Buck 301

[Old Hunter]

Picked up a "new old stock" Buck 301 today, made by Schrade in 1966. This one is mint and joins my 1970 made Buck 301 built by Camillus.

[Old Hunter]

Just for comparison, this is my 1970 era Buck 301 (Camillus) - I received this from my Grandma for my 15th birthday in 1970. The slightly different shapes of the two versions of the 301 are easy to spot when they are put close together. I will have to find an early Buck made version from around 1986 and a current version as well.

[jerryd6818]

So what would the difference be with my 1990 Buck 301?

[300Bucks]

Old Hunter,

There is a Version inbetween the two youve shown. The first version made by Camillus. Scale rivets and straighter design. The Schrades have the top edge of the blade fluted down about half way over the nail nic. The Camillus models with scale rivets do not. The rivets are smaller in size also.

Jerry, Yours is made by the Buck factory in the 90's. Notice there is a date code after the model number on the tang. The other knives shown were made by Schrade and Camillus knives under contract with Buck Knife. Yours is 420hc steel, heat treated by one of if not the top heat treating expert. Paul Boz.

300Bucks

Here is last Schrade on left and first Camillus on right

[jerryd6818]

I saw the date code. That was the only way I knew it was from 1990.
My son found that in a car that came in when he worked at the junk yard. It looked like it had never been carried.
Thanks for the info about the steel, 300bucks. I didn't know that.

[313 Mike]

I just picked up a 2004 Buck 301 last week! Been carrying it, like it so far, feels very heavy duty solid, but for a new knife it doesn't feel particulary "snappy". I mean the blades snap back strong enough to close them up, I'm just wondering if they will weaken over time and use and if I wil end up with a knife with no snap at all. That would be dissappointing. Also, even though there is no play in the main blade at the moment, it has that feeling that if put to some extended hard use, the potential is there for some play to develop.....
The only reason I'm bringing this up is because it is my first "traditional style" Buck, and I'm curious if that is just the way they are built, and it will hold up well into the future...I want to use it as a work knife, and I want to be confident enough in it to not have to baby it....
Mike

[300Bucks]

Mike,

First remember this is a Stainless steel knife thru and thru.

Polishing grit is in the works.

Go to sink turn on hot water when it gets good and hot, take dish soap and a old toothbrush and clean the hound out of it. Work all the blades back and forth under the water. Rinse and do it again for good measure. Rinse hot and take some papertowels and dry off knife.

Here people give different advice but this is my advice. Wipe knife dry as possible, even down in blade well, then take WD40 or rubbing alcohol and soak it down and dry it off. I usually use hair dryer or sit it in sun after that also. Then give it a nice drop of oil on each blade pivot and a couple in the blade well. Work all blades to move oil around.

See if that doesn't improve your snappy. I can't tell you how many times this has worked for myself and others.

I would say it is unlikely the springs will weaken.
300Bucks

[TripleF]

Knice score OH!!

[Old Hunter]

Thanks Scott - I'm right happy with it - BUCK has always been a favorite for me.

300Bucks - are the early Schrades and Camillus made BUCK knives also 100% stainless? My new knife had very little snap when I got it (due to sitting in a box for over 45 years I suppose); it has much more now as I lubed it with some SMKW CoonP I have and worked the blades. I would like to try your method but it seems rather radical if all the steel isn't stainless. Thanks, OH

[jerryd6818]

I would like to try your method but it seems rather radical if all the steel isn't stainless. Thanks, OH

Now THAT'S what WD-40 is for.

[Old Hunter]

Jerry, it has gained more and more snap as I have left it on my desk and kept working the blades with the oil applied as I sit here catching up on my computer work. In fact it has as much snap now as my two old Camillus made BUCK's - however none of them have as much snap as the currently manufactured 309 Whittler I bought a few months ago.

[jerryd6818]

I bought a pen oiler of Quick Release from Scott and have discovered that after I use it, knifes get better the longer they sit (to a point of course).

[300Bucks]

I am glad things are working out with the oiling.

Bottom line is I have read numerous times where Bucks are good right out of the box and have also tried to help numerous folks where they weren't. The cleaning using hot water has been mentioned in every knife chat room from here to China. Clearing the moisture out using some type of solvent and heat, usually a hair dryer, is standard operating porcedure and is mentioned over and over again.

In the case of Buck folders some older 300s made by Schrade and Camillus in the early years had carbon springs, after the mid 80's everything was SS. In either case using careful cleaning and followup has never led to rusting of any part. If you can't stand the idea of water try soaking in and pipe cleaner scrubbing with mineral oil. Literally leaving the knife overnight won't hurt a thing.

Speaking the truth, on several occasions I have personally had a new Buck come with polishing compound in the works. Down in the pivots and the blade wells. Your oiling the joints is likely doing some cleaning of that compound also. It is your call. I inspect a new knife and if I see any compound I first clean the knife well before oiling. Even compressed air will work. As I say, you will get one that is fine out of the box and next time gritty. I am pretty sure they use some compressed air as the final assembly act before setting them in the 'boxing' tray.

Now before we go off on this should'nt be so, I will say " I expect a $200 knife to be very clean when I buy it, I will tolerate a little compound in a $35 production knife." I will want my 35$ going for high quality assembly and materials over the cost of making sure it is squeaky clean before it goes in the box.

300Bucks

PS I just took a fancy cloesup photo for a friend of a Buck 505 Limited Addition with Jigged Buffalo scales. When I started zooming in I noticed polishing compound in some of the jigging on the scales. I carefully brushed that out only, as it was not my knife. But he had the knife for about 20 years in a display and never noticed it.

[trey]

300, you mentioned carbon springs, were any of the 301's made with carbon steel blades? I mean the ones
made by Schrade or Camillus. A carbon steel 301 would rock!

Thanks,
Trey

[300Bucks]

Nope, All SS

[trey]

Well, a guy can dream, can't he? Dale, how about a single blade easy open Buck 301 with a carbon steel clip blade swapped into it?

[Old Hunter]

300Bucks - thank you for taking the time to answer my concern and in explaining in detail the cleaning procedure - I will give it a try. OH

[koldgold]

Here is last Schrade on left and first Camillus on right

Nice post Buck300, hi from Australia.
I have all of the Buck 301 knives - It has taken quite some time to find all of the Schrade knives.
Thank You for showing the two knives together. The one with the small pins had me thinking, as I did not know Camillus had made a 3 pin knife.
I can clearly see a bolster pin for the two blades in the Camillus knife – However, I cannot see the other pin in the other bolster... Ken

[300Bucks]

Someone good on the buffer can really hide them...BUT, look at the blades, look at the schrade knife on the left and look at the top edge of the blade out over the long nail nic.
Now look at the Cami right knife, same place.....see the difference - that evidence is always visible..... Note the nail nic lengths also.......

There are 3 Schrade versions all with rivets. There are 3 Cami versions with rivets also. Another 3 Camis without rivets and then Buck starts making them....

300

[koldgold]

This is an old Buck 301 NIB with paperwork... Ken

[313 Mike]

Here is a pic of my 301, dated I believe from 2004. Great knife, it is holding up quite well to use, glad I picked it up!

[koldgold]

My son asked me to buy him a Buck 301 about 8 years a go, since then I have collected about 10 Buck knives. This is some of them... Ken

[garddogg56]

Koldgold;I'm a Cadet lover but that last knife is beautiful

[koldgold]

Koldgold;I'm a Cadet lover but that last knife is beautiful

Hi garddog this is my only Buck Cadet. I have just a small collection of Buck knives. Ken

[garddogg56]

AHHhh Very nice watchpocket stockman