303 cadet

RescueRiley

RescueRiley

Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
5,944
Got one of these coming in the mail...I'm thnking about using it to replace my edc sak....I'm looking for a nice reliable little worker for edc and to handle the light stuff when I'm in the woods...(the stuff my machete can't handle) there' something nice about a little folder if it's right...does anyone have one of these?? is there any blade play??? how do you like it...
 
As eveyone here has read for more times than they care to, I have a buddy that guts his elk with one. Nice medium stockman, not too big in the pocket. I might agree with your statement, just change the machete to a good axe. Not much jungle in my parts. 300$s
 
Blade play? Yes, there will be blade play. I had a Buck Cadet years ago and it was perfect, but when I went to get one last year, they ALL had blade play. I didn;t understand it. I had seen a few of the chinese verion cadet's, and they were perfect, so I got excited and went to get the US version, and they were horrible. I mean, yeah they were sharp and all, but blade play and fit and finish were very shoddie. What happened to Buck's QC?
 
I have several 303 and it is one of my favorite pocket knives. Don't have a new one, other than a new red bone one made in China. It is well made. I have some older ones that are tight as can be and very well made. Get one from ebay or someplace that is a new-old-stock and you shoul have a fine pocket knife.
 
As many others have reminded in the past and as I have personally experienced, if you have issues with your Buck knife, give them a call and they will do there best to fix you up. I don't handle much new stuff, just the dinosaur versions, so can't make judgement on present situation. EXCEPT give them a chance to fix your problem:thumbup:.
 
I have had a 303 since the early 80's and have used it for everything from trimming materials at work that were to be used on aircraft to trimming bushes in the garden. That repeating question that you see every couple of months, "if you could only have one knife?" 303 for me.
 
I have many Buck knives and very few have blade play. Many knives made in the US by the major US manufacturers seem to have blade play even though they have substantial bolsters. However, I have never found a Victorinox or Wenger swiss army knife with blade play whether new or used. This is true even though they do not have bolsters of any kind. How do they do it and why can't US manufacturers?
 
I'm not sure, but I believe the secret to the SAK being tighter more consistently is the use of pins that are peened over (more like a rivet) rather than pins that are flush fitted. That being said, I usually EDC a Buck Cadet (current one is 2005, lost the one I since 1999) and a SAK Cadet or Soldier.I like the 303, but sometimes the springs are not what they should be (seems to be true of all producers but SAK right now). The only slipjoints I buy without handling first are SAKs as they have the most consistent QC.
 
I have a 303 with Pearl (Cracked Ice) handles from the California plant that has tight blades and great F&F. I highly recomend the 303.
 
Maybe I just got lucky, but my 303 has no blade play. The finish is decent but not great. This is a work knife, and its a keeper. I love the reconfiguration of the blades, the 3 back springs, and the low profile of the blades when closed.
 
This forum, in particular 300Bucks and friends, really got me hooked on the 303 and 301 models both. In particular the older ones from Camillus with the straight pull. Although I do have one of the special run 303's with jigged bone.

I've been a Buck fan since a youngster but when the Chinese versions came out, I kinda shyed away from Bucks for years, even though I've always preferred traditionals.

Started loitering here, learned a lot to try and catch up, asked a lot of dumb questions, and spent a bunch of money. Lol. But now I've enough 301 & 303 models to last through the coming apocalypse.

Recommend them whole heartily. The older models I mean. Not much experience with newer ones as far as QC. I do agree though to give a Buck a shot at making it right for you.
 
Yes, Joe you are in the 300 club now.

Let me do some forum communication for the benefit of a newer member. Toad, your comments are welcomed and please return often. Generally, most folks won't comment to a post in really old threads. Usually, if you want to make a comment on what you have read from past research or even bring some past text back up, just start a new thread and post the past quotes or talk about your past research and give your comments in a brand new thread. It seems more people are willing to post to the newer threads and you will get more return comments. Just a hint for the future.
300Bucks, Moderator
 
With the caveat that sometimes an old thread is so compelling that it needs to be revived (rarely).
 
Yes, this is true. But, don't bring forward a 10 year old 7 page thread. Make a new post and say what you have to say and then tell how helpful or interesting the old thread was and supply a link to it. People do that all the time.

The only thing bad for me is I go back and if I see a post I did in the old thread and then think how sappy was I back then....300

PS Yes,yes I know, what do I mean back then...ha, ha
 
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