Request a little help precisely dating an older # 311, please?

sunnyd

sunnyd

Joined
Jul 17, 2004
Messages
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I've got this older Trapper pattern which I believe to be pre - 1974? That is, there are no dots on either side of the model number..

Can any of you kind folks nail down the date for me exactly?.

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Thanks to all for any and all assistance here,
Anthony
 
Anthony,

This dot thing has grown like a rumor the school marm and the preacher are carrying on.

This is for all folks-----AIN"T NO DOTS ON 300 TANGS, especially any that count toward dates.

Your 311 is the last model made. There are only a couple of variations in the whole model line.

There is a Buck, Made in U.S.A. with 311 stamped on reverse. - this is the oldest

There is yours Buck,311, U.S.A. then within this era there is spell they put little nylon pillows in the blade well so the blade edges would not hit bottom, but they only did this a short while. I think it was because they had a run of blades that were stamped wrong and when folded not enough tang 'foot' existed to keep it from hitting bottom. Or the pivot hole could have been drilled wrong.

Then there was a short run of serrated secondary blades and very very rare yellow scales, all of whch still fall in the Buck, 311, U.S.A. time period. There is also one made for Winchester with 'Winchester' stamped on escutcheion plate in place of the knife,bolt and hammer.

The MiUSA 311 1972 -74 , the rest from 74 to 90. Serrated 88-90.

FYI Next newletter will have a history article with photos on the 311. Heres photo to tide you over.
300Bucks

These are the only two tang stamps you will see, every other difference will be somewhere else on knife.
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Hiya there Criag,

I'm obliged that you came in here to assist me, however, no rumor, I was just going off this chart that I got from another fine Buck Head in here a while ago..

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This chart has worked for me multiple times in the past to date Bucks and been verified by others..

Perhaps you could provide an official Buck chart and/or some additional information that may be helpful.

Thanks in advance for all your efforts here.


Anthony
 
Well, 300Bucks is considered the 300 series guru here. What he's trying to say is that, unlike other models, the 300 series never used dots as date marks.
Trust him on that.
 
Sunny, That chart doesn't start until 1986 . Prior, to the chart were dots and those don't apply to your model either . The dots mostly apply to 112 and 110's . DM
 
Yes, I can see how all the DOT hoopla that we get around here would lead people to believe that dots would have some application to any Buck knife.

But, that is not the case. We discuss 110s and 112s loud and long here, and that accounts for most of the Dot-Mania.

:)
 
Anthony, and everyone else.

Yes, the dot talk at the top of this common chart widely shared across the knife net does lead one to think they apply. It needs to say something to qualify the statements on dots. Sunnyd, don't feel like the Lone Ranger, bet this comes up just about every week. Everyone else read the fine print on the top of the chart.....confusing if you aren't a 110/112 man. I am sorry I did not catch that in past.

History wise the oldest Buck models might be dot dated and there are some manufactoring dots that were put on a couple of newer models to give buckheads something to wonder about.

So Anthony, if you are happy with your 311 information and consider the thread done, lets go on in a different angle....anyone know of a Buck knife folding or fixed that is aged by dot system other than the 110s and 112s. Lets see if there is a list and lets get these date charts straightened out......do we need to start another dedicated thread for this ???

Packrat can you change the sticky you got going at the top, which has the chart in this thread, to say the dots only apply to 110/112s (so far)?

I will email Joe H. to see about the other one, thanks Anthony for stirring , at least, me into action. We all will get this fixed.....

300
 
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I think I heard talk recently of Three-Dot and Four-Dot 111s (I know some don't consider them to be anything but a 110).

That's all I can think off the top.
 
Just one last thought here from me and then I'll be on my way..

First, I assumed that the 300 series may of had some 'Dot' markings prior to the mid 1970's because of the chart. I was wrong about the 'Dots'.. I was given previous information I had been told in around 1979 and 1980 by a fellow who worked for Buck in the 1960's and 70's. In my mind I questioned which was true, and thought I'd ask here since you all are as knowledgeable as you are. I should have framed the question from the (3) line tang stamp standpoint..

Second, I now know the information I needed to confirm since post #6 by sac troop in the 'Date Chart' sticky at the top here mirrored what I was told initially by my friend that was a Buck employee some 30 years ago, which is a 1973-1981 300 series will have a 3 line tang stamp with Buck {over} model # {over} U.S.A.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=716179&page=2

Thanks to all,

Anthony
 
Anthony,

Always ready to discuss 300s, learn as much as I share......

In the brightlight harsh truth world, the 300 series were second team. Made by someone else from 68 to 86. After that some continued as camillus made into the 1990s.

No parts were made by Buck til 86 so I don't discuss blade metal quality before that because who knows what the situation was. Schrade and Camillus made good knives and the ones they made for Buck were good American craftsman quality knives.

Wonder what that employee was thinking....maybe they never fooled with that series.
I am finishing up a 311 history article for the next BCCI newsletter. I am at the point on those histories that I don't have all the models to take a photo of. But will make do the best I can.

Some people really like that long thin shape of the 311, whether Buck,Case or Cami. version. It has been copied in general shape by many makers. Think it would be best carried in the back pocket....

You stirred me to action, Pack rat unlocked his thread and I put in a statement to not consider the dots except for 110/111/112 world.
Have also emailed Joe Houser to add something to his cart that it does not apply to other knives. Will keep after it and get the info corrected. You get credit for getting that started.

300Bucks
 
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Thanks 300, for all the info. . I ran into a 307 today at one of my honey holes and first thought-- O, boy I've found something to keep but upon close examination . The blades were ground down badly and even the slabs made contact with the grinder wheel . Too bad ! Still, they had it priced at 49.99 !! It was stamped Buck, USA, 307 with one visiable pin in the middle of the serpentine handle . A early 70's knife in lously shape, my dream knife and I didn't even make an offer . DM
 
i think the dots come up as many new inquires
see the data for the 110/112 and
assume that it is applicable to all buck knives
and many ( i bet ) tell they read here dont know
that the 300 slippies were not made by buck for many years!

btw i am glad you took on the 300's to do..
so much going on in my life now..the wife is not as well.. so
i dont think i am going to do the 110's after all...
 
I'm sorry for you Dave . I hope she responds to the treatment .
On the dots: I had a 105 that had four dots stamped below the USA, at the bottom of the choil . Its the only one I'd seen like that . DM
 
Hang in there and take care of yourself so you can stay strong, Dave.

Thinking of you and your wife often.

:thumbup:
 
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