolsters, but it just ain't a Buck, (even though CC made it).
Any knife you got from your dad is special no matter the brand. My most treasured possessions are the two knives I inherited from my dad & late brother, so I think it's cool for you to have it, treasure it.
I'm currently working on getting a #321, not sure if I will be able to afford it or not, but at least I have a shot. Of course if I do I'll post it here first thing; meanwhile the search continues.

[Baykeeper]

Goal reached!! Though not an unused, pristine, never sharpened collection of pocket knives, I have managed to cobble together one of each of the 1972-1985 Camillus-made 300 Series pocket knives. I used an advertising photo from 1985 as my visual guide, and below is my rough recreation of that photo. I have placed my knives in the same position so they can be identified using the advertising photo's descriptions below. All of these are used knives, though other than a few slight issues with the #315 Yachtsman, (spike doesn't lock, small cracks around handle pins), they are all in what I consider to be in good used condition, (just how I like 'em).
Other than a couple I have had for years, (ie; bought the #313 Muskrat for myself in 1973), the bulk of these were obtained over a two year period online, at yard sales, or in two cases at the local swap meet. One of the key knives in the collection, (#317 Trail Blazer), was "bombed" to me by an anonymous collector who sometimes visits this thread, (you know who you are), and I must thank that person profusely for helping me to finish this collection. I also offer heartfelt thanks to 300bucks, bertl, and others here on AAPK who have helped me along the way with sage advice, knowledge and encouragement.
I have other 300 Series Bucks, but those are either SFO's by CC, or made by Buck or Schrade, all those pictured here are CC-made regular production models. Now the search for all the numerous and varied "versions" can begin.

[garddogg56]

GOOD JOB

[Baykeeper]

GOOD JOB

Thanks, it's good to at least have one of each model. Now of course I will be endlessly looking for "versions". I've got quite a ways to go to catch up with 300 or Bert, but I'm on that road. Thanks again.

[300Bucks]

Good job...
Your a collector when you have one knife that is not a family knife that you don't intend to carry. You likely would be considered a near "major" collector as you had a target in mind and you sought out knives to fill that desire.

I will remind you and everyone else Its about enjoying the knives and at some point you realize it is as much about the quest as it the actual knife. I have a few I doubt I have actually handled or seen in ten years or more. And contrary to what my friend has stated, I really am not a big collector. I can name off ten or more people with 300 collections larger and more quality than mine. Like him I started with idea of just getting one of each model of the delrin scaled 300's and things snowballed from there.

Now I will tell him and all of you, even if you only have 10 knives, make a record of every knife, the who, how, where of each one. Take a photo of each one and store in secure situation. Now lets talk something we need to say with this day and times. Security.

Lots of guy want to have their knives out to see. Ok, but don't have them out where I can look thru a window and see them. Especially at night. Try not to brag about what you have, specially in your local area, teach you kids not to talk about them to other kids or let them show them to other kids. The first step in security starts at home. You can laugh and say but I only have 15 knives, well someone would kick in you door in a heartbeat if they thought they could make a dollar. Just be careful if you start making yourself a collection. At least with Buck 300s no individual is worth a big wad of money. Its when you get yourself a 'herd' of them you have an investment.

300

[Baykeeper]

Good job...
Your a collector when you have one knife that is not a family knife that you don't intend to carry. You likely would be considered a near "major" collector as you had a target in mind and you sought out knives to fill that desire.

I will remind you and everyone else Its about enjoying the knives and at some point you realize it is as much about the quest as it the actual knife. I have a few I doubt I have actually handled or seen in ten years or more. And contrary to what my friend has stated, I really am not a big collector. I can name off ten or more people with 300 collections larger and more quality than mine. Like him I started with idea of just getting one of each model of the delrin scaled 300's and things snowballed from there.

Now I will tell him and all of you, even if you only have 10 knives, make a record of every knife, the who, how, where of each one. Take a photo of each one and store in secure situation. Now lets talk something we need to say with this day and times. Security.

Lots of guy want to have their knives out to see. Ok, but don't have them out where I can look thru a window and see them. Especially at night. Try not to brag about what you have, specially in your local area, teach you kids not to talk about them to other kids or let them show them to other kids. The first step in security starts at home. You can laugh and say but I only have 15 knives, well someone would kick in you door in a heartbeat if they thought they could make a dollar. Just be careful if you start making yourself a collection. At least with Buck 300s no individual is worth a big wad of money. Its when you get yourself a 'herd' of them you have an investment.

