Okay you bucking nuts...

[Atepac]

I need a date please. I bought a house and found this 303s(?) gem while cleaning the attic out. I read some threads but other than thinking it's pre 88 I know nothing more. Thanks in advance.

 

[bertl]

Atepac,

Your knife was made between 1974 and 1985. It was made by Camillus under contract to Buck. In 1985, Buck took over manufacture of the 303, along with the 301, 305 and 309.

 

[Atepac]

So what I was reading is all the info there is on dating prior to the spring and spacer change. Fair enough thanks for the info!!!

 

[bertl]

Here is a little more. The first Buck 303s were made under contract by Schrade between 1968 and 1972. The main identification character for Schrade contract knives is that blade rivets are not visible and the knives had handle pins. In 1971 Camillus began making the 303 for Buck. The early Camillus versions had visible blade rivets and a tang stamp of "BUCK/Made in USA" with the model number "303" stamped on the pile side; one variation had handle pins and one did not. In 1974 Camillus made a slight change to knives with the characteristics of your knife.

The December 2015 BCCI Newsletter has an article that tells how to date the 303 knives made before Buck started using a date mark on the tang in 1986.

I hope that answers your question more fully.

Bert

 

[Grateful]

Nice knife.