Buck 310

[airyq]

I was going through my stockmen yesterday and it occured to me (not for the first time) that the Buck 301 is an excellent knife.

Any one feel the same? I do not recall seeing many references to the 301 in this forum.

In my view:

Pros:
nice fit and finish
good strong blades
all SS construction
good value for the price
I like the hollow ground satin finished blades. Makes a change from the usual flat ground mirror polish

Cons:
snap is quite weak
a bit thick due to there being 3 springs
420HC (but Buck HTs this well)

Any comments?

 

[jackknife]

I could'nt agree with you more!

In 1972 I bought a new Buck stockman at the post exchange at Ft. Sam Houston Texas. I was in the Army Engineers at the time. I used that knife hard, and it still took me 25 years to wear it out.

That was one tough pocket knife!

 

[Guyon]

310 or 301?

I just bought a 301 and was impressed. Snap leaves something to be desired, but it quickly took a wicked edge and seems solid all around. It is definitely in my carry rotation.

 

[JD Mandrell]

I have 4-5 spreading from the early Camillus made's through the latest production ones, and your right they are great knives. One of my favorite beaters is one from 1986 that someone was going to through away because the blade tip was broke off and the pivot pin were sprung on both ends. I reset the pins and reprofiled the blade and it's still going strong!

 

[KeithAM]

310 or 301?

I just bought a 301 and was impressed. Snap leaves something to be desired, but it quickly took a wicked edge and seems solid all around. It is definitely in my carry rotation.

I just got one too and have the same observations -- not the strongest springs but they do the job. It's refreshing to get a slipjoint that not only came fairly sharp, but more importantly can be touched up on a Sharpmaker without first reprofiling. I was getting a little tired of Queens and Bokers with 25-30 degree per side edges.

 

[Psychopomp]

I just bought a 301 and was impressed. Snap leaves something to be desired, but it quickly took a wicked edge and seems solid all around. It is definitely in my carry rotation.

I agree. The walk and talk could be a little better, but overall it's a great little knife for the price, and American made.

Sometimes I feel the need to just carry one knife and I usually grab a stockman. More than half the time it's the Buck 301. It'll get crazy sharp and the main blade and the sheepsfoot blade are mean slices and I've ground the spey blade to more of a utility edge. So that one little package can do just about everything.

When it's not the 301, I'll pick up an older Boker carbon stockman. It doesn't get as much pocket time as I'd like though. Don't know why, it's an incredible knife.