How are the Buck (USA) Slipjoints?

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BMCGear

BMCGear

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Always liked the look of Buck's stockman models but I've never owned one.

How do they compare to a Case?
 
Bucks 420HC, is superior to Cases 420 steel, but Cases steel isn't bad, I've been a steel snob for a while and I guess I'm in a twelve step recovery program. I've given the Chinese Bucks as gifts, and used them, my brother in law carries a trapper made in China. The steel is 420J2, I've never been a fan of that. I love the 301, the 303 is a little small for me, but I carry a Case peanut every day so my tastes might have changed. I believe Camillus and Schrade made Buck 3** series slipjoints before Buck started making them, some can be found in 440C. I had a 301 with bone handles and 425M steel, wish I would've kept that. The 7** series slipjoints are beauties, ones with scroll writing are pretty nice, but be warned. The springs will break. It happened to me, they sent me a regular 301 for a 701 scroll stamp that broke. These were made in the 80s, but they are out there at shows, and come up on the Exchange from time to time. There are a few Buck collectors here, check out the Buck forum too.
 
I don't have any experience with the 300 series but I have a few from the 700 series. I've read that a lot of the newer 300 series can have weak snap but again, no experience with those. That was never a problem with the 700 series. At least not the ones that I've owned.

The top knife in the photo below was made 1979-1985 before Buck started stamping date codes on the blades. Note the script lettering on the shield. The two knives below it were both made in 1986, the first year that Buck started using date codes, and well after the backspring issue that Dan mentioned was resolved.

These were made from 1979-2001 so there are still a lot of them out there. Mint condition examples are not all that hard to find.

Good knives.



And an open blade pic of one of the 1986 models. (this one recently found a new home but I still have the pic)

 
I have a 301 and 303 in yellow Delrin. Great, stocky, sturdy knives. Better at cutting than slicing due to the blade profiles.

301:


301 in hand:



301 and 303 size comparison:

 
I've got numerous versions of the Buck and Case stockman pattern. I really like the fact that Buck has separate springs for each blade but the pull on most of them is on the light side and generally the sheepsfoot blade is a little weak in closing. The Case versions have a more consistent stronger pull and the sheepsfoot snaps better on closing. Most Case stockman have a bit of blade rub because of using only two back springs which doesn't bother me because they are users. My wife commandeered my Buck Rosewood Dymondwood Model 301RWS because the pull is so light (waaaay too light IMHO) because she can't seem to open anything unless it has an extremely light pull. She felt bad and ended up getting me the Chinese version in jigged bone which is a pretty good knife except for weak closing with the sheepsfoot. I like the pattern by both companies but prefer the Case versions overall.
 
The newer USA Buck stockmans are just too soft on the pull for my tastes. I like a little bit of snap in my blades. I'm also not too keen on the newer blade grinds. It's too bad, as the heat treatment on the blades really is wonderful.

All in all, I prefer to hunt down the old USA Camillus-made Buck stockmans. They're wonderful in almost every way.

G10rbBBh.jpg



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I have a snappy, broad-bladed Camillus 303, and an early Buck 303 that has the three springs but is still flat-ground. It already has the light pull and subtle snap, too.
I'm not sure the soft spring is a bad thing, as long as the blades stay in place. Buck may even have done a test to determine the stiffness least likely to break, like they did a test to see whether flat or hollow cuts better.
That said, my favorite is a Case 3318, and if I ever get another stockman it will be the very similar Utica Premium stockman in 420HC hardened to R 56-59.
 
Things to like: good steel and they come sharp, rugged construction, 3-blade 3-spring stockmen with sheepfoot opposite clip :thumbup:

Not to like: lack of nice cover materials and jigging/texture, very weak pulls and snap. This last one is a deal killer for me, as I've had several Bucks and kept none of them, just too "floppy" for my taste.
 
Cases are prettier. More rounded. Nicer covers. Take a nice edge. More sizes to choose from. Better snap on the blades.

Bucks work better. Harder blade steel. 3-spring design. blades are sharpened out to the point.
 
I've been very pleased with the Bucks I've bought. I might add, that as a European, sending them back if there are problems is far more difficult for me, obviously. Never had to send in a Buck slip joint though.

I must be lucky as the snap is decent and this is important for me. The 302 Solitaire is a very competent knife, a kind of single blade Stockman if you see what I mean. The 309 is a small knife blade at each end knife that is a real pocket scalpel, the 303 Stockman, also compact but offering more blades.

I like the ALL stainless construction, no stinky brass here, the straight non krinked blades and Buck's stainless is really tough and retentive. However, the sabre grind is for me, more questionable. The scale choices are largely synthetics so that is an aesthetic drawback. Very tough, most workmanlike though.

CASE has long tradition, massive variety of scales, large pattern book and very acceptable carbon or stainless, it does have brass and very krinked (off set) blades though. You should try both of these brands and report back...:D :thumbup:

IMG_2871.jpg
 
Buck 300's are top notch for a serious working knife, great steel, they are rugged and tough. They do have pretty mild pulls, I don't have a problem with that except I have had one that had no walk & talk but it's not very common. The fit is usually very good, the finish is a bit duller than case but that just goes along with the working nature of bucks. The blades are ground too thick IMO, they do well for shallow cuts but when you get to the flats of the grind it binds up a bit, but the blade grind sure looks good.
 
I got to handle several USA Buck Slipjoints today. The pull was extremely soft on all except for the Solitaire. I almost bought that knife but went with something a little different.
 
Vinifera said:
I've got numerous versions of the Buck and Case stockman pattern. I really like the fact that Buck has separate springs for each blade but the pull on most of them is on the light side and generally the sheepsfoot blade is a little weak in closing. The Case versions have a more consistent stronger pull and the sheepsfoot snaps better on closing. Most Case stockman have a bit of blade rub because of using only two back springs which doesn't bother me because they are users. My wife commandeered my Buck Rosewood Dymondwood Model 301RWS because the pull is so light (waaaay too light IMHO) because she can't seem to open anything unless it has an extremely light pull. She felt bad and ended up getting me the Chinese version in jigged bone which is a pretty good knife except for weak closing with the sheepsfoot. I like the pattern by both companies but prefer the Case versions overall.
Click to expand...

I got the same issue with my China Buck stockman, the sheepsfoot needs assistance to close.
 
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