So, my daughters and wife went out yesterday and bought me an early birthday present (won't age til next week). My wife went and had my youngest daughter pick out a knife for me. My older daughter picked out a Sapphire Blue Vic Classic when she was two, so now it was my young one's turn. She chose a Buck 371. I'd always wanted one. Had handled one a while back, and liked it better then the 301. Better fit and finish, better pull on the springs, better looking. However, I always thought it was too big. As a member of the cult, I was used to EDCing a Peanut, so the 371 seemed huge to me. Heck, the Cadet seemed like a big knife. However, like I said, I have handled one, and it felt really good in hand. Well, now I have one, and I have to say, while it is the largest traditional I have ever had, it feels really good in my pocket!! It's is not the brick I thought it would be. I was planning on using a small belt sheath for it, but dropped it in my pocket and figured I'd just deal with it. Like I said, it was a pleasant surprise. something about it's build that makes it really comfortable. Maybe it's the bandana that cushions it, I don't know, but it works. Feels better in my pocket then my Cadet. Blades came razor sharp, and it fills my hand nicely. It will take some getting used to, carrying a knife this size, but so far, I like it.
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A pleasant surprise!!
- Thread starter Voltron
- Start date
Campbellclanman
Platinum Member
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Thats a VERY cool surprise!, I just may show my lady this story, and see if she gets the hint 
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2011
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Mine was very difficult to sharpen, so keep it stropped!
It's a good knife, enjoy it.
It's a good knife, enjoy it.
- Joined
- May 7, 2011
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Congrats for your new knife! I'm sure that, even if it might be big for you 8compared to what you are used to), it will find its place in your pockets due to the emotional value 
Fausto
Fausto
10-4 to that, quattromori. It will definitely get ride time due to it's sentimentality. However, like I said, for as big as it is, it rides really well!! I'm stupified. 300Bucks, I was thinking of making one of those too, but now I don't know. I'll have to wait and see if it is needed. And JK, yeah, hard to beat a Buck. The steel (it's not HC, it's J something or other) is not too bad so far. Granted, I am not a steel snob. As long as it is functional, and ease to sharpen (ease of sharpening is more important then edge retention to me), it's all good. This stuff works just fine.
I think Buck hit on a stroke of genius when designing the 301. MOst stockmen were either smaller, like the 3 1/4 size, or bigger like the 4 1/4 Case large stockman. At 3 7/8ths, they hit on an oddball size that's neither too small for real work, or too big to ride in dockers or jeans. At the time Buck came out with the 301, the 3 7/8th was a weird size. Now of course, history shows how popular these knives were from 1967 on to today. I'd like to know out of curiosity how many 301's Buck makes per year. A goodly number I guess.
Even today as used to a peanut as I've become, my old 301 still feels okay to me. Yeah, it's more of handful than my usual edc, but not too bad. On the other hand, my friend Danny, still carries a 307 after all these years. Of course, Danny is 6 foot 4 inches with ham size hands. But the 307 feels like a brick to me. You wouldn't think a fraction of an inch would make such a huge difference, but it does.
Carl.
silenthunterstudios
Slipjoint Addict
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2005
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- 20,039
I have gifted a lot of 301's and 303's. Great knives. My favorite Buck is my 301X bone scale model. After my father lost his Winchester single spey blade trapper I got him(his BIG knife as he calls it, he found it), he borrowed my regular 301. Hasn't given it up since.
You know, guys? I have read how bad this 420Js stuff was, how it was hard to sharpen, and didn't hold an edge, but I have to tell you, it's worked fine for me! It sharpens up about as easily as a SAK, which is good, as ease of sharpening is way better then edge retention for me. And edge retention? Haven't noticed any noticeable difference between it and my Case Peanut. This stuff may not be a supersteel, but the 420Js is ok by me. Functional, low maintenance, and gets the job done. I'm really loving this knife.
I have no doubt at all that your Buck will serve you well for many years to come. It may not be made of the latest wonder steel of the month, it may not cleave an attacking zombi in half with a single slash. But, it will open boxes from the big brown truck, or the white one, deal with food stuff, open mail, cut twine to rope, clean a fish, whittle, or just about anything you need to do in the real world. It's too bad that some people get to hung up on the afor mentioned wonder steel of the month. They will miss out on using some nice edc knives.
Snobbery is not a nice thing. Too often it blinds us to what we really need, and what really works. Car snobbery, motorcycle snobbery, gun snobbery, beer snobbery, just not good. If 99.8% of the rest of the people in the world who are not knife knits, get by just fine using a non wonder steel, maybe even a homemade knife from some scrap metal, a Buck is an unbelievable luxurious step up to a wonder knife. It's all perspective. I had a friend who is a car snob. If it ain't a high end German one, it's trash for the unwashed masses. So of course, when we take his car to go someplace, I rib him with no mercy. As we creep along in traffic, I'll point out the window, and tell him "Look at that! That Honda Civic is keeping up with you perfectly." He gets miffed, but no matter. If Leonard thinks anything but a Porshe is junk, he's free to think so, but he's gonna miss some good cars that way. It's all personal perspective.
I think 420J is probably used in more knives produced world wide, and used in some very far off harsh places, than almost any other wonder steel. I don't think some Siberian trapper, or Italian Olive grove worker, or Brazilian construction worker in a jungle settlement cares what the knife is made of. He only cares that it cuts, and when it doesn't cut, it can be sharpened quickly and easily.
Let's see the wonder steel sharpen up on the bottom of a coffee mug in two minutes.
Carl.
Well, been using the knife now for over a week, and I am loving it. The steel is working very well, as good as a SAK, which to me is the most functional steel out there. Not the best at anyone particular aspect, but the best in over all functionality. The Buck with 420j is working just fine, and I have not babied it. I guess the fact that I strop ALL my blades at night means I never really get to see any big difference, as they are always sharp. LOL. The Buck 371 is one heck of a nice, classy, and rugged knife.
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