RE: Camillus Era 301 Stockmans

[afishhunter]

Quick Question:
Do the Camillus era 301 Stockman have the (air quotes) "Light Pull" that the inhouse 301's have?

 

[TheJon]

I'd gave to dig one up to check but if I remember right the two springs are stronger than current ones, but nailbreaker or stout are not a words I would ever describe them with

 

[afishhunter]

I'd gave to dig one up to check but if I remember right the two springs are stronger than current ones, but nailbreaker or stout are not a words I would ever describe them with

Thanks.
I just did a cost check on the Canmillus/Schrade era made.
"Pie in the sky" for me.
Oh well. That's "life" when you make it past retirement, and you expected to be short of retirement by 12 to 15 years.

 

[TheJon]

Thanks.
I just did a cost check on the Canmillus/Schrade era made.
"Pie in the sky" for me.
Oh well. That's "life" when you make it past retirement, when you expected to be short of retirement by 12 to 15 years.

Personally the flat grind is the biggest reason to hunt for the old ones. But saying that. A modern 301 is what I carry whenever I feel an itch for a stockman. I don't mind the weak springs. They're easy to open when your hands are wet or cold, and they're not weak enough to have a blade flop open.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I don't have one of the Camillus-made 301s. But I do have a 307 by Camillus. Its pull, for the most part, is relatively stiff as compared to the modern-era 301 (by Buck) I do have. Having said that, my Buck-produced 301 is essentially what I'd consider ideal for pull on the clip and spey blades. It's assertive enough to inspire confidence for closing every time without worry, while not being a nail-breaker. But the sheepfoot's pull is decidedly weak and exacerbated a little bit by some very slight blade rub as it settles between the other two blades upon closing. When I bought that one, I'd already looked at and rejected one sample the counter clerk showed to me, because its sheepfoot was even weaker upon closing and actually didn't close fully on its own without a little helping nudge. That one also had blade rub issues in the same way, in addition to the very light spring action.

My older Camillus 307 is built with carbon steel springs, bearing against 440A stainless blade tangs. If for that reason only, I'd expect the carbon steel springs to wear more over time against the blades' more wear-resistant tangs, which would likely weaken the closing snap eventually. Mine still has relatively strong pull simply because I haven't used it enough to accelerate that anticipated wear against the springs.

 

[Grateful]