Are these normal for a 301?

S

Sword and Shield

Joined
Apr 3, 2004
Messages
3,536
I just got a new 301 from Knifecenter, and had a few concerns...

First off, the spey blade sits proud of the liners, with the point about 2.5mm above. It can't cut me when using the other blades, but looks unusual. Is this just how Buck does theirs?

Second, have a look at this.

Staining.jpg


There's a stain on the sheepsfoot blade, about the same brownish color that I see when polishing too aggresively. It looks, in all honesty, like a small burn mark. Should I be concerned?

Love my 112 and 450, just want to make sure these aren't major problems.
 
"...the spey blade sits proud of the liners..."
Wow, I'd never noticed that before,,, I just checked mine and that's the way they are. I have learned something. Tnx
 
Sword and Shield said:
Second, have a look at this.

It looks, in all honesty, like a small burn mark. Should I be concerned?

Love my 112 and 450, just want to make sure these aren't major problems.
Click to expand...

:eek::eek:...Whewwww...If you can make anything out in that picture you have FAR better eyes than most humans...:cool:
 
Sword and Shield said:
First off, the spey blade sits proud of the liners, with the point about 2.5mm above. It can't cut me when using the other blades, but looks unusual. Is this just how Buck does theirs?
Click to expand...

Pretty much, most 301's I've bought NIB in the last few years are like that. It's never gave me any trouble.
 
DarrylS said:
:eek::eek:...Whewwww...If you can make anything out in that picture you have FAR better eyes than most humans...:cool:
Click to expand...

I did the best I could. Camera isn't the best. Maybe my scanner still works.

It's like a brownish line- I can circle it if you like.

Here's best I can do at the moment. It looks like a heat mark.

Staining2.jpg
 
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Sword,

Let's have a do over. It looks like you were too close for your camera to focus and you hand held the shot. Tomorrow go outside and set the knife on something in the bright shade, unless its cloudy, about 2feet away from camera and brace camera against chair or other support and snap the pic. We can blow it up on our own screens. Then Joe Houser will be able to see it and make evaluation. I will have to dig out some knives to see about the spey issue in my house. 300Bucks
 
Fired up the photo lights, got out new 301 Dymondwood, LE Elk Tracks,two other 301 LE's. If fit and finish are going to be to design standards you would think LE's would do that. So, have a look and see what you think. Even though as you say it does not cause a problem I would prefer the spey tip below liner level. Notice the left LE ironwood and mast tooth is ground with scale swell to the opposite of the clip blade and it covers the spey tip. And the other have scale swell TO the clip side. The swell is most likely placed to give surface area for shield....no shield on LE's .. Interesting. 300Bucks

Spey.jpg

Spey2.jpg
 
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300Bucks said:
Notice the left LE ironwood and mast tooth is ground with scale swell to the opposite of the clip blade and it covers the spey tip.
Click to expand...

I never noticed that until now, but mine has it to. My bone and Malachite LE 301 however is the other way, and the Spey tip is exposed.
 
300Bucks said:
Sword,

Let's have a do over. It looks like you were too close for your camera to focus and you hand held the shot. Tomorrow go outside and set the knife on something in the bright shade, unless its cloudy, about 2feet away from camera and brace camera against chair or other support and snap the pic. We can blow it up on our own screens. Then Joe Houser will be able to see it and make evaluation. I will have to dig out some knives to see about the spey issue in my house. 300Bucks
Click to expand...

I'll do what I can. It's a mediocre little point/shoot camera, but we'll see. Just need batteries for it.

Edited to add pics. They're still fuzzy- this camera just isn't cooperating- but better.

DSCN0279-1.jpg


DSCN0279-2.jpg
 
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Sword and Shield said:
Edited to add pics. They're still fuzzy- this camera just isn't cooperating- but better.
Click to expand...

Just for curiosity, what kind of camera are you using? Does it have something like Macro mode or somesuch?

I'm using a relatively inexpensive Cannon Powershot A460, macro mode turns this:

IMG_1262.jpg


Into this:

IMG_1263.jpg
 
Try pencil eraser on the small spot, don't get agressive just some small light rubs to see what happens. If that helps then try metal polish like Brasso, Flitz or Mother's. Leave big one alone until you hear from Buck.

Does your camera take regular photos, such as person with birthday cake better or OK in you opinion. Some cameras have about a 3 ft minimum focus, unless using close-up macro setting. If it takes people photos OK, take one about 4 or 5 ft away (measure to be sure). We can blow image up on our computer screens. Like Psych suggests the general color looks like buffing burn.
300
 
Really hard to tell with the pictures if it just a surface discoloration or truly a mark from excessive heat. If it is a heat mark the knife needs to be replaced. usually we see heat marks along the edge where the blade is thinner. The shape in your photo does not look random enough, however if your blade was seriously overheated and then got cleaned up in the assembly process so that the little vertical stain was all that was left it definitely needs to be replaced.
 
Is this why we love Buck knives, or what?

You have a problem, get on the Buck forum, and a guy named Buck gives to ya strait!:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
CJ Buck said:
Really hard to tell with the pictures if it just a surface discoloration or truly a mark from excessive heat. If it is a heat mark the knife needs to be replaced. usually we see heat marks along the edge where the blade is thinner. The shape in your photo does not look random enough, however if your blade was seriously overheated and then got cleaned up in the assembly process so that the little vertical stain was all that was left it definitely needs to be replaced.
Click to expand...

This is much better. Ignore the random school supplies- only way I could get the knife to stand straight and not let the mark fall in shadow.

DSCN0282-1.jpg
 
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