Which is the best 301? Today's Buck, Shrade, or Camillus?

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csisland

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Aug 8, 2013
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I've never handled the Shrade 301 or the Camillus 301. To those of you that have handled all 3, which is the best one?
 
I liked the Cammilus made the knives the best by far. I liked the flat grinds and traditional stockman configuration over the ones made today. I like the steel in the current production but wish it had flat grinds and former blade arrangment.

22Hornet
 
I have a current 301 and I love it. I never thought I would use the spey on it but I do and it's easy to open not like some of the other stockman's I've tried.
What advantage does a flat grind have over the current blades? I love the look of the current ones and they sharpen easy and stay sharp for me. Also do you like the size advantage over say the 303?
 
Also, it must be hard to find a brand new Camillus Buck 301. Used maybe but finding anything new is tough.
 
To the latest 301 owners, how do you like it and do you consider it too big for pocket carry?
 
I've owned a Buck 301 since 1970 (Camillus), own the current model as well. As for using purposes there is not much difference, both do the same level of knife work. The difference is in the asthetics, l'll take flat grinds over the current grind any day because that's what I like. I do prefer the 3 spring design of the modern Bucks. OH
ps I carry a 303 or similar size Stockman most often because I prefer that size.
 
Old Hunter said:
I've owned a Buck 301 since 1970 (Camillus), own the current model as well. As for using purposes there is not much difference, both do the same level of knife work. The difference is in the asthetics, l'll take flat grinds over the current grind any day because that's what I like. I do prefer the 3 spring design of the modern Bucks. OH
ps I carry a 303 or similar size Stockman most often because I prefer that size.
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Thanks OH. What kind of days or activities do you find yourself carrying the 301?
 
You are welcome. I carry a 301, 307, or an old 8OT when I hunt or do outdoor work (for the greater heft). OH
 
Old Hunter said:
You are welcome. I carry a 301, 307, or an old 8OT when I hunt or do outdoor work (for the greater heft). OH
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So the 301 isn't a regular for you? I went into this thread try to get acquainted with the 3 different 301's that have been made, and thought I wanted one, but now I'm having second thoughts thinking it might be too big for carrying around in pocket.
 
Camillus made, I like the flat grinds, the traditional Stockman blade layout, and I've yet to find a Buck made one, that has the backspring "snap" of the Camillus ones.
 
csisland said:
So the 301 isn't a regular for you? I went into this thread try to get acquainted with the 3 different 301's that have been made, and thought I wanted one, but now I'm having second thoughts thinking it might be too big for carrying around in pocket.
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I typically have a 301 in my left front pocket, more often than not. It really isn't that noticeable in weight or size.
 
csisland said:
Is a brand new Camillus 301 hard to find?
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Hard, yeah, impossible, no. I bought one still in the box at a knife show 2 years ago for $35.00.

Lightly used ones aren't that hard to find though, I see them at gun & knife shows all the time.
 
In jeans or work pants there is little noticeable difference; in lightweight dress slacks or summer weight (loose) shorts I find the 301 to be a tad heavy and a little long and the 303 to be just right. This is simply one man's experience and observation - and the reason both the 301 and the 303 are so popular. OH
 
I'm in crossville tn very close to Smokey mtn knife works btw. But I find so many unused or just dulled bucks around here cheap cheap. No one likes them here. There junk per say to everyone else. Cuz there "hard to sharpen" lol I just laugh and give em 10 dollars or so for another buck to ad to the collection!
 
My 301 is a first year Buck. So, the traditional flat-ground blade layout and two springs, with a regular (short) nail nick. The fit and finish are every bit GEC quality, or better, based on GEC photos I've seen here. I've not yet handled a Cam/Schrade build even approaching this. I wouldn't say that it's too big for EDC, but I will say the 303 size is much handier for my perceived needs.
 
csisland said:
I've never handled the Shrade 301 or the Camillus 301. To those of you that have handled all 3, which is the best one?
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All the early Camillus and Schrades are in Australia. All NIB, I took them out to take these photos.
My son likes to use the 1970-73 Camillus knives. Ken

image.php

These were all made by Schrade, from 1965 to about 1970.
image.php
 
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