Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

[Baykeeper]

Nothing especially special, just a "stock" 2011 #302. I have every other model of the 300 Series, (several spares of each also), but started out only collecting Camillus-made 300's made between 1966- 1986, (yes I know the first 4-5 years were made by Schrade), and all the Camillus-made SFO's up to around the year 2000. But after getting all those models I realized that though not made by CC, this Buck-made #302 would fill in that missing number between #301 & #303, so I finally decided I would get one to fill that hole. It was surprisingly hard to find, but one eventually showed up at a reasonable price. Now, my favorite 300's have always been the Buck-made versions from 1986 to around 2000 made in El Cajon. I found that those CA made knives were far and away superior to any other of the series made elsewhere, the most well made examples of that series IMHO. I don't know why but 300 Series knives made after they moved to Idaho seemed substandard in the cut, grind and construction of those knives, every one I handled had wiggly blades, etc, etc. That's just my opinion of course, so you can imagine my surprise when I found this Idaho-made #302 to be a great, very well made pocket knife, I don't know why I waited so long to get one. At 4" closed it's big enough to use but not too big for the pocket. Construction is as near to perfect as can be, and it has walk and talk all day long. So, now I have all the model numbers covered of the 300 Series, and now can concentrate on the ever endless "versions". I notice these days that the only examples of the series left in the Buck online catalog is the #301 & #303, and personally I see that as tragic. Along with the #110 Folding Hunter, the #300 Series is what grew the company so I think discontinuing the other models was an awful decision, and I hope they reconsider, (fat chance of that, they just hired a new company president to replace Joe Howser, and the guy is supposedly an "expert" and big fan of imported sports equipment, prepare to be disappointed folks, big changes coming, and a lot of imported knives too). Anyway, here it is, a fine example of American industrial power.

I have a weird suspicion this guy will end up sinking the brand. Hiring someone who doesn't really understand what is being produced and sold is a mistake, always in my view. They may be an expert in sporting equipment, but they don't know knives, and they sure as heck don't get the Buck brand. Especially given how three major players in the American cutlery scene (Camillus, Schrade, Queen) all went under within 20 years' time. Buck is a household name, but also, I think a major thing is that they are USA made. Boker produces almost nothing in Germany, and seem to have discontinued their more reasonably priced Solingen offerings in favor of Chinese models. Gerber has a big lineup of Chinese knives, Bear does too--and they are all I find in stores here. While CRKT (automatics) and SOG (some folders, most fixed blades) have USA-made options, I never find them in stores. It's usually their cheaper fare. Aside from Klein and Proto contract knives (all of mine came from online and/or used), every Utica I've found in a store here has been Chinese-made. Camillus and Schrade are now just brandnames to stick on smurf from China.

I need to get the 302. I have a one-blade Colonial Stockman, and it's thin but tough. I have the 301 (Buck, 1992 made, 1993 etch for local quarry's Christmas gift), 303 (Camillus), and 305 (early Buck; 1987?). In my opinion, the 300 series is as good as the 110, but more practical. The steel pins and liners make them MUCH stronger than the typical Camillus/Schrade/Case of the era in which they were made.


I've always said the best thing Buck can do is discontinue all the imports. They can produce things like the Bantams or the LTs HERE at a price that undercuts Chinese models from CRKT and Kershaw in most stores, so why the smurf do they need ANY at all? Heck, and if I recall, the Bantam series was brought back FROM China to Idaho. Part of the reason I'm not a big fan of Gerber is the fact that 3/4 of the catalog is imports, and most of what "big box" stores will sell. I rarely, if ever buy a Chinese knife these days, even on sale. My first in a long time is a CRKT fixed blade I ordered without realizing it was made in China, not Taiwan.

It worries me that the new guy isn't a Buck family member, the first non family person ever on their board, and from what I have read he has a lot of experience with import supply chains of sporting goods equipment, so I'm sure he will put that experience to work with Buck. Buck has mostly eliminated "vintage" style pocket knives already anyway, traditional fixed blades too, everything new is trendy kid's stuff with no specific purpose as a tool, just "cool" to look at, and that in itself is worrisome. I think they need to be reminded of where they came from, and what made it work for them and for us their customers. I was attracted to Buck due to it's family oriented approach and it's history, and that seems to be on the chopping block right now. This new guy is a "suit" with no experience with this company, or knowledge of it's roots, or experience as a knife maker, or hands on experience in manufacturing in general; what the heck are they thinking? Joe became a master knife maker who spent as much time at a workbench as he did at his desk. That's what the company needs, someone who knows which end of a screwdriver to use, not an "executive". I think the new guy will probably only be able to see and respect dollar signs, and that will be a real pity.

