373 question.

T

Tracks

Joined
Feb 7, 2010
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Just picked up a lil Trio 373 chinese made. Is the 303 Cadet the exact knife but U.S. made? Also I heard somewhere that the hammer and knife logo is being discontinued. Anyone? Sorry for my newbiness.
 
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Tracks,

303 Cadet in black sawcut Valox scale is USA made version of the 3 blade imported stockman, actually visa-versa. Other more "recently" introduced versions of same size and design are in Dymondwood scale, Red cherry laminate scale and yellow valox scale. These new versions have riveted on scales and glued on 'new' style blue escutcheon plates. Bolsters have been rounded on ends instead of squarish.

The old sawcut verions 'plates' are actually intergal to the liner and the black sawcut scale is pressed over riser and beside bolsters .

More than you wanted to know ?..........300Bucks

Here is stripped off scale of the sawcut version. Note escutcheon plate riser, but note liners are pre-drilled so warm plastic can flow thru holes and grab on to liners along with spring rivet holding down also.
Shieldcloseup.jpg


Here is newest yellow scale with new 'blue' plate. My favorite so far, but I do like the really light colored dymondwood for some reason.
But you have to go to a store and dig thru the boxes to find them. you won't be clerks friend.
Yellow301frnt.jpg


Heres example of Dymondwood scales in smaller models. These are medium colored, I didn't dig thru boxes for these, I like them in lighter grey colored Dymondwood.
300Change.jpg


Here is Cherrywood chairman series.
301cherrysideview-1.jpg


And last is the newest limited edition Paperstone scale version. If I can ever find one of these cheap may have to carry it awhile to see if can beat out the yellow scale.
BandCcloseup4.jpg
.
 
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Fritz,

A few. Imported versions I have handled have been of excellent fit and finish. Of the few I have, my favorites were the very first version marked 303 on the tang and a two bladed limited edition trapper in nice looking jigged bone. I gave my first trapper away and have never been able to find one with same jigged bone color....

I will have to bone up on them, unless I can find an expert out-there, to speak about them at SMKWs seminars. Any volunteers?
300Bucks

ChinaBuckFront-1-1.jpg
 
Tracks said:
Just picked up a lil Trio 373 chinese made. Is the 303 Cadet the exact knife but U.S. made? Also I heard somewhere that the hammer and knife logo is being discontinued. Anyone? Sorry for my newbiness.
Click to expand...

Not the exact same knives but very similar. The 303 has different scale and blade material (Valox vs "Woodgrain" and 420HC vs 420J2) plus the shields are different. The size is the same, but it appears that the main blades have a little different shape.
 
Thanks a lot 300! Great explanation and great pics! I really want to get more of these knives. I wanted a US version but didn't have the patience to order one and all that is available at my local sporting goods store is imports so I just picked one up in the mean time. Cherrywood looks awesome.
 
Plumberdv said:
Not the exact same knives but very similar. The 303 has different scale and blade material (Valox vs "Woodgrain" and 420HC vs 420J2) plus the shields are different. The size is the same, but it appears that the main blades have a little different shape.
Click to expand...

Oh ok I see. Haven't seen a 303 in person yet, looking forward to getting one.
 
Some of them 300s have a spay blade that you use on a cow with the bloat.You stick em in the side to let out the gas.:D
 
300Bucks said:
Fritz,

A few. Imported versions I have handled have been of excellent fit and finish. Of the few I have, my favorites were the very first version marked 303 on the tang and a two bladed limited edition trapper in nice looking jigged bone. I gave my first trapper away and have never been able to find one with same jigged bone color....

I will have to bone up on them, unless I can find an expert out-there, to speak about them at SMKWs seminars. Any volunteers?
300Bucks

ChinaBuckFront-1-1.jpg
Click to expand...

