Buck 301 Blade Configuration Change??

N

Nobody39

Joined
Feb 15, 2013
Messages
9
I'm sure this question has probably already been answered but I've checked the search function & can't find anything so here goes -
When did Buck change the blade configuration (location) on the 301 stockman? My old 1966/67 stockman has the clip blade & the sheepfoot on the same end with a spey blade opposite. Many of the later models I see have the spey blade alongside the clip blade & the sheepfoot (or perhaps a coping??) opposite. Blades of the newer knives also seem to have less 'meat', i.e. slimmer. Can anyone tell me when the location change was made? TIA...
 
I believe the change was made in 1991, but 300Bucks will be along sometime and correct me if I am too far off!!
 
I hate to say an Aggie is right, but photos in the 1991 and 1992 catalogs show the change.
 
This may correspond to a change in the construction of the knife about that time going from 2 springs with the secondary blades krinked to share the same spring to 3 spring construction where each blade has it's own spring.
 
The new ones are good knives, but I like the older configuration better. I prefer the flat ground blades and 2 springs.

22Hornet
 
I am not intending to be picky but lets say 1990 just to cover the likely late year change-over in design. This is just speaking for the 301, the 303 was changed in 1988.

As a side note the brand new 303s have a almost pen blade style spey shape, stone off a very tiny portion of the spey blade top and I would call it pen blade shaped. Opposite of 39 I prefer the current blade placement. By his statement on knife preference, the OP is preferring the Camillus made Bucks over the Buck made Bucks. For the reasons listed, many others do also. I favor three springs and straight blades, but miss the brass liners and spring rivets.
300
 
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Thanks all, for the informative & quick responses, expecially '300Bucks'. Yeah, I do prefer the older configuration more than the newer/current. My old 'stockman' is a Schrade mfg'd 1st Version that I've owned since 1967. I just prefer the 'flat' ground blades over the 'hollow' ground, & guess I like having the sheepfoot blade co-located with the clip 'main' blade. My limited Buck 'accumulation' (not really a collector) contains a nice little 1992 mfg'd 309, a 2010 China made 373, a 2003 mfg'd 526 lockback, & a pristine 2007 mfg'd 310-SP1 3-blade whittler built on a 309 frame (I think :p ). Have received a few 'China' made fixed blade 'survival' knives as gifts & they're scattered around various vehicles/boats for general use. I'm not very familiar with the Camillus made Bucks tho I believe a couple of friends have those. I too liked the brass liners but haven't enough knowledge/familiarity to know whether I prefer two or three springs?? Just as an aside, I have around a dozen of the 'Hawbaker' style 'improved muskrat knives (various brands, mostly Queen mfg.) & of those I definitely prefer the single spring models with brass 'catch bits'.
 
39,

Your Schrade made versions only came in three models. All have a swedge on top of the clip blade at least half way down over the long nail pull. After those its all Camillus till Buck takes over and you get date codes and scale shields that say BUCK. If you don't know this already be careful using those Schrades to push cut something really hard as you can bend the hidden blade pivot pin. Buck does not repair the older knives anymore, but only offers you a modern replacement.
300

 
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