1990 Buck 301 - the variation king?

[rival22]

I've been on a Stockman kick and figured I needed a Buck as well. I like the look of the flat ground blades versus the hollow grind, so originally went in search of a Camillus Buck because of the looks of the long pull.

I ended up finding a "true" Buck, a 1990 on the bay for a good price and it looked to be in good shape. I was happy to see how good it was and after a quick cleanup and sharpening, it's a nice one.

Going down the rabbit hole a bit, it seems like 1990 is a fun year after taking production back in-house in 1989(?).

This one has 2 back springs and has the sheepsfoot on the same side as the clip. I've seen 3 spring ones, I've seen the sheepsfoot and spey blades swapped, and seemingly opposite versions of each. There's one on this board I saw with the nail notch of the sheepsfoot on the wrong side.

I just find this fascinating, as you'd never see that in manufacturing today. It seems like they just mixed and matched new parts with old parts until they eventually ran out of old parts.

Anyway, it's a great knife and I'll eventually end up getting a synthetic or ebony of the new version when they eventually come out.

 

[DeSotoSky]

Nice pictures, thanks for sharing. Buck brought the production of the 301/3/5/9 in house late 1985 so it basically coincides with the beginning of date codes. Off the top of my head, the change from 2 springs to 3 was about '91 and the change from flat to hollow grind was in the mid 90's, say '95/6. Someone else may know more closely.
addendem: did you check out the 300 series history sticky above?

 

[SoDak81]

It's hard to beat an early in-house Buck slipjoint with the flat grind blade. Love the brass back spacers on those. I dont like the "new" hollow ground blades at all. Hard to beat an 80's/early 90's Buck slippie.

 

[bertl]

For the 301 and 303, the change from 2-spring to 3-spring was made about 1988, and by 1990 Buck was using an integrated frame. I wonder if the OP knife has a blade replacement with a 1990 blade. The middle knife in the attached photo is 1989, the one on the right is 1992. Another thing that suggests the frame is older than the blade is the shield. The OP knife has a shield with a relatively short and open-ended hammer handle. By 1990, the hammer had a longer handle and the end of the handle was closed. It wouldn't surprise me if the OP knife has a frame from roughly 1988 with a 1990 replacement blade.

Bert


t

 

[bucksway]

My favorite is the BCCI 301 in BG-42..If I can find it again lol! I had so many locking folders I felt I should really try a more traditional pocket knife.

 

[bertl]

My favorite is the BCCI 301 in BG-42

Is this it? A few were made with the logo on the reverse side and some had no logo.

Bert

 

[bertl]

Change of the shield hammer handle showing the original Camillus style and the design introduced by Buck in about 1990.

Bert

 

[bertl]

the change from flat to hollow grind was in the mid 90's, say '95/6.

My notes say the flat grind lasted until late 1998.

Bert

 

[rival22]

...It wouldn't surprise me if the OP knife has a frame from roughly 1988 with a 1990 replacement blade.

Bert

That makes it even cooler to me

Reminds me of a Johnny Cash song-

"Well, It's a '49, '50, '51, '52, '53, '54, '55, '56
'57, '58' 59' automobile..."

 

[SoDak81]

Change of the shield hammer handle showing the original Camillus style and the design introduced by Buck in about 1990.

Bert
View attachment 2877770

That's interesting. I never noticed that the hammer length changed. I still like the mid to late 80's "Buck" shields.

 

[dsutton24]

I have 23 variations on the 301, and still have a long way to go. The variation king is the 110, they must run into the hundreds.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I don't like the cut swedges of the Camillus made 300 series.
The early Buck made 300 series are so great , but I also like the slightly hollow grind that came after them in the later 90's. It's subtly different , but different enough.

 

[rival22]

I don't like the cut swedges of the Camillus made 300 series.
The early Buck made 300 series are so great , but I also like the slightly hollow grind that came after them in the later 90's. It's subtly different , but different enough.

One thing I noticed on the slight swedge on this blade, is that it's basically one sided. It's round slightly on the show side, but basically 90 degree on the pile side.

It reminded me of the 250 Saunter. It makes sense on a a stockman, as that back side is against another blade, I think having it on the single bladed 250 is just a nod to that.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I think having it on the single bladed 250 is just a nod to that.

The 302 Solitaire was ground like this, and so was the 704 Maverick going all the way back to the early 80's.

 

[bertl]

I don't like the cut swedges of the Camillus made 300 series.

One thing I noticed on the slight swedge on this blade, is that it's basically one sided. It's round slightly on the show side, but basically 90 degree on the pile side.

Since the subject of swedge design came up, here are some 303 examples from 1985-1995.

Bert

 

[rival22]

Thanks bertl , your knowledge is appreciated.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Since the subject of swedge design came up, here are some 303 examples from 1985-1995.

Bert

View attachment 2879869

Just an FYI.
those are both what's known as a drawn swedge , while a Cut swedge has a plunge line like the swedge on the Camillus examples.
I like all the '85-'90's blades.
The early 00's blades are nice too because they were still neat & clean but after that sadly the 300 series blades started getting more rough & sloppy.

 

[bertl]

those are both what's known as a drawn swedge , while a Cut swedge has a plunge line like the swedge on the Camillus examples.

Could you give a little more explanation? I'm not a machinist.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Could you give a little more explanation? I'm not a machinist.

cut swedges with a plunge line.

And a drawn swedge.

I no longer have a Camillus made Buck to use as an example.

 

[bertl]

I no longer have a Camillus made Buck to use as an example.

Here is a Camillus 303.

I guess what I meant to ask, in terms of machining, what's the difference between "cut" and "drawn"?