Poly Pearl on 303s

H

Happy Hippo

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After reading several threads on the Forum about the subject (Cadet 303-PP, poly pearl handle) and conversing with Bert, it is my understanding that the poly pearl Cadets were offered in the 2002-2004 time frame. They came in several variations, white, gray, black, black & white. They all had the same part number, 303-PP. Is this correct?

Also, I have a pearl 303 from 1989. So do I assume this is from the custom shop for that period? And that should be mother of pearl, not the plastic poly pearl.
 
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Here's what I have. Don't have the other variations.
 

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I am trying to figure out all the variations of 303s that happened over the years. People like Bert and others have forgotten more about 303s that I know, so I am very appreciative of the wisdom. Here's other questions. When did they change from flat grind? Edit: My understanding is that when Buck took over production in 1985, they continued flat grind. However, the primary blade did not have a full flat grind and is denoted as a high flat grind, since it didn't go all the way up the blade. Around 1998, they switched to hollow grind. Also, it appears to me that in 1989, they switched to 3 backsprings, is that right? Also, in 1992, they switched to integral bolsters. Looks like they switch to Comfort Craft in 2010. I have a hard time telling the difference on the 303s. Is the main thing that the bolsters are a little more rounded? Did they stop doing Comfort Craft at some time? Seems like my 2023 bolster isn't that rounded.
 
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When Buck was doing the poly pearl, they didn't differentiate between shades. It was all just Poly Pearl.
I had one with a different shade on each side. I don't remember who here got it, but it's still on this forum somewhere.
If I recall correctly, it could've been a salesman sample, but is extraordinarily unlikely that a salesman would have a sample showing such extreme variations in a synthetic material. Think about it...
But I digress...
I went through all the catalogs, all the build out lists and all of the other available knowledge when I put my 303 list together years ago. I'm satisfied that I have every catalog variation in my collection short of the Painted Pony and pad print SFOs.
view

It's not the current pile as I've added a few to it, but you get the idea.
 
(repeat post) Here is a 303 Cadet with poly-pearl scales. I picked this one up from another forum member some years ago ( MT_Pokt MT_Pokt ? ). Interesting and very unusual with two tone scales, gray on the front and the normal white on the rear. I have 3 poly-pearls, this odd 2002, a 2003, and a 2004.
These were a WalMart issue.
303-poly-pearl-2002-122816-3-jpg.2519220

303-poly-pearl-2002-122816-2-jpg.2519218
 
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MT_Pokt said:
When Buck was doing the poly pearl, they didn't differentiate between shades. It was all just Poly Pearl.
I had one with a different shade on each side. I don't remember who here got it, but it's still on this forum somewhere.
If I recall correctly, it could've been a salesman sample, but is extraordinarily unlikely that a salesman would have a sample showing such extreme variations in a synthetic material. Think about it...
But I digress...
I went through all the catalogs, all the build out lists and all of the other available knowledge when I put my 303 list together years ago. I'm satisfied that I have every catalog variation in my collection short of the Painted Pony and pad print SFOs.
view

It's not the current pile as I've added a few to it, but you get the idea.
Click to expand...
I've been putting a similar list together. I think I have most of them but I am trying to identify what is out there so I can see where the holes are. I'd like to get the non-catalog ones too, like from SMKW and the early versions, for example, where the number of spacers varied. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a few prototypes, like white sawcut, as well. If you have something written to share, I'd appreciate it. I got some info from Bert, which was also very helpful. I have read through all the newsletters, catalogs, SFO list, etc. You need a bigger case, some of yours aren't getting any love.😀
 
DeSotoSky said:
(repeat post) Here is a 303 Cadet with poly-pearl scales. I picked this one up from another forum member some years ago ( MT_Pokt MT_Pokt ? ). Interesting and very unusual with two tone scales, gray on the front and the normal white on the rear. I have 3 poly-pearls, this odd 2002, a 2003, and a 2004.
These were a WalMart issue.
303-poly-pearl-2002-122816-3-jpg.2519220

303-poly-pearl-2002-122816-2-jpg.2519218
Click to expand...
Thanks. I have to find, at least, a gray one. I picked another up on ebay that I thought might be gray but the lighting on the picture wasn't that good. I haven't received it yet, we'll see.
 
I'd sell all my 303s as a lot if it wasn't too much trouble to pack them all up...lol.

Several of us felt that the quantity of spacers was a function element and not a design element.

PM your email address and I'll send you the list I put together.
 
MT_Pokt said:
I'd sell all my 303s as a lot if it wasn't too much trouble to pack them all up...lol.

Several of us felt that the quantity of spacers was a function element and not a design element.

PM your email address and I'll send you the list I put together.
Click to expand...
The spacers are a quality issue in my opinion. But I'd still like to collect them if I run across them. I'll send my email in a PM.
 
I tend to think of the liner variation in terms of the spring configuration. transitioning 1989-1991
brass liners, 2 krinked (crinked?) blades sharing one spring
brass liners, one spring per blade (the short lived intermediate transition)
1 pc nickel silver frame, one spring per blade, the current configuration

The Brown Bones were available in that transitioning time period and can be found in all 3 configurations.
An interesting mini collection.would be all 3 variations of the 4 Brown Bones (301,303,305,309).
It makes for a 12 knife collecting accomplishment.
 
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DeSotoSky said:
MT_Pokt MT_Pokt H Happy Hippo Guys, when you refer to spacers are you talking about the brass liners?
What do you mean "spacers are a quality issue"?
Click to expand...
Roger, if you look at the Camillus knives you might notice some that have an extra brass spacer next to the liner. Typically the spacers were placed between adjacent blades to provide clearance, but machine tolerances on the Camillus knives weren't the most precise and sometimes an extra spacer was put next to the brass liner for adjustment. I think Camillus called them "side centers" and used them to center the blades. I would show photos, but I"m not allowed. Take a look at the 303 articles in the June and September 2017 newsletters. I think the pertinent info for spacers is in Part 1, the June issue.

Bert
 
bertl bertl I understand now, thanks. I was thinking about something different above.
I hate to think what it would take to gather all my Camillus knives in one place to examine. I'm unorganized.
All over the basement in various cabinets, drawers, and boxes.
 
DeSotoSky said:
bertl bertl I understand now, thanks. I was thinking about something different above.
I hate to think what it would take to gather all my Camillus knives in one place to examine. I'm unorganized.
All over the basement in various cabinets, drawers, and boxes.
Click to expand...
I have similar issue. When I took pictures, I only took one profile. Now, I need to go through the dozens of boxes to note the knives backspring and spacer configs. I thought had all the brown bones but now I will need to look at those too.
 
MT_Pokt said:
When Buck was doing the poly pearl, they didn't differentiate between shades. It was all just Poly Pearl.
I had one with a different shade on each side. I don't remember who here got it, but it's still on this forum somewhere.
If I recall correctly, it could've been a salesman sample, but is extraordinarily unlikely that a salesman would have a sample showing such extreme variations in a synthetic material. Think about it...
But I digress...
I went through all the catalogs, all the build out lists and all of the other available knowledge when I put my 303 list together years ago. I'm satisfied that I have every catalog variation in my collection short of the Painted Pony and pad print SFOs.
view

It's not the current pile as I've added a few to it, but you get the idea.
Click to expand...
That is impressive! Museum of 303's.
 
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