Recent discontinued vs current 300 series

A

austin37

Joined
Jul 7, 2019
Messages
296
Afternoon,

Wondering how the discontinued 300 series such as wood and the black synthetic scales compare to the current black grey blue materials.. overall fit finish quality same as older?
 
In 1988, Buck went to a 3-spring design for the 303. With the new design, the pivot end for the sheepsfoot changed. With the old 2-spring design, the pivot end for the sheepsfoot was the same as for the main clip blade. Some people didn't care for that, but it made no difference to me. With the 2025 knives, both the sheepsfoot and clip blades now pivot at the same end. Another change from early knives was the blade grind. Until about 1998, the clip blade had a flat grind. After that it became a hollow grind.

Recently, I bought a 2025 knife because I wanted to see the mechanics of the sheepsfoot and clip blades pivoting at the same end with a 3-spring design. Now, the tangs of the sheep soot and clip blades seem to be in direct contact. That's something that is new, and I don't know if it is good, bad, or indifferent. I haven't done any measurements, but it looks like the new springs might be slightly narrower than before.

I bought one of the blue handled knives, just for something different; but I think I prefer the traditional saw cut Delrin/Valox handles. Again, I haven't done any measurements, but a side by side comparison with my older 303 shows that the new knife is wider (side to side) than the older knife.

I don't see any real problems with the new knife, but since I'm a bit of a Luddite, I think I'll stick with my older model for daily use—that may be because of the flat grind of the blade.

Bert
 
The new ones look good in the pics. I especially like the granadillo wood which is a surprise as I favored the ebony before the release. I have decided, at the moment, subject to change on a whim, to hold off purchase. I have valox, charcoal, and rosewood/brass 301 and 303s. I think I'll wait and see if the brass versions come out. Bras and wood = hard to resist 😀
 
bertl said:
In 1988, Buck went to a 3-spring design for the 303. With the new design, the pivot end for the sheepsfoot changed. With the old 2-spring design, the pivot end for the sheepsfoot was the same as for the main clip blade. Some people didn't care for that, but it made no difference to me. With the 2025 knives, both the sheepsfoot and clip blades now pivot at the same end. Another change from early knives was the blade grind. Until about 1998, the clip blade had a flat grind. After that it became a hollow grind.

Recently, I bought a 2025 knife because I wanted to see the mechanics of the sheepsfoot and clip blades pivoting at the same end with a 3-spring design. Now, the tangs of the sheep soot and clip blades seem to be in direct contact. That's something that is new, and I don't know if it is good, bad, or indifferent. I haven't done any measurements, but it looks like the new springs might be slightly narrower than before.

I bought one of the blue handled knives, just for something different; but I think I prefer the traditional saw cut Delrin/Valox handles. Again, I haven't done any measurements, but a side by side comparison with my older 303 shows that the new knife is wider (side to side) than the older knife.

I don't see any real problems with the new knife, but since I'm a bit of a Luddite, I think I'll stick with my older model for daily use—that may be because of the flat grind of the blade.

Bert
Click to expand...
Thank you for all the historical info.. what is a Luddite?
 
mbkr said:
The new ones look good in the pics. I especially like the granadillo wood which is a surprise as I favored the ebony before the release. I have decided, at the moment, subject to change on a whim, to hold off purchase. I have valox, charcoal, and rosewood/brass 301 and 303s. I think I'll wait and see if the brass versions come out. Bras and wood = hard to resist 😀
Click to expand...
Is the valox and or delrin handles the most durable of any Buck 300 series ever made?
 
austin37 said:
.. what is a Luddite?
Click to expand...
In England during the early 1800s, workers in the textile factories, especially weavers, felt threatened because machines were beginning to replace workers. The Luddite movement, named after Ned Ludd, who may or may not have been an actual person, protested this change with violence destroying the new machines. Today, a Luddite is a person who is opposed to change, especially new technologies.

Bert
 
I suppose l could be classified as a quasi-Luddite. I don’t like change for change sake, planned obsolescence or technology that erodes man’s thinking and reasoning skills.
 
pjsjr said:
I suppose l could be classified as a quasi-Luddite. I don’t like change for change sake, planned obsolescence or technology that erodes man’s thinking and reasoning skills.
Click to expand...
Same here, but I'd also add that I prefer things that are made to last a lifetime and generally hate plastic or any synthetic materials replacing things that used to be wood or metal with few exceptions.
 
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