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Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
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Question on 301
- Thread starter Ray5118
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The change in the blade layout, reversing the Spey and Sheepsfoot blades, and switching to the new frame where all 3 blades have their own back spring, began in 1990.
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Buck started 3 back springs in 1990 . Doing so eliminating the bending of the blades to fit in the blade well.
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Sorry, all thumbs typing, will fix that. Thanks for catching it.
I forget it was a mid-year change, I have a Brown Bone LE 301 with the "X" that is the older 2 spring design.
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Ok, Lets give it a go.
This picture shows the backs of three bladed Buck stockman as produced by the Camillus and 1985 to 1988 method. Brass liners, two springs. One for clip blade and one for spey and sheepsfoot blade. Brass liner in the middle to help keep things aligned. Sometimes there were two liners inside the scale on one side to give extra room in the blade well for the spey and sheepsfoot blades to be able to fold down beside each other. Look at model on left and you can even see where a thinner spring was used along with a thinner blade. This was not random but a was a overall design change. Now that my memory is kicking in, I believe this thin one is a 1985 to 89 425m era Buck made knife.
Buck decided they wanted to improve the situation on their slipjoints and BEGINNING in 1989 they started making SOME of their slipjoints using all stainless steels, liners and springs. They also decided that their blades were going to have a spring a piece and stay unbent or un-crinked as the term is described. So they started putting in a spring for each blade.
Here is a photo of a crinked blade setup
At this time of transition, changes occurred at slightly different times for the different models. Now remember we are only talking about the 301, 303 309 and 305. When the stainless liners, one spring per blade era got going Buck also started making the black sawcut slipjoint models listed above with a shield that was actually a pillar of metal attached to the liner. The scale was pressed over what we like to call the Knife, Bolt and Hammer shield.
Another reason to change was to have liners that could 'grab' the scales via melted rivet like spots that went thru holes in liners. Not possible for brass.
These changes all occurred during the early 1990s. Also changed was the blade metal from 425M to 420HC. Maybe someday I will organize all this to the finest detail and make a chart that will be the final word......Always remember what someone told me long ago.....Let the knife tell you the story.....
Next question........300
This picture shows the backs of three bladed Buck stockman as produced by the Camillus and 1985 to 1988 method. Brass liners, two springs. One for clip blade and one for spey and sheepsfoot blade. Brass liner in the middle to help keep things aligned. Sometimes there were two liners inside the scale on one side to give extra room in the blade well for the spey and sheepsfoot blades to be able to fold down beside each other. Look at model on left and you can even see where a thinner spring was used along with a thinner blade. This was not random but a was a overall design change. Now that my memory is kicking in, I believe this thin one is a 1985 to 89 425m era Buck made knife.
Buck decided they wanted to improve the situation on their slipjoints and BEGINNING in 1989 they started making SOME of their slipjoints using all stainless steels, liners and springs. They also decided that their blades were going to have a spring a piece and stay unbent or un-crinked as the term is described. So they started putting in a spring for each blade.
Here is a photo of a crinked blade setup
At this time of transition, changes occurred at slightly different times for the different models. Now remember we are only talking about the 301, 303 309 and 305. When the stainless liners, one spring per blade era got going Buck also started making the black sawcut slipjoint models listed above with a shield that was actually a pillar of metal attached to the liner. The scale was pressed over what we like to call the Knife, Bolt and Hammer shield.
Another reason to change was to have liners that could 'grab' the scales via melted rivet like spots that went thru holes in liners. Not possible for brass.
These changes all occurred during the early 1990s. Also changed was the blade metal from 425M to 420HC. Maybe someday I will organize all this to the finest detail and make a chart that will be the final word......Always remember what someone told me long ago.....Let the knife tell you the story.....
Next question........300
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David Martin
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Thanks 300. DM
Thanks to all for the replies to my OP.
300Bucks that was a very informative answer, I appreciated it.
I am "old school" and have a preference for a stockman knife built on two backsprings.
Now I want to get hold of an older two backspring,303, preferably with brass liners.
Ray
300Bucks that was a very informative answer, I appreciated it.
I am "old school" and have a preference for a stockman knife built on two backsprings.
Now I want to get hold of an older two backspring,303, preferably with brass liners.
Ray
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Got one sitting here still in the box, click my user name and email me if your interested.
I love this picture! It's so cool how the delrin is molded around that.
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Well, Just to stir the pot a little......in late July 2013, when we have the 25th BCCI celebration at the factory, there is a rumor we may get to go on tours not given to the general public.....like getting up close watching the scales get pressed on the liners......so think about that as one of the perks for the trip west.....
300Bucks
PS For a couple of years they have been using Valox instead of Delrin......will have to look that up.....
300Bucks
PS For a couple of years they have been using Valox instead of Delrin......will have to look that up.....
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Couple of years ago I got my hands on a '70s or '80s vintage 301.
Besides the number of springs and the bend-to-fit thing, the grind is different.
The older design has a really nice flat grind. The above picture is that knife after its visit to the factory (where Dan restored its edges and polished the blades and bolsters), but before I got the blade signed by Chuck and C.J.
(Sorry about the picture quality.)
Besides the number of springs and the bend-to-fit thing, the grind is different.
The older design has a really nice flat grind. The above picture is that knife after its visit to the factory (where Dan restored its edges and polished the blades and bolsters), but before I got the blade signed by Chuck and C.J.
(Sorry about the picture quality.)