My prodigal Buck 301 Stockman

M

Mud Shrimp Moe

Joined
Nov 6, 2011
Messages
644
Ok, I know this is only a $30-ish knife, but I'm still excited to get it back. I've had it since my teens (I'm 45) and much of that time it was stored away in a tool box, forgotten and unloved but occasionally used for hard work. I started carrying it occasionally a couple of years ago. One year ago, my girlfriend, for reasons still not explicable, stuck it in a hole in my truck console. It feel down deep inside the console and was irretrievable.

Well, not irretrievable, but really difficult to retrieve. Last night I spent quite a while disassembling that console and finally got it back!

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It has some rust spots in the liners and springs. They look a bit worse in pics than in real life. And two of the blades have some patina. But I figure she has some life left in her. It was my only stockman, and one of my only "traditionals." So I'm pleased to have her back.
 
Looks good to me. Those Bucks are nice knives and tough as nails. If the rust spots and dirt in the liners are bothering you, just dab a piece of cloth or maybe a Q-tip in a spot of oil and give the liners a wipe down/scrubbing. Open the blades completely and be careful. I'd bet that with proper care that knife'll last way past your lifetime.
 
Nice knife. That looks to be an early '70's Camillus made version. I have a 303 of the same era. Excellent edc knife. Glad you got it back!
 
Thanks! I cleaned it up with WD-40 last night. The blades open and shut fine. I'll treat the liners/springs again soon.
 
Great knife Moe!

I carried one just like it for about 25 years as my sole edc before I got into knives later in life. That's a pocket knife that will do most anything you have to do with a knife. Mine was a work knife, hunting knife, fishing knife, camping knife, and whatever. Never failed me.

Carl.
 
Nice recovery, always good to get a good working knife back. I had a similar experience with a Böker USA Tree Brand Stockman. It was my own fault that it was neglected for over 20 years. Now it is making its way back into regular use.
 
Modoc ED said:
If the rust spots and dirt in the liners are bothering you, just dab a piece of cloth or maybe a Q-tip in a spot of oil and give the liners a wipe down/scrubbing.
Click to expand...

Pipe cleaners can be really helpful too, getting down into places a Q-tip can't.

Mud Shrimp Moe, congratulations on getting your knife back!

~ P.
 
Maybe I should comment......

For those that do not know, Buck contracted with Camillus to make the stockman(s) from 66 to 85. Later for the big 307. This is one of those last era (74- 85) knives.

Blade steel is Camillus 440a , maybe. Cami. kept that card close to there vest. Likely is SS 440a of the era. If they were 440c I would have a much better investment.....and you guys would gripe how hard they are to sharpen. The springs were carbon steel so they will rust. Deal with them just as you would a carbon blade. If you let rust on the old models get started down there, salt water use especially, it is hard to get rid of .

300Bucks
 
Thanks for the advice, 300Bucks. I'll keep an eye on those springs for sure. I can get some sandpaper down in there. And then I'll oil them. Cool to know about Camillus' involvement. This knife is probably from the early '80's, but could be from the '70's. It was either my Dad's or a gift from him to me when I was a boy. Can't recall, exactly.
 
Tank. Not that it needs to be babied, but soak it in wd40 for a day. Then mineral oil for a day. Then dry. Then sharpen. wd40 and a toothbrush=greatest combo ever.
 
300Bucks said:
Maybe I should comment......

For those that do not know, Buck contracted with Camillus to make the stockman(s) from 66 to 85. Later for the big 307. This is one of those last era (74- 85) knives.

Blade steel is Camillus 440a , maybe. Cami. kept that card close to there vest. Likely is SS 440a of the era. If they were 440c I would have a much better investment.....and you guys would gripe how hard they are to sharpen. The springs were carbon steel so they will rust. Deal with them just as you would a carbon blade. If you let rust on the old models get started down there, salt water use especially, it is hard to get rid of .

300Bucks
Click to expand...

Camillus and Schrade used a lot of 440A for their stainless pocket knife blades. Schrade+ was 440A.
Neither used a lot of 440C for any knife, let alone a traditional folder.
Stands to reason the Bucks were 440A. Camillus would have marketed what it knew best.

I have a Camillus Buck, and from the edge retention performance it could be 440A or 420HC; but it is not 440C.

That being said, Congrats on getting that knife back!
 
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