My brief affair with the 303

[FranklinG]

There's a green paperstone B&C 303??
I've got to go on the lookout for that one. I'm not really a stockman fan; but I've been toying with the idea of trying again with a small-med version & green paperstone would be just thing to open my wallet.

Yes, there's indeed a paperstone 303, and I'd love to see Buck bring it back! It originally came in a tin with the 309. It's a fantastic knife!

On my versions, the finish of the paperstone is slightly different on each knife. The 303 has a matte finish, the 309 is glossy, and the 301 is somewhere in between. They're the same color in hand, but in the photo the slight difference in lighting and finish makes them appear different shades of green.

 

[MT_Pokt]

There's a green paperstone B&C 303??
I've got to go on the lookout for that one. I'm not really a stockman fan; but I've been toying with the idea of trying again with a small-med version & green paperstone would be just thing to open my wallet.

It came in a tin paired with a 309. I still have the can and 309 somewhere, I think...

The raw ironwood Bob Timberlake is one of the more elusive ones.


ETA: Apparently I didn't hit the post button this morning.
F FranklinG nailed it.
The green paperstone 303 was only offered with the 309, and it was only in 2010 and 2011.
The 301 version was from 2010 through 2013.

 

[hhmoore]

Thank you both for the info
The 309 is more my style, if it were to come to one or the other.
I've got both the green and red paperstone 112s - only carry the red one, though.

 

[FranklinG]

It came in a tin paired with a 309. I still have the can and 309 somewhere, I think...

The raw ironwood Bob Timberlake is one of the more elusive ones.
View attachment 2036177

ETA: Apparently I didn't hit the post button this morning.
F FranklinG nailed it.
The green paperstone 303 was only offered with the 309, and it was only in 2010 and 2011.
The 301 version was from 2010 through 2013.

That's beautiful! Can you tell us any more about it? Was it a one off?

 

[MT_Pokt]

That's beautiful! Can you tell us any more about it? Was it a one off?

It was an SFO for Bass Pro presumably since the Bob Timberlake stuff is one of their brands. Only made in 2007, but I don't recall how many were made.

It's "Raw" aka unpolished desert ironwood with a silver (perhaps nickel) feather / quill escutcheon fastened to the surface rather than inset. I believe there to be a Timberlake 192, 110, and 501 (IIRC).

ETA: I have forgotten so much of the minutiae surrounding the 303s that I accept the fact that anything I say could be in error.

 

[FranklinG]

It was an SFO for Bass Pro presumably since the Bob Timberlake stuff is one of their brands. Only made in 2007, but I don't recall how many were made.

It's "Raw" aka unpolished desert ironwood with a silver (perhaps nickel) feather / quill escutcheon fastened to the surface rather than inset. I believe there to be a Timberlake 192, 110, and 501 (IIRC).

ETA: I have forgotten so much of the minutiae surrounding the 303s that I accept the fact that anything I say could be in error.

Thanks! That was perfect. I just found an old thread (2008) where someone mentioned seeing them for $38. Ouch!

 

[kyhunt]

It came in a tin paired with a 309. I still have the can and 309 somewhere, I think...

The raw ironwood Bob Timberlake is one of the more elusive ones.
View attachment 2036177

ETA: Apparently I didn't hit the post button this morning.
F FranklinG nailed it.
The green paperstone 303 was only offered with the 309, and it was only in 2010 and 2011.
The 301 version was from 2010 through 2013.

Honestly until seeing your Timberlake 303, I forgot I have one. Nice little knives. I just might have to get it out and look at it tomorrow.

 

[Ace Rimmer]

After picking up my new 2025 Buck 303 a couple of days ago I decided to look around the forum for posts about that model. I came across this one and, since I agree with the sentiments expressed in the original post, I thought I'd add to it. Bottom line: I'm really happy with my new 303! I knew that it was going to be similar in size to my 703 (bought new in 1989 and my second ever Buck), but one thing that never occurred to me until today is how similar it is in size to my Case 6344 medium stockman. (The 703 is definitely "chunkier.") I have long thought that the 6344 is about the ideal size for a "gentleman's knife." Interesting to note, the 6344 is known for its smooth, light pull (about a 3.5 to 4) and I find the new 303 to be about the same. The 303 has a superbly pointy clip blade and the three spring design is well executed with smooth action, no blade rub that I've noticed so far, and no hangups or catches when opening or closing.
I know there has been discussion about the position of the sheepsfoot and spey blades having changed from earlier models and I notice in post #16 above that TAH has shown a picture of an older 303 with the sheepsfoot on the same end as the clip. Whatever that might mean, I don't know.

 

[kyhunt]

After picking up my new 2025 Buck 303 a couple of days ago I decided to look around the forum for posts about that model. I came across this one and, since I agree with the sentiments expressed in the original post, I thought I'd add to it. Bottom line: I'm really happy with my new 303! I knew that it was going to be similar in size to my 703 (bought new in 1989 and my second ever Buck), but one thing that never occurred to me until today is how similar it is in size to my Case 6344 medium stockman. (The 703 is definitely "chunkier.") I have long thought that the 6344 is about the ideal size for a "gentleman's knife." Interesting to note, the 6344 is known for its smooth, light pull (about a 3.5 to 4) and I find the new 303 to be about the same. The 303 has a superbly pointy clip blade and the three spring design is well executed with smooth action, no blade rub that I've noticed so far, and no hangups or catches when opening or closing.
I know there has been discussion about the position of the sheepsfoot and spey blades having changed from earlier models and I notice in post #16 above that TAH has shown a picture of an older 303 with the sheepsfoot on the same end as the clip. Whatever that might mean, I don't know.

Thank you for sharing . I never realized the Case 45 was so close in size to the 303.

 

[DrMegabyte]

FWIW, neither of my 2025 model 303s have the "Spey blade rubs the Sheepsfoot blade" issue that all 3 of my 2025 model 301s have had ...

 

[J Buck]

Interesting seeing this updated post this morning. I threw my 1988 model in my pocket when I left for work. I was just thinking what a great knife it was as I was walking out the door and that I should carry it more often. I have too many knives to pick from in rotation (is that possible?). It handles pretty much all my daily needs for a knife. Stays pretty sharp with a slight touch up occasionally with a strop on some cardboard. I have 3 , the 1988, a more recent one from around 2012 and I picked up a Rosewood and Brass one a couple or 3 years ago. They are pretty much my favorite of the stockman style to carry, and I have a bunch of stockmans. I guess I just bonded with it.