Buck 303 find

bertl said:
Thanks, Midnight. That means it is a 3-spring, but not integral construction.

Bert
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Could my knife be an older knife, possibly Camillus, that was re-bladed by Buck in '89? I'm in over my head as far as the small changes and when they happened.
 
I had forgotten that this integral shield is from a 1991 parts knife. What we need now is for someone to post a photo from a 1990 knife. My guess is that the long handle started when Buck went to the integral frame.

Bert

5. 303 shield tower 1991 (3).jpeg
 
I find all of this very interesting. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I gather that prior to 1985, the 303 shield had the shorter oval with the open end hammer. In 1985 it changed to the longer oval with BUCK. Sometime between 1985 and 1992 it changed to the longer oval with open end hammer. Then in 91 or 92 it went to long oval with closed end hammer. That sound about right? Were there any later changes to the shield?
 
It looks to me, looking at my 303s, 1986 was last year of ellipse with open hammer, 1987 either had BUCK label or oval with open hammer, and 1991 had oval with closed hammer.
 
FranklinG said:
Yep. Checking in with a 2015 offshore 303. I was pretty excited to find this one because I like the G10 371 and couldn't find a matching 373. I think these were made for Walmart.

The 303 is one of my favorite patterns.

View attachment 2730457View attachment 2730460
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Wow! That's the first time I've seen a 373/303 size G-10 barehead stockman. I'm thinking yours must be a prototype. I have the 371, 379, 382 and 385 in G-10. I guess I need to be on the lookout for a 303.
 
FranklinG said:
Yep. Checking in with a 2015 offshore 303.
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That's a good looking knife, but it sure throws a monkey wrench into the idea of 2004 being the only time there was a China 303. I've never seen your variation before. Wonder what the story is.

Bert
 
bertl said:
That's a good looking knife, but it sure throws a monkey wrench into the idea of 2004 being the only time there was a China 303. I've never seen your variation before. Wonder what the story is.

Bert
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No clue about the backstory. I'd also read here about some offshore 303's before the 37x line really got up and running, so 2004 sounds like it should have been the end of it. I was really surprised to stumble across this one. By 2015 there seemed to be a pretty clear distinction with "303 = domestic product" vs. "373 = offshore product." Maybe Buck Knives Inc. Buck Knives Inc. can help us out.
 
I did a survey of 303 listings on ebay. I found 1990 knives with short, open handles and with long, closed handles. The long, closed handles seem to be on the integrated frame knives, and the short, open handles on the non-integrated frames. This was a year when old inventory (non-integrated) was still available and the new, integrated frames were being introduced.

Bert
 
FranklinG said:
No clue about the backstory. I'd also read here about some offshore 303's before the 37x line really got up and running, so 2004 sounds like it should have been the end of it. I was really surprised to stumble across this one. By 2015 there seemed to be a pretty clear distinction with "303 = domestic product" vs. "373 = offshore product." Maybe Buck Knives Inc. Buck Knives Inc. can help us out.
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Walmart exclusive perhaps ?
 
1990 production with open hammer handle. OH
Buck-303-X-1990.jpg
 
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