1966 Buck 301

Stumps

Stumps

Joined
Feb 9, 2011
Messages
3,053
I have a friend at a local hardware store that takes in used items for trade. He calls me whenever he gets a Buck knife that he thinks I might be interested in. He called today and I picked this beauty up. :)

This is the way I got it. I don't normally get used knives that are this sharp.

I told him the history I knew about it being about a 1966 Schrade contract 301 knife. Told him about the reason Buck eventually went with Camillus because of having to take this whole knife apart to change out a blade. I wish I knew more of the history behind it....and I hope that the little I did tell him was correct.

I've bought half a dozen Bucks from him in the past. The nice part is that I never know what he might find.








 
I couldn't stand it. I was getting ready to put this knife away, but decided I really wanted to take the scratches out of the blades and bolsters first. Here it is now;



Now I can put it away. :)
 
Been thinking about getting a 301 for a while now, too bad I ended up getting a Case Mini Trapper :D
 
That's a beauty. It reminds me that in the fall of 1971 I sent my dad a Buck 301 from the Navy country store. He loved it and used it a lot. Ending up sending it to Buck twice for a repair the last time receiving a nice letter requesting he not use a hammer on his, which he never did or would.. Wish now I had the letter but I do have the knife.
 
It is cool to see a knife from the same year I was born, thanks Stumps for posting the pics, it is a nice lookin knife for sure.
 
Wow Stumps - that is my Holy Grail pocketknife! You did a terrific job cleaning up the blades, very, very nice! OH
 
Very nice, Stumps. I have an old 303 but it is a Camillus. Yours really cleaned up well. Not much blade wear.
 
Thanks everyone!!

I was pleased when I saw there wasn't much blade wear, it had great snap and that the Delrin and bolsters were in good shape.

I like that my local hardware store calls me when they get a Buck knife in. :)
 
Looks grand. I like the very modest restoration, not too much, but just right. I wish Buck would offer the contemporary 300s with the FFG blade, I much prefer it to the thicker hollow ground blades.
 
Very nice find Stumps:thumbup:
That one looks like it was well cared for, and you did a great job cleaning it up a bit. The groved bolsters set those early models apart and to my eye they have just a little extra touch of class. Thanks for sharing.
 
Stumps said:
I couldn't stand it. I was getting ready to put this knife away, but decided I really wanted to take the scratches out of the blades and bolsters first. Here it is now;



Now I can put it away. :)
Click to expand...
That's exactly what I would have done. I have several older 301s and 303s, hard to find a user that fresh. Nice find.
 
Looks like it was used for a week then hidden away in a box for 47 years. Great find by the friend. I don't know what they call it but I like the way the bolsters are on that one.
 
Turk88 said:
Looks like it was used for a week then hidden away in a box for 47 years. Great find by the friend. I don't know what they call it but I like the way the bolsters are on that one.
Click to expand...

there called grooved bolsters, and the whole design was flawed. You couldn't change blades as Stumps commented but the bigger issue was if you used any lateral pressure, it would ream out the key hole design and the whole knife falls apart, literally.
 
Matt is on target. But, let me expand for new folks to learn and get my two cents in as a 300 collector and the person that cut apart one of these (beater) to show the internal workings. Search for Schrade Bucks in this forum for extra photos and details.

These Scrade made original Buck folder offerings from the mid-60's used a hidden bolster pin method of securing the blade. With enough heavy use this Swinden Key or hidden bolster method of blade pinning would bend the brass liner enough that the blade literally 'flopped' loose. Bucks forever warranty had to cover this and repair required completely taking the knife apart. After a short period the contract for future Buck folders was awarded to Camillus until 1985 when Buck took over the building of the four main models, carrying on with Camillus for some others.
If you have not seen the threads of past by several different folks here is a photo to explain the design.

The pin in middle is the blade pin, it has caps on both ends that slip into a key in the brass liner, the blades are shown ground off above and below the pin. As you can see this neat idea for hidden pins, not showing on the outside of the bolster, needed a stronger liner.


I like the look and design flow of these Schrade/Buck knives. And one in decent shape should serve someone who understands its limits well. No telling what the future would have held if Schrade had changed there liners to stainless steel. But, likely it would have made no difference because, I am guessing, for folders the most common repair is likely a broken blade. It would have still had to be taken completely apart and re-assembled. When the thru bolster pins only had to be knocked out. So, these are really nice Buck models from the past, use them with care and you will wear out the blade from sharpening before it gets loose. 300
 
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Old Hunter said:
Wow Stumps - that is my Holy Grail pocketknife! You did a terrific job cleaning up the blades, very, very nice! OH
Click to expand...

That was my Grail knife also, I picked one up for my collection and one to use. Beautiful knife with the Grooved/Slanted bolsters and the Swedge is fantastic. The Schrade steel gets scary sharp too.

Pat
 
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