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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
1972 Buck 309 Companion
- Thread starter TAH
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Old Hunter
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I never know what lurks in my box; after reading this thread I pulled out my 309 - it has the pile side notch. I have dated this knife to circa 1980 - it came with a collection of Case knives that were all dated 1979, 1980, and 1981. OH
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I believe 300Bucks is looking for a very specific version, not just one with a "notch" ground out.
Ken,
When I clicked on the link, it said that I have been "permanently banned", which is strange because I have never been a member.
Mule,
More great photos! Those Buck pocketknives are perfect for hunting arrowheads. :thumbup:
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Hunter has a nice version, I have two one is beat up pretty bad.
Ok, Lets clear up the 309, RARE, situation. I have not found these versions but the guru from long ago has them on his list. Do they exist I only think they do, I have not handled them or have a photo. Which I would appreciate a photo giving the person photo credit. Folks there are 11 versions of 309s between 1971 and 1990. Here are the ones I have never seen.
1. A OLD style 309, Camillus made, 1971, scales will have two rivets along with the rocker rivet, all brass; the tang will say - BUCK, Made in the U.S.A..will have two brass liners on one side, long blade pull.
2. A OLD style 309, Camillus made, 1972 - 1974, tang stamped BUCK, Made In U.S.A., no scale rivets, long blade pull, BUT EZ open notch on top of reverse scale. I have this version but with no EZ open notch. (You can find the one that the tang says, BUCK, 309, U.S.A. with EZ open notch also)
3. A NEW style 309, BUCK made, 1985, NO scale rivets only one brass rocker rivet; tang will say BUCK, 309, U.S.A. , NO date code, will have the printed BUCK on the escutcheon plate. (These no date code versions with BUCK escutcheon were Bucks first production)
4. Now while we are all thinking about 309s , find a red sawcut scale 309, all I have ever seen are smooth scales...
Hope this gets everyone on the same wave length. Like I said, if you own one I would appreciate a decent photo. If I get the photos of them all, I will go ahead and write a history for the BCCI website, giving you photo credit.
300Bucks
Ok, Lets clear up the 309, RARE, situation. I have not found these versions but the guru from long ago has them on his list. Do they exist I only think they do, I have not handled them or have a photo. Which I would appreciate a photo giving the person photo credit. Folks there are 11 versions of 309s between 1971 and 1990. Here are the ones I have never seen.
1. A OLD style 309, Camillus made, 1971, scales will have two rivets along with the rocker rivet, all brass; the tang will say - BUCK, Made in the U.S.A..will have two brass liners on one side, long blade pull.
2. A OLD style 309, Camillus made, 1972 - 1974, tang stamped BUCK, Made In U.S.A., no scale rivets, long blade pull, BUT EZ open notch on top of reverse scale. I have this version but with no EZ open notch. (You can find the one that the tang says, BUCK, 309, U.S.A. with EZ open notch also)
3. A NEW style 309, BUCK made, 1985, NO scale rivets only one brass rocker rivet; tang will say BUCK, 309, U.S.A. , NO date code, will have the printed BUCK on the escutcheon plate. (These no date code versions with BUCK escutcheon were Bucks first production)
4. Now while we are all thinking about 309s , find a red sawcut scale 309, all I have ever seen are smooth scales...
Hope this gets everyone on the same wave length. Like I said, if you own one I would appreciate a decent photo. If I get the photos of them all, I will go ahead and write a history for the BCCI website, giving you photo credit.
300Bucks
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300,
Since my 309 doesn't fall into any of these categories, what year was it likely made? Late '71/early '72?
My 309 is as follows: Camillus made, no scale rivets, no EZ open notch, BUCK, Made in the U.S.A. tang stamp, two brass liners on one side, stainless bolsters.
Since my 309 doesn't fall into any of these categories, what year was it likely made? Late '71/early '72?
My 309 is as follows: Camillus made, no scale rivets, no EZ open notch, BUCK, Made in the U.S.A. tang stamp, two brass liners on one side, stainless bolsters.
Another well done job! thank you 300, just what the Dr ordered.......I lossed out on 2 knifes last night getting side tracked trying to run down this information. I didn't want to pull the trigger until I was sure.....THANK YOU! for this valuable info!
Instead I picked this one up....LOL Buck 703 Colt Knife Pre 1986 This is a discontinued Knife. The tang stamp features Old English script. Nickel silver bolsters, liners, handle pins, and inlaid Buck Old English Script shield. Proudly made in the U.S.A. Pre 1986. Three blades: clip point, spey, and sheepsfoot.
Instead I picked this one up....LOL Buck 703 Colt Knife Pre 1986 This is a discontinued Knife. The tang stamp features Old English script. Nickel silver bolsters, liners, handle pins, and inlaid Buck Old English Script shield. Proudly made in the U.S.A. Pre 1986. Three blades: clip point, spey, and sheepsfoot.
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Here's another education point.
When you get to the point of being a "crazy" collector, a variation or version can occur in the same years. Its just that a machine is set up differently and 200 or 10,000 knives were made with it. This is likely the case for your 309.
