Look what I found today! Buck 311 Trapper

[Old Hunter]

Wow Beekeeper, that sure is a good find with the Buck Congress - nice! I "almost" had one once - bought it from Jay's Knives online - they called me and apologized - it had been sold but not removed from their website. That was the only one I've seen for sale in the last few years. I'm waiting for you to find the Buck Barlow from the same Buck/Camillus/SMKW era. Good find on the 303 as well - I'm still learning from reading your posts, 300Buck's posts, and Bert's posts. OH

Ps I also notice from your pictures that the Schrade built Buck 303 has a visibly narrower frame width than the Camillus built Buck 303.

[300Bucks]

BayKeeper is already waist deep in the quicksand and doomed.....ha . Making little mistakes is the way we learn, I still make them. Bert is not afraid to email and say so, we all need a couple of people like that on our wavelength.

I think - That the Schrade contract 301s and 303s are some of the best crafted 300 models of any made. If you get a good one and you DO-NOT bear down on the blade and bend the Swinden pin it should last a life time. I carried one several years once. I did carefully and I mean carefully, grind on the sheepsfoot blade toe kick so it would sit lower in the blade well. Just wanted to see if it would work...and it did. I think in total truth I was just carrying a black handled Old Timer stockman with slanted bolsters and SS blades. I moved to Buck 425m steel and stag scales and didn't worry about pins.

Find a yellow Congress then you can go backwards and start on a complete set in yellow.

300Bucks

[Baykeeper]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the encouragement and the knowledge. Old Hunter, yes, the SC 303 frames are noticeably slimmer than the CC versions, and though I live on a fixed, (very fixed), income I felt like I might never see another available for sale again, so I took the hit and grabbed it. Same story on the 322 Congress, I'm still eating instant noodles because of that one, but the chances of ever seeing another for sale prompted me to go ahead and grab it while I could. Speaking of that 322 Congress, it is simply one of the finest made slipjoints I have ever seen as far as fit & finish goes. None of the four blades show any signs of rubbing against each other like so many Congress knives do, and all the blades are tight and snappy.
300, it's easy to see how the sheepfoot blades stick up on the SC knives, but I'm not going to do any grinding on mine, I'll just let it be what it is and call it good. Just glad to have an example of that era of Buck production, funny looking or not.
Other than photos on one of 300's threads, I haven't seen a yellow 322 for sale anywhere, or seen one in person, but believe me I will keep looking. I recently saw a Grand Daddy Barlow for sale, but it was apparently a "second" with the tang stamp ground off, so I passed on it. I did see a yellow handled 315 Yachtsman for sale recently, but it went for stoopid money so I had to pass on it, (believe me, if I had stoopid money I would have gone for it).
Yup, like 300bucks said, I'm "knee deep" in this 300 series thing, and will be ever on the lookout for more, so I really appreciate all the exhaustive data you guys have supplied along the way; thanks.

[Baykeeper]

Just noticed a yellow handled Granddaddy Barlow available on the ether. Unfortunately it's more than I can even begin to consider....AAARRRGHHH! Sure is nice to at least see a photo of one.

[300Bucks]

Large Buck marked barlows. Second photo one of jigged. No more this was a 311 thread.

[Baykeeper]

Large Buck marked barlows. Second photo one of jigged. No more this was a 311 thread.

Lordy lordy 300, thanks for the knife porn. Awesome display of Barlows, the one on the top is the variety I saw offered for consumption on the ether. Those are #331's correct? The database mentions the different handles, but I've never seen a photo of the jigged varieties, which are especially cool IMHO. Of course that cinches it, I will just have to have one of each for myself if I can find them.
Was it you that said I was doomed? If so you pegged it, I am most certainly very doomed!!

[Baykeeper]

Look what appeared on my doorstep this morning, a CC-made Buck 317 Trail Blazer in very good condition. I believe it to be a pre-1980 knife as I see some "patina" on the springs, (see bottom photo), (I might be wrong about that, but I think not). From what I've read Buck/Camillus used carbon springs through the 70's, but by 1980 they had switched mostly to SS. Wishful thinking perhaps, but irregardless it gets my quest for a basic set of CC-made 300 series knives that much closer to completion. All I have left to collect, (other than SFO's), is a #315 Yachtsman, and a #321 Bird Knife.
Very happy to report that this knife was obtained via a well known practice and tradition among knife collectors, it was a gift, an anonymous one. Goes to show that some of the very best people in the world are knife collectors. Thank you Anonymous!

[garddogg56]

Very nice 317 one of my favorite folding hunters

[Baykeeper]

Very nice 317 one of my favorite folding hunters

I've been carrying it around all day, and getting a feel for it in my pocket; just thrilled with it. Though big, it fits my hand very comfortably, in fact more so than most other slip joint knives that I own, even my 110. Unfortunately, I don't have the sheath, and it won't fit in the 110 sheath, so until I find a suitable one I'll be carrying this in a back pocket.
That's one of my "things" as far as knives go, I want to carry and use all of my knives at least once or twice; no strictly "look pretties" for me. I get that from my collection of my families' old hand tools, some well over a century old. They were held in the hands of my ancestors, and somehow that makes them more than just an old tool to me. I feel the same way about my knives, I want to pass on "tools" that I actually handled, used, and appreciated. Hopefully my heirs will respect that.
Cool knife, but I'm still on the lookout for a #315 & #321, meanwhile this one will be in my back pocket most days. Thanks.

