Buck Vs Case

James Y said:
I have a number of both Case and Buck, and each have strong points and weak points in comparison to one another. For a pure work knife, I would likely go with Buck, from my experience.

One question on the Buck 301:
I've noticed on the more recent models, the tip and part of the edge of the spey blade looks exposed when in the closed position. Does this cause any problems for the pocket material, or when reaching for it in a pocket? I'm considering buying either another 303 or a 301. I don't think the new 303's spey blades are exposed as much as the 301's, but I'm not sure.

Jim
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Ribeyeguy said:
Since I am possibly interested in buying the 301, I would like to find out more on this also. I wouldn't be interested in the 301 if any of the blade tips are above the liner. I have no problem with the sheepsfoot being proud but any tips exposed, I'm not fond of.
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(Forgot to mention this point in the 'Aesthetics' portion of my earlier post.)

On the 301, there is some of the cutting edge exposed above the liner, on the spey blade's tip. Aesthetically, it looks sort of odd, but I've never had any issues with it snagging anything (fingertips or pocket). At some point with my knife, I think I'm going to grind down the spine-side of that blade's tip, to possibly convert it to a makeshift pen/spear blade, with the tip and all of the cutting edge below the liner; not because it's necessary, but I think I'll like the look of it better. ;)


David
 
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Obsessed with Edges said:
In a nutshell, the blades in the 3-spring layout are still very, very closely arranged; so the potential for rub remains essentially unchanged as compared to a 2-spring stockman pattern.
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This is very disappointing to read. I shy away from stockman because I don't like how jammed in there all the blades are. I was planning on picking up a Buck because I know that they have 3 springs and I figured that would alleviate this problem. Oh well.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
(Forgot to mention this point in the 'Aesthetics' portion of my earlier post.)

On the 301, there is some of the cutting edge exposed above the liner, on the spey blade's tip. Aesthetically, it looks sort of odd, but I've never had any issues with it snagging anything (fingertips or pocket). At some point with my knife, I think I'm going to grind down the spine-side of that blade's tip, to possibly convert it to a makeshift pen/spear blade, with the tip and all of the cutting edge below the liner; not because it's necessary, but I think I'll like the look of it better. ;)


David
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Is this is a common occurrence with the tip being exposed? Is there a reason why Buck hasn't done anything to fix it or maybe Buck doesn't see it as a problem and just part of the knife. This no longer has me wanting this knife but now heading in the GEC direction for a stockman. I already have an Old Timer that I'm happy with but looking to add another stockman.
 
Th only 3-spring Buck in my current possession is a 373 (303 pattern-China). The spey tip and edge are well sunk.
 
Ribeyeguy said:
Is this is a common occurrence with the tip being exposed? Is there a reason why Buck hasn't done anything to fix it or maybe Buck doesn't see it as a problem and just part of the knife. This no longer has me wanting this knife but now heading in the GEC direction for a stockman. I already have an Old Timer that I'm happy with but looking to add another stockman.
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So far as I know, it's a result of the unique blade layout in the 301's serpentine frame. Buck swapped positions of the spey and sheepsfoot, as compared to most standard stockman patterns (not sure why they did this), and I think it'll be seen in all current-generation 301's. The result is the upswept tip of the spey is in the downswept end of the handle's serpentine pattern. So, the tip of the spey is left exposed, but still snug alongside the sheepsfoot, which seems to keep it from being a snagging issue (and the 'clipped' or rounded portion of the spey's spine helps with this). I had seen some posts or comments about it here in the past, more likely in the Buck sub-forum.


David
 
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Thanks for the info on the 301. I think I'll get a new 303 instead. I'd probably more likely EDC it, anyway.

