New 303 Cadet Arrived Today

R

Redhat

Joined
Nov 15, 2005
Messages
197
Hi all,

I received my new Cadet in the mail today and thought I'd share what I think about the knife.

First, I purchased a 301 Stockman about a month ago that had some problems, (spey blade tip ground off to one side, slight side-side blade play, sharp bolsters). So I thought I'd try another but after looking at the 301 and 303, it appeared to me that the Cadet was a better design specifically the shape of the spey blade and the fact it's tip is not exposed when closed. So what I noticed with the Cadet, is all blades ground correctly with no rubbing. Spring strength is about the same as my 301, on the weak side with very little snap. In fairness though, I have not lubed them yet so that may improve a bit. The main and sheepsfoot both have slight left/right play but not much but the bolsters are nicely radiused on both top and bottom unlike my 301 which is sharp on the bottom corners. Finally, two of the back springs do not sit flush and protrude up a bit on the ends.

Overall, I'm not too impressed with what I'm seeing on my two new Buck traditional folders. FWIW I also picked up a 389 Chinese made Canoe a couple of weeks ago and have no complaints (except the blade steel)...so I just don't get it. How buck can make knives like my 3, 110's and recently purchased 112 so well and then put out pocket folders with the things I'm seeing is disheartening for me. I've always liked the company and want to see them do well but this just isn't cutting it. I think next week I'm going to send them both back to see what they can do.
 
Last edited:
Might be cause of the price point. I love those little knives and don't ask too much of them. The fit and finish seems appropriate at this price point not that a few fugly ones get through production now and again.I think a little blade play is to be expected. Tiny bolsters, tiny pins and not much blade material all pinned together in about an area the size of a pea.

I'll take the good with the bad as long as they are made in the USA.

A China made 20 dollar knife is different than a USA made 20 dollar knife.
 
Makael said:
Might be cause of the price point. I love those little knives and don't ask too much of them. The fit and finish seems appropriate at this price point not that a few fugly ones get through production now and again.I think a little blade play is to be expected. Tiny bolsters, tiny pins and not much blade material all pinned together in about an area the size of a pea.

I'll take the good with the bad as long as they are made in the USA.

A China made 20 dollar knife is different than a USA made 20 dollar knife.
Click to expand...

I don't know, the old school part of me thinks regardless of price point, Buck should make them right as that's what I have traditionally experienced with them. On the other, it's a bit sad to see what we've largely come to accept these days. BTW, my 110 cost $27 same as the 301 and it is outstanding.
 
I think part of it can be attributed to the machinery used. I imagine the machines they're using to make the American models is getting a bit worn, while the machinery used to make the overseas models has a lot less time on it. I thought I read a post from Mr. Houser or Mr. Buck that mentioned Buck was planning on upgrading the machines responsible for the 300 series, but I haven't been able to find it again.

At this point, I wouldn't mind seeing them raise the price a little bit, if it meant we got blades that had any sort of snap, and upgraded materials.
 
I think the mention of new machines may be in a BCCI newsletter, maybe in CJ Bucks section. 300
 
We are lucky they are still made here. Yes I like quality and I'm sure buck will make it right. Im not saying I don't think buck shouldn't make a good product. I just don't think their is enough material in that joint to not have some blade play.

27 dollars for a beautiful 110. gotta love it. seems the big store has twisted bucks arm all the way around till it almost breaks to get that price point. Every other retailer they run 40 or more.


You say it's sad to see what we largely accept these days. I'm the opposite. I don't see in pointing out some flaw on a 27 dollar knife and spending the time voicing it on a online forum. what positive action will come of this? I would just send it back to have the knife looked at without drawing a crowd. I hope buck can get more money than they do for their products. the more profit they make the stronger they get. We as consumers and Buck fans should not knock them in any way. instead brag about the awesome things they do. The charity work, knife giveaways, factory sales etc.

Good luck and I'm sure they will take care of your issues with your knife.
 
StuntDouble said:
I think part of it can be attributed to the machinery used. I imagine the machines they're using to make the American models is getting a bit worn, while the machinery used to make the overseas models has a lot less time on it. I thought I read a post from Mr. Houser or Mr. Buck that mentioned Buck was planning on upgrading the machines responsible for the 300 series, but I haven't been able to find it again.

At this point, I wouldn't mind seeing them raise the price a little bit, if it meant we got blades that had any sort of snap, and upgraded materials.
Click to expand...

Agreed :thumbup:
 
Makael said:
We are lucky they are still made here. Yes I like quality and I'm sure buck will make it right. Im not saying I don't think buck shouldn't make a good product. I just don't think their is enough material in that joint to not have some blade play.