[garddogg56]

Gez Baykeep mine fits in a 110 sheath if not wet mold yer snap flap

[Baykeeper]

Gez Baykeep mine fits in a 110 sheath if not wet mold yer snap flap

Hmm, really? The flap on mine just wouldn't make the stretch to snap closed, I guess a soak wouldn't hurt it much, I'll give it a bath & a stretch and see if I can get it to fit.

[Old Hunter]

I compared the sheaths of a Buck 317 to a Buck 110 not too long ago - about 3/16" to 1/4" more length in a 317 sheath. One of the current nylon sheaths that come with the Buck 110 may fit (I'll give it a try). Here are some pictures I took of my sheaths a few months ago to show the differences. By the way, nice knife - I like them too. By the way, you gotta have at least two of the Buck 315 - there is with bolsters and without bolsters! It's only money....OH
Ps Buck 110 sheath on the left, Buck 317 sheath on the right - all photo's.

[Baykeeper]

I compared the sheaths of a Buck 317 to a Buck 110 not too long ago - about 3/16" to 1/4" more length in a 317 sheath. One of the current nylon sheaths that come with the Buck 110 may fit (I'll give it a try). Here are some pictures I took of my sheaths a few months ago to show the differences. By the way, nice knife - I like them too. By the way, you gotta have at least two of the Buck 315 - there is with bolsters and without bolsters! It's only money....OH
Ps Buck 110 sheath on the left, Buck 317 sheath on the right - all photo's.

Not only with or without bolsters, apparently there was a yellow sawcut Delrin #315 version too. One of those just went for like $160 online recently, (yikes!). I'm sure I'll eventually have one of each model, (maybe not versions), but after that will probably spend the rest of my life looking for those various "versions", (not to mention SFO's).

I have a half dozen various leather sheaths for 5" folders, and that extra 1/4" is making a difference in all of them. Just measured the 110 sheath with the 317 in it, and it was exactly 1/4" too long for that sheath. No worries though, think of all the fun I'll have looking for a genuine 317 sheath. I'll go into the local outfitters too and see if they have a nylon ammo pouch that may fit in the meantime, otherwise I'll look on the bay! I'll keep that 317 in my back pocket while I'm "sailing", I'll come up with something eventually. Just thrilled with the knife though; love it!
Strangely enough I had a leather Schrade sheath for a 5 1/4" Old Timer that would have fit, (Taylor Brands), but I recently gifted that knife to my son in law...funny how those things work sometimes. I would have felt kinda weird putting a US Buck into a PRC Schrade sheath though.

[Old Hunter]

I just checked the Nylon 110 sheath - too short, shorter than the leather 110 sheath. I also tried an old Schrade LB7 leather sheath - it would work, but only because the leather was "stretchy". OH

[Baykeeper]

I just checked the Nylon 110 sheath - too short, shorter than the leather 110 sheath. I also tried an old Schrade LB7 leather sheath - it would work, but only because the leather was "stretchy". OH

Thanks for trying. That LB7 sheath was the same as the one I gave away recently, I was pretty sure it would have fit the 317. I'll keep my eye out for something appropriate. At least now I know what won't work, and still have an awesome knife to play with.

[jerryd6818]

One on eBay with six days to go.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Buck-kn ... 3f52db4175

[Baykeeper]

One on eBay with six days to go.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Buck-kn ... 3f52db4175

Cool, thanks, good eye. Got it on my watch list now. Seller has an abysmal feedback rating though, one of the lowest I've seen recently; thank goodness for the bay's buyer protection policies.

[jerryd6818]

When you only have 191 feedbacks and you get stuck with one negative feedback it looks much worse than it is.

From the feedback that one disgruntled buyer left, (the buyer only has 39 purchases on his/her record) it makes me wonder if the seller deserved it. I took a peek at the auction in question -- http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Buck-kn ... 7675.l2557 -- and it makes me wonder if it isn't a case of buyer remorse. Not too sure the buyer even knew what a 1972 Buck 110 is supposed to look like. He sure was hot to trot over the knife during the time the auction was active. Look at all those bids. He was determined to get the knife.

It wouldn't worry me but then, that's just me.

"Waste my money obvious factory flawed model not happy with .***f ( 39 - Yellow star icon for feedback score in between 10 to 49) During past year
Vintage Buck knife 110 ,1972 with box & paperwork,Hunting/Fishing (#271700170806)"

[300Bucks]

Two points.

