1972 Buck 309 Companion

TAH

TAH

Joined
Jul 3, 2001
Messages
6,135
Due to extreme boredom last night, I decided to take an updated photo of my old Companion. I posted a lousy photo of it a few years ago, but thought it deserved a nicer shot. This was my first “real” knife at age 11. Still carry it all the time. Camillus made, MADE IN U.S.A stamp, brass liners and pin, stainless bolsters.

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Thanks for looking! :)
 
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A good photo. Some just love flat grinds. Still, the Camillus contract knives weren't the only flat grinds. Buck made some from their plant. DM
 
This little knife is somewhat unique as it has stainless bolsters. Does anyone know how long stainless was used or when Buck/Camillus switched to nickel silver?

Also, I always thought the blade material was 440C, but I have also read 440A. Can anyone confirm?

Thanks! :thumbup:
 
OK, This is from my poor memory only. Camillus contract 309 blade steel has always been "considered" to be 440a stainless. It was easier on the stamping and milling machines. I do wish I had copies of Camillus work order files that listed the steel they used. A couple of the guys in the Camillus section of the BF Collectors forum may have a copy and I should ask them to look up the facts on the last factory runs just for our Buck info history.

The 300 series bolsters are not defined by a specific date line. Some models changed at different times. Models made by Camillus after Buck took on the four main models remained the same. As a general rule consider everything after Buck started using SS springs and liners, in the case of the 309 an increase to two springs, to be nickel silver bolsters.

These model and timeline shifts is one of the reasons I have never written histories on the 301,303,309 and 305s. Maybe when I find a O 2 it. For you detail guys if I have any facts wrong feel free to correct, my skin is thick. I'm married........300
 
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Thank you, 300. Great information. I would love to confirm the blade steel someday. BTW, my 309 has 2 brass liners on the escutcheon side and 1 brass liner on the other.

PS - Your valuable and interesting 300 Series knowledge and research (history, timeline, materials, etc.) should be made into a sticky at the top of this forum like the 110 and 112 data sheets. I guess the question is, why hasn't it? :) :thumbup:
 
Thanks but let me ask you about your 309. It is one of two second model versions, does it have a smooth edge on the reverse scale or does it have a "notch" ground out, such as a half moon would be, to allow to get your fingernail on the coping blade nic. If it has the ground out "notch". I would appreciate a photo of it, the next time you feel 'artfully inspired'. I know its hard to believe but I do not have or have not found anyone with that version, which is suppose to exist.......If I was underhanded and a no-good so and so, I would just take one and grind out the notch and call it found, but that just wouldn't be right and it ain't gonna happen.......Those brass liners are like elastic on the sides of jeans, they give some room to 'breath'.

As I have said in the past, these Schrade and Camillus Buck contract folders were made in the era before robots and 'process fixtures'. Lots of hands on work on these old models. I think everyone sort of looks down there nose at them because they weren't made in the Buck building or have super steel. But, this handworked aspect also kinks the rope as sometimes a few were customized by their maker. One or two get into collector hands and then all of a sudden you have a version of a model that must be found to have the complete lineage collection. This occurred with the 305 early on with the difference being called the depth of the nail nic notch on the reverse side for the secondary blade. I scoffed at that as a worker or jig difference only and argued it was not a separate version of a model.
I think others have agreed with me just to get me to quit bugging them about it...ha Anyway my point here is when you are talking about early hand built 110s or these old hand worked 300s, we have to have some tolerance to small details differences. I will get off podium....300
 
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Hi TAH and 300 Bucks, I do not look around the BUCK forums. However, as 300 Bucks knows; I have a soft spot for early Buck 301s. Ken.
 
300Bucks said:
these Schrade and Camillus Buck contract folders were made in the era before robots and 'process fixtures'. Lots of hands on work on these old models. I think everyone sort of looks down there nose at them because they weren't made in the Buck building or have super steel.
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300,

Re-reading your post, I find your quote above intriguing. These models have been around so long that one forgets about all the manufacturing advancements that have taken place over the years. Yet, the early handwork makes me stop and appreciate the knives from this era even more. Thanks for bringing this point to my attention.

So that leads to a question, in your opinion, which years of the contract knives (Schrade and Camillus) offered the best quality as far as fit and finish? Did the knives continually get better or was there a specific time period when they were noticably a step up?
 
Now this is my personal opinion only. Ask a thousand people and you will get a thousand different answers.

One of a very few favorite folders was a Schrade made Buck contract Model 303. BUT, you could not twist or push them hard. Fit and finish were as good as a factory production knife gets.

Later the early models of the riveted scale Camillus contract Buck folders were nice also, I think just because I liked rivets on the scales. If you like a big pocket knife the large 307 model Stockman was always finished nicely.

I would say that Camillus era continued to improve till the end.

Some of my favorite Buck made era folders are the late 80's models, flat ground blades, 425m steel, several scale options. If I could only keep one 301 stockman, it would be my elk scale 301 from the late 80's.

For my recent choice I will say the Rosewood scaled, brass bolstered models. Considering your favorite model the 309, I think I would choose , another elk scale ....300

Late 60's Schrade 303


It's a touch small for me ,1971 model 305, but I just like the big rivets and the way the long pulls are stamped, in these oldest Cami's.


'Likely' about the late 1980's. Model 307, you know you had it in your pocket.


1988 'This is my Corvette.'


2008 309, not flat ground but will get to have the 420hc Bos in elk scale.


PS None of these are in production. Look in the Here and Yon.....
 
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Thanks for your thoughts. It's always a pleasure to hear from you. That 3 rivet 303 Schrade is a beauty. Great photography on all three as well! :thumbup:
 
I have been collecting Schrade knives for many year, and only looked at a Buck 301s when my son asked me to find one for him.
This is most of my Bucks:
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This is my Bucks made by Schrade.
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Outstanding collection, kold, and they all appear to be in mint condition. More great photography! Thanks! :thumbup:
 
300Bucks said:
Thanks but let me ask you about your 309. It is one of two second model versions, does it have a smooth edge on the reverse scale or does it have a "notch" ground out, such as a half moon would be, to allow to get your fingernail on the coping blade nic. If it has the ground out "notch". I would appreciate a photo of it, the next time you feel 'artfully inspired'. I know its hard to believe but I do not have or have not found anyone with that version, which is suppose to exist.......If I was underhanded and a no-good so and so, I would just take one and grind out the notch and call it found, but that just wouldn't be right and it ain't gonna happen.......
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Hi 300 Bucks, as a Schrade collector I know nothing about Buck 309.
That is why I gave my nighbour the only little Buck knife I had. He came over to my house today; and he has your little "Buck 309 with the ground out notch."
Something tells me I'm going to try and trade that little knife back; and send it to you. Why did I come over to the Buck forams? I should have stayed with Schrade... Ken

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Hey kold,

Please try re-posting your photos. They are showing up as a red X.

Thanks! :thumbup:
 
300Bucks,

I have a 309 with the cut out. It was my first knife and a birthday gift for me back in '73 or '74 I think.
 
I was looking for a small pocket knife to keep on me all the time, I was conflicted between a Boker Canoe but in the end I decided with these. Buck 301 & the 309
Finding that arrow head while working in my vegatable garden 9 months after 9-11 made me do some serious thinking.....
 
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