305T4 ?

[Hickory n steel]

Again I had a great forum member give me a heads up on a 305 that I didn't see the last time I checked in on Ebay, this time a NIB 1989 305 in smooth red that I couldn't snatch up fast enough.

Does anybody know what the T4 on the box means ?
Usually I see RB for red bone, BB for Buckbone, ...etc but have no clue what that T4 could mean.

 

[bertl]

The "T4" designates the smooth red Delrin.

 

[Hickory n steel]

The "T4" designates the smooth red Delrin.

That makes sense and is what I kind of figured, but now I really just wanna know exactly what T4 means.
Is that really the name of the material?
maybe Dupont made the stuff and calls it T4 nylon or something like that?

Otherwise why not just 305RD or 305SRor something?

 

[bertl]

The T4 knives show up in the 1990 catalog described as "smooth red", but that's all it says about the handles.

Bert

 

[plb]

The new 300 series with smooth red handles first appeared in the 1990 catalog, the same year as the 305 Clippers. The Clippers all used the designation 305S1,2,3 etc... I'm guessing the "S" stood for scissors. With that letter used maybe Buck just picked "T" randomly.

 

[plb]

The "smooth" red-handled version of the 305 only appeared in the 1990 catalog. The 1991 and '92 catalogs describe the handles as '"textured", but retain the same 305T4 model designation.

Also, Buck reintroduced the clipper in 2011 as the Duet and changed the model number to 306.

 

[Hickory n steel]

So with an '89 date code on the blade, and the knives only being in the '90 catalog would you still consider it an '89 knife ?

I'd call it an '89 but don't know if they made the knives in '89 for the '90 sales year or used an existing '89 blade to build the knife in '90.

 

[Hickory n steel]

The "smooth" red-handled version of the 305 only appeared in the 1990 catalog. The 1991 and '92 catalogs describe the handles as '"textured", but retain the same 305T4 model designation.

Also, Buck reintroduced the clipper in 2011 as the Duet and changed the model number to 306.

Thanks for the info.

The duet is pretty hard to find, if I wanted one I'd get an original Clipper though.
I've heard some used Wenger scissors and poor performing scissors is a worry I've always had.
That is with Victorinox 58mm scissors being the gold standard anyways.

 

[DeSotoSky]

So with an '89 date code on the blade, and the knives only being in the '90 catalog would you still consider it an '89 knife ?

I'd call it an '89 but don't know if they made the knives in '89 for the '90 sales year or used an existing '89 blade to build the knife in '90.

Keep in mind that the "90 catalog is planned and printed in '89. Can't photograph a knife for the catalog that does not exist. It would not make sense for Buck to wait until January 1st to start making a new model. Need to have inventory to supply dealers and feed the hype. Knives with date codes preceding the catalog by a year are not uncommon.

 

[bertl]

I'd call it an '89 but don't know if they made the knives in '89 for the '90 sales year or used an existing '89 blade to build the knife in '90.

I think with most older Buck knives it's best to say "about" such and such a year.

 

[DeSotoSky]

Red Trivia. Buck made all 4 models (301, 303, 305,309) in smooth Delrin but the Red saw cut series omitted the 309.
I searched for a long time to fill the red sawcut 309 hole in my collection until I learned it was never made.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Red Trivia. Buck made all 4 models (301, 303, 305,309) in smooth Delrin but the Red saw cut series omitted the 309.
I searched for a long time to fill the red sawcut 309 hole in my collection until I learned it was never made.

Interesting.
I looked for a green Boone & Crockett 305 for awhile before learned that there wasn't one.

 

[plb]

So with an '89 date code on the blade, and the knives only being in the '90 catalog would you still consider it an '89 knife ?

I'd call it an '89 but don't know if they made the knives in '89 for the '90 sales year or used an existing '89 blade to build the knife in '90.

Here's an example when Buck showed the "2015 New this Year", red steel Compadre Froe with a 2014 date symbol. Back then, Buck didn't always photoshop out the date symbol, but seem to now. If someone has an original 1990 catalog, maybe they could make out what year is stamped on the smooth red 305 tang.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Keep in mind that the "90 catalog is planned and printed in '89. Can't photograph a knife for the catalog that does not exist. It would not make sense for Buck to wait until January 1st to start making a new model. Need to have inventory to supply dealers and feed the hype. Knives with date codes preceding the catalog by a year are not uncommon.

That makes perfect sense.

 

[Tecate]

If someone has an original 1990 catalog, maybe they could make out what year is stamped on the smooth red 305 tang.

I have the 1990 catalog. All 4 of smooth red handle knives pictured have the 1989 down caret symbol.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I have the 1990 catalog. All 4 of smooth red handle knives pictured have the 1989 down caret symbol.

That's good to know.

 

[Hickory n steel]

The new 300 series with smooth red handles first appeared in the 1990 catalog, the same year as the 305 Clippers. The Clippers all used the designation 305S1,2,3 etc... I'm guessing the "S" stood for scissors. With that letter used maybe Buck just picked "T" randomly.

I just noticed Buck using the term " traditional pocket knives " here all the way back in 1990, that's a term I tend to think of as being a bit more recent than that.
I wouldn't really think of it being used at a time before 90% of folding knives were some form of modern type with a thumb stud and pocket clip.

 

[SoDak81]

The new 300 series with smooth red handles first appeared in the 1990 catalog, the same year as the 305 Clippers. The Clippers all used the designation 305S1,2,3 etc... I'm guessing the "S" stood for scissors. With that letter used maybe Buck just picked "T" randomly.

Those old catalogs take me back!

 

[plb]

I just noticed Buck using the term " traditional pocket knives " here all the way back in 1990

By 1990, Buck's competitors were probably already touting some of their new features such as pocket clips, one hand opening with thumb studs or discs or holes in the blades and various lock designs as "Modern". So in order to differentiate the tried an true design of slip joint pocket knives, Buck began referring to their 300 series as traditional.