Came home.

J

jackknife

Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
17,508
Long ago, when I was a young guy out living the adventure called life, I carried a Buck knife. Actually two Buck knives, my 301 stockman and a 102 woodsman. These two knives saw me through the 1970's, 80's, and the first half of the 90's. I wasn't so much of a knife nut back then, but I loved having a good knife on me. The Buck stockman saw me through my army service, and life after the military with lots of camping, fishing, and travel with a growing family.

After 25 years of steady and sometimes borderline abusive use, the stockman got retired, and I entered a knife knut phase of life. I experimented with all those 'other' knives and strayed from the fold. There was a sodbuster period, a peanut period, and a short lock blade period. The lock blade period was the shortest, as I had grown up with boy scout knives and old fashion two bladed jack's like barlows. I was used to having multiple blades on hand and having just one was too limiting. I'm probably the one person on the planet Earth who never liked the 110. Just never saw the logic of carrying a big brass framed knife weighing what a small boat anchor did, with just one single blade in it.

But the stockman was my knife. There was still always a SAK around in a bag, glove box of the truck, even the other pocket, but the pocket knife was a multi bladed affair with a decent choice of different blade shaped for different jobs. With my old Sear's 4-way keychain screwdriver and my old army P-38 in my wallet, I found I could do without the basic tools on a SAK pretty well. For a while I carried a Northwoods stockman with carbon steel blades. It was nice, but there was an itch that was not getting scratched. Like something half remembered flitting around at the very edges of the mind. Then I found this place.

It rekindled some of the knife nut thing for a few more years, but I found myself getting more pragmatic as I got older. I just wanted to go back to where I was before. A Buck stockman in a pocket. Now, thanks to JD Bear, a member of the forums, I have a 301 back in my pocket. It's been a bunch of years now, but it's erie how it seems so natural that it's like instant recall. I slip a hand into the pocket and feel the once again familiar outline of the stockman and it's like coming home from a very long strange trip. A very good feeling.

The 'new' stockman is a bit different than my old workhorse. The blade pulls are way easier, but I like that. As an arthritic social security recipient, some of my fingers and manual dexterity ain't what it used to be. I think even my old 92 year old Uncle Sonny can open this knife. I'm not real sure about the newer blade grinds over my old Camillus made 301 with the flat ground blades, but this knife does cut well. I've been carrying it everyday now for a few weeks, and it's done everything I threw at it. And I have to admit that the newer construction with the one piece bolsters and liners seem to be a stronger unit than the old ones. Some small differences, but it's still a Buck stockman.

The Japanese have a saying that life goes in a circle. That everything comes back around in time. I don't know much about Buddhist philosophy, but I do know one thing; I feel like I came home again. This time, I'm not leaving.

My 'new' Buck with another very old companion of decades. My old Ruger standard model.


 
Nice story, jack. After years of using your Camillus/Buck 301, how do you feel about the spey and sheepfoot blades switching ends? Have you ever pulled the wrong blade?
 
TAH said:
Nice story, jack. After years of using your Camillus/Buck 301, how do you feel about the spey and sheepfoot blades switching ends? Have you ever pulled the wrong blade?
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It was a little disconcerting at first, but I got used to the move fairly quickly. I do wnder why they moved the sheep foot blade to start with. The first few days, I had to look at the knife to make sure what blade I was grabbing. But now after a few ekes, it's becoming natural. I did take a large mill smooth file and drop the tip of the spey blade, and adjust the kicks it rides a little lower in the handle. Just a tiny tad. So now the tip of the spey blade is down in the handle with the sheep foot blade open, and the nail nick of the sheep foot is a little more clear of the spey blade spine when closed.

It's like riding a Japanese motorcycle or Harley, and then going back to a 1960's Brit bike like a Triumph and having to shift with your right foot instead of the left. You get used to it in a day or so.
 
