1972 Buck 309 Companion

[300Bucks]

This was good thread and you are deep searching for family history. Your knife is no older than 1974, and production stamped the same way as your tang stamp continued till 1985. I hope your history fits within those times. As stated no older than 1974, so hope Grandpa remembered buying it after that.

Your main blade shows some good wear. If you wanted a newer blade to go on into the future , you could find another of the same model knife say like at a bay name location and then talk to Buck Factory and since it is a family knife they will support your effort, you could then send in the good bladed knife and your knife and they will swap blades sending everything back to you. And it would cost very little. There are also excellent knifesmiths that can do the same. If that is something you would want, call Buck Knives and talk to Joe Houser and tell him your story. But, you have to have a knife first, they do not have parts that old on hand. They could also reblade it with a modern blade but I am guessing you would not want that.

Be sure to match all the rivets, tang stamps, etc when buying your parts knife to have the correct era.

Hope this helps and good luck. 300Bucks

 

[TAH]

It's a bit beat up, but has the notch you mentioned.

Welcome Tribble. Good looking knife with lost of family history and congrats on your incoming son. I believe 300Bucks is looking for a Made IN USA stamp with a scale notch. He's being very picky.

 

[jec88]

Tribble, is it the lighting or is the shield really worn that much? If so, how much was that 309 carried to put that kind of wear on the shield? Those shields are usually solid as a tank, to put that kind of wear on one, it must have been much carried and well loved. I like the looks of it.

 

[300Bucks]

The worn shield idea has merit. I will see if I have any really worn. I have a habit of giving the ones I think I will never miss to Boy Scouts, so the scoutmaster can give them as awards.

But, pictures of really worn shields might make a neat thread. If someone starts to post one before I get to it, start a new thread. Pre-90 shields are glued on, post -90 shields are pillars attached to the liners that the scale is pressed down over.

Did everyones questions on 309s get answered.

300

 

[jec88]

I think the "worn shields" is a great idea for a thread. To wear one of those shields down that is attached to the liners???? The mileage on a knife like that would have to be unreal.......a lot of pocket time!

 

[Sonny14]

Did everyones questions on 309s get answered.

300

Of course not 300.

I know you were asking several months ago for photos of a nail nick on the reverse of certain #309's. Here is a recent find of of mine, is this the model, (or version), you were asking about? I'm assuming this is a Camillus-made knife, but you're the expert; is it?

 

[bertl]

Sonny14,

I'm afraid that's not it. The mysterious knife has a blade stamp of "BUCK/Made In USA" with the model number on the pile side.

 

[Sonny14]

Sonny14,

I'm afraid that's not it. The mysterious knife has a blade stamp of "BUCK/Made In USA" with the model number on the pile side.

Thanks Bert. BTW: I'm known as Baykeeper on that other forum. Shoulda used the same UN like you & 300, but didn't think of it at the time.
I just picked up this knife and a half hour later read 300's post looking for a nail notch, thought maybe I had gotten extra lucky and had found something he didn't have, (yeah sure, not likely).
Now I have two versions of the 309, one Camillus with nail notch and single spring, (above), and one modern Buck-made with no nail notch & dual springs. I must say the dual spring version is noticeably snappier. I may not have found what 300 was looking for, but now I have another CC-made 300 series for my slowly growing herd. Thanks for responding, I always appreciate your input.

 

[bertl]

Sonny14,

Good try. If you had found that particular knife you would be at the top of the ladder. I'm sure both 300 and I would have been after you saying you don't want that old knife, I'll take it off your hands.

Bert

 

[Sonny14]

Sonny14,

Good try. If you had found that particular knife you would be at the top of the ladder. I'm sure both 300 and I would have been after you saying you don't want that old knife, I'll take it off your hands.

Bert

Well ya know, it HAD entered my mind that perhaps I might have the both of you over a barrel, but alas it was not to be. I would have probably tired to talk a trade to get some of the models I'm still missing in my collection. Oh well, I'm happy to keep it. Thanks again, one of these days I might surprise you guys and come up with something really special, (at least I can keep telling myself that).

 

[bertl]

Thanks again, one of these days I might surprise you guys and come up with something really special, (at least I can keep telling myself that).

That is the fun of collecting.

 

[TAH]

I thought I had found the elusive 309, but I believe this is a 305 Lancer that has been incorrectly described. Link

300Bucks, is a Lancer with a Made IN USA stamp and a notch in the scale as rare?

 

[Sonny14]

Man, getting hooked on the 300 series is like having to take a history class, lots of reading required!!
Ok, I just found a post on another forum from 2014 made by 300 about the 309 that I think describes the knife I pictured above, and the one(s) he doesn't have: "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, the difference is in the way the tang is stamped)". I assume the bolded portion describes the knife that I have, but it doesn't help me date it, (other than pre date code). I guess I can only narrow it down to 1974-1985, and due to it's excellent condition probably a later knife too I suppose. That would mean pile side model numbers were only used from 1972-74, (how am I doing with my history Bert?).

Here is a link to that thread, there is some good info on the 309 on it, 300's quote is from the very last post on the thread: http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_forum/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=41470

 

[Misty Berry]

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

Hi, my name is Misty Berry. I read your forum on the Buck 309 Model Knife and I seen where you asked for pics of the rare model that has a " Notch" ground out such as a half moon would be on one side. My husband recently bought this knife for me as a gift from a local antique shop in our home town. And ever since I have been curious about the history of it and that's when I read your post. I was hoping that you could help me find out more info on it and possibly how much it is valued.

 

[TAH]

Welcome Misty. The elusive 309, that 300Bucks speaks of, supposedly has a notch on the back scale and the blade is stamped:

BUCK
Made in the U.S.A.

If your 309 has these features, we would be very interested in seeing a photo of both sides of the knife.

 

[Misty Berry]

Hi, my name is Misty Berry. I read your forum on the Buck 309 Model Knife and I seen where you asked for pics of the rare model that has a " Notch" ground out such as a half moon would be on one side. My husband recently bought this knife for me as a gift from a local antique shop in our home town. And ever since I have been curious about the history of it and that's when I read your post. I was hoping that you could help me find out more info on it and possibly how much it is valued.

 

[TAH]

This might help. The rare 309 variation will have a notch ground out on the backside and this blade stamp...

 

[bertl]

Misty, welcome to the forum. Would you measure the length of the knife in the closed position? Since there is no model number, there is a chance the knife might be a 305 instead of a 309.

Bert

 

[TAH]

Bert, the model number is stamped on the other side of the blade like this...

 

[bertl]

TAH, if it's an early 305 with a notch there is no model number. The elusive 309 with a notch has one, but Misty didn't mention a model number.

Bert