- Joined
- Apr 19, 2005
- Messages
- 5,533
As promised here is my in-hand evaluation of the new 300 series, i.e. The Chairman Series Cherrywood scaled 301,303,309 and 305 models. First of all, remember these are production line knives not limited editions. The price is in the everyman affordable range. The manufacturing of an American Made production line knife has to be carefully managed to insure it will keep the bacon on the table for everyone. This posting is also just MY opinion of the knives I received, remember everyone has a rear-end and a opinion. The knife(s) your buy may be different.
My first reaction is that I like the shape and color of the knives. I was scratching my head on the Laser etch when I heard about it. But, I have a Chuck Buck signature on a blade so one on the handle covers all folks who can’t go to where Chuck is visiting.
Who is going to be the first to take a Cherrywood and get Chuck to sign on the blade?
In hand the laser signature grows on you. It may be a little bit of a ‘crud’ catcher but sawcuts and escutcheon plates can be also. I like the Cherrywood color and I think it looks better than the dark Dymondwood scales. I also like the more rounded nickel bolsters with their integral liners on this series. Polishing is good, no buffing or grinding marks on any of the four knives. Scale rivets are polished and round, no grinding hits. Blades all had good movement, OK I will say it, they had good Walk andTalk…… It may cost another production step, but ‘I’ wish for one more run on sharpening to smooth up the edge grind on the 420HC blades. I constantly hear about that as critism from others who collect some other company.
The following are my measurements:
301 –
Total length - 3 and 61 /64 inches
Blade Thickness
Clip .88
Spey .87
Sheepsfoot .86
303 –
Total length - 3 and 9/32
Blade Thickness
Clip .70
Spey .71
Sheepsfoot .70
309 –
Total length - 3 inches
Blade Thickness
Clip .53
Pen .51
305 –
Total length - 2 and 41/64
Blade Thickness
Clip . 47
Cut-off pen. . 46
For a spell I have tried to warm up to the current 309 Clip blade shape. It looks to me like this current 309 clip is a nose of a stealth fighter. Getting my wishes I would lengthen the front slope of the blade just a hair. I do not like the larger nail nic on my example 309 it seems too large and I don’t like how far it extends down into the blade grind. Below you see a comparison with a 2008 Dymondwood 309 and a 2007 limited edition stag 309. Top and bottom knives have better scaled nail nics, in my opinion. The 301,303 and305 Cherrywood nics appear correctly proportioned to the blades shape and size.
Looking carefully at fit and finish I came on some issues. One of my tests is to open all blades on a knife and look in the blade well against a bright light. This gives me an idea on how tight it is put together and shows any scale or shape problems. My examples of the 305 and 309 are tight. No light in the 305 and normal very slight light between the springs of the 309.
My example of a Cherrywood 303 failed my test for “normal”.
Light came thru springs a bit too well and some showed under both the scales in the middle of the knife. On close exam the scales on the 303 had visible gaps on the bottom of the knife where scale meets liner. I can live with the spaces between the springs, after all this is a production knife. But to see the amount of light I did under the scale is not acceptable even in a regular production line knife even if the scales are only riveted on. Now remember, after talking to some other forum members with these new knives, fate has sent me a knife not like theirs. They felt their’s were tight enough. Only a small spot of light snuck under one side of the 301 scale.
I hope this 303 scale issue just slipped by quality control. Note: Scales are only riveted on not glued.
303 with gap from picture above. I might of gotten the .008 gauge all the way thru, but I didn’t want to push it in order to keep the knife in new condition. The .007 went thru easily.
This is photo of light shining thru gap under the 303 scale where the .007 gauge was slipped thru. The bottom scale had a slightly smaller gap but camera was unable to capture both in the same photo.
Here is photo of light check gap in the 301 scale, not what I consider much of an issue of scale fit on rivet-on only scales. Two other Cherrywood owners reported their knives tight with no unusual light gaps.
Another issue came to light, so to speak, when all knives were open and laid out. Small flaws caused by the cutting of the nail nics were present on three out of the four knives.
It was apparent that it had to be a machining problem, the issue then becomes what is acceptable on a production knife quality control examination. One other owner has reported to me a similar mark on one blade of their new knife.
Note the small cut in the top of the nail nic. It becomes more apparent in darker light. But would not be noticed after a few days of pocket carry.
303 nail nic flaw
I like the 309 Dymondwood nail nic size, but whoa I never noticed it has the same flaw on the DW as the new Cherrywood.
I took up collecting the 300 series more than a dozen years ago. I was unknowing of their history or origins. I just liked them. My attraction started at a little ole mans hardware store as a kid way farther back than a dozen years. I never swayed to the tactical world or gave up on my 300s. I understand that most of the 300 series are production line quality knives. Made in large numbers (did I mention IN AMERICA) as quick as chosen quality level allows. That total process is what makes the knife affordable. We just can’t expect a custom or limited edition quality knife at the prices these are selling for. You get your monies worth in steel, toughness and guarantee. The rest is just how you see it. These may be the only wooden scale rivet-on only models I ever owned.
Overall I give a thumbs up to the 301,309 and 305. If my bad Cherry 303 scale gaps are not the norm I could go with it also. The 301 and 305 are fit as a fiddle and ready to go into the pocket. I like 309s as a small knife and the Cherrywood 309 is tight with no gaps, I don’t personally like the large nail nic cuts, perhaps I am looking to closely in what I call design relationship. Also the 309 has a clip blade that is cut a little too ‘stealthy” in MY opinion.
I would like to see the tiny flaws in the top of the effected nail nics figured out. I was surprised to even see one on a last years Dymondwood I pulled out for photo comparison.
Remember at the top I said – Opinions, etc, etc.. This is just mine.
300Bucks
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