The new 300 compared to the old 300s?

kyhunt

kyhunt

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Mar 20, 2007
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I decided to pull out an old friend the other day. It was my old 301 with long nail pull. I think it is one of the Camillus models. Its obvious that the blade grinds are alot differant on these than the new ones. It kind of made me think about getting a newer one maybe even a 303. I came across one in stag. How do the new ones compare to the old ones?
 
A few structural differences, old ones are 2 backspring were new ones have 3.

Blade layout has changed on the 301 and 303 stockman patterns SPey and Sheepsfoot were switched.

Blade grinds went from flat to Edge2000.

I own plenty of both, like both.
 
I have an old Camillus 303.
I also have a new 301.
The new Buck has better edge retention. A lot better.
 
Get either an old 3 rivet with 440 or a new jigged bone. I like the 372 trapper. Did I really just say that.....

300Bucks
 
Well I really had my eye on a stag 303. I just won a 303 and 301 and 309(309 in stag). I ave a 301 that was carried exclusively from 1982-1994 then was replaced by a colt until 2 years ago. The 303 I won just ended up in my pocket and it feels nice the past 2 years I've carried Case,and Eyebrand. But this 303 has kind of rekindled an old passion.
 
I carried a 303 daily for about 10 years in the 70's and 80's.

Now that I have a new 301 and see how much better the steel is than that on the old 303, well a new 303 is definitely on my want list.
 
It is on the ones I own.

Let me rephrase that:
My new 301 significantly out-cuts my old 303 in manila rope cutting comparisons.

My new 301 has a blade hardness of 59.7
My old 303 wasn't even close.
 
knarfeng said:
It is on the ones I own.

Let me rephrase that:
My new 301 significantly out-cuts my old 303 in manila rope cutting comparisons.

My new 301 has a blade hardness of 59.7
My old 303 wasn't even close.
Click to expand...

Given the choice between as Case tru-sharp, or a Buck, which would you prefer?
 
HMC said:
Given the choice between as Case tru-sharp, or a Buck, which would you prefer?
Click to expand...

Bear Claw Chris Lappe said:
Buck easily. Even though both are 420HC, Bucks heat treat is better.
Click to expand...

Recently I compared the performance of Case CV to Case Tru-Sharp,
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=595750

When I tested them, I also ran the Buck 301.
I just left it out of that review because I did not want to muddy the water.

In Blade hardness, they ran like this:
CV______54
TS______55
301_____59.7

In manila rope cutting, they ran like this, least edge retention to best:
TS, CV, 301

Which is what you would expect with hardnesses running like that on similar steels. (Once I finish comparing the 301 to other steels, I'll likely write that up as well as a separate review.)

Now the fit of both the Case and Buck was good. The Case felt better finished as all the corners were gently rounded while the Buck felt a bit more angular. The Blade snap on both blades of the Case TS Trapper was very good. The blade snap on the 301 was good on two blades, less good on the middle, but still adequate.

If I wanted to give a knife to a non-knife user, I'd choose the Case because it feels and looks very classy.

For me or anyone who really USES their knife, I'd choose the 301.
 
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