1. Baykeeper needs a doctor, he has Buck fever. Be careful around him you could get infected..... You guys may need to learn what to use to test carbon from SS. I use a tiny drop of vinegar or lemon juice to see if you get a patina. I mean a tiny drop not one that goes down side of spring.

2. To him and everyone else, be careful seeing and wanting an bidding on high dollar 300 series knives. Especially ones hyped as old and/or odd. There have been and are people who are customizing these knives. You can get duped if you are blinded. If you are only doing production collecting you have to get a couple, more than me, of guys to check with before investing big bucks on buying this type of knife. You learn who these guys are by watching their replies to your posts and realizing they know something. This is what I did in the beginning and still do. I am also checking multiple Buck Collector websites, not just this one.
An opinion is like rear ends everyone has got one.

300Bucks/ch

[Baykeeper]

Jerry, I looked up that guy's bay account and saw that he is probably ok. Still watching that sheath.

300, what knowledge I have regards Buck 300's is what mostly I got from you and from Bert. I'm a lifelong "junker" though, very experienced in buying "collectibles", and with what I have learned from you guys I haven't got skunked yet, plus I learned to set a limit on my spending years ago. Spending hours going over the database you guys provided, and then reading every thread on the series I can find has helped too. I learned long ago that if you don't know what you are buying you can get screwed, and I can't afford getting screwed, so I'm very thorough in my research before I even think about buying.
Meanwhile I am thoroughly enjoying the partial collection of CC-made 300's I currently have, and though I haven't got 'em all, (yet), I definitely do have Buck fever.

[Baykeeper]

Oh, by the way 300, thanks for the tip on how to tell the difference between carbon & SS. Usually if I see pitting on the springs I figure they are carbon, but I will try the vinegar method and report back, (only a tiny drop as recommended). As far as high value 300 series auctions go, I generally steer clear of those. I look for the auctions put in by pawn shops, and those that obviously don't know what they are actually selling, or how to list their items so they will be noticed. I also look for listings that don't get noticed because they just list it as "Buck Knife" or something, often those listings show up lower on search results, (get really good deals that way sometimes). My CC-made 303 came from an auction that ended at 1 am, was poorly listed just as "Old 3 Blade Pocket Knife"; most buyers didn't even notice it...got it for under $8 shipped. Turned out to be in very good condition after I cleaned the crud off of it. I check sellers out pretty closely, especially their other listings, and look for inexperienced sellers too, (they often end auctions at odd times, list items incorrectly, etc). Most of my online knives have come from those types of listings, I stay away from anything much above $20-$25 most of the time, and stay away from most any seller who seems to be a "professional" vintage knife seller. I like them "farm fresh" anyway, so most of those get passed up by collectors looking for pristine examples. I picked others up first hand at either yard sales or swap meets. Unfortunately, the gaps in my collection are knives that tend to be the more expensive ones, so I probably won't be buying them anytime soon, especially online. I don't know where those two models will come from, but I'll wait for a bargain, I kinda have to; poverty breeds patience.

[bertl]

Baykeeper,

There will be no problem with the individual selling the sheath (191 feedbacks).

Bert

[Baykeeper]

Back again. Well, the genuine Buck 317 sheath that was on the bay went for more money than I was willing to spend at the time, so I started looking for an alternative. I found this old sheath at a local swap meet and lo and behold it fits the 317 perfectly. It needs some TLC, so I'll take it to my buddy who owns a leather shop and will get him to re dye it, and secure the belt loop on back which is getting threadbare. I'm just happy to have found one that fits the knife so well. I'm sure I'll eventually find a "stock" sheath for it, but this piece of vintage leather will do a fine job in the meantime. It fits tight against my hip, is a comfy carry, and I have been carrying the 317 daily recently as one of my EDC's; lovin' it.
Thanks again to the person who gifted this awesome knife to me. Still looking for a 321 & a 315 to complete my 300 series CC-made collection...the search goes on!

[TonySal]

I like my 307 but it's a bit big (no its not for sale lol).
I got it new late 70's early 80's so I think yoh are correct about the date.
Sorry for the late post, I'm usually on EDC Forums

[Baykeeper]

While enjoying the #317 I was recently secretly "bombed" with, I found something special. Ran across this on the bay at a store that turns out to belong to SMKW: New in box, CC-made Buck #331 Granddaddy Barlow, an SFO from 1999. Came with original box and all paperwork. There was a Yellow Delrin version being sold too, but I just couldn't afford them both. It seems they are selling off old catalog items on the bay, and I was fortunate enough to notice this. I'll be eating beans for a month, (or more), but I'm glad to have it.
Big knife, 5" closed, I'll include a side by side with a #110 to demonstrate it's impressive size. This is my second Camillus-made "SFO", (#322 Congress being the first), and this will be the jewel in the crown of my growing CC-made Buck 300 series collection. This is one of the few knives I own that I will never carry or use, it will just be displayed and passed down to my grandson.
Still searching for the two models I still need to have a basic CC-made 300 series "set", (#315 & #321), but when this came along I just couldn't resist the chance to own one.