Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

[kootenay joe]

Here is a never used or carried Buck 307, 4 1/4".
Was this made by Camillus or Schrade ? and can you date it by the markings ? Only master is marked, front tang: Buck/Made in/U.S.A. and back tang: 307.
thanks, kj

[bertl]

Joe,

That tang stamp makes your knife the first version, 1971-1974. All 307s were made by Camillus.

Bert

[Baykeeper]

Joe,

That tang stamp makes your knife the first version, 1971-1974. All 307s were made by Camillus.

Bert

And I think it would be an earlier version due to the model number on the pile side, the one in my collection has the number with the tang stamp. If truly unused that is a very nice find, congratulations Joe.

[bertl]

And I think it would be an earlier version due to the model number on the pile side, the one in my collection has the number with the tang stamp.

Syd, 1974 was the year they started with the stamp on your knife.

Bert

[kootenay joe]

Thanks ! By 'earlier version' do you mean towards the 1971 end of 71-74 date range ?
The reason i asked about Schrade is because i got this from an old fellow who is one of the most experienced of all Schrade collectors. He used to live in Ellenville and he & his wife were good friends with Albert & Mrs. Baer. Hence he was given some rather special knives from time to time from Albert.
I thought this might have been from Albert. Still could have been as Albert either owned or was buying Camillus about the same time.
Absolutely never used/carried or cleaned.
Just to be clear: this knife is the very first version of the Buck 307 ?
thank you. I find these little bits of information so enjoyable.
kj

[bertl]

Just to be clear: this knife is the very first version of the Buck 307 ?

Yes, and it was made by Camillus. Schrade never made a 307. That's a good find and the background adds interest.

Ber

[kootenay joe]

Thank you bert and Baykeeper.
I used to have 2 of these but so far have not located it's twin.
kj

[Baykeeper]

Just to be clear: this knife is the very first version of the Buck 307 ?

Yup, and as always Bert is right on the mark. As I remember it they stamped the model on the side with the tang stamp by early '72. As Bert already said the #307 was never made by Schrade, only by Camillus.

[bertl]

He used to live in Ellenville and he & his wife were good friends with Albert & Mrs. Baer. Hence he was given some rather special knives from time to time from Albert.
I thought this might have been from Albert. Still could have been as Albert either owned or was buying Camillus about the same time.

Here is information I just found about the Baer family and Camillus ownership. It's from Codger_64 on bladeforums. He is really knowledgeable about the history of Schrade and Camillus.

"First, the owners of Camillus were the daughters of Albert Baer, Betsy and Margery. Betsy Baer Kaufman (she was the Dean of Students at Queens College when she died of Cancer in Stamford Connecticut at age 54 in 1986. ..... She and her husband, John Kaufman (director of Camillus Cutlery upon his death in 1998), had a daughter, Gail Kaufman Furgal of Manhattan, and a son, J. Gilbert Kaufman of Manhattan. The second daughter was Margery Baer Irish of Stamford. Margery Baer Irish was an owner of the Camillus Cutlery Company, and has a daughter, Elizabeth Rucker. Eventual owners of Camillus stocks included the Baer grandchildren and their spouses. If I am in error in any of this, corrections are welcome"

Bert

[jerryd6818]

These two. A 715 Ascend and a 364 Rival.

[kootenay joe]

Regarding my 307: "That's a good find and the background adds interest."
What would be average market value for a mint first year Buck 307 ? $60 ? or ??
I have a good idea of values for Schrade USA knives but not for Buck knives. I still have a few Buck folders and i'd like to have some idea of values.
thanks, kj

[bertl]

What would be average market value for a mint first year Buck 307 ? $60 ? or ??

I think $60 - $70 would be a pretty good average.

Bert

[kootenay joe]

Thank You B. I made a good guess. I appreciate your accurate info.
kj

[Baykeeper]

Thank You B. I made a good guess. I appreciate your accurate info.
kj

That's pretty close for a pristine example, but they can be had for less if you're patient and lucky. One was listed on the bay recently with a $9.99 open bid didn't receive a single bid before the auction ended, yes it was used, sharpened and obviously worn, but it was basically complete, so condition is really the key to relative value on these.

[kootenay joe]

"condition is really the key to relative value on these"
Yes and true for all knives. I bought a great many knives before i fully understood the paramount importance of "condition".
kj

[Railsplitter]

These three landed in my mailbox a few weeks ago. All are 1986 or earlier production.

[colin.p]

These three landed in my mailbox a few weeks ago. All are 1986 or earlier production.

Very nice

[Berryb]

I got this one at a flea market a while ago. I'm not usually interested in modern knives but I couldn't resist this one, and now that I have it I can't quit play... er inspecting it. One question though: the number on the sheath (276) doesn't match the number on the knife(279), Is that normal or do I need to look for another sheath? Thanks
Bruce

[jerryd6818]

I got this one at a flea market a while ago. I'm not usually interested in modern knives but I couldn't resist this one, and now that I have it I can't quit play... er inspecting it. One question though: the number on the sheath (276) doesn't match the number on the knife(279), Is that normal or do I need to look for another sheath? Thanks
Bruce

The same knife only the 276 has a gut hook blade. So as to looking for another sheath, I guess that depends on how anal you are. (No offense intended)

[Berryb]

Jerry; no offence taken. I think the question indicates that I am a bit anal anyway. The sheath I have fits like a glove so I won't get too excited about finding one with the right number. thanks
Bruce

[kossetx]

Here is a recent addition and a good why. In the late 70's to early 80's I was stationed aboard the USS Camden, one of only 2 ships stationed out of the Puget Sound Navel Shipyard in Bremerton, WA. I was a troubled kid from a Westen PA steel town and the Navy and WA state helped change that. Heading out to muster in the morning and seeing Rainer in the distance I knew the world was OK.

Keeping the memory alive...

[jerryd6818]

Here is a recent addition and a good why. In the late 70's to early 80's I was stationed aboard the USS Camden, one of only 2 ships stationed out of the Puget Sound Navel Shipyard in Bremerton, WA. I was a troubled kid from a Westen PA steel town and the Navy and WA state helped change that. Heading out to muster in the morning and seeing Rainer in the distance I knew the world was OK.

Keeping the memory alive...

The military got a lot of our heads screwed on straight.

[Old Hunter]

Been awhile since I've added a Buck to my collection - this Buck 110 Folding Hunter is the last pre-dot version (72-74). OH

[garddogg56]

That's a beauty OH I gave my last pre dot to my son in law .

[Old Hunter]

Thanks Dogg, I've cleaned it up a bit since I took the picture yesterday. Your son-in-law is lucky to have you for a father-in-law! OH