300

I hear you, in fact I have had knives stolen, (and guns, and tools, and, and....), so believe me nothing is visible from outside my apartment, and no one but my family even knows what is in here. I also live on the second floor of a commercial/residential building at the end of a dead-end hallway, so unless you know my place is there you wouldn't even see it. I also come from a family of locksmiths, so I have very good locks on the door, and all windows are pinned. I have photos of everything stored on an external hard drive that lives in my car, and I have a fire safe, (a good one). (I also have nosey neighbors, we watch out for each other).
I'm documenting everything 300, I learned the hard way about that. I've had to deal with the estates of my parents, grandparents and a sibling, so I know the frustration of sorting through endless amounts of stuff without a clue of what it is, or any idea of what to do with it. My mom was a picker who just loved "stuff", and my dad was a locksmith/machinist with generations of family tools, they left me a whole house full of those "collectibles", it took me months to liquidate it, (I still have most of the furniture and family handtools). I promised my daughter I WOULD NOT do that to her. When I go, there will be a binder with photos of every knife, when I got it, it's manufacturing history, and it's relative value. Back up photos of those in the album are already backed up on the hard drive I mentioned earlier. I also have begun to label all the photos I have in albums, especially those from her childhood. My mom left me scores of family photos, most of people who are family, but I have no idea of who many of them are. I won't do that to my daughter either. I've even played around with a few trial versions of "collector software", but have found a few photos with notes is just as good. I also have renters insurance, so I am as security conscious as I can be under the circumstances.
Though I carry a 300 often, it's usually a Buck-made 312 or 314, and I don''t carry the CC-made versions very often anymore, especially as I got closer to having a complete "collection" of them. One of my next projects is to get a glass display case for this basic 300 collection, in which case I will probably never carry them as EDC's again, (though I may carry one of my "extras" occasionally). As far as display goes, I have my knives out because I have nowhere else to store them. When you walk into my place you see hand tools on the walls, model airplanes hanging from the ceiling, and knives on a shelf; mainly because I have no other place to store any of it. The drawers are all full of "everything else", and I don't have outside storage. Though my place is not like a hoarder's, (ie; you can walk through it), (usually), but it is definitely full 'o stuff!
This particular collection is for my grandson, (I wanted to leave him just one "complete" collection of something), what I find from here on out is for me just for the joy of acquisition if for nothing else, (he'll get it all eventually anyway). I'm pretty much stuck on the 300 Series as a main focus of collecting, and there are many, many versions left to find, but if I see something else I like along the way I reserve the right to collect those too. However, the 300 Series has my heart strings, and I don't see that ever changing, (unless I find them all, which is highly doubtful). The #313 I have was the very first knife I ever purchased for myself, I have been fond of the series ever since, I think that is where my passion for them comes from.
Well, I have enough knowledge now to be dangerous, (at least to myself), so like I said, this is just the beginning.
Dreaming yellow Delrin, salivating for yellow Delrin, MUST have yellow Delrin, MUST look for yellow Delrin!!! Starting to dream about jigged bone SFO's too, so I got it bad!!

[300Bucks]

Sounds like you would be a good friend to have.

Sounds like you are prepping as best as possible also. Keep up the good work. As we have said in the past you guys with collection fever have a tougher road now with more people with more computer info access. When I started they were still just "pocket knives".

I am concerned that the 300 series is not in any Buck Co. spotlight, sort of just an after-thought. Seems like modern flippers and survival knives have taken over the minds of company designers. If I had won the lottery I was going to order a couple thousand jigged bone 300s and sell them off to show folks that some people want a old style pocket knife. But I only had one number......

300

[bertl]

Baykeeper,

If 300Bucks is not a major collector, I am a very minor collector. However, for both 300 and me, it is not how many knives you have, it is how well you try to understand them. That is the joy of collecting. Trying to understand the minor changes means you are headed in the right direction. I try to keep on top of all of the 300 series, but I also try to concentrate on a few models for their details. I think you are doing well.

Bert