After Long Search...Finally Decided on a Buck 301 Stockman

R

Redhat

Joined
Nov 15, 2005
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well after a long search for a decent traditional pocket knife, I finally ordered a Buck Stockman. Nothing fancy, just the black handled version that I'm looking to carry for daily use.

Since Buck doesn't currently make a US version of the trapper, I tried Case...and what a adventure that turned into. The first I got had a grinding sound when the blade was opened. I returned that one for another which did not have the same problem but the edge on the spey blade was visibly off center...sheesh. So I went home to Buck...who needs pretty handles and shiny blades on a working knife anyway...what was I thinking! I looked hard at their two blade models but passed because the size / length was a bit under what I wanted and I also like a handle big enough for me to grab on to. Then it came down to the Cadet or Stockman...now I'm just hoping it won't be too bulky for comfortable pocket carry.
 
Think I will jump in this thread with a comment.

Redhat, I hope you get a perfect knife.

But, your Case experience and the fact we "order" our knives now leads me to want the days of past where we went to a 'real' store (hardware, sporting goods or farm) to buy a new knife. Likely, after we had eye-balled them over a couple of times at other visits. We could take it out of the box, check the blade grinds, look for cracks, see how the blades folded and THEN handed over our hard earned cash. As you can see I miss the days where we bought most things after 'kicking the tires' ,about all we get to do now is look on the box to see which overseas country it was made in.

I have had some places where "orders" are checked out before shipping and some where they aren't. The durn clear clam packs are highly disliked by numbers of people and that includes myself. In my senile mind I still hold a mental picture, from several years ago, of a certain knife store up near Branson, MO where they let me look in every one of the three dozen Vantage boxes they had in stock for just the right knife. An act that is becoming more rare every day. Good luck with your order. 300
 
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Redhat said:
I finally ordered a Buck Stockman. Nothing fancy, just the black handled version...
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That's the beauty of the standard 300 Series, they're not fancy! :thumbup:

Redhat said:
now I'm just hoping it won't be too bulky for comfortable pocket carry.
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I don't find it bulky at all. I think you're gonna love it. Congrats!
 
300Bucks said:
Think I will jump in this thread with a commen

But, your Case experience and the fact we "order" our knives now leads me to want the days of past where we went to a 'real' store (hardware, sporting goods or farm) to buy a new knife. Likely, after we had eye-balled them over a couple of times at other visits. We could take it out of the box, check the blade grinds, look for cracks, see how the blades folded and THEN handed over our hard earned cash. As you can see I miss the days where we bought most things after 'kicking the tires' ,about all we get to do now is look on the box to see which overseas country it was made in.

300, I agree 100% on that, a lot of times you were able to pick your perfect knife and talk to some very knowledgeable knife guys. Sometimes the info was more valuable than the knife.
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300Bucks said:
Think I will jump in this thread with a comment.

Redhat, I hope you get a perfect knife.

But, your Case experience and the fact we "order" our knives now leads me to want the days of past where we went to a 'real' store (hardware, sporting goods or farm) to buy a new knife. Likely, after we had eye-balled them over a couple of times at other visits. We could take it out of the box, check the blade grinds, look for cracks, see how the blades folded and THEN handed over our hard earned cash. As you can see I miss the days where we bought most things after 'kicking the tires' ,about all we get to do now is look on the box to see which overseas country it was made in.

I have had some places where "orders" are checked out before shipping and some where they aren't. The durn clear clam packs are highly disliked by numbers of people and that includes myself. In my senile mind I still hold a mental picture, from several years ago, of a certain knife store up near Branson, MO where they let me look in every one of the three dozen Vantage boxes they had in stock for just the right knife. An act that is becoming more rare every day. Good luck with your order. 300
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Yep that's the big lesson I learned...at least with Case I won't buy another unless I can handle it first. Now in general, even though I live in a big city, there still aren't that many places where you can look them over and where you can, the prices are quite a bit higher than on-line. So I can either spend more that way or take my chances ordering it seems.
 
I am not knocking Case, but they are really geared towards the collector and not the user nor the aficionado. Hence, they more often than not have QC problems, but who cares if all someone is doing is looking at a folded pretty knife? I think you made a great choice with the 301. It is not too big but you can get a good handle on it. Next try a svelte 302.

BTW, if you look, you can find some mighty pretty 301's out there (stag, bone, etc.).
 