Jim
 
As much as it pains me to say this
when i want pocket jewelry, i go with Case
when i have REAL work planned, or when i dont know what to expect from the day its my sak and/or my buck 301
yes the spey sticks up slightly and i have edc'd it for years and its never bitten me or my pants so :p
 
Rsmith_77 said:
As much as it pains me to say this
when i want pocket jewelry, i go with Case
when i have REAL work planned, or when i dont know what to expect from the day its my sak and/or my buck 301
yes the spey sticks up slightly and i have edc'd it for years and its never bitten me or my pants so :p
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Do you know what year Buck made the blade switch which in turn produced a spey that sticks up above the liner?
 
i dont know what year they made the shift. But its not really an issue, at least from a functionality standpoint
you could say its an aesthetic issue, but thats extremely personal and if thats the case, no amount of my saying its never been a problem will change your mind

but its never been an issue for me, never ones cut myself or my clothing with it so *shrugs*
 
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Weather you are a Buck fan or a Case fan, I think we can all agree that they both make a fine "Larry The Cable Guy" knife.
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Rsmith_77 said:
i dont know what year they made the shift. But its not really an issue, at least from a functionality standpoint
you could say its an aesthetic issue, but thats extremely personal and if thats the case, no amount of my saying its never been a problem will change your mind

but its never been an issue for me, never ones cut myself or my clothing with it so *shrugs*
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I see your point and it probably doesn't mean much if not enough people are complaining about it, but just knowing that the knife comes with a blade tip above the liner would drive me insane. :p
 
csisland said:
I see your point and it probably doesn't mean much if not enough people are complaining about it, but just knowing that the knife comes with a blade tip above the liner would drive me insane. :p
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you got to ask yourself (and there is no right or wrong answer, only YOUR answer)

would you put a more aesthetically pleasing knife (GEC 66 for example) through the same use that you would a buck? I am not saying that a gec couldnt or wouldnt handle it, but for me..if i know i gonna be out in the rain and mud and muck or working in an area that if i drop the knife would it bust the nice bone scales up ie the concrete floor of the warehouse where i work? I'd rather carry the buck because water doesnt phase it, it doesnt have bone scales that would crack or break if dropped on the warehouse floor

just my thought process, your needs or priorities may be different and if thats the case, maybe another knife would do just fine for you
 
I really like both companies. Heck growing up Buck, Case and Schrade were all i ever saw or heard of. I think Buck makes better lockbacks than Case and their 100 series fixed blades are IMHO better than the fixed blades that Case is producing today.
When it comes to traditional pocket knives tho I prefer Case by a large margin. As far as Buck making the real workhorse in slip joints I say hooey to that. A yellow handled Case with CV blades is a working knife at its core and will go the distance.
I really think that Bucks slip joints were at there best when Camillus was making them. The current 300 series is well made and a good value but the sponge like springs and saber like blade grind just don't do it for me.

Jim
 
I hear ya, Jim. The yella CV trapper from Case is THE farm knife here in the midwest. Used hard and put up wet, they just keep working and working.
 
csisland said:
I see your point and it probably doesn't mean much if not enough people are complaining about it, but just knowing that the knife comes with a blade tip above the liner would drive me insane. :p
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Don't know if mine was driving me insane (yet). But, after commenting about it earlier, it occurred to me I'd just picked up a couple of 3"x21" 120-grit zirconia alumina belts at Sears the other day. And just yesterday, I'd cut & glued one of those belts to a 3" x 24" basswood plank I had laying around, in the pursuit of experimenting with it as a very aggressive sandpaper-sharpening rig. The light bulb went on in my head, and I decided the first 'experiment' would be grinding down the spine of my 301's spey blade, in the portion between the nail nick and the tip. My spey blade is now a nicely-pointy spear, and the tip is neatly flush just below the liner. I'm happy now; crisis averted. :D

I'll see about posting a pic or two tomorrow.


David
 
No Agenda said:
Weather you are a Buck fan or a Case fan, I think we can all agree that they both make a fine "Larry The Cable Guy" knife.
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I'm sure I speak not only for myself when I say, "Oh. Dear. Lord." I think Case also makes a "Turtle Man" line as well. "LIVE ACTION"!
 
Saw a pre-1986 Camillus Buck 301 on the bay. Blades were the opposite of the way they are today with the spey not proud above the liner.
 
No Agenda said:
Please don't tell my 8 year old son he loves the Turtle Man and would beg me to buy a Turtle Man knife. :barf:
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I'll tell you the same thing I told my brother in law when I threatened to get his kids a drum set. "Don't make me mad". :D
 
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