[KLJ77]

Syd,

With all due respect, I have not found anything regarding Mr. Tobiassen being an 'expert' sports equipment importer. What I have found is: He has been:

President of Smith & Wesson the Firearms Division of American Outdoor Brands, and led the marketing, product development and sales functions at the firearms manufacturer, which included Smith & Wesson, M&P, Performance Center, and Thompson/Center firearms brands.

Prior to that, he spent 14 years with Crimson Trace, the tactical laser sight and sport optics company in the roles of marketing director, president and CEO.

Before Crimson Trace, Tobiassen served as vice president of marketing with LaCrosse Footwear for LaCrosse and Danner, Inc brands.

He also served on the Board of Directors for Nosler, Inc., the ammunition and hunting rifle manufacturer, and was a founding member of a Vistage CEO Group.

This is not a light-weight resume.

As for being the first non-Buck family member to hold the President position...I would not sell him short yet. His expertise and experience in marketing and development, along with holding positions of CEO & President of various other companies, are just some of the reasons Lori & CJ Buck hired 'outside' the family. They chose to hire outside, because there is no one else in the Buck family with the expertise and experience to help move the company forward in the direction they want to go. Trust me...CJ and Lori are NOT stupid people who hire someone like this on impulse. Are they taking a risk with this guy? Maybe. But then, what business today isn't taking a risk? If this guy doesn't work out, Lori will have no issue in sending him packing and look for someone else.

I believe we'll know, within six months, (by Sept / Oct) what this guy is made of and if his marketing skills & ideas enhance the Buck status in production and design and reputation.

[Baykeeper]

Syd,

With all due respect, I have not found anything regarding Mr. Tobiassen being an 'expert' sports equipment importer. What I have found is: He has been:

President of Smith & Wesson the Firearms Division of American Outdoor Brands, and led the marketing, product development and sales functions at the firearms manufacturer, which included Smith & Wesson, M&P, Performance Center, and Thompson/Center firearms brands.

Prior to that, he spent 14 years with Crimson Trace, the tactical laser sight and sport optics company in the roles of marketing director, president and CEO.

Before Crimson Trace, Tobiassen served as vice president of marketing with LaCrosse Footwear for LaCrosse and Danner, Inc brands.

He also served on the Board of Directors for Nosler, Inc., the ammunition and hunting rifle manufacturer, and was a founding member of a Vistage CEO Group.

This is not a light-weight resume.

As for being the first non-Buck family member to hold the President position...I would not sell him short yet. His expertise and experience in marketing and development, along with holding positions of CEO & President of various other companies, are just some of the reasons Lori & CJ Buck hired 'outside' the family. They chose to hire outside, because there is no one else in the Buck family with the expertise and experience to help move the company forward in the direction they want to go. Trust me...CJ and Lori are NOT stupid people who hire someone like this on impulse. Are they taking a risk with this guy? Maybe. But then, what business today isn't taking a risk? If this guy doesn't work out, Lori will have no issue in sending him packing and look for someone else.

I believe we'll know, within six months, (by Sept / Oct) what this guy is made of and if his marketing skills & ideas enhance the Buck status in production and design and reputation.

I paraphrased a statement I read using those same exact words. Ok, I guess we'll just have to wait and see, but what I said is indeed very possible, maybe even probable. I don't discount Lori's knowledge or experience in the least, and I just hope CJ takes after his dad and granddad and take the president's job himself. The fact that he didn't is disturbing in itself. Point being there will now be a non mechanically oriented, non family corporate person in charge, who knows only corporate ways of thinking, corporate ways of doing things, which is and could be disastrous for Buck. Like I said earlier, Buck, for some reason is putting less emphasis on traditional models. Many of the models they have discontinued were extremely popular, and helped put them on the map, unfortunately I see no change in that thinking yet. I feel focusing on what made the company work all these years is being swept under the rug, their choice of what not to make is more telling than what they do make. If I'm wrong so be it, but I fear I'm not.

[Jacknifeben]

Just found this WENGER knife with a BUCK sticker on both sides of the handles. Is this all legit?