Everyone knows I like Case and Buck. (I do have more Bucks than Case)

I'll be honest I have issues with almost every knife company somewhere along the way. A few years ago I had to send a couple of Cases in for grind issues. I've seen a few Bucks here with issues. I have even seen issues with high end knives. A couple of years I ordered a $300 limited editon micarta handled Fallkniven F1. It had a gap between the bolster and handle. I sent it back. The replacement had the same issue. So I didn't buy that model again but do own two of their knives that are top notch.

While these companies shouldn't let these things slide out the door sometimes they do.

I guess why I'm saying this is don't let a couple bad experiences with any company completely turn you off. Look how often someone gets on here and complains about Buck's QC.
 
300Bucks said:
Think I will jump in this thread with a comment.

But, your Case experience and the fact we "order" our knives now leads me to want the days of past where we went to a 'real' store (hardware, sporting goods or farm) to buy a new knife. Likely, after we had eye-balled them over a couple of times at other visits. We could take it out of the box, check the blade grinds, look for cracks, see how the blades folded and THEN handed over our hard earned cash. As you can see I miss the days where we bought most things after 'kicking the tires' ,about all we get to do now is look on the box to see which overseas country it was made in.

300
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I honestly hate ordering just about any knives anymore. Whats sad is sometimes The clerks at some of the bigger stores seem to get a little aggravated when you look at several knives. This wouldn't be a issue except certain models "AG" can only be found certain places. :)
 
kyhunt said:
Everyone knows I like Case and Buck. (I do have more Bucks than Case)

I'll be honest I have issues with almost every knife company somewhere along the way. A few years ago I had to send a couple of Cases in for grind issues. I've seen a few Bucks here with issues. I have even seen issues with high end knives. A couple of years I ordered a $300 limited editon micarta handled Fallkniven F1. It had a gap between the bolster and handle. I sent it back. The replacement had the same issue. So I didn't buy that model again but do own two of their knives that are top notch.

While these companies shouldn't let these things slide out the door sometimes they do.

I guess why I'm saying this is don't let a couple bad experiences with any company completely turn you off. Look how often someone gets on here and complains about Buck's QC.
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What really got me was when I called Case about the first one with the grinding blade...they told me 4-6 weeks to fix it. And BTW, I didn't say I was completely turned off...just that if I purchase another in the future, I'll only do so if I can handle it first. FWIW, I have never had a Buck so messed up I wanted to send it back. Mind you, I'm not picky about little gaps or other small flaws, but on a functional level, I expect things to be right.
 
Redhat, 4 to 6 weeks does seem pretty steep. Also please don't take my statements personal. I see a lot of people get bad knives and they seem to get turned completely off. If I came across personal I really didn't mean too,
 
When thinking back at the earlier days for me when I was trapping and skinning hundreds of animals each winter some in the field and some in the garage at home and spending 30 seconds sharpening every now and than because I needed to get back to skinning. I looked at the knives in the display case at the local feed and seed store or hardware store and would pick one that had the blade shape I liked and I would buy it. Never would even think of looking at blade grinds, if a blade was a tad off center, or if the fit and finish was not quite perfect. I only cared about the blade shape and size and would buy and use it until there was no blade left. Now with all the hype of blades off center on $30 and $40 knives and the grinds being perfect I don't know what to think. Show and collectors knives are a different story. They are for looking nice and being as close to perfect as possible. I have many knives that fit into that category and am fairly picky about them but they cost quite a bit more than the standard pocked knife. The ones I carry including the one in my pocked right now I don't even think I ever looked at the grinds, centering, or fit & finish. It just does not matter to me when it comes down to opening that cardboard box or skinning the next deer. This is just my view on knives but to each his own. What is right for me may not be what is right for someone else so I still believe if you personally are not happy with a knife for one reason or another than try and work it out with the seller / manufacturer or get a different knife that fits what you are looking for.
 
kyhunt said:
Redhat, 4 to 6 weeks does seem pretty steep. Also please don't take my statements personal. I see a lot of people get bad knives and they seem to get turned completely off. If I came across personal I really didn't mean too,
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Nope not at all...just didn't want anyone to mistake where I was coming from.
 
301 is a great choice. I carried mine for 9 month give er take, till.I had to fly over to Idaho.
It will go back in my pocket when I get home.
 
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