303: Weak springs - can they be fixed?

[sharkattacksw]

I recently got (2) 303 Cadets. One has decent ‘snap’ when opening and closing the blades, and the other, well, not so much.

Can the ‘snap’ be improved if I send the knife to Buck?

Thanks to anyone who can help.

 

[JD Bear]

From what I've heard, that's more of a "preference" issue and not a "defect". We might not like the weak springs, but it doesn't change the overall function of the knife...so it's not really a warranty situation. I may not be 100% right, but the springs on the 300 series have been discussed before and that's always been the the general idea....

 

[bertl]

What are the dates for the two knives?

Bert

 

[Lesknife]

With my newer 303 and 301 knives were like that but after washing them in warm soapy water cycling them while submerged , rinse and dry then some mineral oil some more cycles and they are smooth and the snap is just right. They aren’t alligators but I don’t like nail breaking springs anyway. I think fine grinding particles from finishing at the factory get in the pivot and between the springs and causes binding of the moving parts. Just don’t soak for to long and dry them quickly to prevent swelling of handle materials if they aren’t stabilized materials.

 

[300Bucks]

Would give all of us some additional guidance to know if they are "old" or new made. In all the new models the intense cleaning as suggested is always a first option. 300

 

[sharkattacksw]

The knife in question is a 2018 model.

 

[Brhowser87]

You might want to give it a good cleaning as suggested. I'm no expert on Bucks traditionals but they tend to leave the factory with the black polishing gunk in all the creveces.