[KLJ77]

Ben,

Yes...it's legit. Buck and Wenger collaborated back in 1992 - 1998, and Wenger made the SwissBuck knives. Check this link...a lot of these SwissBucks are rare models. You might just have one. Nevertheless...it's NOT a throw-away knife, it's a keeper.


https://www.smartknives.com/Wenger-Swis ... nives.html

[Jtx]

I got this Buck-USA Budgie a few days ago. It is a liner lock with a 2" blade. Great for small jobs.

[jmh58]

I got this Buck-USA Budgie a few days ago. It is a liner lock with a 2" blade. Great for small jobs.

Nice one Lee!!
John

[Jtx]

I got this Buck-USA Budgie a few days ago. It is a liner lock with a 2" blade. Great for small jobs.

Nice one Lee!!
John

Thanks John. It is a fun little knife.

[cody6268]

I got this Buck-USA Budgie a few days ago. It is a liner lock with a 2" blade. Great for small jobs.

I've taken more of an interest in really small knives with really good steel. Seems finally, the cutlery companies are beginning to realize the little guys are really neglected in the handle and blade steel department; and giving them the same treatment as the bigger knives.

The Buck Budgie really got my attention when it was announced.

[Jtx]

I got this Buck-USA Budgie a few days ago. It is a liner lock with a 2" blade. Great for small jobs.

I've taken more of an interest in really small knives with really good steel. Seems finally, the cutlery companies are beginning to realize the little guys are really neglected in the handle and blade steel department; and giving them the same treatment as the bigger knives.

The Buck Budgie really got my attention when it was announced.

It caught my attention, too. I am enjoying using it.

[Baykeeper]

Am I on a binge or what? Just arrived, all on the same day, two Buck #112 Slim Selects, a new-to-Buck and new-to-me Buck #891 Spear Point, a Buck #302 Solitaire, and a Schrade LB7 with sheath. The #891 Spear Point comes with 5160 Spring Steel blade with Bose heat treatment and Cerakote ceramic coating with hand stitched tactical sheath, in one of the famous "Le Box" display boxes. It has Micarta handles, which look like they were printed out by a 3D printer, but though a bit heavy feels great in the hand. Not my usual purchase, I don't usually buy fixed blades, but this one spoke to me somehow, so I bought it. The #112's were gotten to give me three different colors of that knife, so now I can color coordinate my EDC's, (doesn't everyone do that?). The #302 Solitaire has become one of my favorite EDC's, so now I have a 2010 and 2011 version(s). The LB7 was just because I didn't already have one, after a bit of polishing it will look good enough to be a user, (along with the smaller 50T lockback I got last week). So, will a 5160 blade survive in an oceanside locality? With the ceramic coating I think it will. The #891 can be found in the "Collections" area of the Buck website. More on the way, stay tuned.

[KLJ77]

Hey Syd,

I believe you made a typo on the Buck 821. That knife is actually the 891 GCK (Ground Combat Knife). That knife came out last year, so it's not new for Buck this year. I have the same one you have, and it's a beast of a knife. One of the best tactical knives Buck has produced...and they're selling like hotcakes. Nice pick up.

Nice grabs on the other knives, too.

[Baykeeper]

Hey Syd,

I believe you made a typo on the Buck 821. That knife is actually the 891 GCK (Ground Combat Knife). That knife came out last year, so it's not new for Buck this year. I have the same one you have, and it's a beast of a knife. One of the best tactical knives Buck has produced...and they're selling like hotcakes. Nice pick up.

Nice grabs on the other knives, too.

Thanks for the heads up, already edited. It's not a typo, I'm just getting old and blind. I typed that without reading glasses so I'm surprised there aren't more mistakes. My eye doc said I was developing cataracts, guess he was right.

[KLJ77]

Hey Syd,

I believe you made a typo on the Buck 821. That knife is actually the 891 GCK (Ground Combat Knife). That knife came out last year, so it's not new for Buck this year. I have the same one you have, and it's a beast of a knife. One of the best tactical knives Buck has produced...and they're selling like hotcakes. Nice pick up.

Nice grabs on the other knives, too.

Thanks for the heads up, already edited. It's not a typo, I'm just getting old and blind. I typed that without reading glasses so I'm surprised there aren't more mistakes. My eye doc said I was developing cataracts, guess he was right.

Well, don't feel bad about that. I've done the exact same thing many times when I've tried to type something without my glasses on. My eyes are multi-functional now. I have glasses for reading, a set for driving, and a set for computer. One has to be STRONG to get old.

