Buck Cadet 303 blade profile change

B

buck cadet

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Dec 29, 2005
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When did the Buck Cadet change from a "2 spring" to "3 spring" pocket knife? I personally like that change the knife is still the same size but alot more sturdier. The second question I got my present Buck Cadet in 1997 and the blade profile is what I think is a wedge shape. I have looked a Buck Cadets recently and the blade profile is more semi-hollow. Again I like mine because there was enough metal on the blades so I could shape and sharpen them for my needs - the sheep's foot was sharpened to a razor edge for whittling, while the sprey was reshaped to a pointed pen shape and also sharpened to a razor edge for detail whittling. The large cllip was kept the same and does all the usual pen knife chores. Any way to the Buck family you make a great product. It is nice when a family of faith can also do so well in th world of business.
 
The 303, your namesake, went from two back springs to three when Buck brought the production of the knife in house in 1986. The two spring knives were made by Camillus but when Buck decided to start making them for themselves (along with the 301, 305 & 309) they redesigned the knives. Back springs went from two to three and from carbon to stainless. Liners became steel instead of brass and all the niks became short crescents instead of long pulls.
 
Thanks for the information. I think that the change was to the good. I like the better feel of the knife. Also the steel on the blades is second to none in harness and edge holding. I can whittle for hours and not have the blades get any less sharp.
 
Here's a pic of the transition that you have talked about. Back knife is the first SS liners, three spring, nail nick, a date marked 1991 +, middle knife is first three spring, but brass liners, nail nick, a marked 1990 X, and front knife is BUCK shield, 2 spring, first small nail nick, no date mark a late 1985 or early 1986. Jump in here anyone if I am off a tad. Between 1986 and 1991 liners were brass.

 
thanks for the additional info. I got this Buck 303 in 1997. The blade profile is more wedge as I mentioned. That was fine with me since I resharpend and reshaped the blades for whittling. As I said before the hardness and edge holding of the steel is second to none. When did the semi hollow or slightly convex profile replace the wedge?
 
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