Slipjoint Collecting

[AF1928]

Hello All,

I am reasonably new to the world of Buck slipjoint collecting.....owned one most of my life, but never collected. Now the bug has a hold of me.....go figure.....and I'm trying to identify the more rare slipjoints in the 300 series?? Any help would be appreciated.....and I'm a member of BCCI for reference.

 

[bertl]

Welcome to the forum, AF1928. If you are talking about the regular production 300 knives, there aren't too many that I would call rare, some may be hard to find, but most aren't rare. If you include limited edition knives, the number of hard to find versions increases; and if you include custom knives that opens a whole new area. Off the top of my head, the only rare "regular" production knife I can think of is the 317 "salesman prototype" with handle pins. Another, just because I haven't found one yet, might be the 309 from 1971 with handle pins and the model number on the pile side. If you forget about rare and go for "hard to find", the first version 301 contract knife by Schrade, with grooved bolsters, is one and there are quite a few others that you might spend a lot of time looking for. If you look for limited edition knives, some of the yellow saw-cut Delrin made for sale by Smokey Mountain Knife Works may take a while to find. For me the yellow 307 and the two Barlows took some searching.

Six-thirty in the morning is a little early, so the above is just a start "off the top of my head". I'll give it a little more thought and see if I can add a little more. There are some serious 300 series collectors here on the forum, and I'm sure they will add a lot. Your best bet is to search this forum for the 300s and that might give you some ideas.

Bert

 

[Badhammer]

Welcome to the Buck forum and the BCCI.

This thread will give you a lot of info on the 300 series.

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

As a collecting goes, man there's a lot to choose from. There are folks that collect the early Schrade and Camillus contract knifes, others collect by scale material or blade steels, limited edition, build outs and one-offs, special and or seasonal editions, etc. The options are only limited by your budget and determination for the hunt. Good luck in your collecting.

 

[AF1928]

Thank you for all the information....much appreciated. My passion for this collection started recently with the passing of my father.....he was a diehard Buck fan. I decided the Buck collection would be for him.....started with the two he gave me as a kid and has blossomed to over 50 in only three weeks.

 

[JD Mandrell]

Here's a data sheet I made for their American made slips' Anyone spot any errors, point them out so I can correct it.


Buck Slipjoint Data

Schrade Contract knives 1966-1968

301 Stockman (Large)
303 Cadet (Medium Stockman)


Camillus Contract Knives 300 Series (1968-Varies by model)

301 Stockman (Large)
303 Cadet (Medium Stockman)
305 Lancer (small 2 blade)
307 Wrangler (Extra large Stockman)
309 Companion (med. 2 Blade)
311 Slim Line Trapper
313 Muskrat
315 Yachtsman (Sailor)
317 Trailblazer (2 blade Hunter)
319 Rancher (Cattleman W/Punch)
321 Bird Knife
322 Congress
329 Freedom Trapper
330 Trapper set in ironwood (312 & 314)
331 Granddaddy Barlow
332 Barlow
333 California Toothpick
334 Millennium Trapper


Buck In House Production 300 Series (1986-Present)

301 Stockman (Large)
303 Cadet (Medium Stockman)
305 Lancer (small 2 blade)
309 Companion (med. 2 Blade)

Buck In House Discontinued Models

305 Clipper (small blade and scissors)
310 Whittler
312 Small Trapper
314 Trapper

 

[jb4570]

I have a few 300s that are unusual, not the big 300 collector like a few here are.






JB

 

[300Bucks]

JB, You have at least one I don't have.

Bert is correct on the 317, but several folks have one, he will get one eventually.

This is the one I consider the hardest production 300 to find. I have only seen a couple and none New In the Box. The very early made Camillus contract 311 with scale pins. I only have one. Likely a 1972 or 73 made version. Has to be one of a handful of first 311s shipped to Buck. There are 1974 versions with no pins. Long ago I swore a Holy Oath that if I ever get ready to sell it Larry Oden gets to first see what it is worth.
300Bucks

 

[bucksway]

AF probably the rarest LE in the 300 series is the BCCI knife. It is the only one that I know of that has BG42 steel and I personally have not seen any with Damascus or other types of super steels. I'm guessing that there are a few advertising and safety award knives out there too but I can't remember a specific example. I like and use my club knife and now I'm looking for my second one !

 

[gsea]

Welcome to the forum, AF1928. If you are talking about the regular production 300 knives, there aren't too many that I would call rare, some may be hard to find, but most aren't rare. If you include limited edition knives, the number of hard to find versions increases; and if you include custom knives that opens a whole new area. Off the top of my head, the only rare "regular" production knife I can think of is the 317 "salesman prototype" with handle pins. Another, just because I haven't found one yet, might be the 309 from 1971 with handle pins and the model number on the pile side. If you forget about rare and go for "hard to find", the first version 301 contract knife by Schrade, with grooved bolsters, is one and there are quite a few others that you might spend a lot of time looking for. If you look for limited edition knives, some of the yellow saw-cut Delrin made for sale by Smokey Mountain Knife Works may take a while to find. For me the yellow 307 and the two Barlows took some searching.

Six-thirty in the morning is a little early, so the above is just a start "off the top of my head". I'll give it a little more thought and see if I can add a little more. There are some serious 300 series collectors here on the forum, and I'm sure they will add a lot. Your best bet is to search this forum for the 300s and that might give you some ideas.