Cool story. Thanks for sharing. I understand the circle. I'm only 45 but strayed away from Bucks for years and only over the past 1 1/2 years really started to appreciate them again. Not saying its my "only" brand but its just hard to get away with what you grew up loving. Those old Camillus made 301's were something. That's what started my love affair with Buck. I received a 301 hand me down back in the early 80's. It was my edc for a lot of years.
 
Very cool thread Carl. I am sometimes tempted to abandon my large accumulation of knive and circle back to the knives of my youth. There are two that stand out and were daily companions for years. The most used was a Buck 110, the other a medium Case stockman. With those two i hunted, fished, camped and hiked. Relying on a Estwing hatchet for the tougher, i never felt under equipped.
I guess this knife buying affliction scrambled my brains a little and now i have way more knives than i need and they see much less use than back then.
I still carry a 110 fairly often but now its in a rotation.
 
It was like you never left. We have just been waiting. Nothing wrong with a Peanut for sure. Sometimes less is more. When I have that feeling a 309 is my peanut. Hope your hands can operate that Bill Ruger puzzle of a latch on that pistol. I gave up and went to the 22/45. A bunch here like the 301, and an equal number feel a 303 is handy also. When I wore pants with a watch pocket I kept one there as if it was part of the pants. Enjoy your gift and comment as you see fit.

300Bucks
 
300Bucks said:
It was like you never left. We have just been waiting. Nothing wrong with a Peanut for sure. Sometimes less is more. When I have that feeling a 309 is my peanut. Hope your hands can operate that Bill Ruger puzzle of a latch on that pistol. I gave up and went to the 22/45. A bunch here like the 301, and an equal number feel a 303 is handy also. When I wore pants with a watch pocket I kept one there as if it was part of the pants. Enjoy your gift and comment as you see fit.

300Bucks
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I hear ya! Thanks for saving me a seat.

As for Bill Rugers puzzle, I guess my mind must thin in strange patterns, as I've never found it hard to field strip and put back together. Once you learn the trick, it's child's play. I love that gun, and it's the oldest gun I own, aside from an ancient Marlin model 39.

Yeah, it's good to be home after a long odyssey.
 
I can't tell you how happy it makes me knowing that you're enjoying that 301 jackknife. It's a bond between two guys that never met, halfway across the country from each other. An ordinary Buck stockman has become priceless to me. Thank you my friend...
 
Great story, knife and pistol. I carry the single blade 302 Solitaire more often, but there is still time to learn. My Ruger Mark II is a tank that will last forever. A very accurate pistol too. So, what ever happened to the 102 woodsman?
 
Well, I too have gone back to Buck. Just before Christmas, I purchased a Rosewood 303 and a 305. Love them both. Carried them through the holidays and just fell back in love all over again.
I then purchased the Black Valox 303 and a 309. I now have the complete series currently available plus the massive 307. I have been carrying either the 309 and sometimes both 309 and 303
in my pocket ever since. I love CV and Bone, and I have a fairly good representation of Case and others, but something about carrying the Buck in my pockets takes me back. I bought my first, a 301 way back in 1976 I guess, when I was 12 years old. The steel used is workable for me, I'm not a steel snob. I can make a few licks on my little stone and we're good to go. I live on the water, so having Stainless blades works, less to maintain. I have about 20 Buck knives, so I guess that makes me a Buck guy. I'm on the road to downsizing, so my shoebox full of pocket knives will be shrinking as I re-home them, but I expect to keep all my Buck knives.
By the way, my Ruger is not my daily carry, but it is never too far away from hand. It goes with me on the boat every time I go out. Mark II 50th Anniversary loaded with CCI Mini-mags.
 
