"Beater" Stockman

[Modoc ED]

Lots of comments about the Buck 301 but no pictures. Here's a picture of one.

 

[beestokk]

thanks all for the input back on the 703. now a few questions relative to the 301, if the OP doesn't mind me asking since the thread has become pretty broad.
for the 301s in the black delrin, anyone have any issues with the delrin scales popping off or something similar? i think it's the only one mentioned in this thread with only one pin in the handle.
also i personally like the charcoal dymondwood the best. any thoughts on dymondwood vs delrin for handle materials?
i had mentioned in an earlier post on this forum that i was surprised by the looser than expected "walk" and almost lack of "talk" on the display 301 i handled in-store...is that normal or possibly due to excessive opening/closing being a display model? not looking for a nail buster or something that slams into place when opened, but it was one of the biggest reasons i didn't buy one yet or right there.
also do the lack of rounded bolsters make any noticeable difference when carried in the pocket or handled? thanks!

 

[knarfeng]

thanks all for the input back on the 703. now a few questions relative to the 301, if the OP doesn't mind me asking since the thread has become pretty broad.
for the 301s in the black delrin, anyone have any issues with the delrin scales popping off or something similar? i think it's the only one mentioned in this thread with only one pin in the handle.
also i personally like the charcoal dymondwood the best. any thoughts on dymondwood vs delrin for handle materials?
i had mentioned in an earlier post on this forum that i was surprised by the looser than expected "walk" and almost lack of "talk" on the display 301 i handled in-store...is that normal or possibly due to excessive opening/closing being a display model? not looking for a nail buster or something that slams into place when opened, but it was one of the biggest reasons i didn't buy one yet or right there.
also do the lack of rounded bolsters make any noticeable difference when carried in the pocket or handled? thanks!

I have several 301's and 303's over the years. I've never had any scales come off.

I've never had one that was a nail buster, never had one that the blade did not stay where I wanted it to be. I have had some variation in between.

Actually the bolsters are somewhat rounded. They are similar to the ones on my Schrade. I've never had an issue with a 301 being uncomfortable in my pocket, but I do tend to wear jeans most of the time. I suppose it might be different if I were wearing nice slacks.

 

[300Bucks]

Good questions beestokk,

Knarfeng statement is about normal to my experience for that subject.

Concerning Buck scales. The current black sawcut scales are not Delrin but were changed to Valox several years ago. The yellow smooth scales are Delrin. The Dymondwood scales have a pretty long and varied history as that material is widely used in other applications. The Dymondwood black to grey and the red Chuck Buck scales are the same material, several colors are used on different models by Buck.

Valox - http://www.sabic-ip.com/gep/Plastics/en/ProductsAndServices/ProductLine/valox.html
Dymondwood - http://www.rutply.com/products/dymondwood.html

The Dymondwoods and Yellow Delrin are riveted on in three places counting the springs pin. The black sawcut Valox are hot pressed into place. The traditional version with black sawcut are pressed over a intergal shield pillar. The smooth yellow scale has three rivets and its shield is attached to a indention with glue. The new models have rounded bolsters, the black sawcuts remain only slightly more blunt. All bolsters are nickle-silver fused to the SS liners.

Having handled "hundreds" of the black sawcuts I have only had one abused older 303 pre-Valox, that had a loose back scale. When the black sawcut scale is pressed into place, it fills three holes in front and four on back, specially made, in the liner. These are flattened with heat and melt into plastic rivet head like attachment that is visible in the wall of the blade well.

Have a gander at some guts. Hope this answers your questions. 300Bucks

I started off being delicate, but ended up with a hacksaw....note here the hot plastic "rivet" has a bigger head inside than drill hole size.

Four melt rivets in the back liner and because of the shield only three in the front.

Dymondwood liner with UN-drilled holes and scales riveted on in two of those locations. These are the same liners used in the newest black sawcut version and you can see the "lips" of the holes that act like plastic rivet heads when filled.

