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Can someone help my date my 321?
- Thread starter W.M.B.
- Start date
DeSotoSky
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The 321 Bird Knife was a contract knife made for Buck by Camillus. It first appeared in the 1979 catalog and it's last appearance was in the 1991 catalog. I can believe you bought it new in 1998 because sometimes these items sit in inventory along time. I know of a Sporting Goods Store that still has some 1990's knives in inventory. (fewer since I've been shopping there..
) Camilus contract knives never had date codes so that doesn't help. I don't know of any particular way to date them to a specific year. If any paperwork is still in the box, the knife can't be older than the printers date code if there is one. Sometimes the boxes can help but I don't think they changed much in that time period. Perhaps our moderator, 300bucks, will chime in with some help.
) Camilus contract knives never had date codes so that doesn't help. I don't know of any particular way to date them to a specific year. If any paperwork is still in the box, the knife can't be older than the printers date code if there is one. Sometimes the boxes can help but I don't think they changed much in that time period. Perhaps our moderator, 300bucks, will chime in with some help.
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No specific date but some interesting info in this thread. Check out the PDF in the first post by 300Bucks
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...for-BCCI-Website-321-Bird-Knife?highlight=321
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...for-BCCI-Website-321-Bird-Knife?highlight=321
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I don't know squat about dating pocket knives. I was looking for a 301, 303, 305 and 307 to date match knives that are in an older Buck Display case. I called a very knowledgeable person who lectures on dating buck knives. After explaining I wanted to make sure all the knives were age correct I received a little chuckle. My source told me just about exactly the same as the previous responder.
The basics are easy, there is no way to date these knives as earlier models were contracted tby Buck to be made bu Camillus and Schrade. After all my searching and attempting to make sure my display I purchased what are supposedly older knives when I could have bought newer ones with less cost and no one would know the difference if I did not tell them.
ChicoMike
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The basics are easy, there is no way to date these knives as earlier models were contracted tby Buck to be made bu Camillus and Schrade. After all my searching and attempting to make sure my display I purchased what are supposedly older knives when I could have bought newer ones with less cost and no one would know the difference if I did not tell them.
ChicoMike
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The info I have says that they were in production from 1978-1992, they only made one model
321, Camillus Contract, blade stamped BUCK/321/USA, Brass liner, No spacers, No handle pins, Brass rivet, Short pull nail nik, 2 back springs, Ellipse Escutcheon, Flat grind, Attached bolsters, produced from 78-'92, and, EZ Open Notch For Master Blade, with Gut Hook.
321, Camillus Contract, blade stamped BUCK/321/USA, Brass liner, No spacers, No handle pins, Brass rivet, Short pull nail nik, 2 back springs, Ellipse Escutcheon, Flat grind, Attached bolsters, produced from 78-'92, and, EZ Open Notch For Master Blade, with Gut Hook.
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Aw Grasshoppers, you have learned well. Now go into the world and speak the truth. But remember, always wear a clean shirt............
It has never been even hinted at that the Camillus factory craftsmen could attempt a guess at a particular year date on some of those. Even the boxes of that era were not dated. Sometimes a store might write on a box when THEY received it.
I know the rest of you 300 nuts are looking for the elusive BUCK shield version of these 321's, I know Larry and maybe one person back east has one but, I have never found one. If someone finds two, think of me.......ha The BUCK shields were likely just a quick little blurb in the late 80's, someone put some on the knives they were working on until the next day or that tray was finished and the inspector caught it. They worked on "trays" of knives, just as Buck does.
To reply to Desoto, you have to learn your differences in the tang stamps and rivets for pre-85 dates, some of the new post 85 Cami models, i.e. 313 311,321,317, had maybe one model change and used different tang stamps.
In the end you can split hairs pretty fine, but Camillus worked with actual folks sitting at their bench building a knife out of parts bins and once in a while you will find an odd ball. Be cautious, and in the end feel good about clumping the dates, after all they were 'only' production knives...........
300
It has never been even hinted at that the Camillus factory craftsmen could attempt a guess at a particular year date on some of those. Even the boxes of that era were not dated. Sometimes a store might write on a box when THEY received it.
I know the rest of you 300 nuts are looking for the elusive BUCK shield version of these 321's, I know Larry and maybe one person back east has one but, I have never found one. If someone finds two, think of me.......ha The BUCK shields were likely just a quick little blurb in the late 80's, someone put some on the knives they were working on until the next day or that tray was finished and the inspector caught it. They worked on "trays" of knives, just as Buck does.
To reply to Desoto, you have to learn your differences in the tang stamps and rivets for pre-85 dates, some of the new post 85 Cami models, i.e. 313 311,321,317, had maybe one model change and used different tang stamps.
In the end you can split hairs pretty fine, but Camillus worked with actual folks sitting at their bench building a knife out of parts bins and once in a while you will find an odd ball. Be cautious, and in the end feel good about clumping the dates, after all they were 'only' production knives...........
300
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