Yours is part of that situation. Your knife is a 309, made by Camillus, the tang is stamped BUCK, Made In U.S.A., no handle pins, two brass liners on one side, BUT they may have made two versions by having one with the notch ground on the top of the reverse scale for access to the coping blade, and one version they did not do that. Both were made during 1972 - 74 era, but likely one version was made first and then the other was made later in that time period. I am betting the notch version was made first. I am also like you in that I have this version without the EZ open notch. That is why I am looking for one, or even just a photo...... I know we could go to the Collectors - Camillus forum and Tom might be able to look up these production orders from old Camillus files. I was waiting till I had both photos to show him what he is looking for....300
PS - US, You get several 700s in hand and I will give you the email of the 700 guru.
300Bucks
When you get to the point of being a "crazy" collector, a variation or version can occur in the same years. Its just that a machine is set up differently and 200 or 10,000 knives were made with it. This is likely the case for your 309.
Yours is part of that situation. Your knife is a 309, made by Camillus, the tang is stamped BUCK, Made In U.S.A., no handle pins, two brass liners on one side, BUT they may have made two versions by having one with the notch ground on the top of the reverse scale for access to the coping blade, and one version they did not do that. Both were made during 1972 - 74 era, but likely one version was made first and then the other was made later in that time period. I am betting the notch version was made first. I am also like you in that I have this version without the EZ open notch. That is why I am looking for one, or even just a photo...... I know we could go to the Collectors - Camillus forum and Tom might be able to look up these production orders from old Camillus files. I was waiting till I had both photos to show him what he is looking for....300
PS - US, You get several 700s in hand and I will give you the email of the 700 guru.
300Bucks
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300, I almost forgot thanks for the info on the guru of the 700's that was impulse buy after loosing out on the 300's last night.....they were way older than what I have and I wanted to procure them. The 2 of them went for 34.50 & after reading your above post they were early 70's.
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Hi 300,
I was re-reading this thread and I've been thinking about what you said in the quote below, specifically the part in red. There are plenty examples of early "BUCK 309 U.S.A." stamped knives with the notch. To me, it makes more sense that Buck added the notch to the "Made in U.S.A." knives and then changed the blade stamp, thus meaning the notch version came second and continued on with the new blade stamp. Thoughts? Also, did you ever find a photo of a "notched", Made in U.S.A., 309 or get any more information on them?
Thanks,
Tom
I was re-reading this thread and I've been thinking about what you said in the quote below, specifically the part in red. There are plenty examples of early "BUCK 309 U.S.A." stamped knives with the notch. To me, it makes more sense that Buck added the notch to the "Made in U.S.A." knives and then changed the blade stamp, thus meaning the notch version came second and continued on with the new blade stamp. Thoughts? Also, did you ever find a photo of a "notched", Made in U.S.A., 309 or get any more information on them?
Thanks,
Tom
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Don't know what year it is,but it's an old one.
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The first "notched" 309 was a Made in U.S.A. version72 -74. But there are also un-notched versions made in same period ?. In the 305 EZ open notches were dropped in 1971. Which came first the chicken or the egg. I was thinking back then that they might drop the notch as a cost savings , but I now think I was wrong. Since "some" of the next version 309s - 74 - 85 also comes notched, logic would follow that the first ones of the 74 -85 would be notched and in the last ones, it is dropped as a cost savings. I forgot to ask the old Camillus workers who attend the Blade Show about this, my mistake. (more on bad logic below)*
Skyhorse,
What does your box say ? My first guess is it is not original box, but I could be wrong. Your front view put your knife in the 74 - 85 era, is there a EZ open notch cut out of the top of the scale for access to the coping blade nail nic on the reverse side or not ?
* Because some of the 74 -85 versions were notched but to easily separate them the un-notched have the model stamped on pile side which indicates an older version and the notched ones have the tang stamped on the front side, which should be the more modern version. Just reverse of my thinking above. His model number is stamped on the front so it should be a notched version. We hope...ha
Is everyone now well confused....300
Skyhorse,
What does your box say ? My first guess is it is not original box, but I could be wrong. Your front view put your knife in the 74 - 85 era, is there a EZ open notch cut out of the top of the scale for access to the coping blade nail nic on the reverse side or not ?
* Because some of the 74 -85 versions were notched but to easily separate them the un-notched have the model stamped on pile side which indicates an older version and the notched ones have the tang stamped on the front side, which should be the more modern version. Just reverse of my thinking above. His model number is stamped on the front so it should be a notched version. We hope...ha
Is everyone now well confused....300
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Interesting thread. This was also my first real knife given to me as a Christmas gift in the early 80's by my grandfather. I will have to snap some pics. 
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Interesting thread. This was also my first real knife given to me as a Christmas gift in the early 80's by my grandfather. I will have to snap some pics.
Thanks 155440!
Jaid, would love to see your 309. Feel free to add it to the thread. :thumbup:
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Thanks TAH - added to my post above.
Just found this forum. I was looking up this knife because I was wondering how old it was. It used to belong to my grandfather, my father, and now me. Now I'm also expecting a son this December...
It was the first knife I was "allowed" to own and I hope it will be my sons as well.
It's a bit beat up, but has the notch you mentioned.
It was the first knife I was "allowed" to own and I hope it will be my sons as well.
It's a bit beat up, but has the notch you mentioned.