Buck 300 Series Pocketknives

[boykinlp]

I’ve always thought that Buck 300 series pocketknives were very cool. But, one thing I always hated about them was the fact that the greatest majority of them had dull black delrin scales. I hoped to get some scales made from different materials or in different colors. Knives in the picture are a 303 CADET KNIFE WITH DymaLux® ROSEWOOD SCALES, a 303 CADET KNIFE WITH BATTLE SHELL ARMADILLO SCALES, a 303 CADET KNIFE WITH YELLOW SAW CUT DELRIN SCALES, a 309 COMPANION KNIFE WITH RED SMOOTH DELRIN SCALES, a 503 PRINCE KNIFE WITH SAMBAR STAG SCALES, a 301 STOCKMAN KNIFE WITH AMERICAN ELK SCALES, a 321 BIRD KNIFE WITH BLACK SAW CUT DELRIN SCALES, a 305 CLIPPER RED KNIFE WITH RED SMOOTH DELRIN SCALES, and a BUCK 301BB STOCKMAN KNIFE WITH BROWN JIGGED BUCKBONE SCALES. Please show us your Buck 300 series knives.
Larry

BTW, sorry for the Buck 503 in the picture, but it is made from my favorite material, Sambar Stag, and is about the same size as the rest of the knives.

 

[30-30remchester]

Being an antique knife collector, pocketknife "scales", not handles, are so varied that it keeps us collectors always on the hunt for a new style or color. No hard fast rule, however black plastic scales were a sign of the manufacturers cheapest model. Older yellow was a standard and much coveted but usually only one step above black. I am a fan of older folders with yellow scales. Again, unofficial but used by most collectors, "handles are on fixed blade knives, "scales or covers" describes the pocketknife.

 

[diyj98]

I always like the black delrin handles on the Bucks. I saw them as quality "using" knives, whereas so many of the Case XX's seemed to be built for collecting. Sadly many of the current Buck knives are stamped "China" on the blades

 

[boykinlp]

Being an antique knife collector, pocketknife "scales", not handles, are so varied that it keeps us collectors always on the hunt for a new style or color. No hard fast rule, however black plastic scales were a sign of the manufacturers cheapest model. Older yellow was a standard and much coveted but usually only one step above black. I am a fan of older folders with yellow scales. Again, unofficial but used by most collectors, "handles are on fixed blade knives, "scales or covers" describes the pocketknife.

Thanks for the correction, 30-30remchester. I should have known that! I used to always call them scales, but saw on the Case and Buck websites that they were now calling them handles. I fixed it in my original post because I like scales better.

I always like the black delrin handles on the Bucks. I saw them as quality "using" knives, whereas so many of the Case XX's seemed to be built for collecting. Sadly many of the current Buck knives are stamped "China" on the blades

diyj98, that’s one thing I definitely made sure of! All the knives are made in the USA!
Larry

 

[boykinlp]

A thing that disappoints me about Buck is their “Build A Custom Knife”. I have always wished that they would include their 300 series knives in this. Don’t get me wrong, I love being able to get a knife made by them, and have a few, but I would love to pick my scales from their different choices. I guess building a 300 series knife is more complicated or costly for them to do.
Larry

 

[30-30remchester]

Thanks for the correction, 30-30remchester. I should have known that! I used to always call them scales, but saw on the Case and Buck websites that they were now calling them handles. I fixed it in my original post because I like scales better.

I just living in the past. If the knife makers themselves are now calling them handles just show how much in the past I am living in. But then again, in the 1960's Winchester was manufacturing sets of 94 rifles in commemorative models. They themselves called one a rifle and one a carbine. Problem was, they were both rifles. There is definitely a difference between rifles and carbines and has nothing to do with overall length.


I used up about a half dozen older Bucks folders in the past. I never cared for the steel these older knives used as I could never get an edge on them. The new ones are a different story as they sharpen to shaving sharp quite nicely.

 

[chief38]

Nice Buck collection!

Over the years I have owned a bunch of Buck knives. I carried a small Buck three blade folder for over a few decades until I lost it down a parking lot sewer drain. I was wearing sweats at the time and the knife slid out of the pocket when I opened the door to exit the vehicle. Unfortunately there was a sewer drain with slits in it right there under the door and the knife fell right into it. GONZO.

I still have a few Buck knives but do not carry one anymore. Now my main EDC is a Spyderco Delica with a K390 steel blade. My other pocket knife that I still carry on occasion is a Marbles Safety Axe 3 blade Stockman with Sambar Stag. I ordered that knife in 1999 directly from Marble's Custom Shop (the original Marbles Co. - not the Company called Marbles today that is selling Chinese imported stuff) and there were only 100 - 150 ever made if I recall. I carried on a regular basis for many years while most with a collectible custom knife would not actually EDC it. While I do still carry it once in a while, my Spyderco has become my EDC. If I lose that one I can always get another.

I have not seen a newly manufactured Buck knife in a while so I am unaware if their quality is still up to snuff - hope so.

 

[sceva]

I always liked the older Black handle Flat ground Buck Stockman knife. I believe the very early ones were made for Buck by Camillus

 

[Bastogne71]

I carried a Buck Stockman #301 while on field operations in Vietnam. It was more useful than the big “fighting knives” that many troops carried. When it was stolen after I returned to the world, I replaced it with a #303 Cadet that is in my pocket this morning and has been used already today. Sometimes big is not always better.

 

[boykinlp]

I always liked the older Black handle Flat ground Buck Stockman knife. I believe the very early ones were made for Buck by Camillus

If I’m not mistaken, Camillus started making pocketknives for Buck in 1971. Before that they were made by Schrade. Once the date codes were used, Buck was manufacturing them. My only one manufactured by Camillus is the Model 321 Bird Knife, the black one with the bird cleaning hook.
Larry

 

[Detective20]

I have been collecting buck 300 folding knives and believe Buck has made 90 different models numbered in the 300's. I have 73 in my collection but am having a hard time finding the other 17. Not all buck 300 knives were in the Buck catalogs, and some were made for other retailers only under the Buck name. I know that 55 were in the Buck catalog, and I have 54 of them, but I am missing the 399 at this time. Does anyone have info on one of them?
There are 10 models in the 300 series that were fixed blade or multi tools and I do not collect them.

 

[boykinlp]

I have been collecting buck 300 folding knives and believe Buck has made 90 different models numbered in the 300's. I have 73 in my collection but am having a hard time finding the other 17. Not all buck 300 knives were in the Buck catalogs, and some were made for other retailers only under the Buck name. I know that 55 were in the Buck catalog, and I have 54 of them, but I am missing the 399 at this time. Does anyone have info on one of them?
There are 10 models in the 300 series that were fixed blade or multi tools and I do not collect them.

We need pictures, please! At least of your favorites.
Larry