Great pics as always Craig, I didnt think you had boycotted the imports but couldnt really remember you posting any. Athough with all your pics and my small mind I cant remember a bunch of em. I try and just keep a highlite reel:D
 
Tracks, I understand having stores few and far between. Think about becoming a member of Buck Collectors club. There are some ways you can get ALL the Buck models with discounts that make them very close to discount store costs. Check out the website. Ask some questions.

http://www.buckcollectorsclub.org/Login.aspx

Fritz,
Your lookin' at my whole collection......like I said the fit and finish are great if the J2 steel is good our home boys have stiff competition .
I live in the origins of the Walmart monster and I understand that part also ( have even shook the hand of Sam Walton). Buck has to survive in the current economy. Sorta like sell a million 20 dollar knives with a 25cent profit and use money to keep US factory going.
I want Buck to survive these times but to do good to as many American people and workers as they can.
I wear an American flag on my lapel every Sunday and am willing to let them do all there business with the promised goal of always improving home court advantages ........ nuff said........thread is about comparison of imports and USA knives not about politics of our country and the world.

300Bucks
 
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Thank you for the terrific information 300 Bucks. As always you have proven to be a wealth of information, and I very much appreciate it. HL
 
Great lay out and supporting info. 300 . Just on your writings I purchased two of the Chairman of the Board series and a paper stone model, the bolsters are different . They were just for gifts but nice knives . Someone at Buck must have studied Emerson Case's work as he was a for runner on the use of valox and cryogenics . Good reading . DM
 
Just got a current dealer catalog and I can see the differences between the Chinese (Value) 373 and the U.S. 303 models now. Only thing is that the model I bought is not in the 2010 catalog. My model (373 Trio) has the "Classic Bolt" logo, woodgrain, and 440C steel. The new 373 imports in the catalog have the Buck logo inlay, woodgrain, and the 420 J2 steel. Perhaps I lucked out with the steel and got one of the last 440C imports. All of the U.S. models in the catalog have 420HC steel and either the anvil inlay, Chuck Buck sig, or the classic bolt inlay.
 
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Tracks said:
Just got a current dealer catalog and I can see the differences between the Chinese (Value) 373 and the U.S. 303 models now. Only thing is that the model I bought is not in the 2010 catalog. My model (373 Trio) has the "Classic Bolt" logo and 440C steel. The new 373 imports in the catalog have the Buck logo inlay and the 420 J2 steel. Perhaps I lucked out with the steel and got one of the last 440C imports. All of the U.S. models in the catalog have 420HC steel and either the anvil inlay or the classic bolt inlay.
Click to expand...

The "bolt" shield was on the ones in the 2008 catalog and that's the last time is said they were 420HC. When did they have 440C blades?
 
Tracks, you won't regret it . I've bought some others memberships as a gift and they're still collecting Bucks . DM
 
Tracks said:
Just got a current dealer catalog and I can see the differences between the Chinese (Value) 373 and the U.S. 303 models now. Only thing is that the model I bought is not in the 2010 catalog. My model (373 Trio) has the "Classic Bolt" logo, woodgrain, and 440C steel. The new 373 imports in the catalog have the Buck logo inlay, woodgrain, and the 420 J2 steel. Perhaps I lucked out with the steel and got one of the last 440C imports. All of the U.S. models in the catalog have 420HC steel and either the anvil inlay, Chuck Buck sig, or the classic bolt inlay.
Click to expand...

I checked the catalogs and they were brought out in 2006 (in the catalog) and the steel was 420HC in 2006, 08,and 09. There's no mention of 440C anywhere. there should be a date stamp next to the 373 on the tang which will tell you what year it was made.
 
Plumberdv said:
The "bolt" shield was on the ones in the 2008 catalog and that's the last time is said they were 420HC. When did they have 440C blades?
Click to expand...

Not sure. The arrow points up next to Buck on blade. Isn't that 2008 as well? I googled em as "buck 373 440C" and there are still a bunch available for sale online. The blades do not say 440c just China and Buck. The package it came in reads "440C Blade Steel for extra edge retention" followed by "Woodgrain handles showcase Classic Bolt logo". I paid like 18 dollars for it.
 
Tracks said:
Not sure. The arrow points up next to Buck on blade. Isn't that 2008 as well? I googled em as "buck 373 440C" and there are still a bunch available for sale online. The blades do not say 440c just China and Buck. The package it came in reads "440C Blade Steel for extra edge retention" followed by "Woodgrain handles showcase Classic Bolt logo". I paid like 18 dollars for it.
Click to expand...

That would be 2008 then. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=716179

Is the paperwork from Buck? I'm betting the seller made a mistake.:confused:
 
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