Let me jump in with info and will hold down opinion...info for the original poster.
The very first few years of the 301/303 Stockmen lives were contracted by Schrade , they had good 440c blades but the method Schrade used to pin the blades would deform the knife with extra heavy use. This was the hidden pin era and without the support of the NS bolster the brass liner was the only thing supporting the blade and it would bend the brass if you really bore down on the blade.
Next Buck Stockman era saw Camillus take over and they used through the bolster method to pin down blades. BUT, you can't get anyone around back then to say "we always used 440c" which means to me "we seldom did". Buck took over the 301/303 Stockmen in 1985 and started with 425m blades. These are well thought of and can be determined by the date symbol on the tang of the main blade, after the model number as some form of a V. About 91 the all stainless stockman came into view and with three springs, one for each blade. This is the era most of these guys are talking about and those blades are 420hc, heat treated by a well known expert Paul Bos. Buck continues with this steel and this heat treat today. The big 307 stockman was always ONLY made by Camillus, et al.
OK, some opinion, I couldn't hold back. If you want a older Buck stockman I would get one with BUCK on the scale shield and some form of V stamped after the model number (86,87,88 and 89). The ink will eventually rub off the scale shield (BUCK) but the slight impression left looks good to my conservative eye. To get a new era one, FYI the laminated wood scales are only held down by two rivets, I would get the tried and true black sawcut Valox scale or the new yellow with the blue shield with the Delrin scale.
Again, most of this was for original poster....300
