Lets Talk Muskrats!

Will Power said:
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maybe that's why I like the pattern Will, the only one I own is the same by queen and I see it as an outstanding knife.
mateo
 
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I own a queen trapper and 49 stockman and I have the same feeling about the quality on those as well. And the acsb covers are amazing. If the case muskrat I have coming is what I hope it will be I may have to pick up a queen down the road.
 
I got this in the mail today - Buck 313 Muskrat! This is the seller's photo; I will get some of my own up later. Pre 1986.

 
Vaporstang said:
1972 - 1986 has "Buck", Model Number ("313" in this case), and "USA" on the tang. In 1986 they started stamping different symbols for each year.
I hope it is ok to post this link:
http://www.buckknives.com/about-knives/how-old/
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OK to post links to manufacturers.

But your information only applies to the knives Buck made in-house. Buck never made the muskrat in-house. That was always made by Camillus. So it could have been made post 1985.

Buck has only made the following models in-house:
301, 302, 303, 305, 309

Other models were made by Camillus and if memory serves, continued to be made by Camillus until Camillus closed in 2007.
 
Ah, the muskrat. A pattern I really wish I liked more. It looks really good with one of its long clips opened, and I "get" the reason for the redundant blades both historically and in its flexibility on the grinder or the stone. I want to desire more, and I will probably end up with some that catch my eye, but I worry that they'll never get any real consideration for a day's carry with so many favored patterns and variants thereof available.

I have to admit my neophyte confusion about that Buck 313 being considered a "muskrat" instead of a "moose", as every moose I've seen described as such had a Turkish clip and a spey. I imagine the Wharnie/sheepsfoot variations are considered variants on the muskrat, but I had always been led to believe that the spey's presence made the knife a moose (unless I'm missing something about the frame/spring count/etc. -- like I said, I'm still a relative newb towards traditionals in general and this pattern in particular).

My one and only muskie. Two springs, stainless, beautiful bone, just the right size and feel in hand, but I have so many other multi-blades with different profiles available that I ultimately go with something else.





Thanks for posting such outstanding examples of the pattern, everyone. I think this thread may go far in showing me the folly of my ways. :o :cool:
 
That case is a beauty! I'm determined to carry mine once I get it in on Monday for a good while to really get a feel for its utility.
 
perchjerk said:
That case is a beauty! I'm determined to carry mine once I get it in on Monday for a good while to really get a feel for its utility.
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Thank you! I picked it up because it was such a good-looking knife, bigger and sturdier than I had initially thought, and the Turkish clip has a lot going for it. I can make it work, but for the same pocket space I've can pocket one of my stockmen or a smaller knife plus one or two others. I like the whole aesthetic of asymmetrical serpentine frame contrasted with the identical clips -- c'mon, the knife makes devil horns at you :p -- but my carry rotation is dictated only partly by these concerns; utility is also an important factor.



You may want to consider your new muskie for Connor's EDC Challenge thread, although if you choose to carry just one knife for a whole week I feel like picking a traditional muskrat would be starting on Hard Mode. :p :D I'm about to try a week of carrying just one traditional but I guess I'm a wuss because I'm going to try it with a stockman, so I'm going with 3 very different blade profiles in one knife. With a muskie you're going to be working that slender clip for everything. :eek: Not for the faint of
 
knarfeng said:
OK to post links to manufacturers.

But your information only applies to the knives Buck made in-house. Buck never made the muskrat in-house. That was always made by Camillus. So it could have been made post 1985.

Buck has only made the following models in-house:
301, 302, 303, 305, 309

Other models were made by Camillus and if memory serves, continued to be made by Camillus until Camillus closed in 2007.
Click to expand...

Seriously? You know how to suck the fun out of something - LOL! Thanks for the information.
 
I want an A.G Russells Muskrat with pearwood scales, badly.... Such a nice and elegant little knife... Shipping it to Europe makes it a bit of a stretch (expedition and custom fees all included : yikes !). Still thinking about it.
 
Just caved in....Will post pictures of this lovely knife. I see no way this one could stay out of my pocket(s).
 
The Muskrat is a pattern that I have just automatically passed over when considering a new knife...not sure why; they just don't speak to me. Others have touched on blade redundancy and that's probably the main reason, although two differently sharpened edges for different uses make a strong case for such a set up.

I used to feel the same way about a Congress, so the whole symmetrical, redundant blade thing is probably at the root of my apathy. No doubt I will find one at some point that I'll pick up, probably based on some beautiful handles (those old Cases in the thread look amazing!) and once I have one in hand, I may come around and see the light!
 
I own several Muskrat's (Buck, Case, and Schrade) but only carry this Buck 313. I like having two different blades - keeping my eyes open for a Hawbaker of some ilk. This Buck, made by Camillus, has the lowest nesting blades of any 3-7/8" to 4" knife I own, making it very pocket friendly - carries like a small pocketknife. There is an identical Camillus Muskrat under the Remington label floating around out there on the Bay. OH

Buck_313_Muskrat_2_.jpg
 
Old Hunter said:
I own several Muskrat's (Buck, Case, and Schrade) but only carry this Buck 313. I like having two different blades - keeping my eyes open for a Hawbaker of some ilk. This Buck, made by Camillus, has the lowest nesting blades of any 3-7/8" to 4" knife I own, making it very pocket friendly - carries like a small pocketknife. There is an identical Camillus Muskrat under the Remington label floating around out there on the Bay. OH

Buck_313_Muskrat_2_.jpg
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They are nice knives with great edge retention OH. I have one in yellow that I bought in 1996.
 
I have three 15+ yr old Case Muskrats.
I much prefer the Furtaker/Hawbaker versions due to the different blades.

(lousy cell phone images)
 
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