Quiz - buck 303 or 301 .. ?

mudguard · Oct 10, 2014

Hello everyone..

Here is a quick pop quiz.. who can find enough indicators in this knife to tell what model it is?

http://ambitionsofgrace.com/2013/08/01/dads-knife/

Peter Parker · Oct 10, 2014

Just going to guess it is an older 301. I think they both had long pulls from back then. Either way they look like my knid'uv folk! Bless that person missing their dad! I know when I go home in a few weeks this may be the last time I get to spend with mine.

buckman110 · Oct 10, 2014

I'm gonna say 301 also. I wish I still had my dad. Spend all the time you can with yours life's completely different without them.

Old Hunter · Oct 10, 2014

Looks like a Camillus built 301 to me. Good article. OH

sliderfisherman · Oct 10, 2014

Peter,
just so you know that wasn't a fellow missing his dad that was a female.

Tin Sue · Oct 10, 2014

Hi Mudguard. This is an easy one. If the knife, with all the blades closed, measures about 3 1/4", it is a 303; if about 3 7/8", it is a 301.

I hope my 303 means as much to my daughter some day as this one does to you!!

mudguard · Oct 10, 2014

Tin Sue said:
Hi Mudguard. This is an easy one. If the knife, with all the blades closed, measures about 3 1/4", it is a 303; if about 3 7/8", it is a 301.

I hope my 303 means as much to my daughter some day as this one does to you!!

Well the tricky part is that I don't own the knife.. therefore don't have the knife to tell how long it is. I was wondering if other factors within the pictures may give people with more knowledge some clue of whether it is a 303 or a 301.

Thank you for the heads up though.

DesertChris · Oct 10, 2014

It looks like a 303 to me.

Here is a Camillus 303 to compare to.

DesertChris · Oct 10, 2014

It looks like a 303 to me.

Here is a Camillus 303 to compare to.

Tin Sue · Oct 10, 2014

mudguard said:
Well the tricky part is that I don't own the knife.. therefore don't have the knife to tell how long it is. I was wondering if other factors within the pictures may give people with more knowledge some clue of whether it is a 303 or a 301.

Thank you for the heads up though.

OK, let's try a different tact. If you look closely at the 303 that DesertChris has posted, you will note that the back edge of the inlay shield does not quite extend to the front edge of the brass backspring rivet while in the photo of the knife in the link that you have posted, the back edge of the inlay shield appears to be just even with the front edge of the brass backspring rivet as in appears in most 301's of that vintage that I have seen. Based on that very slight difference, I believe the knife in question to be a 301.

DesertChris · Oct 10, 2014

Tin Sue said:
OK, let's try a different tact. If you look closely at the 303 that DesertChris has posted, you will note that the back edge of the inlay shield does not quite extend to the front edge of the brass backspring rivet while in the photo of the knife in the link that you have posted, the back edge of the inlay shield appears to be just even with the front edge of the brass backspring rivet as in appears in most 301's of that vintage that I have seen. Based on that very slight difference, I believe the knife in question to be a 301.

Looking at the shield, I now think that you pegged it

mbjannusch · Oct 12, 2014

Sorry, I don't think the shield is a factor. This is because the knife in DesertChris's post is a later knife. The knife in the OP's picture has the blade stamp BUCK Made in the USA. The knife is DC's post has the Buck 303 USA stamp. Keep searching...

mudguard · Oct 12, 2014

I think that a very interesting key is that the knifes has an "N" in the second line of engraving..

This could be a clue to date the knife since it doesn't even appear her http://www.buckknives.com/about-knives/how-old/

So at least we know that it is an either Camillus or a Schrade made 301 or 303.. The bolster size may be of some help..

mbjannusch · Oct 12, 2014

The blade stamp says BUCK Made IN USA, but because we cant see anything else, we're dead in the water, this knife has or should have the model number on the Pile side of the blade. It was made in 1971-1974 based on all the properties I can see. Looking at the blade, its obvious that this knife has been used probably everyday from the day it was made. I would just take a chance and get him a 303.

jacktrades_nbk · Oct 12, 2014

Maybe it's a 303.

Tin Sue · Oct 12, 2014

mbjannusch said:
Sorry, I don't think the shield is a factor. This is because the knife in DesertChris's post is a later knife. The knife in the OP's picture has the blade stamp BUCK Made in the USA. The knife is DC's post has the Buck 303 USA stamp. Keep searching...

Matt, you are correct in that the blade stamps of the two knives are different, and, you are also correct (in another post) that the OP's knife is a 71-74 production date and that DC's is a later production (in fact, it is the next version with a date of 74-85). However, both knives are of Camillus manufacture and the SHAPE of both shields is the same but the SIZES are different. Size the 301 has a slightly longer shield, it's rear margin extends a little bit further to the rear on the handle than on the 303.

DesertChris · Oct 12, 2014

In Craig's 300 series timeline thread, there are photos including the 71-74 era 301 and the 71-74 era 303.
The shields on those seem to show what Tin Sue said earlier.
So although proportionately it just looked like a 303 to me, comparing to Craigs photos it looks like a 301......

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...s-History-1966-to-1990?highlight=300+timeline

NMpops · Oct 12, 2014

jacktrades_nbk said:
Maybe it's a 303.

The way the Spey sits, I'd say it's a 301. Plus due to her description of uses, it just seems it would be a 301.

mbjannusch · Oct 12, 2014

DesertChris said:
In Craig's 300 series timeline thread, there are photos including the 71-74 era 301 and the 71-74 era 303.
The shields on those seem to show what Tin Sue said earlier.
So although proportionately it just looked like a 303 to me, comparing to Craigs photos it looks like a 301......

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...s-History-1966-to-1990?highlight=300+timeline

I guess I can get behind that theory. So we can say its a 301 for the OP.

bertl · Oct 12, 2014

Has anyone considered contacting the woman and asking if the knife says 301 or 303, or about the length of the knife? Maybe that would take the fun out of this.

Bert