What was the first 300 series knife?

[DocT]

What was the first 300 series knife and what did it look like?

 

[bertl]

Here you go, DocT - 301 Schrade contract knife, 1966. This one is a little different since it was repaired with through pins in the bolsters. The Schrade built knives used the Swinden key construction and, therefore, pivot pins were not visible. These knives were not easy to repair and that was a main reason that Buck switched the contract to Camillus.

Bert

 

[300Bucks]

Bert and I will tag team you. Here is a photo of the first 300 series model, not tang stamped as a 301, but a 301 never the less. This end is sliced thru the middle of the blade pin, showing how it was assembled using the 'Swinden key" method. These had weak pins and tended to bend leaving a loose blade. But they were hard to repair and Buck saw easier pastures to contract. These were made by Schrade and if you didn't use them for hard cutting were great pocket knives.


Here you can see the bolster pin and the two sides of the blade pin hole.

 

[300Bucks]

Here is photo of the next method of making 300 series knives using Camillus as contractor. Knife constructed with pins thru the bolsters and blades. Easy to repair a broken blade, knock out the pin, insert new blade, insert new pin, grind and polish. The Schrade method required complete disassembly of knife.

 

[300Bucks]

And lastly, the Buck method with three springs and thru pins and solid liners.



I need to learn the method of inserting photos in the original thread.

 

[300Bucks]

Here is a very early poor photo, when I was learning, of the fhree Schrade 300 models. The firsts. The top one is a 301 size knife that is commonly called a (the first) 301. 301 not stamped on blades. Groove in bolster as Bert shows but with Swinden key blade pins which are not visible. High quality pocket knives, but back in 1966 lots of folks cut tough stuff, like hay wire, and the pins along with the brass liners the pins were behind could not take the pressure. If you go back around ten years in Buck forum history you can find lots of 300 history information. Its also in BCCI newletters of the past. These were well made knives and if you used them for normal cutting were fine tools. Fit and finish were excellent. You could hold them in your hand and tell they were a real pocketknife, flat ground blade, long pulls on the clip, except for that brass liner around that soft hidden blade pin. They were collectors items for me and I could not bare to carry one.... 300

 

[DocT]

Thanks guys! I always admired the style of the Schrade made knives. I love the look of the bolsters. It makes the knife look more finished. And that serpentine handle is great looking.

I wonder what steel they used? Was it 440A? Also, did they make the knife with other handle materials?

 

[koldgold]

What was the first 300 series knife and what did it look like?

Hi Mr. 300Bucks, I like to see the 301s showing up from time to time. Ken.

 

[bertl]

Here is another Schrade contract 301, the last variation made by Schrade (1967-1971). The secondary blades were stamped "BUCK". The problem with this particular knife is that the secondary blades were stamped on the wrong side, and I'm not sure how they managed to do that.

Bert

 

[koldgold]

Hi Bert, this is the late model with the Buck stamped blades.
Ken.