Finally did it...Buck 301

Rsmith_77

Rsmith_77

Joined
Jun 4, 2010
Messages
4,186
After 5-6 months of feeling guilty for purchasing a rough rider medium stockman (its made it china :eek:) I finally went ahead and purchased a buck 301 stockman.

Its my first full sized stockman :thumbup:

So, after trying to talk myself out of buying another knife in the same pattern, my willpower crumbled.

1) its bigger and well, i like that
2) its american made, might be a cultural prejudice, but that was important to me
3) my rough rider is a much smaller version, i am not talking about just length, the blades are MUCH thinner, so much so that they actually bend slightly when i sharpening them. The buck is much thicker and studier, I am not nearly as afraid of bending the blade or breaking it

at first i was a little disappointed in the weakness of the springs, but after getting it home and running it under some hot water and a little dawn the springs seem to be working much better now.

the only problem is that the clip blade has just a noticible amount of side to side blade play (sheepsfoot and spey dont have the wobble). Now its certainly minor and i doubt seriously that it will affect the use of the knife in anyway. just a little annoying

is there anything to do to improve that? or am i stuck with it?

But overall I am very pleased
as soon as i can figure it out, i'll post some pics...


ps
so if i am edc'ing a 301
and keep a 119 in my bug out bag

does that make me a buck guy now? hehe
 
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never carried any of the "traditional" knives until I picked a 301 up after starting to buy quite a few Buck's..now it and a Vantage Pro cover about all I need for edc. i don't know why it took so long to try let alone carry a stockman but that 301 is just a joy to use.

good choice. now get a 110 so ya have a 301 in the pocket, 110 on the belt and 119 in the bag you'll have 3 classics covered and be on the right track to being a Buck guy!
 
thanks all
unfortunately i bought it on my way back to the house from work

so maybe tomorrow i can get a couple uses out of it, break her in and all ;)

and wingslevel, actually carry a becker necker either on the belt or in the back pocket, but i am sure it will do the job as well ;)
 
I have a BUNCH of Buck's but took awhile to getting around to buying any 301's. After I did and saw how nice and handy they are, I keep one of five different ones in my pocket all the time. Great pocket knife.
 
I have probable 20-25, 301s from the very first one made by Schrade through the years to a new 2010 diamond wood and a few colorful ones in between and love them all.
You might be a BUCK Guy if you can't quite guess how many Bucks You have.



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Welcome Rsmith,I was gifted a 301 and it's always on me.It's the handiest knife I own.All these years I thought it wouldn't stand up to my daily use and that's why I never bought one thinking it was to small,man was I wrong.If I could have only 1 knife to edc the 301 would be it.I use Brake free CPL to lube and clean the blades and it has worked well.I also carefully touch up the blades often on a stone to keep them sharp.Just yesterday one of the many things I used it for was to cut a bad piece out of some really thick rubber hose and it did the job in one stroke like butter.I carry other Buck Knives on occasion but I always have my 301 on me.
 
IMO the Buck 301 is one of the best bang for your bucks in the slip joint world there also much "beefier" than the competition.
 
Congrats on a knice nife-I keep sayin I gotta get one. Cant believe I dont. I have a 371 but its not the same thing.
 
imafritz said:
Congrats on a knice nife-I keep sayin I gotta get one. Cant believe I dont. I have a 371 but its not the same thing.
Click to expand...

The 371's are nice knives Kev, I have one that is part of my edc stash. If it wasn't marked China, you would never know.;)
 
Thanks for all the kinds words. It IS much beefier and sturdier feeling and i am really enjoying it (didnt get to use it for anything besides opening a couple letters but its still early hehe)

so i discovered a (slight) issue

one of the pins is sticking out, just enough to catch things (fingernails etc etc). Its not really a huge deal. But i was considering trying to tap it in slightly with a ballpeen hammer or something

good idea? bad idea? suggestions?
 
R77,

I am hoping you are talking about a brass spring pin, the scale pins only attach to the liner.

This problem has arisen in a few brand new 301s and 302s. Buck is aware of it. What causes it is a machine that stamped the rivet, or pivot down is setup a hair high. (QC allows this ?) Its a tricky assembly machine adjustment, as to much hit leaves a depression around the head of the pin. The (if you just have too) home made fix recommended by Buck is to take some emery cloth and stretch it over something stiff (like a paint stirring stick, popcicle stick might work) and lightly buff the head down. A small jewelers file will work also, but you have to be careful to not touch the scale. Hitting it with hammer creates other problems you don't want to have and won't work on scale pins.

You have the option of returning it to Buck for warranty work, but it will end up costing you postage one way. This mailing 'how to' is explained on the Buck website.

Your call.......

300Bucks.
 
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I have the same issue with two models I have. The 2009 Charcoal Dymondwood has a high center pin (spring pin?) on the back side that you can hook your fingernail under. The same situation exists with the 2010 black delrin models I have. They aren't a major irritation, but plenty enough to notice.

On the other hand, the yellow handled 301's and the 371 are smooth as can be on that side.
 
well, i can use your avatar as an example

the center pin (the lowest one on the scale)
on the opposite side of the shield

its not a huge issue or anything...just irksome ;)
 
I sent mine back to be fixed. Waiting for it to be returned;)


Chris D. :D
 
Sounds like the spring pin. It goes all the way thru. I have a 302 sawcut with high spring rivet also. 300
 
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