First Buck Knife (303 Cadet)

mlamb

mlamb

Joined
Feb 12, 2006
Messages
279
I just purchased my first Buck Knife (303 Cadet) today after buying everything else for the last 40/years. Normally I carry a Chris Reeves or Case knives. I was at my local ma & pa hardware store today and the knife jumped out of the display and into my pocket. I am very impressed with the fit & finish, blades are straight without any play.
This may be my new EDC.

How well do Buck Knives hold up to long term everyday usage?

Thanks,
 
I'm an industrial electrician and Buck is my go to work knife,my. 112.ranger I've had since 1974.My 303cadet was made by Camillus. She is from the 70's also.
 
Bucks will hold up forever if they aren't abused. In addition, there is Buck's unconditional warranty if anything goes wrong. The 303 is a great knife for EDC.
 
My first Buck was a 110 my father gave me for my 18ty birthday in 1988. I still have it and its still in good shape. I have since collected many more Buck knives. I continue to be impressed with Buck Knives.
 
Good choice! Of my pocket knives, 309 is my favorite. I think it is very strong and durable.
 
Good knife you got there,My favorite pocket knife is fairly old,its one of the buck whittlers that came in the knice(LOL) walnut box,I like this knife more than any other pocket knife i've had.
 
Razor,

You mean this one. 300

3102000-2.jpg
 
Yes,its my favorite knife to carry in my pocket,that is just like mine ,The bigger models are nice but i love to take that into the deer woods,moist of the time there is no deer.LOL,So i like to whittle away the hours.
 
300Bucks said:
Lamb,
Which version jumped in you pocket..?.....300Bucks
Click to expand...

Here's a Photo, certainly nothing you haven't already seen. But I can't believe I've overlooked Bucks all these years, friends carried them but I always gravitated to Case.
What a great knife.

IMG_3340.jpg
 
Ah, the black sawcut version, the classic. These started with Delrin sawcut scales, a DuPont material you can check out on the web. That version was made as a contract knife by Camillus up to 1886 when Buck took home its creation. One of situations of the knives before yours that had this Delrin material, was its characteristic to "De-Gas". The knife put in a closed up situation and left untouched for a long period of time would exibit a 'whitish' desposit as the material aged. The current sawcuts are made of Valox and it is not as prone to such effects. You will encounter this in some of the older versions on sale sites. Soap and water and some mineral oil and all will be OK on those old ones.

The scales on your knife are put in place using heat and pressure. The shield is a pillar or metal attached to the liner and helps hold on the scale as it is pressed with force over the pillar during assembly. Look inside your blade well and you will see circles of the scale material. These started as rivets of Valox on the back of the scale that went through holes in the liner and were 'melt' press rivited to hold the scale on also. The other three versions of this knife all have their scales only riveted on in two places with the blue buck emblem glued in a scale surface cut-out. The Chairman and Dymondwood series scales are impregnated stablized wood product and should be tough as nails. The new yellow scaled version is also Valox but only riveted on to the liner. Once in great whiles a stag or jigged bone version appears, not often enough to suit me.

I also continue to campaign to replace or remove the spey blade and put a really nice shaped Warcliff blade in its place. A 303 with clip and warcliff, same end or opposite, I will be happy with the easiest for the factory to do. Good luck with your new knife and as you can see here, there are a number of them in pockets everywhere.

My Survivor Man attitude favors the extra tough construction of the black sawcut version, but it is likely the most costly to assemble. I hope it does not fall out of factory favor. Steel for all versions is Buck 420hc, Bos method treated. Good luck with yours and I bet you will need a second one soon. 300Bucks
 
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300Bucks said:
Ah, the black sawcut version, the classic. These started with Delrin sawcut scales, a DuPont material you can check out on the web. That version was made as a contract knife by Camillus up to 1886 when Buck took home its creation. One of situations of the knives before yours that had this Delrin material, was its characteristic to "De-Gas". The knife put in a closed up situation and left untouched for a long period of time would exibit a 'whitish' desposit as the material aged. The current sawcuts are made of Valox and it is not as prone to such effects. You will encounter this in some of the older versions on sale sites. Soap and water and some mineral oil and all will be OK on those old ones.

The scales on your knife are put in place using heat and pressure. The shield is a pillar or metal attached to the liner and helps hold on the scale as it is pressed with force over the pillar during assembly. Look inside your blade well and you will see circles of the scale material. These started as rivets of Valox on the back of the scale that went through holes in the liner and were 'melt' press rivited to hold the scale on also. The other three versions of this knife all have their scales only riveted on in two places with the blue buck emblem glued in a scale surface cut-out. The Chairman and Dymondwood series scales are impregnated stablized wood product and should be tough as nails. The new yellow scaled version is also Valox but only riveted on to the liner. Once in great whiles a stag or jigged bone version appears, not often enough to suit me.

I also continue to campaign to replace or remove the spey blade and put a really nice shaped Warcliff blade in its place. A 303 with clip and warcliff, same end or opposite, I will be happy with the easiest for the factory to do. Good luck with your new knife and as you can see here, there are a number of them in pockets everywhere.

My Survivor Man attitude favors the extra tough construction of the black sawcut version, but it is likely the most costly to assemble. I hope it does not fall out of factory favor. Steel for all versions is Buck 420hc, Bos method treated. Good luck with yours and I bet you will need a second one soon. 300Bucks
Click to expand...

300Bucks Thanks, for taking your time to post this interesting information.

Thanks,
 
Already thinking about buying a spare.

Thanks,
 
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I did not mention that sometimes I use a ultra-sonic cleaner to get the crud out of 300s, they are useful with other stuff also and a small one is cost of a new knife. I have another Buck nut endorse that method also. He also suggests the pure glycerin is better than mineral for 'de-gassing' scales. It can be found in pharmacy's and maybe big box stores. I use a hair dryer after the soap and water treatment to be sure the knife is dry, I just sneak around and wait for wife to leave before washing and drying knife...ha
300
 
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