NEW Buck 301

[OzarkCreekWalker]

I've been testing out my newly acquired Buck 301. So far I give it a 7 or 8 out of 10.
Here's what I like:
- Buck's 420HC steel, I think its great user steel
- All stainless steel construction, this thing is just bombproof
- the clip blade, its almost like a little 110 blade
- the black delrin/zytel/whatever handles, don't have to worry about scratching them up
- the price, picked it up for under $35
- It has a nice, full handle with a little heft to it.
- It's an American stockman, there's no quit in this knife
Here's what I don't like
- the hollow grinds are a bit much, I like it on the clip blade but on a sheepsfoot blade or spey blade is a bit unnecessary
- the blade thickness, these blades are nearly as thick as a mora (we are talking about a pocket knife here, with three blades), in some ways i do like the thickness but paired with the grinds i'm not too sure about it.
- the spey blade sticks out a bit, no matter what i do it wont cut my finger when sliding it over but i thought it was worthy to mention
- while it did come very sharp from the factory, i don't like the angles of the edge
- the grind lines on the blade, they are so rough i can file my nail with them and they get dirty very quickly, but really no real problem
- it may be a bit heavy for some, but I don't mind it one bit
- the spey blade slightly rubs up against the sheepsfoot

I whittled, cut up some food, and cut fishing line.
For whittling, I've used better knives but it certainly got the job done (I used the sheepsfoot blade)
For cutting up food, it did great and had the length to do so
For cutting fishing line, it wasn't that great. I can whittle fishing line with my Case Peanut but the stockman struggled a bit but still got the job done
It would be great for skinning some game or gutting trout

I knew what I was getting when i bought this knife. A tough, ballsy, working pocket knife. I would feel very comfortable with this as my only knife. It doesn't fulfill the specifics of an expensive knife but it does exactly the same thing as a GEC, it cuts stuff. And i'm not gonna be crying over it if i lose it. I would like to point out that i generally like yellow handled knives more but I absolutely detest the Buck logo that they put on the yellow 301, Replace that with a hammer and anvil logo and i'm sold.

Thanks! I'd love to hear what yall have to say about this pocket beast. I give the 301 a :thumbup:

 

[knarfeng]

I absolutely agree.
- I could do without the hollow ground blades.
- The Buck 420HC is hardened to a 59-59 HRC. I've measured about 3 of them and all of mine have been ~59. This makes for an excellent pocket knife blade. Gets really razor sharp. Holds its edge well enough.
- about the edge angles. I find that Buck uses ~15°per side or maybe a bit lower. But I use the 15° angle on the Sharpmaker and it does a good job.
- The spey blade on all 301's is a bit proud of the handle. It isn't a manufacturing flaw. When they designed it, they got the scales swapped end for end. That being said, I've never caught my finger on it and I've never seen it get dull from riding in my pocket.

I have a fair number of slipjoints. I even have a goodly number of stockman slipjoints. The 301 is what I carry most often.

 

[dalee100]

Hi,

Nice review. A 301 a great slip-joint. I too agree about the hollow grinds. Though I do like the hollow grind on main clip, but the secondary sheep's foot and modified spey should be a thin full flat-grind. Still, it's hard to keep out of the pocket.

dalee

 

[BJE]

Nice review, makes me want to stick my 301 back in my pocket. Always loved the look but never cared for the thick blades.

 

[OhShoot]

I carried a 301 w/ Delrin for many years, lost it some time in my late 30's. Just finally replaced it last year. It's one of several I carry daily, and generally the one I pull out for daily tasks, so as not to frighten the citizenry.

- OS