- Joined
- Apr 19, 2005
- Messages
- 5,533
I wish I had a nice knife store within driving distance that was a Buck supporter, I would go and hand pick any new model or year code 300.
I get my knives thru the mail like a lot of people. I recieve what ever Buck has packaged and comes my way. That said here is my first look, in hand review of the four new model 302s I recieved.
To refresh the memory of those who weren't tempted by the single blade prototype sales on the Buck website. The 302 is the number of the new single blade, 301 sized slipjoint. They come in Charcoal Dymondwood, Red Dymondwood Chairman series, Black sawcut standard and yellow smooth Valox scale. It appears to me the pivot pins may be slightly larger in diameter than the past, but I did not measure.
All four of my knives are stamped with 2010 date stamps. Remember these are 301 clone clip blades. Right away I noticed
my scales on the Charcoal Dymondwood knife were different side to side. The photo below shows the reverse scale.
I actually would have prefered two scales that looked like that one. I realize its a production knife but can't something be done to better match scales.
The same knife also showed minor sratching around one scale rivet that was visible on casual exam and small scratches were present along the high point of the DYW scale, as if they were left over from riding on a steel tray or workbench. Maybe I am just wishing for the special attention the prototypes received, that Dymondwood was finished prefectly.
The red Chairman Series model matched well, but lacked the Blue Avid shield as shown in the new catalog and on several web knife seller sites. It appears the new model was to have the Chairman laser cut signature on one side and the shield on the other. My red Chairman came with an unacceptable scratch, not made by me, on one bolster.
All of the knives came in plastic sleeves, but do not come with leather sheaths as do the stockman. On handling the 302 black sawcut version, my fingertips quickly noticed a high rivet that would catch my finger surface.
I would like to see a better finish on the old knife,bolt and hammer shield also. On close exam it appears almost to be a unpolished, powdered metal type finish. It gives the appearance of dull grey.
The Yellow valox scaled knife was mint. It would be my choice for slipjoint of the year. It just looks like a pocketknife my granddad would have carried. If I was a rich man I would buy every Boy Scout in town one.
Remember these are the knives I recieved and by no means would you find the same imperfections. I usually leave the over critical discussion to others but this is the way my four knives came to me. The scratch on the bolster of the Chairman series was a little bit of a surprise as they tout this model to be of a higher grade than others. I did not make it and it did not happen in shipping.
These are slim, stout springed, single blade slipjoints. They will meet the test of time. If you are wanting a slim knife the size of a 301 stockman, one of these will fit the bill. I know there are folks out there that will really like owning, carrying and using one. As has occurred in the past some of these trouble-some issues seem to disappear with additional production.
300Bucks
I get my knives thru the mail like a lot of people. I recieve what ever Buck has packaged and comes my way. That said here is my first look, in hand review of the four new model 302s I recieved.
To refresh the memory of those who weren't tempted by the single blade prototype sales on the Buck website. The 302 is the number of the new single blade, 301 sized slipjoint. They come in Charcoal Dymondwood, Red Dymondwood Chairman series, Black sawcut standard and yellow smooth Valox scale. It appears to me the pivot pins may be slightly larger in diameter than the past, but I did not measure.
All four of my knives are stamped with 2010 date stamps. Remember these are 301 clone clip blades. Right away I noticed
my scales on the Charcoal Dymondwood knife were different side to side. The photo below shows the reverse scale.
I actually would have prefered two scales that looked like that one. I realize its a production knife but can't something be done to better match scales.
The same knife also showed minor sratching around one scale rivet that was visible on casual exam and small scratches were present along the high point of the DYW scale, as if they were left over from riding on a steel tray or workbench. Maybe I am just wishing for the special attention the prototypes received, that Dymondwood was finished prefectly.
The red Chairman Series model matched well, but lacked the Blue Avid shield as shown in the new catalog and on several web knife seller sites. It appears the new model was to have the Chairman laser cut signature on one side and the shield on the other. My red Chairman came with an unacceptable scratch, not made by me, on one bolster.
All of the knives came in plastic sleeves, but do not come with leather sheaths as do the stockman. On handling the 302 black sawcut version, my fingertips quickly noticed a high rivet that would catch my finger surface.
I would like to see a better finish on the old knife,bolt and hammer shield also. On close exam it appears almost to be a unpolished, powdered metal type finish. It gives the appearance of dull grey.
The Yellow valox scaled knife was mint. It would be my choice for slipjoint of the year. It just looks like a pocketknife my granddad would have carried. If I was a rich man I would buy every Boy Scout in town one.
Remember these are the knives I recieved and by no means would you find the same imperfections. I usually leave the over critical discussion to others but this is the way my four knives came to me. The scratch on the bolster of the Chairman series was a little bit of a surprise as they tout this model to be of a higher grade than others. I did not make it and it did not happen in shipping.
These are slim, stout springed, single blade slipjoints. They will meet the test of time. If you are wanting a slim knife the size of a 301 stockman, one of these will fit the bill. I know there are folks out there that will really like owning, carrying and using one. As has occurred in the past some of these trouble-some issues seem to disappear with additional production.
300Bucks
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