301 handles...

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Psychopomp

Joined
Feb 21, 2005
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2,662
Greetins all.

I'm thinking about getting a 301, but would really like to have natural scales without resorting to the Chinese 371. But, if the plastic scales are durable, I'll get one. What's everyone's opinion?

I have nothing against the Chinese made knives, they look really nice... but if it's gonna be a Buck, it'll have to be American made.
 
Truth be told, those black handles are probably as durable (if not MORE SO) than any natural handle. Go for it...... Great knives.
 
Psychopomp said:
if the plastic scales are durable, I'll get one. What's everyone's opinion?
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I have a 1987 one that someone was going to throw away, main blade was broke off at the tip and the bolsters on both ends were sprung from being used to pry stuff up. I reshaped the tip and reset the pins on each end and made a great user out of it. The Delrin scales even after all the abuse this knife had seen, still look perfect. It's pretty tough stuff.
 
ok guys, I'm sold. I'll be ordering from New Graham this afternoon.

I've wanted a good traditional knife to throw into my EDC for a long time now, and my 110s see some carry, but I don't like too many things on my belt. This'll fit nicely when my Endura or Sebenza may be either too big or not sheeple friendly (you'd be surprised how many people a plain, old Sebenza will scare).

EDIT: I couldn't wait. It's ordered and on its way. I went with standard shipping, which is probably as fast as anything else considering the distance (last time I ordered from New Graham, standard shipping took three days, and that order was placed late at night). I can't wait :D . Christmas is coming.
 
I cant think of a single 300 series knife that ever came in to the rework department with a black delrin inlay that fell off.
Got pried off, smashed off, run over by a car and broke off, shot off, twisted in half and popped off maybe but never, "fell off". due to any weakness in the material.
The worst i have seen under the category of normal wear and tear is on knives from the late 1960's when we first introduced the 301. On knives that old it is common to see the saw cut design finally wearing off.
Pretty tough stuff!
 
Joe Houser said:
I cant think of a single 300 series knife that ever came in to the rework department with a black delrin inlay that fell off.
Got pried off, smashed off, run over by a car and broke off, shot off, twisted in half and popped off maybe but never, "fell off". due to any weakness in the material.
The worst i have seen under the category of normal wear and tear is on knives from the late 1960's when we first introduced the 301. On knives that old it is common to see the saw cut design finally wearing off.
Pretty tough stuff!
Click to expand...

it should be here early next week and I'm looking forward to it. So the scales are delrin? Everywhere just says "plastic" which to me can mean anything from plastic that toys are made from, to tough stuff like delrin, kydex and zytel.

I've got a Camillus with delrin scales dated 1967 and for all that's wrong with the knife, the scales look brand new... so I'm happy with my decision.

I can't wait to get it and throw it into my EDC rotation.
 
If it's delrin, it's very tough stuff. I like the 300 series knives. Very cool modern/classic look. I prefer the seamless bolster/liner design to the regular stacked liner/bolster of the Chinese models anyway. The whole thing just looks better, plus the "saw cut" design always looked good to me.

Hey Joe and other Buck folks...
I would really like a 300-series the size of the 301 but with only the large main blade and a second smaller blade (probably sheepsfoot). 3 blades makes the knife too thick for my taste in a pocket carrying knife, plus it looks like with 3 blades you have to make the third stick way out to be openable, but then the tip is out past the handle. 2 blades is my favorite, and I like how the 300 series gives each blade its own spring.

I have a Lancer which I love but I want a bigger one. The Companion is still not big enough. Full size and 2 blades would be perfect.
 
Can't help it, Gotta throw in a 2 pesos about the old handles. In my case it is a 303 no dot, no year code, that I don't rightly remember where I got it.

All 3 blades are sharpened to probably 60% remaining with the rear blade broke.

But in the talk about delrin it looks as if someone used the back scale to lay a soldering iron on. Yeah,, the hot end. There are 3 or 4 grooves that a soldering iron is all I can figure. Very well may have been something my father would do.

But aside from that. The handles are rock solid and looks like the soldering iron didn't even burn half way. If that is what caused the groves.

Talk about character. Just thought I would throw that out. If only they could talk.
 
LFH said:
Talk about character. Just thought I would throw that out. If only they could talk.
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I'm getting excited about it now. The waiting game usually doesn't bother me, but I really wanna get this thing and throw it in my pocket as soon as possible and start sharpening sticks and whatnot. My whittling skills aren't up to snuff yet, so all I'm good at is sharpening sticks.
 
It would seem that UPS doesn't even bother to knock anymore. I hoped that it would come before I left for work so I could carry it today but no one ever knocked at the door. So I left for work around 2:30 to find a little box from New Graham sitting on my door step.

My friend got up around 8, I couldn't sleep well lastnight so I managed to somehow sleep until 1. I turned around and held the box up and said "when did this come?" She shrugged. So unless the UPS guy came before 8am, he didn't knock because she had been up all morning.

It's bad enough that they don't wait for you to answer the door, but not even knocking? Whatever... I have my new toy.

First impressions... the springs aren't as strong as I had expected; they hold the knife open solidly with no blade play in any direction, but they're not as snappy as I expected. Other than that, this thing is razor sharp; all three blades slice free hanging news paper with no snagging or tearing... one of the sharpest I've ever had out of the box.

My major concern was the handle scales, and I actually like them a lot. They may not be as pretty as natural scales, but they seem like they'll hold up for a long time.

I'm gonna leave my Endura at home tomorrow and try just the 301 and see how it feels. With both of them today, I just instinctively grabbed the Endura because it was there.
 
Joe Houser said:
I cant think of a single 300 series knife that ever came in to the rework department with a black delrin inlay that fell off.
Click to expand...
I agree, it is pretty tough stuff. I also have some older ones with bone handles. Do you still make some with bone handles?
 
Peter,
At present, the 300 series knives are only made in the composition plastic. A few years back (circa 1998), Buck did a run of them in jigged brown bone with limited edition medallions on one side. They still show up at knife shows and on eBay and occasionally on consignment lists. A JB suffix after the model number signifies these models.
Prior to that, Buck did another type of jigged brown bone that was also outstanding. These knives had no medallion and the suffix was BB after the model number. WIthout looking it up, they came out about 1990. I think Buck kept them in the catalog for two, perhaps three years.
 
Larry;
Thanks. I have two jigged brown handles that I got in 2000 or so and they match your describtion of the ones made in 98. I also have a 300 series David Yellowhorse trapper from 96 and I know they don't make those anymore, but I did see a couple of 300 series out in Jackson, WY this June that had handles made with semi-precious stone just like my Yellowhorse, so I guess they still make some unusal handles, well maybe someone buys the 300 and makes new handles for them.
 
Peter78,
The 300 series knives you describe with precious stones are likely after-market models done by Sante Fe Stoneworks.
Larry
 
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