Questions about 1980s Yellow Buck Slipjoints (301,303,305,309)

H

Happy Hippo

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I have a question about the yellow slipjoints that Buck made at their factory in the 1980s. I believe it was only the 301,303,305,and 309 - the rest of the yellow models were made by Camillus under license. From what I can tell:
a) they were not a catalog item, SFO from SMKW - too bad they are not on the special projects list
b) the shields are the typical hammer shields but more rounded out (race track) than the Camillus shields
b2) I've seen some shields be the BUCK in block letters shield - were those just demos?
c) they seem to be all past the date where date symbols were used and seem to be in the 1987-1989 time frame
d) they all have nail nicks instead of the long pulls that Camillus used

are any of these statements false? is there any pertinent question regarding these that I should have asked?

bonus question: for the yellow ones not made at Buck, what was the time frame for those? I am not talking about the yellow ones from the late 2000s.
bonus question 2: were the models licensed by Camillus: 307, 313, 321, 322, 331, 333, and 334? Were they also SMKW exclusives?

Thanks.

P.S. - I don't have very many of these.:(
 
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None of the contract made knives carry the date codes, even those made for Buck post '86. A lot of the special run stuff from the Buck factory don't have the date codes either. I don't think that knives made by contractors show up in the special projects list, and I can tell you from experience that those lists have a few omissions and errors. I'm working on a project that has meant a lot of time with those lists.

You know there are red knives out there, right? Also a few pink and blue ones... maybe other colors I'm not thinking of. It's fun, isn't it?
 
dsutton24 said:
None of the contract made knives carry the date codes, even those made for Buck post '86. A lot of the special run stuff from the Buck factory don't have the date codes either. I don't think that knives made by contractors show up in the special projects list, and I can tell you from experience that those lists have a few omissions and errors. I'm working on a project that has meant a lot of time with those lists.

You know there are red knives out there, right? Also a few pink and blue ones... maybe other colors I'm not thinking of. It's fun, isn't it?
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The forum benefits from your research, Thanks DSutton!
 
dsutton24 said:
None of the contract made knives carry the date codes, even those made for Buck post '86. A lot of the special run stuff from the Buck factory don't have the date codes either. I don't think that knives made by contractors show up in the special projects list, and I can tell you from experience that those lists have a few omissions and errors. I'm working on a project that has meant a lot of time with those lists.

You know there are red knives out there, right? Also a few pink and blue ones... maybe other colors I'm not thinking of. It's fun, isn't it?
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I knew about the red ones. The smooth ones have "T4" in their part number and are in the 1990 catalog. But not aware of any other colors. I know later on, there were a lot more colors but I think primarily in the China-made ones. Then I have an example of a smooth Ivory one - what list should that be on?
 
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bertl said:
Here is a 303 with a 1987 date stamp and stamped prototype on the back side of the blade. This 1987 prototype has a 2-spring construction, and the 1988 knife for SMKW has a 3-spring construction.

View attachment 2341571View attachment 2341572
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This is strange to me Bert. It's got an '87 date code and the blade configuration is right for 87, but they didn't use that escutcheon until like 90 or 91 when they switched to a 2 spring frame. Interesting...

ETA... I take that back... they used it in '89

RETA... just ignore my comments. It's been so long since I was into the slippies that I may not know what I'm talking about after all. :rolleyes:
 
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MT_Pokt said:
but they didn't use that escutcheon until like 90
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Greg,

What's a little strange to me is that the shape of the escutcheon is the race track oval instead of the ellipse shape of the Camillus era knives. Also, when the new escutcheon replaced the "BUCK" escutcheon the design changed—the original Camillus KBH had a relatively short handle that was tapered and open at the end and in the new design the handle was longer, had no taper, and was closed at the end. So, for the prototype shown the shape is the newer race track oval, but the design is the older KBH—It's a bit of a hybrid. I've added photos showing the original Camillus escutcheon, the BUCK racetrack oval, and the Buck KBH.

Bert

1 Camillus kbh.jpeg2 BUCK.jpeg3 Buck KBH.jpeg
 
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bertl said:
Greg,

What's a little strange to me is that the shape of the escutcheon is the race track oval instead of the ellipse shape of the Camillus era knives. Also, when the new escutcheon replaced the "BUCK" escutcheon the design changed—the original KBH had a relatively short handle that was tapered and open at the end and in the new design the handle was longer, had no taper, and was closed at the end. So, for the prototype shown the shape is the newer race track oval, but the design is the older KBH. I've added photos showing the original Camillus escutcheon, the BUCK racetrack oval, and the Buck KBH.

Bert

View attachment 2341859View attachment 2341860View attachment 2341860
Click to expand...

I love it! The real head scratchers are the fun ones to find and try to figure out! I didn't notice the KBH itself, but knew the shape was 'ahead of its time'.
Like this '88 Jigged bone... it has the same KBH as your proto, but should be a racetrack.

Perhaps they used Camillus inventory during the transition?
Screenshot_20221223_190031_Photobucket.jpg
 
MT_Pokt said:
There are grey "Workman" 303s as well. I have 1 with the "BUCK " shield and one with the KBH. There was also a black "Workman". The pad prints vary as well.

View attachment 2341780
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That's a nice collection. They are all Cadets? What is the one with a leaf on it? I'm envious of the jigged buffalo horn one too. Which is the best in that collection from your perspective?
 
The feather (quill) is a Bob Timberlake special for Bass Pro. I don't recall how many were made, but not many. It's unpolished ironwood which is unique as well.

I dont know that I have a favorite. It may be the BOTM with brass and elk on the bottom left.
 
MT_Pokt said:
I love it! The real head scratchers are the fun ones to find and try to figure out! I didn't notice the KBH itself, but knew the shape was 'ahead of its time'.
Like this '88 Jigged bone... it has the same KBH as your proto, but should be a racetrack.

Perhaps they used Camillus inventory during the transition?
View attachment 2341881
Click to expand...
Yes, that is what drives me crazy. I like things to be ordered and not chaotic. But in the factory they used whatever remained in inventory, so you see so many variations of things. It even drives me a little crazy that the catalogs don't have the correct pictures in them for the years they represent.
MT_Pokt said:
I love it! The real head scratchers are the fun ones to find and try to figure out! I didn't notice the KBH itself, but knew the shape was 'ahead of its time'.
Like this '88 Jigged bone... it has the same KBH as your proto, but should be a racetrack.

Perhaps they used Camillus inventory during the transition?
View attachment 2341881
Click to expand...
I didn't think those were supposed to have ANY shield on them. But mine are not dated that early. I also have two versions. The earlier ones (1989) have separate bolsters whereas the later ones (1991) have integrated frame bolsters. I also don't have any 305s for some reason. They show up for the first time in the 1990 catalog, I believe.
 
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