Four Inch USA-Made Stockman: The Ultimate Jackknife

[Slice-and-dice]

Definitely 440A.
The 307 was a Camillus made contract knife. Buck never made the 307 in-house.

Yes, correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the long pull also gives it away. Not aware of any Buck blades with 425M that had a long pull notch. And Camillus, of course, is not known for that alloy.

 

[afishhunter]

Yes, correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the long pull also gives it away. Not aware of any Buck blades with 425M that had a long pull notch. And Camillus, of course, is not known for that alloy.

Long pull 300 series are likely Camillus or early Schrade made. (The Schrade made also have Swindon Key construction.)
The only Buck made 300 series with a long pull that I know of is the 2018 two blade BF 301 "stockman".
Also, so far as I know all the Schrade and Camillus 301 and 303 stockman's are two spring designs.
I believe they went to 3 spring in 2005, when Buck started manufacturing the 300 series in-house following their move from CA. to Idaho.

 

[afishhunter]

Sorry. I neglected to mention ...
I swapped my (2014) 6375CV back into RFP at 01:27 (Mtn Time) on 01/01.
I "thought" it would be a good way to start the "new" year with a third "classic" on me.
(The other 2 "classics" are a post 1991 (has the multi purpose "package hook) VIC Huntsman, and a 1980 ("D" date code) Western 062 two blade Folding Hunter.)





Tho to be honest, it was really tempting to drop my pre date code Western 742 stockman into my pocket instead ...
///\\\///\\\
As Max Smart used to say: "Sorry about that."
Rerun pictures. My tablet's memory is getting low, so no new pictures until I can get a compatible micro SD card for it.

 

[Old Hunter]

First style of Buck 301 Stockman as built by Schrade-Walden.

 

[screened porch]

Buck never made the 307 in-house.

Silly buggers.
Still, I've never had a complaint about a Camillus. (I'm lying very slightly.)

(Not a Camillus.)

 

[black mamba]

Thanks for showing that one, Bruce, I've never before seen a 301 with the big rattail bolsters. Here is my latest true 4 incher.

And another new one just an eighth under 4".

 

[Hickory n steel]

Took your advice H&S and picked up an NOS yellow ranger on the bay. I’ll post it with some observations when it comes in. Thanks!

Here’s one of the auction pics:

View attachment 3021594

Did you ever receive the knife ?

 

[Chui]

Obviously this Stockman from New York Walden isn’t drastically popular/sought after, however of all these I’ve handled, the quality, fit n finish is just great - a very solid bullet-proof folder.

Guess the Peña isn’t too bad either…

 

[Slice-and-dice]

Did you ever receive the knife ?

I did… i was honestly disappointed. The packaging was so fragile it exploded during transit. I was going to leave it in the original packaging. Well, since in was loose, i could handle the ranger but it disappointed: rough edges everywhere, poor action, etc.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I did… i was honestly disappointed. The packaging was so fragile it exploded during transit. I was going to leave it in the original packaging. Well, since in was loose, i could handle the ranger but it disappointed: rough edges everywhere, poor action, etc.

That's a shame.
Neither of the two I had were like that, and I've had a couple of the ranger Barlows that didn't have any of these issues either.
As a budget knife intended to compete with Schrade OLD TIMER I am not surprised that lemons would get out with how rapidly they were being made.

 

[Rock-ItLauncher]

Love the 4in stockman. Plenty of knife to work with, not too small in the hand.

 

[Slice-and-dice]

Two awesome 4 1/4” stockmans: a Camillus made Buck 307 and a Camillus made and retailed clone of the Buck 307. Honestly, both are amazing

 

[afishhunter]

Two awesome 4 1/4” stockmans: a Camillus made Buck 307 and a Camillus made and retailed clone of the Buck 307. Honestly, both are amazing

View attachment 3089315

What is the model number on the Camillus?

Great knives.

 

[Slice-and-dice]

What is the model number on the Camillus?

Great knives.

Actually no model number on it. Wonder if they made these from overflow parts on their Remington 9501, another contracted large stockman they made (note the green/yellow bolsters), and one that also mimics the 307?

 

[afishhunter]

Actually no model number on it. Wonder if they made these from overflow parts on their Remington 9501, another contracted large stockman they made (note the green/yellow bolsters), and one that also mimics the 307?

Could be. I figured they just rebranded one of their's "Buck" like they did the 301 and 303.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Two awesome 4 1/4” stockmans: a Camillus made Buck 307 and a Camillus made and retailed clone of the Buck 307. Honestly, both are amazing

View attachment 3089315

I wish Buck would have offered that green.

 

[Will Power]

Including this one which came from the Exchange at a very decent price and I was helped by another Forumite to ship it on to Europe. Great example of trust and camaraderie from a former age....

 

[Chui]

Including this one which came from the Exchange at a very decent price and I was helped by another Forumite to ship it on to Europe. Great example of trust and camaraderie from a former age....

View attachment 3089444

………what a beaut, Will - congrats

 

[Franciscomv]

I really like stockmans (stockmen?) around 4". I've only got three made in the US: a Queen made for RAT and two Case 75s (one SS, one CS). Ignore de Böker.

I was quite disappointed by the Queen stockman. Fit and finish is OK, but it came absolutelly dull. I mean, butter knife dull. I had to send it to a knifemaker to be reground, because it was far beyond sharpening. It took a belt grinder to sort it out. I had the same issue with a limited edition Schatt & Morgan lockback, lovely but about as sharp as a brick.

Both Cases are OK. Not perfect (a bit of blade rub and so on) but within what I'd expect at that price point.

 

[Will Power]

………what a beaut, Will - congrats

Many thanks Paul It's WCSB White Carved Stag Bone which I like a lot and was the predecessor to Amber Carved Stag Bone- also a great material. Queen made these D2 knives in a variety of handle materials including Bird's Eye Maple which is curious pinkish colour akin to Cat vomit (we know about that stuff...) Walnut, Bone, probably some synthetic too -though that may have been with mere stainless blades and Zebra wood which looked very attractive but was released at the end of Queen's time and the slabs were not nicely radiused as previous offerings.

At the time, late 1990s early c21st Queen came in for scorn due to sending out D2 knives with very rudimentary 'sharpening' annoying if you had no access to diamond stones which will get them keen. But if you can find early century D2 knives in either of the Stag Bones they're wonderful, did I mention the monster snap on them? No weaklings here