 

[tomcrx]

for the 301s in the black delrin, anyone have any issues with the delrin scales popping off or something similar? i think it's the only one mentioned in this thread with only one pin in the handle.

I put a sawcut 301 in the top rack of a dishwasher and it came out fine

 

[kamagong]

Another option to consider is Eye Brand. They offer a 3 1/2" stockman with stag handles and carbon steel blades. At right around $50, you have a beautiful knife that you won't be afraid to use hard. Here is a picture of its larger brother, a 4 1/4" stockman.

- Christian

 

[mbjannusch]

IMHO, I think of all the Stockman knives on the market, Buck makes the best. Who ever said that the Buck stockman 301/303 was now or ever made over seas was and is wrong. Buck has a line of knives made off shore but the 301 and 303s were never made any where but right here in the USA. There warantee is the best in the business. If you break it, chip the blade, wear it out, dig a hole in the back yard and put it in the hole dig it up 10 years later and send it back to Buck they will fix or replace it NO QUESTIONS ASKED. BUCK BY FAR.

First Contracted Buck Stockman(contracted out to Schrade '66-'67)

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Custom Schrade made Buck 301

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[skyhorse]

You can't beat a 301.

 

[zerogee]

Adding to 300Bucks comments, you should realize that when you see those rounded "pins" Buck uses on most scales, those are not really pins in the usual sense - those are more like nail heads with rounded tops. I've taken apart older Bucks and they are a bitch to break down -- and they didn't have the extra bulletproofing that some of these current ones have.

 

[Paul 883215]

Talk about "Buck Fever"!

Anyways, I am going to stray from the "herd" a bit and suggest an old USA made OT like someone else did:

I'll jump on the schrade train too! They are a great working mans knife and fun to find as well.

Paul

 

[Will Power]

Custom Schrade made Buck 301

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This is a mouthwatering conversion, they should be in production too:thumbup:

 

[Plumberdv]

I have a bunch of stockmen. Case, Schrade, etc. but one or other of the Buck 301's or the 371 are with me everyday. It's the perfect size for me, the 307 is a little too large, and the 303 is too small. I have other's but they are mostly either new in the box old ones or Limited Editions so they don't get used.

As far as the 371 is concerned, I love the wood and I can't honestly say that any of the others are one smidgen bit better.

 

[beestokk]

thanks everyone for the input to my questions.

300bucks, those pics and that information was excellent, thanks very much for that. i think although i'm still between the dymonwood and the velox i'm now leaning toward the velox b/c that actually seems more secure to me after your pics and the shield being integraded into the scales seems more durable than those glued into a depression. as far as the one with the loose back scale that you mentioned as pre-velox...what was the material pre-velox? also i'm assuming since you said it was abused that's what led to the scale issue (unless it was someone else's blade and you are assuming it was abused)? have you seriously handled hundreds of black sawcuts? geez!

although i think i prefer the size of the 303 i like the shape of the spey blade on the 301 much better...seems significantly less wide with less curve toward the tip of the blade on the 303. i think i'd rather compromise on the overall size difference than the blade shape itself.

so i think i'm close to getting a 301 and probably in a brick and mortar store so i can handle it and test walk/talk first. parents gave me a gift card for my birthday, seems like would be a nice thing to use it for that would last a long time!

thanks again for all the input and to the OP for starting a thread i've really enjoyed.

 

[mbjannusch]

Beestokk,
Your question was what was the pre velox material, It was Delrin. You also made comment to the shield. The shield on most of the knives in question were glued.Both are nice, But I prefer the traditional Buck knife style/materials alothugh I have several of both.
One thing though, The new diamond wood 301 come with a very nice leather sheath with a belt clip.

 

[beestokk]

Thanks mbj. appreciate the response. and yea, that leather sheath is a nice bonus, wish they offered with others! although the knivesshipfree sheath appears similar for anyone interested.