Buck 301 or Case Stockman?

C

chewbacca

Joined
Mar 17, 2007
Messages
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Hey guys, I am looking into getting a stockman pattern knife. I am pretty new to slipjoints. (The only ones I own are Vic Swiss Army knives.)

For about the same money, I can get either a Case Medium Stockman or a Buck 301. Which would you buy (first)?

Both knives would be current production, and during a recent search of this sub-forum I read some bad things about the current Buck 301's, making me think the Case is the better knife.
 
Both are good knives, Case has more variety in their stockman knife offerings. One suggestion is to decide if you want stainless or carbon steel blades (Buck is stainless only) then go from there.
 
I use both Buck for outdoors and the ranch, Case for dress up. The 301 DW is a great knife and big enough to do work with. The Case 6318 Old Red Bone Pocket Worn is sweet. But if you hang around here you will get the bug and have both and then some more.
 
The stainless vs. carbon steel is something I had not given much thought, but it is something I may give some consideration on this descision.

My Buck 110 takes and holds an edge pretty well, so I have no problem with Buck's SS. I don't have any experience with Case's CV steel at all, maybe you could give me some insight into this.

Your help is much appreciated.
 
Scott hit it on the head; do you want carbon or stainless steel? Going from there, the choice is one that is a little more traditional than the other. Having had and used both Case and Buck, both are top notch knives that will get the job done.

One way to look at it is that the Case is a better looking knife, and of late their fit and finish has been outstanding. The Buck 301 stockman is the Sherman tank of stockmen.
 
Tough choice. I have both, and like both. As mentioned, the Buck is the more utilitarian knife, while the Case has more "style". Case gives more options in scale material, decoration, and blade material (and type). I use my bucks for "beaters while in the field, and I keep the Case in my pocket for EDC while in the office. The Buck has thicker blades, and synthetic scales which seem pretty durable, but in truth I think both are capable of doing the same jobs, though. If I were to damage, or lose one, I'd rather lose one of my Buck knives than one of my Case knives. Right now I'm carrying a Case Texas Jack, otherwise known as the "Half Stockman".

If I had to choose, I'm not sure which I'd pick. That said, in recent weeks the Bucks have been sitting in the drawer, while the Case knives have been in my pocket. I think it's a "aesthetic" thing (although I like the profile of the clip blade better on the Buck), and I'm sorry that I've been no help at all.:confused:.
 
I'm like stockdog - I use my Buck 301 HARD, and my Case is more for lighter work. My buck 301 has been dropped down gutters, submerged in water for a day, etc. and is still tight and strong. My only complaint is that the springs are a little weak.

The Case could handle all that, I'm sure, but I want to keep it as nice as possible, so it can go to my son eventually.

thx - cpr
 
I use the Bucks as my foul weather knives since 420HC is a pretty forgiving steel when it comes to the elements. This way all of the knives get their shot in the rotation.
 
Why not try out a Buck 371? It can be had for around 20 dollars, and fit and finish is top-notch!! Looks good too, with it's wood handles. As Jackknife said, the Buck is the tank. I have a Case Yellow handled, CV medium stockman, and while it is nice enough, My Buck Trio (smaller then the 371 and just a tad shorter then the medium Case stockman, but a little thicker and heftier) is the knife I grab for when needing to handle heavy work, or when I am going out in the field. Plus, Bucks have their "forever" warranty should anything ever happen to your knife, where as Case, which has GREAT customer service, has a 25 year warranty.
Just something to think about.
 
I really can't add anything that hasn't already been covered.
However, irregardless of which one you choose, they both have outstanding customer service if you should have a problem.

edit :Looks like Voltron typed a little faster than I did.
I wouldn't lose to much sleep over Case being a 25 year warranty. In 25 years you will have so many slip joints it won't be an issue :D
 
Voltron said:
Plus, Bucks have their "forever" warranty should anything ever happen to your knife, where as Case, which has GREAT customer service, has a 25 year warranty.
Just something to think about.
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A moot point if ever there was one. Use either as hard as you wish (bearing in mind that they are cutting tools). They're not hothouse flowers.
 
Blues said:
A moot point if ever there was one. Use either as hard as you wish (bearing in mind that they are cutting tools). They're not hothouse flowers.
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A valid point, actually. I was thinking more along the lines of, if you hand it down to your kids, and something happens, the Buck, being a family heirloom at this point, can still be taken care of. Gotta think of ALL the angles when making such an important decision. Come on, Blues!! You disappoint me. You're a knife knut. You should know picking out a knife is like picking out a neurosurgeon. You gotta weigh ALL the options.















(maybe even MORE important then picking out a neurosurgeon. I mean, it IS a pocketknife. LOL.:D)
 
Voltron said:
A valid point, actually. I was thinking more along the lines of, if you hand it down to your kids, and something happens, the Buck, being a family heirloom at this point, can still be taken care of. Gotta think of ALL the angles when making such an important decision. Come on, Blues!! You disappoint me. You're a knife knut. You should know picking out a knife is like picking out a neurosurgeon. You gotta weigh ALL the options.

(maybe even MORE important then picking out a neurosurgeon. I mean, it IS a pocketknife. LOL.:D)
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Maybe you're right, Voltron. I guess at my advanced age I figure if I get 25 years out of a knife I'm well ahead of the game. ;)

Besides, I'm just gonna end up leaving 'em all to you knuckleheads and I probably (but not definitely) won't be worrying about what you do with 'em after that. Then again...;):cool:
 
Voltron said:
A valid point, actually. I was thinking more along the lines of, if you hand it down to your kids, and something happens, the Buck, being a family heirloom at this point, can still be taken care of. Gotta think of ALL the angles when making such an important decision. Come on, Blues!! You disappoint me. You're a knife knut. You should know picking out a knife is like picking out a neurosurgeon. You gotta weigh ALL the options.
(maybe even MORE important then picking out a neurosurgeon. I mean, it IS a pocketknife. LOL.:D)
Click to expand...

Case will still fix the knife even after 25 years. However it will be for a nominal charge and fixed with current production parts.

WAY ahead of ya.... :D
 
Heck, it was over 40 years after dad bought his peanut that they restored it for me. The charge was a couple bucks for the blade, a couple bucks fo the cracked scale, and that was it. The total cost was about what a few beers and a sandwich would have been at a good bar. I think even today they only charge 5 or 7 dollars for a blade. Not bad in this day and age.

But the job that the workmen at Case did for dad's old knife was priceless!
 
Well, built like a tank is good...

I am looking to have the knife for a trip on Friday, so I will be buying locally. As a result, scale material is not really a factor, I think the Case knives at outdoor store #1 had brown delrin scales, and the Buck 301 at outdoor store #2 had black zytel scales.

BTW - great, just what I need a NEW knife addiction...:D
 
Well you will know you’re hooked when you get the Buck and then the Case and think you only need stockman’s. Then along come Jackknife with a good story and out you go and get a peanut. Lately I got the need to get a Texas Jack in CV and no clue as to why!
 
That's what happened to me with SAK's. Last year I had one, a Vic Spartan...now I have 7, and I just gave one away!
 
I bought the 309, which is much more fragile, back in 1977. It has been used hard and received almost no maintenance. I carry it everywhere and even swim with it in my pocket. The combination of stainles and delrin make it impervious. If i ever decide to carry a stockman, it will either be the 303or 301 that i currently own. AAAAAAAAnd i think they are really good looking. Black delrin/zytel and silver blade and bolster look dashing to me. BUCK=BULLET PROOF
 
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