Bert

the 317 salesman is one of the two holy grails for me.

 

[bertl]

the 317 salesman is one of the two holy grails for me.

-gsea

Here it is George. I picked one up a little over a year ago. Maybe I forgot to tell 300Bucks.

Bert

 

[AF1928]

I'm somewhat in awe of the combined/corporate knowledge......thank you so much for sharing

 

[Sonny14]

Oh goodie, a new thread about the Buck 300 Series. Got room for me?

300, that #311 with handle pins is an amazing find, this is the first time I have ever even seen a photo of one, at least now we know they exist. AF1928, welcome to Buck mania, you've already got two of the all stars of Buckville here, 300bucks & bertl, the wealth of knowledge they have is immense. I have copies of the 300 Series database that 300 posted in one of my threads, (and various others), if you need copies for reference let me know.
Here's my newest Buck rarity: #322 Congress in Yellow Sawcut Delrin, 1995 SMKW SFO:

 

[AF1928]

Thanks for posting Sonny....there's always room for another Buck fanatic in any post I author! I would agree that we have some esteemed and knowledgeable Buck-experts on the forums.....lucky for me they saw fit to add their expertise to this post. That is a beautiful 322......one of the ones I need for my collection as well....congrats and well-done sir!

Oh goodie, a new thread about the Buck 300 Series. Got room for me?

300, that #311 with handle pins is an amazing find, this is the first time I have ever even seen a photo of one, at least now we know they exist. AF1928, welcome to Buck mania, you've already got two of the all stars of Buckville here, 300bucks & bertl, the wealth of knowledge they have is immense. I have copies of the 300 Series database that 300 posted in one of my threads, (and various others), if you need copies for reference let me know.
Here's my newest Buck rarity: #322 Congress in Yellow Sawcut Delrin, 1995 SMKW SFO:

 

[Emspop]

Oh boy my kinda thread! Welcome aboard AF1928. I'm a 303 guy here still learning and hunting but this is the place to do both! I see you have already got some info from a few heavy hitters in the 300 series world lord knows I've learned a lot from these guys.
Here's a fun one to hunt down ...1st version Schrade ( so the first version of the 303) of what would become the Cadet. Proof there are still plenty of gems hidden out there. This one near mint from an estate sale. Enjoy the 300 series and Happy Hunting

 

[Sonny14]

Oh boy my kinda thread! Welcome aboard AF1928. I'm a 303 guy here still learning and hunting but this is the place to do both! I see you have already got some info from a few heavy hitters in the 300 series world lord knows I've learned a lot from these guys.
Here's a fun one to hunt down ...1st version Schrade ( so the first version of the 303) of what would become the Cadet. Proof there are still plenty of gems hidden out there. This one near mint from an estate sale. Enjoy the 300 series and Happy Hunting

Hiya Emspop, well, I hate to be the one to tell ya, but what you have there is actually a first version Camillus, 1971 1/2. They had handle pins in their very first runs, but the pins were larger than what Schrade used. There is also a noticeable difference in the grind on the master blade between Schrade & CC versions, (and also a distinct different curve to the entire knife). According to what I have read, and what I have in hand, CC began their production in mid 1971, but had eliminated the handle pins by the beginning of 1972. There are still a few of the first version Camillus with handle pins floating around. I'll see if I can take some photos of the differences to use for comparison.

 

[Emspop]

Oops double tap

 

[Emspop]

Hiya Emspop, well, I hate to be the one to tell ya, but what you have there is actually a first version Camillus, 1971 1/2. They had handle pins in their very first runs, but the pins were larger than what Schrade used. There is also a noticeable difference in the grind on the master blade between Schrade & CC versions, (and also a distinct different curve to the entire knife). According to what I have read, and what I have in hand, CC began their production in mid 1971, but had eliminated the handle pins by the beginning of 1972. There are still a few of the first version Camillus with handle pins floating around. I'll see if I can take some photos of the differences to use for comparison.

Sorry my friend but this time you are mistaken. 5 things that give it away are:

1-no visible pivot pins
2-no blade swedge
3- rather pronounced serpentine curve
4-length of the sheepsfoot blade. ( longer on Schrade )
5- large scale pins( same size as spring pin)

These are all indications of a Schrade Build from all I've read and pictures I've been able to locate.


Clay

 

[Sonny14]

Sorry my friend but this time you are mistaken. 5 things that give it away are:

1-no visible pivot pins
2-no blade swedge
3- rather pronounced serpentine curve
4-length of the sheepsfoot blade. ( longer on Schrade )
5- large scale pins( same size as spring pin)

These are all indications of a Schrade Build from all I've read and pictures I've been able to locate.


Clay

You are probably correct, but the Schrade #303 version I have looks different than yours. Unfortunately I no longer have the first version CC's that I had, I sold them to get one of the SFO's that I have. Perhaps 300 will pipe in here, he likes to box my ears once in awhile, here's another chance for him to do that.

 

[Emspop]

You are probably correct, but the Schrade #303 version I have looks different than yours. Unfortunately I no longer have the first version CC's that I had, I sold them to get one of the SFO's that I have. Perhaps 300 will pipe in here, he likes to box my ears once in awhile, here's another chance for him to do that.

Lol the good thing is one of us is correct and the other will learn something so I'd say it's a win win! And I admit it's a good chance it will be me doing the learning.


Clay

 

[bertl]

From what I can see, I think I'll go along with Emspop on this one.

Bert