1984 Buck 307 vs pre1982 Schrade 34OT

[jpvjr71]

Looking at the construction, I'd say the 307 is different.
I can see the 2 end pivot pins in the bolsters & the center pin which is also stainless steel. (I have the box/paper).
I understand Buck switched from Schrade to Camillus.
Is that why?
Oh yeah I just did up a hog with my 34OT.
It's a shame they aren't made here anymore, it seems to be a good work knife, but I keep it at home. I'm afraid logging might damage it.

 

[afishhunter]

Looking at the construction, I'd say the 307 is different.
I can see the 2 end pivot pins in the bolsters & the center pin which is also stainless steel. (I have the box/paper).
I understand Buck switched from Schrade to Camillus.
Is that why?
Oh yeah I just did up a hog with my 34OT.
It's a shame they aren't made here anymore, it seems to be a good work knife, but I keep it at home. I'm afraid logging might damage it.

307 was Camillus.
Buck changed to Camillus early; around 1967 or 1968 because of the high number of returns due to Schrade's Swenden Key failures.
(Buck entered the folding knife market with the 300 series folding knives starting by contracting with Schrade in 1966.)
Compared to the 34ot/303 the main differance is size. the 307 is same closed length as a Case x375 stockman.
The 34ot/303 is a "medium"about the same as the Case x318.

OH!!! One other 34ot/x318/303 differance: Beginning in 2005 when Buck moved production of the 300 series, the 303 has three back springs. The others have two.

Also, I "think" the Old Timer "Heritage" series knives are made domestically.
I am pretty sure the 34ot has a "Heritage" version.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Looking at the construction, I'd say the 307 is different.
I can see the 2 end pivot pins in the bolsters & the center pin which is also stainless steel. (I have the box/paper).
I understand Buck switched from Schrade to Camillus.
Is that why?
Oh yeah I just did up a hog with my 34OT.
It's a shame they aren't made here anymore, it seems to be a good work knife, but I keep it at home. I'm afraid logging might damage it.

There is a Schrade heritage series stockman made in the US by Bear & Son which is supposed to be a 34OT, but it's not even close in any way but size.

 

[dsutton24]

The first 301 and 303 knives were made by Schrade. The problem, from Buck's standpoint, was that the Schrade-made knives were, from a practical standpoint, impossible to disassemble for repairs. There really wasn't anything wrong with the way Schrade built those knives, they just didn't fit well with Buck's legacy of repair rather than replace.

The 307 came along in the early 70s with Buck's shift to Camillus for manufacture of the traditional knives. The Camillus-made knives had hinge pins. That meant they could be easily disassembled. The lineup expanded to include the trapper, muskrat, pen knife, and various other short term offers.

 

[jpvjr71]

307 was Camillus.
Buck changed to Camillus early; around 1967 or 1968 because of the high number of returns due to Schrade's Swenden Key failures.
(Buck entered the folding knife market with the 300 series folding knives starting by contracting with Schrade in 1966.)
Compared to the 34ot/303 the main differance is size. the 307 is same closed length as a Case x375 stockman.
The 34ot/303 is a "medium"about the same as the Case x318.

OH!!! One other 34ot/x318/303 differance: Beginning in 2005 when Buck moved production of the 300 series, the 303 has three back springs. The others have two.

Also, I "think" the Old Timer "Heritage" series knives are made domestically.
I am pretty sure the 34ot has a "Heritage" version.

Call me brain dead but I should have done a comparison to my 303.
Yep that 1 has 3 springs and the sheepsfoot is reversed.
A visitor from BC said the Schrade was THE working knife back in the 1970's.

 

[tongueriver]

The precursor to the 34OT was the 834 open stock. The ones made before the Delrin/Swinden pin "revolution" were bone and had through pivot pins. They continued to make the 834s in Delrin/Swinden through 1983. The only difference were the covers. And Uncle Henry also had the same pattern in stainless steel and "Staglon" covers.