3 and 1/4 inch.

[Will Power]

The Peanut offers sterling service certainly.

But for general food prep esp loaf slicing, I find the Sodbuster Jr excells. Blade and handle ratio are just right and being single blade, there is somehow more leverage because of the slimness. Just used this knife during the week-end where I found myself having to slice fruits,salami, cheese,cut a loaf, spread pate and it worked a treat.

Few weeks ago, some people dropped in quite late, I opened some red wine, offered pears,kiwis, cheeses and salamis. I wanted to put a little used and elegant knife on the table (these are people who know little about knives) I chose a CASE Saddlehorn in Bonestag. It not only worked well but was very much liked by my guests, again the handle blade ration is really good. Not an EDC knife perhaps, but one that is unjustly neglected in my view, looks really well on a dining table or wooden cutting board. A vote also goes out to a Bark River I recently got : Mini Northstar fixed stainless, excellent for food tasks and the sheathes are more compact and appealing than they used to be.

 

[okBookGuy]

Jackknife, is that Buck Cadet the 303 model? Are the blades mounted on 3 separate springs or does the clip blade share a spring?

I've got a friend who has one like what you're describing but its got 3 springs. I'm not sure but are these still in 420 high carbon or are these now made over seas in stainless??

One last one: How does the schrade peanut compare to the case peanut?

Thanks!

 

[jackknife]

Jackknife, is that Buck Cadet the 303 model? Are the blades mounted on 3 separate springs or does the clip blade share a spring?

I've got a friend who has one like what you're describing but its got 3 springs. I'm not sure but are these still in 420 high carbon or are these now made over seas in stainless??

One last one: How does the schrade peanut compare to the case peanut?

Thanks!

1. The cadet is indeed the number 303. The one I have belonged to a friend and co-worker and I think it may date from the early 70's. It has just two backsprings, one for the main clip, and the other for the spey and sheepsfoot. I think the new ones went to a three spring set up for some reason.

2. To my knowledge Buck is still making the 303 here in the states with 420HC heat treated by Paul Bos. They do have a Chinese line for sale at Walmart, but the 303 and 301 are still made in America.

3. I never owned much of Schrade's stuff, so I can't tell you. But I can tell you that I consider the Case peanut to be a very good piece of pocket hardware. It will do work out of proportion to it's size.

 

[Bob W]

At 3 1/4 inches it seems to be a very nice all around size for a pocket knife.

I agree, anywhere from 3" - 3-1/2" is the perfect size for pocket carry and everyday use,Anything smaller and it becomes more of a novelty or dress occation knife. Much larger and it crosses the line to "implement" or "work tool."

Come to think of it, most of my favorite knives, from vintage Bruckmann senators to the Schrade 34OT, are all in this size range.

 

[mnblade]

1. The cadet is indeed the number 303. The one I have belonged to a friend and co-worker and I think it may date from the early 70's. It has just two backsprings, one for the main clip, and the other for the spey and sheepsfoot. I think the new ones went to a three spring set up for some reason.

2. To my knowledge Buck is still making the 303 here in the states with 420HC heat treated by Paul Bos. They do have a Chinese line for sale at Walmart, but the 303 and 301 are still made in America.

The 303 you have from the '70s was actually produced by Camillus, who produced all of Buck's 300 series knives for many years. I don't know the exact year off hand, but when Buck started producing the 300 series in house, they went to the three-spring design. You're indeed correct that the 300 series knives are still made in the U.S.