Buck 301 age

Sithus1966

Sithus1966

Joined
Jan 24, 2008
Messages
1,096
I got this one today and have not had a chance to clean it yet. It is not like my other 301 in that it has a flat rivet rather than a domed rivet and it has small scale pins. It's a little short in the main blade and has gained a bit of a recurve but nice for it's age.

So whats the year range on this one?

Dsc04671.jpg
 
SMKW2a-1.jpg


Last Schrade made 301 on left, One of the first two Cami. made 301s on right( 1971 to 1974). 26 years ago. You have to see the reverse of the tang to look for model number stamp or no model number stamp to know versions and variations.
301SchCam-1.jpg
 
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I'm still not sure of the age range. I know it's a Camillus, but whats the year range. I'm assuming older because of the scale pins.
 
My mistake, it is not first verison Camillus. I blindly looked only at scale rivets and forgot what the tang stamp was saying.

In production knives with many parts, look for your clues giving age and version. THEN make sure parts have not been changed......

Your knife has most likely had the blade changed with a third version Camillus 1974 -1985. BUT, the scale (body) of the knife could be first or second Camillus version.

ALL CAMILLUS: Have exposed pivot pins on bolsters, earlier Schrade made ones do not show. (Can't see'em, breath hot breath on them)

First Version : Has small scale rivets, tang says: BUCK, Made In USA. THERE IS NO MODEL NUMBER STAMP ON TANG. 1971

First Version, Second variation : Same description as first, but has TWO brass liners on one side. Also 1971.

Second Version : Same description as first, but has model number STAMPED on reverse tang. No liner variations. 1971 - 1974

Third Version : NO scale rivets, Tang reads : BUCK, 301 (or other model #s), USA , back of tang clear of stampings. This version came also some with two variations : single brass liners and some with double brass liners but they are not pointing to certain year. Just call all of them 1975 - 1985

Again the knife that started this thread, has had its blade replaced or the factory had the new blades ready and they finished up a production run using the older scale bodies. The pivot pins look clean so if it was a replacement it was done well (likely Buck).

I will guess...........50/50 either or.....can't tell if its a factory mix or later replacement. Call it what you want to and no one can say different.

300Bucks
 
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300Bucks said:
or the factory had the new blades ready and they finished up a production run using the older scale bodies.
Click to expand...

Knowing Buck's tendency to "use up" as much parts as they can, that was my first thought when I saw that picture. The overall wear on the knife seems to be fairly even on all three blades, but if a blade replacement was done early in it's life, that would account for that also.

From a 301 collector's standpoint, that's an interesting knife!!!
 
Gsea, sooo appropriate. Still, they won't stop. So, we may as well give it to them. I've decided starting a new topic is just too much.
Nav, yes all Buck 301's are made at the Buck factory in Post Falls, ID.. DM
 
Hey, that was back when I was smarter than I am now. Can't finish typing got to go pee....300
 
You see? The resurrection from the dead is a fact.

Actually, I do not mind when someone brings back an old thread if there is some good reason for it. Sometimes there is good information there.
 
Sithus,

I was joking about being almost 5 years older from the original thread. DM is correct. All models - 301, 303, 309 and 305 are made in Idaho, USA. Currently, all other 300 models (other than those listed), especially those found in discount stores, are imported. The knife pictured was actually a Camillus contract Buck, with a replaced blade.

I know Stihus is an experienced big knife Buck guy but for anyone newer, if you have USA questions, go to Buck Website, see if your model in question is displayed and look for the American flag somewhere on the page. NO flag may likely mean imported. As a closing statement, Buck is doing there best to provide Americans with in-house jobs and buy in-country supplies. But, they are building up their on-the-ground investment in the factory and workers in a controlled manner. CJ Buck has stated in several BCCI events he has the hope to someday to have everything built in the Idaho factory. 300Bucks opinion, some of those models when handled by me had good fit and finish. Unquote. Enough said about imported Bucks.

As far as bringing back old threads, hey at least we got people looking at Buck knives and discussing them. I have talked to several people on this and about all we can do is to suggest to someone who pulls up a multi-page old thread to start a new one in their future postings, ask their question with selected past quotes. Lots of the posters are new Blade Forum members or have only been lurkers and have low posting numbers and experience. We shouldn't complain to them to hard cause we will scare them off. And as I was telling someone, especially if the Moderator says something. Like I am a bad dude. GSEA's post was season appropriate.. 300Bucks
 
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