BuckShack said:
Great story, knife and pistol. I carry the single blade 302 Solitaire more often, but there is still time to learn. My Ruger Mark II is a tank that will last forever. A very accurate pistol too. So, what ever happened to the 102 woodsman?
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The original 102 lasted from 1969 to 1999, and was my dedicated fishing/hunting/camping/woods knife. It worn down to what looked like a sharpened toothpick and was a pale shadow of itself when I was cleaning a very large Rockfish from the Chesapeake when it broke cutting through the spine taking the head off the fish. It had been so worn that the blade looked like a very thin boning knife or fillet knife. The better half gifted me this once in 1999ish or about there. It's been in steady service ever since. It's on my hip anytime I go fishing/woods walking/camping. I love the woodsman as a general use sheath knife for when pocket knife will do, but it's not the best tool for the job.


 
jackknife said:
The original 102 lasted from 1969 to 1999, and was my dedicated fishing/hunting/camping/woods knife. It worn down to what looked like a sharpened toothpick and was a pale shadow of itself when I was cleaning a very large Rockfish from the Chesapeake when it broke cutting through the spine taking the head off the fish. It had been so worn that the blade looked like a very thin boning knife or fillet knife. The better half gifted me this once in 1999ish or about there. It's been in steady service ever since. It's on my hip anytime I go fishing/woods walking/camping. I love the woodsman as a general use sheath knife for when pocket knife will do, but it's not the best tool for the job.
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I'm impressed. Owning and using the same knife for thirty years and wearing it out completely. Then getting another to replace it! A tribute to a great knife!

I must have to many knives or use them all to little, I have never worn one out. I need to get out and use them more! I will bring my 102 more often now, that's for sure.

Thanks for the story :)
 
J Buck said:
Well, I too have gone back to Buck. Just before Christmas, I purchased a Rosewood 303 and a 305. Love them both. Carried them through the holidays and just fell back in love all over again.
I then purchased the Black Valox 303 and a 309. I now have the complete series currently available plus the massive 307. I have been carrying either the 309 and sometimes both 309 and 303
in my pocket ever since. I love CV and Bone, and I have a fairly good representation of Case and others, but something about carrying the Buck in my pockets takes me back. I bought my first, a 301 way back in 1976 I guess, when I was 12 years old. The steel used is workable for me, I'm not a steel snob. I can make a few licks on my little stone and we're good to go. I live on the water, so having Stainless blades works, less to maintain. I have about 20 Buck knives, so I guess that makes me a Buck guy. I'm on the road to downsizing, so my shoebox full of pocket knives will be shrinking as I re-home them, but I expect to keep all my Buck knives.
By the way, my Ruger is not my daily carry, but it is never too far away from hand. It goes with me on the boat every time I go out. Mark II 50th Anniversary loaded with CCI Mini-mags.
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Another good story :)

My 302 Solitaire is Rosewood and I really like that material. Also, My Ruger Mark II is a 50th Anniversary too! Love it :thumbsup:
 
BuckShack said:
I'm impressed. Owning and using the same knife for thirty years and wearing it out completely. Then getting another to replace it! A tribute to a great knife!

I must have to many knives or use them all to little, I have never worn one out. I need to get out and use them more! I will bring my 102 more often now, that's for sure.

Thanks for the story :)
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I know it sounds weird to say on a forums like this, but I found that when I downsized my accumulation of both knives and guns, I used what I had more and they became much more important to me. I really do think that old saying "Less is more" is true. When you have too much stuff, the items become less important individually. My edc pocket knife has really become my every day carry!:D

There's a strange comfort in slipping a hand into a pocket and feeling the long familiar shape of a tool that is an old friend. One where you know just by feel, how it's orientated and can pluck out whatever blade you want without even looking at it. You know it because it's been in your and a billion times before, and you haven't cluttered up your muscle memory with 'other' things.




















 
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jackknife said:
I know it sounds weird to say on a forums like this, but I found that when I downsized my accumulation of both knives and guns, I used what I had more and they became much more important to me. I really do think that old saying "Less is more" is true. When you have too much stuff, the items become less important individually. My edc pocket knife has really become my every day carry!:D

There's a strange comfort in slipping a hand into a pocket and feeling the long familiar shape of a tool that is an old friend. One where you know just by feel, how it's orientated and can pluck out whatever blade you want without even looking at it. You know it because it's been in your and a billion times before, and you haven't cluttered up your muscle memory with 'other' things.
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You are wise jackknife. :thumbsup:
 
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