27 dollars for a beautiful 110. gotta love it. seems the big store has twisted bucks arm all the way around till it almost breaks to get that price point. Every other retailer they run 40 or more.


You say it's sad to see what we largely accept these days. I'm the opposite. I don't see in pointing out some flaw on a 27 dollar knife and spending the time voicing it on a online forum. what positive action will come of this? I would just send it back to have the knife looked at without drawing a crowd. I hope buck can get more money than they do for their products. the more profit they make the stronger they get. We as consumers and Buck fans should not knock them in any way. instead brag about the awesome things they do. The charity work, knife giveaways, factory sales etc.

Good luck and I'm sure they will take care of your issues with your knife.
Click to expand...

Completely disagree and here's why. If they or anyone is going to tout their quality, then they should do it right. If quality is suffering because they have a lower price point then raise it...though I have my doubts about that since they've got the low end covered with their China made products. I was raised to do a job right no matter what I was getting paid and that's still how I look at things...for better or worse.

As far as pointing out flaws, Buck and potential owners need to hear the unbiased truth...at least I would want to if I were them.
 
Last edited:
I have a mess of 303s. I haven't really looked close enough at them to scrutinize any issues. I've not noticed any obvious issues either.
I'm not saying those I have are flawless, but for me personally; form follows function. So long as it works to my expectations, I forgive a little minutiae on the F&F.
I've not acquired any from big box or wholesale stores. That shouldn't make a difference though...
 
Send them back to Buck so they can see what they did and so they spend their time fixing them. Reducing the number of returns for repair at some point will become one of their goals if it isn't one already.
 
Redhat said:
Hi all,

Spring strength is about the same as my 301, on the weak side with very little snap. In fairness though, I have not lubed them yet so that may improve a bit. The main and sheepsfoot both have slight left/right play but not much but the bolsters are nicely radiused on both top and bottom unlike my 301 which is sharp on the bottom corners. Finally, two of the back springs do not sit flush and p.
Click to expand...

I recently bought a 303. Here's what I did to tweak it. It's currently one of my most commonly carried knives.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1400996-Tweaking-a-new-Buck-303
 
I wish I had some great words to say here but I am just a regular guy like you guys. Except, I have gone to the Blade Show where Buck usually has a booth and CJ Buck and Joe Houser are present. They have booths at the SPOT show also. At some regional knife shows sometimes a district rep will be present. If you get the chance you can go to one of these and ask some questions. But, like real life everywhere, you can expect to only get a few minutes of conversation as other people want to visit also. I have been to the Buck factory twice, went on the factory floor tour once. People are working and you can't bother them during the tour. I never tried to see if I could talk to any 300 people during their lunch break. Maybe I will try that , but don't want to be known as a pest. You can get the regional factory representatives names on the website and depending on their personality they might answer email questions or comments. Joe Houser is very busy dealing with customer issues every day but will try to eventually answer a question or two. Especially, if you have a knife problem. If you have opinions or wish to get to the meat of the matter you call always write a business letter to the President of the company C.J. Buck but you will likely get a business response back.

I got hooked up collecting Buck pocket knives for some reason, 30 years ago. I can't even tell you why now. Of the hundreds I have handled there have been issues with certain flaws now and again over that entire time. I am afraid that the era where Camillus workers hand assembled, fitted and polished knives is over except for custom makers and low production semi-custom companies, such as GEC. Standards of quality of different companies have changed and I think Buck is included in that change. Price point is an important aspect, efficiency of production is always looked at. Just like car makers a knife now travels down a assembly line. The method of production sometimes dictates what we call quality. I think you will always see Buck making sure the 110/112 is the Cadillac of there line.
Consider the push into punched out and auto ground blades of new Buck straight knives. Scales are some type of new fiber, likely coming from a off-site provider and screwed on the knives one piece body. Building a folder takes many more steps, the more automated the less expensive.

All this said is not an excuse for poor quality, vote for or against by your kindly expressed opinion here but consider stepping up to send something back, call on the phone or write a letter. Find out if Buck representatives are going to be present in your area and go to a show and give your short gentlemen's opinion. Vote also with your money, don't buy one if you have a bad experience. Lots of guys swear by their warranty of making things right. Others seem to never find satisfaction.

