Contracted Buck, Where,Why,When?

mbjannusch

mbjannusch

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Apr 1, 2010
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I'd like to start off thanking 300Bucks for his insite on the Schrade contracted Buck knives. In reading the prior thread I got curious and started looking for Contracted Buck knives. The reason I started this thread is because the prior thread was a vast amountof information in just a few postings. I hope to expand on the last thread (300 what?) and hopefully get into not only the contracted companies but time frames of when those companies were contracted, for how long, why, why they changed companies and any pictures describing the differences in the contracted companies version of the same product. From looking into the subject I was able to obtain at least three contracted companies, Schrade, Camillius, and Winchester. I don't have any Idea of dates these companies were contracted.
 
edbeau,
Thank you for that bit of info, although Bucks contracted 300 series wasn't mentioned once. I'm really not interested in other knives these companies produced, just info on the Buck contracted knives. I hope that didn't sound snappy, I didn't mean for it 2. If this specific subject has come up reciently and someome has an archive to post, I'll read that too.
 
There was the Wenger SwissBucks, Puma Darts and Dart boards.. not sure if those fit what you are looking for...
 
From a previous thread I learned that the Buck 303 that I bought many years ago was a Camillus one because of the visible pins. A lot can be learned here and I have enjoyed your questions and the answers from the group of Buckaholics. As a side note, I started out collection Western knives but now I have many more Bucks.
 
mbjannusch said:
From looking into the subject I was able to obtain at least three contracted companies, Schrade, Camillius, and Winchester. I don't have any Idea of dates these companies were contracted.
Click to expand...

The Winchester 300's (301 & 311) were around 1981 or 1982, and were made by Camillus for a Winchester rep' with a "Winchester" shield and a regular Buck tangstamp.

My brothers former father-in-law was a longtime employee of Winchester then ammo division Olin USA and received one of each. The 301 of which is now mine.
 
edbeau said:
From a previous thread I learned that the Buck 303 that I bought many years ago was a Camillus one because of the visible pins. A lot can be learned here and I have enjoyed your questions and the answers from the group of Buckaholics. As a side note, I started out collection Western knives but now I have many more Bucks.
Click to expand...


My group of Buck Knives will soon eclipse the Western/Camillus horde.

:):thumbup::)
 
I waiting for 300bucks, 110Dave or one of the other Buck no-it alls to chime in and maybe school us on dates, picture and what ever else they may think of to really send our minds into BUCK over drive.
 
From what I've read Buck subcontracted the 300 series because when they started out they were too small to make these knives themselves. They wanted a presence in the slippie category and subcontracting was common at that time in the knife business. Camillus made the first version but I believe they lost the contract because their method of manufacturing made repairing their 300s difficult so Schrade got the next contract. Someone with a greater knowledge please correct me if anything I wrote is factually wrong.
 
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Stelth, think you have Schrade and Camillus mixed up. I believe it was Schrade first then Camillus.
 
Everybody,

This is the way it was: Schrade contract, Camillus contract, then (301,303,309 and 305)BUCK in 1985 and after with the other models by Camillus till modeled discontinued or the factory closed.

All 300s with some name or company or whatever printed, engraved or stamped was ALWAYS either Buck or Camillus.

MB, I know you mean well and I will work at it but you are asking for the 'manual' that does not exist yet. I am working on the Buck Collectors Website doing the histories of the 300 models. Once one is put on website, I get some assistance from MWallace and it gets posted here in a size you can save on your computer. You can search here and find them for the 313,321,319 and soon the 311. They have been posted in the BCCI newletters also.

At this moment I am working on the 300 series seminar I will give at SMKWs BCCI meeting in August. If someone comes to that you will get first shots......I will do some of it here after the meeting. I hope to have an excel sheet that could be downloaded with a list started by Mr. Charles Toft's the dean of the 300s. It will have a listing of 98%+ of the 300s made and what they look like. Folks will also get a CD with the list and all my photos and descriptions I will use. (Lots). The only thing you won't walk away with is my hot-air.

You can search the forum for those models with histories and for info on specific 300s and learn alot. But you will have to bear with me for all the info. I know you really would like to know. Like I sorta said.....will do my best effort for you........300Bucks
 
Thank you for all of your hard work, this is the stuff collectors love to get there hands on(not put together) You are making history. 50 years from now people will be looking at your work and say " boy that guy 300bucks put together some great information, he was the Tip Of The Spear". Can't wait to see your work!
 
OK, here is a fast photo of the Camillus contract 301 set....300Bucks

Left to right:
1971, Scale rivets, Made in USA on tang, NO model number on tang, two versions - single brass scale liners and double brass liners on one side.

1971, Scale rivet, Made in USA on tang, MODEL number on reverse tang, one version - single brass scale liners

1971 - 1974, NO scale rivets, Made in USA on tang, MODEL number on revers tang, one version - single brass scale liner

1974 - 1985, No scale rivets, BUCK, 301,USA on front tang, nothing on reverse, two versions - single brass scale liners and two liners on one side.

Example of double brass liners under one scale on end. Last two knives on right show two odd-balls, Winchester contracted to have their name on escutcheon and because the 319 and 301 shared blades some mis-matches occurred. In this poor photo you can barely see 319 stamped in place of 301 on the tang. But sheepsfoot and spey blade in knife well, missing is leather punch to make it a real 319. The next knives in timeline after these (not pictured) begin Buck made.
Quick301.jpg
 
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