Quick 1987 303 Question

Joe58

Joe58

Joined
Nov 11, 2002
Messages
1,969
I just got in today a black scaled 87 Buck 303 still nib. I already had the yellow handled one.

They are identical except for the shields and the scale color of course.

My question is, is 1987 the year they switched shields from the old style to the new style shield? I thought it was later than that as I’m pretty sure I’ve seen later made models still with the anvil logo. Or were both available and they just grabbed whichever during ass

I also notice on these the main blade is no longer fully flat ground, but the two secondaries still are. Must be when the started transitioning? Dunno.

Thanks!

04BD5FCB-2CCE-4A66-9949-B126B308433A.jpeg 3B37195A-AF0C-489B-9BC6-D76ECBA13AAF.jpeg 6D6B7C27-7D03-4859-87F3-39596F047116.jpeg
 
The best advice I can give is to answer 'Yes' (Use all the parts.)
There are a couple of periods during 300 changes where you just need to get all the different "models" if you want to say "I have them all." I am not certain that I do myself. 300
 
When did Buck go from two to three backsprings on the 303?
I thought the 303 was always a three spring.
(stupid I)
 
I may need to check some of this for dates, but here are some things to consider. When Buck took over manufacturing the 303 in 1985, the most noticeable change was the shield. Instead of the traditional Camillus hammer, knife, and bolt the new Buck 303 had "BUCK" spelled out in a shield with the shape of a racetrack oval—the Camillus shield had the shape of an ellipse. In 1988, Buck transitioned back to the hammer, knife, and bolt shield but retained the racetrack oval shape. Buck's version of a flat grind was different than that of Camillus. The Buck blade had what is better called a high flat grind, which did not extend all the way to the spine. One last point is, I believe, the saw cut yellow Delrin knives were an exclusive special for SMKW, and for the 303 that production was from 1988 - 1990.

Bert​
 
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Good info Bert and 300. Thanks!

I need to look at some of my different years at the shield shape. Hadn’t really paid attention. Didn’t know that about the yellow one either.

I’ve a sawcut red one around here too. And I believe I’ve seen one or two smooth red ones go across eBay but they seem to get pretty good money for those.
 
Joe58 said:
I need to look at some of my different years at the shield shape. Hadn’t really paid attention
Click to expand...

These photos show shield variations. First is the traditional Camillus shield with hammer, knife, and bolt in an ellipse—notice that the hammer's handle is relatively short and open at the end. Second is the shield from 1985, Buck's first year of production. The shape has been changed to a racetrack oval and "BUCK" is spelled out. Also, the shield seems to be aligned a little off. By 1986, the third photo, the alignment was corrected. Finally (in the fourth photo), by about 1988, Buck returned to the hammer, knife, and bolt but retained the racetrack oval. In addition, another change was made in about 1990—the hammer handle became longer and closed at the end. The year 1990 also saw the beginning of the shield tower integrated into the frame—the shield no longer was applied to the Delrin.

Bert

*Camillus shield 2.jpg 303 1985 shield 2.jpg Buck shield 1987 2.jpg Buck shield 1997.jpg
 
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A couple others out of order...


I got a little lazy...




If I did that right, with the exception of the last post, they are all in proper order based on stamps and such. Dont hold me to that though, i wasn't paying a whole lot of attention..
 
Magnets...
I took the Buck counter display and added a piece of tin furnace duct with red felt covering and glued it over the tracking. Then small barrel magnets to hold the knives in place.

I dont have the missionary knives. I got rid of most of the advertising 303s I had and concentrated on retail available factory models with a few exceptions.
Custom shop stag on a Camillus
Single blade LE
Ironwood Timberlake
And some others...
 
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