I guess I am like the Cubs fans, I always hope for a win. Other teams may be better but maybe this is the year. Actually, I am a Cards fan. So I put my hat in the closet and watched the teams on TV knowing Steelhead was a Cleveland guy. The same with Buck, they don't hit it out of the park every time. You should expect quality, if not gotten, then you should expect satisfaction. But in all honesty, just posting a complaint here is not doing much. You need to take the next step and complain to the factory.. That is my advice to everyone .300

PS I am lucky to live only a hour or three from a well known knife shop, a BP and a CB. I never buy online except from Buck store, one the places mentioned or at a show. Every new knive I buy is handled by me. Or, if I buy a old knife it is from someone I trust to do the right thing. I live in the sticks so it will take me a good drive to reach any of those places so no need to talk about not being able to make effort to personally handle a knife to me. I also hate plastic clam packages and won't buy a knife if I can't see both sides. Heck, I guess I have to admit I almost actually never buy a knife anymore at all.

PPS Knarfeng knows what he speaks. No I have never rounded off the upper edge of the tang as I like it to be in full contact , square across the spring face. You never know I may have to stab a bear with my 303.
 
Last edited:
MT_Pokt said:
I have a mess of 303s. I haven't really looked close enough at them to scrutinize any issues. I've not noticed any obvious issues either.
I'm not saying those I have are flawless, but for me personally; form follows function. So long as it works to my expectations, I forgive a little minutiae on the F&F.
I've not acquired any from big box or wholesale stores. That shouldn't make a difference though...
Click to expand...
I agree. I'm not singling out any one person, post or thread but why is it folks will post about this, "flaw" or that "flaw" and how quality has sure gone down hill but they never mention how the knife cuts. I mean that's why you buy a knife isn't it, so you can cut things?

People don't seem to care about the function. They just want the appearance to be 100% perfect in every conceivable aspect. Reminds me of the guy on the Chris Reeve forum who was complaining that the sound his Sebenza made when he closed it was cheap sounding and a knife that cost that much should have a more expensive sound. I'm serious, he thought the sound was a quality issue.

Folks need to take a break and enjoy things. A blade bevel that's off by a gnats hair isn't the end of the world. Take your poor shoddy Buck and go use it like it was meant to be used.
 
Last edited:
If that comment about bevel being off a hair is referring to my original about my stockman...it's more than just a hair or I wouldn't have mentioned it at all. And since I'm the OP of this thread, I'll assume you're talking about my points on the Cadet. None of them prevent the knife from being serviceable, they're just general comments on fit/finish and general quality that some might be interested in...I'm quite sure it will cut just fine. I mentioned pull / snap / blade play because someone else here asked me that before so thought I'd throw it in.

Now I for one don't care much about pretty handles or mirror polished blades on a daily use knife but I do care about build quality as it pertains to comfort and durability. I have too many other Buck knives that are outstanding in every way so I know what they're capable of.

300Bucks,

I looked on their web site and cannot find any contact info for regional managers so if you have that contact info, I'll use it.

Thanks
 
Redhat said:
BTW, did you ever have a need to break the sharp corners at the rear of the blades at all? I'm talking about the square edge that contacts the spring when in open position.
Click to expand...

Yes. I've done that on a number of new slip joints, though I don't remember whether I had to do it with that particular 303. GEC, maker of very upscale slip joints, doesn't bevel that square edge either.

Some folks like the back of the blade exactly square. I prefer mine beveled to make it more pocket friendly. I use a Sharpmaker coarse stone and round sharp edges and corners.
 
knarfeng said:
Yes. I've done that on a number of new slip joints, though I don't remember whether I had to do it with that particular 303. GEC, maker of very upscale slip joints, doesn't bevel that square edge either.

Some folks like the back of the blade exactly square. I prefer mine beveled to make it more pocket friendly. I use a Sharpmaker coarse stone and round sharp edges and corners.
Click to expand...

Yep this is why I was asking...thanks
 
I have a Callimus-era 303. After I acquired it, I sent it to the good folks at Buck HQ for some maintenance. The previous owner had not taken care of it. The knife came back clean, shiny, tight, sharp and snapping like an alligator.

Buck stands by their products, that's a fact.
 
I don't have a lot of experience with Bucks 300 series as I chase, love and enjoy collecting oddball 112's ..The bigger fixed blades Buck makes attract me in a strange sorta way and I have a few of them too. When the BCCI club knife came out tho I made sure that I got one because of the BG42 steel. I felt I should try one of the 300's if for no other reason than Bucks reputation for making a quality product. I find it to be the equal or better in quantity to any other Buck I've ever bought. And I'm totally satisfied in every way! It's on my desk right now for when I really want a sharp blade and in my pocket when I feel like caring something special. Cost more than a regular issue but worth it to me. I bet your Buck will give you a lifetime of good service like mine will and I hope you enjoy and keep it. .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top