Recommend a USA made traditional Buck pocket knife

Irishgrouch

Irishgrouch

Joined
May 28, 2012
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394
Please recommend a traditional slipjoint Buck pocket knife, USA made for everyday tasks. Please give me a model number so I can shop the used market. All the ones I find new at the stores are China made. Thanks.
 
301 or 303. Black handled or rosewood.To me the 301 is the perfect size work pocket knife.
 
I have carried a 303 for at least 35 years and it seems to be enough for just about every daily task.

Bert
 
I agree with either the 301 or the 303 - and no matter how new or old, these two have never been made anywhere but the USA. OH
 
The 301 with the black delrin covers is a great EDC; not "too big" and not "too small". I've been carrying one as part of my EDC for about 8 months now, maybe longer, no one has given me a second glance when I use it in public.
 
Grouch, all the 300's that begin with 30- are USA made. Those that begin with 37- are of the foreign contract. Thus, 301, 302, 303, 305, ect. is what you'll look for. Buck still makes all of these in the US. They are carried at many large stores and easy to find. DM
 
Can't go wrong with the current 300 series. Just choose the number of blades and size. I have the 302 solitaire and the 309 companion. They are both wonderful knives.
 
afishhunter said:
The 301 with the black delrin covers is a great EDC; not "too big" and not "too small". I've been carrying one as part of my EDC for about 8 months now, maybe longer, no one has given me a second glance when I use it in public.
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301 is a great model. I like the older ones with brass liners better myself, but the newer ones are fine as well.
 
kyhunt said:
301 or 303. Black handled or rosewood.To me the 301 is the perfect size work pocket knife.
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+1 for this advice. I prefer the 301, but my dad and brother prefer the 303................pocket space vs. hand comfort.
 
Buck 303 as made by Buck in their plant. The design feature I like most about the newer Buck 303 (and 301) is each blade has it's own spring resulting in straight blades and less rubbing. OH

Buck_303_X_Cadet_-_1990.JPG


Buck 303 as made under contract by Camillus in NY. OH

Buck_303_opt.jpg
 
Hunter, I like the design change of each blade having it's own spring. So, that way the sheeps foot blade is not bent to fit. DM
 
I agree David - I have no rubbing with the blades in my Buck Stockman knives - cannot say that about my other brand Stockman knives (except I still like them). I think Buck really nailed it when they came up with this design. Case did change one of their Stockman knives to the same type design some years back - check out older Case 6347 and compare it to the current Case 6347 - also changed from two to three springs - wonder if Case did that to have a competitive offering to the newer Buck design? OH
 
Oldhunter, what year is the Buck made 303? The sheepfoot and spay blade grind looks a bit different than the 303 wife bought me last Cristmas. It reminds me more of the 309 I had back in late 80's.Didnt the late 80's one have brass liners? Its been awhile since I held one of those. My brass liner ones are Camillus.

I have a few of the old Camillus and 2 of the newer 303. We bought the son a Rosewood 301 for is 13th birthday this summer and its a pretty nice knife.I'm not sure if its just the examples we have by the springs don't seem as tight as on older models including my 703.


Now there a recommendation imho if you want a "classy" Buck pocket knife find you a gently used 700 series. To me the classy knives ever made by anyone.
 
kyhunt said:
Now there a recommendation imho if you want a "classy" Buck pocket knife find you a gently used 700 series. To me the classy knives ever made by anyone.
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Yup, +1. The 701 & 703 models are about perfect.
 
Kyhunt,

Since Old Hunter seems to have gone off hunting, I'll take a stab at answering your questions. The knife in the photo is from 1990. The 303 had brass liners until about 1990 when integral construction started. You can find either brass liners or nickel silver integral construction in knives from 1990. Until about 1999, the 303 had flat grind blades. In 1999 the Edge 2000 hollow grind was introduced.

EDIT: I didn't phrase something very well. I did not mean that the Edge 2000 meant hollow grind. What I meant was that the switch to hollow grind occurred in about 1999, the same year as the Edge 2000 was introduced. Thanks, DeSotoSky for catching that.

Bert
 
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Thanks. I didn't realize the flat hollow grinds on the 300 series were that late.
 
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