The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Nice! In the '90's I bought and sold a ton of high end gear, then got the system where I wanted it and just stopped. I get tempted once in a while to upgrade since most of my stuff has become "vintage"This beautiful Case helped open a new toy box and did a wonderful job
Success
Very nice my friend and you’re a smart manNice! In the '90's I bought and sold a ton of high end gear, then got the system where I wanted it and just stopped. I get tempted once in a while to upgrade since most of my stuff has become "vintage"
Response 2s': 25 plus years old and still sounds good
View attachment 2244058
That’s what it’s all about Is finding the sweet spot and then just enjoy the music. For many years before my knife hobby I was into home theater and also 2 channel stereo bliss . I would constantly upgrade always searching for something even better . I’ve since only feel the need for nice clean articulate 2 channel music. I found the sweet spot And was happy for 3 or 4 years and just recently started Upgrading again. Now I’m totally content again more then I thought I would be but the quality of sound has gone up a few levels no doubt.
They are not producing the 302 onshore anymore. I believe there is an offshore version of it, called "372".
That’s a lot of speculation for one post.They are not producing the 302 onshore anymore. I believe there is an offshore version of it, called "372".
Needless to state, I may be mistaken that there is currently an offshore version.
The only Buck slipjoints currently made in Idaho are the 301 and 303 stockmans.
Hard to say how much longer that will continue, however, since both have a concurrent offshore version, the 371 and 373.
About 5 years ago all but two of the US made 300 series slipjoints were "temporarally" discontinued to "remodel and enlarge the section of the plant that makes the 300 series."
No doubt a lie to make it easer to swallow the discontinuation of pretty much the entire 300 series was put out:
"We will be able to move production of some of the offshore 300 series (such as the 389 canoe) to the US after the remodel, and introduce more models, such as a Barlow and trapper, after the remodel is finished ... " To date, no new models, and none of the offshore knives have been moved onshore.
I am 99.993% sure the "remodel" took place 6 to 13 months before the Covid 19 pandemic was released.
It has been at least 4.5 ~ 5 years since all the US made 300's (other than the 301 and 303) came to an end.
My personal speculation is those models were not big sellers.
The production of them was moved offshore (if not dropped entirely) freeing up factory space for more popular (AKA: "better selling") models.
I have little to no doubt, that with the exception of 301 and 303 (for now) the 300 series will not be US made again.
The section of the factory where they were made, has (probably) been changed to increase production their more popular modern one hand openers, since that is what is selling.
To support my speculation: Prior to the remodel, it was verified by a Buck exec, at least the 301 and 303 were going into the custom shop options.
The last time I asked when the 301 was going to be a custom shop offering, the answer from the same Buck executive (now retired) who told me they were coming to the custom shop "soon" told me "NEVER!!!". (Same accentuations in the email I received.)
It seems Buck is chasing the "modern" and automatic market for the foreseeable, insofar as their US made products are concerned.
The younger generation of Buck's are in positions of "power" now, and are slowly changing the company's direction.
Admittedly, their "core" "Traditional" customers are aging and dying off. Perhaps Buck has to chase the younger "modern" one hand opener flipper/liner lock/frame lock and "switch blade" consumer.
Hopefully the 100 series (especially the 110 and 112) will not be taking cuts ... at least not while I am still looking down at the snow.
I see Case has come out with a few "modern" folder offerings for that market segment, as well.
I would not be shocked if the 301 and 303 are dropped from production by 2028~2030 at the latest, the 371 and 373 carrying on.
The Buck 301/303 isn't the (IMHO superior) US made affordable alternative to a Case stockman anymore.
When I bought my 301 in 2014, it was $44 and coin out the door. The Case was twice as much money. To Me the Case was not "twice the knife" so to me was not "worth" twice the money. Even the Case stockman with "As Ground" blades, inexpensive/cheap looking jigged white covers, (and unquestionably other cost cutting measures) cost more than the 301.
Today the 301 is closer to $70 than $60. The same price point as the Case.
Case is what most folks think of when they hear "stockman".
The Case stockman no doubt out-sells the Buck. (Probably always has.) For that reason I "think" the days of a US made Buck stockman are numbered.
Oh, well.They are not producing the 302 onshore anymore. I believe there is an offshore version of it, called "372".
Needless to state, I may be mistaken that there is currently an offshore version.
The only Buck slipjoints currently made in Idaho are the 301 and 303 stockmans.
Hard to say how much longer that will continue, however, since both have a concurrent offshore version, the 371 and 373.
About 5 years ago all but two of the US made 300 series slipjoints were "temporarally" discontinued to "remodel and enlarge the section of the plant that makes the 300 series."
No doubt a lie to make it easer to swallow the discontinuation of pretty much the entire 300 series was put out:
"We will be able to move production of some of the offshore 300 series (such as the 389 canoe) to the US after the remodel, and introduce more models, such as a Barlow and trapper, after the remodel is finished ... " To date, no new models, and none of the offshore knives have been moved onshore.
I am 99.993% sure the "remodel" took place 6 to 13 months before the Covid 19 pandemic was released.
It has been at least 4.5 ~ 5 years since all the US made 300's (other than the 301 and 303) came to an end.
My personal speculation is those models were not big sellers.
The production of them was moved offshore (if not dropped entirely) freeing up factory space for more popular (AKA: "better selling") models.
I have little to no doubt, that with the exception of 301 and 303 (for now) the 300 series will not be US made again.
The section of the factory where they were made, has (probably) been changed to increase production their more popular modern one hand openers, since that is what is selling.
To support my speculation: Prior to the remodel, it was verified by a Buck exec, at least the 301 and 303 were going into the custom shop options.
The last time I asked when the 301 was going to be a custom shop offering, the answer from the same Buck executive (now retired) who told me they were coming to the custom shop "soon" told me "NEVER!!!". (Same accentuations in the email I received.)
It seems Buck is chasing the "modern" and automatic market for the foreseeable, insofar as their US made products are concerned.
The younger generation of Buck's are in positions of "power" now, and are slowly changing the company's direction.
Admittedly, their "core" "Traditional" customers are aging and dying off. Perhaps Buck has to chase the younger "modern" one hand opener flipper/liner lock/frame lock and "switch blade" consumer.
Hopefully the 100 series (especially the 110 and 112) will not be taking cuts ... at least not while I am still looking down at the snow.
I see Case has come out with a few "modern" folder offerings for that market segment, as well.
I would not be shocked if the 301 and 303 are dropped from production by 2028~2030 at the latest, the 371 and 373 carrying on.
The Buck 301/303 isn't the (IMHO superior) US made affordable alternative to a Case stockman anymore.
When I bought my 301 in 2014, it was $44 and coin out the door. The Case was twice as much money. To Me the Case was not "twice the knife" so to me was not "worth" twice the money. Even the Case stockman with "As Ground" blades, inexpensive/cheap looking jigged white covers, (and unquestionably other cost cutting measures) cost more than the 301.
Today the 301 is closer to $70 than $60. The same price point as the Case.
Case is what most folks think of when they hear "stockman".
The Case stockman no doubt out-sells the Buck. (Probably always has.) For that reason I "think" the days of a US made Buck stockman are numbered.
I'm in the same ship ... or is it a club?
