700 vs 300 series quality questions

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austin37

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Wondering how the 700 vs 300 series quality compare? Say the 705 vs 303 for example. If you could only have one. Yes I know the 700 discontinued
 
The 705 is quite a bit smaller than the 303 and it only has two blades. Among those two, I would choose the 303 because it's more in my size range. I do however, have a fond attraction to the 700 series knives. I like the handle shapes better and I like the blades better too.

With that in mind, you can't beat the construction of the Black Sawcut 303's. With those you can abandon any concerns about the handle slabs or the shield becoming detached from the knife under virtually any circumstances. They are on there to stay. That cannot be said about the 700 series.
 
So between the current offered 303 Velox and Rosewood.. would you say the velox would hold up better to wear n tear and have better texture grip?
 
Yes, I would personally agree with that but it’s really not about the material used. It’s how the handle slabs are attached as opposed to those on the Rosewood models.

I don’t know how to post a link on my phone and I don’t currently have access to my pictures but if you’ve ever seen a Black Sawcut 303 disassembled, you know what I’m trying to describe.
 
Railsplitter said:
you can't beat the construction of the Black Sawcut 303's. With those you can abandon any concerns about the handle slabs or the shield becoming detached from the knife under virtually any circumstances. They are on there to stay.
Click to expand...
No kidding! It's like someone at Buck heard the debate between pinned vs. glued shields and thought "Let's do one better."
 
austin37, both the 301 and 303 stockman knives made in Idaho have the same construction. The bolsters, liners and shield are cast in one piece. At least, I think they're cast and not machined. However, the text in the attachment you found is wrong. They're made out of nickel silver, not steel. The 500 series MIGHT be made the same way, but I don't know. Hopefully one our Buck gurus will chime in.
 
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marantz said:
austin37, both the 301 and 303 stockman knives made in Idaho have the same construction. The bolsters, liners and shield are cast in one piece. At least, I think they're cast and not machined. However, the text in the attachment you found is wrong. They're made out of nickel silver, not steel. The 500 series MIGHT be made the same way, but I don't know. Hopefully one our Buck gurus will chime in.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the correction!!
 
700 series vs 300 series ?
That kind of depends.

I absolutely prefer the 305 lancer to the 705 pony, however between the 2 single blade knives of each series I prefer the 704 maverick to the 302 solo.
They aren't equivalent knives because the 704 is smaller, but single blade vs single blade I'll take the 704 which happens to be one of my favorite Bucks.
These are slipjoint pocket knives, durability isn't much of a concern and practically speaking they're equal.


I like that the 700 series is very uniquely Buck and you can instantly recognize the " Buck knife " DNA in them known to the 110, but what I don't like about most of them is the crooked hollow grind.
I have yet to turn up an explanation for this, but I looks like the blades had to be held at an angle to the grinder for some unfathomable reason.
I'm not really into stockman so I don't exactly have experience with the entirety of either series but there's a model from each series that I really love.


I would tell you to acquire 1 of each in which ever size you're after and decide which you prefer, because it's mostly aesthetics ergonomics, and blade profiles.
305 & 705, 309 & 709, 301 & 701, 303 & 703...etc.
The 704 is the only one without a direct counterpart in the 300 series.
 
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