[Bucksway]

I've been off the forum for awhile..Great to be back! My absolute latest is a rare and odd 112 (That's what I collect and display) The blade is a Drop point semi mirror polished S30V with Bucks 'Custom' tang stamp on the front and the S30V stamped (not etched) on the back. Nickel silver frame with great matching Stag and finger grooves. I thought at first it might be one of the 500 modified blades that Chuck and Leroy Reamer worked on in the early 80's to make a DP 112 but now I think it was a BCCI fundraiser from 2004-2005 . If I can remember how to post a picture..

[jerryd6818]

Glad to have you back. That's one fine piece of hardware you have there.

[KLJ77]

Bucksway,

Very nice and rare knife. However, your knife is NOT a 112, it is a BCCI Custom 110FG, produced in December 2005 timeline. Only 200 were made, and this knife configuration had never been done before...and not since. They sold for $120.00 to BCCI members only. Not sure how you were lucky enough to come by this knife, but consider yourself fortunate to be able to own such a rarity and exquisite knife.

[bertl]

Bucksway,

Very nice and rare knife. However, your knife is NOT a 112, it is a BCCI Custom 110FG, produced in December 2005 timeline. Only 200 were made, and this knife configuration had never been done before...and not since. They sold for $120.00 to BCCI members only. Not sure how you were lucky enough to come by this knife, but consider yourself fortunate to be able to own such a rarity and exquisite knife.

Compare the front bolster on the two knives.

[KLJ77]

I agree, there is a slight difference in the front bolster, but that doesn't mean it's not the BCCI 110FG from 2005. The photo is of pre-production, so one can only speculate that the bolster 'may' have been changed during production. I suppose, the only way to really know, is to send a photo to Buck and ask them if it is the same BCCI 110 of 2005. I still tend to believe that Bucksway's knife is the same. But, I've been wrong before.

[bertl]

I agree, there is a slight difference in the front bolster, but that doesn't mean it's not the BCCI 110FG from 2005. The photo is of pre-production, so one can only speculate that the bolster 'may' have been changed during production. I suppose, the only way to really know, is to send a photo to Buck and ask them if it is the same BCCI 110 of 2005. I still tend to believe that Bucksway's knife is the same. But, I've been wrong before.

First, I think Bucksway can tell the difference between a 112 and a 110, and his brother can sure tell the difference between a 110 and a 112. Of course it's a minor point, but there is a difference in size. Here is another photo (not mine) of the knife.

Bert

[KLJ77]

Well...okay then, I stand corrected. My intent was not to imply you or Bucksway didn't know what you were talking about, but it seems it was an issue with you.

[bertl]

Well...okay then, I stand corrected. My intent was not to imply you or Bucksway didn't know what you were talking about, but it seems it was an issue with you.

The only issue is having correct identification. I think this is done.

[KLJ77]

Well...okay then, I stand corrected. My intent was not to imply you or Bucksway didn't know what you were talking about, but it seems it was an issue with you.

The only issue is having correct identification. I think this is done.

Yep....trust me, it WON'T happen again.

[Bucksway]

Pictures can be deceiving so don't take offense..I have collected 112's since 2007 and in fact won the single model award from the BCCI 3 times between 207 and 2014..Drop point 112's have a very small footprint before 2012 after which SFO's and LE's made them more available. Because S30V is a very rare steel in any 112 and is almost unheard of in a DP especially with a 'Custom' tang stamp this is very unusual Buck. The fact that it's been as mirror polished as much as S30V can be and has exceptional matching Stag along with a stamped S30V instead of a etch at first led me to believe it was a modified 500 blade that Chuck and Leroy were playing with in the 80's. A few are known all were fancy handles Rams horn, Stag ,MOP ect. Furthermore Nickel silver frame 112's are extremely rare pre 1990. This 112 is from Ken Burns estate and if anyone would have a special 112 or Buck of any kind..He would. It could be a BCCI fundraiser from 2004 or so. Or Ken could have had it done to his specks. I'll be displaying this in Atlanta this year if I can physically go..

[KLJ77]

Bucksway...I made an honest rookie mistake in posting the 110. I did not notice the difference in bolsters prior to posting. When you stated it was from a possible 2004-2005 BCCI fundraiser, I found the 110 under the 2005 newsletter and proceeded from there. In my haste in thinking I was 'helping' to identify the possible origins of your knife, I didn't' realize my error. And then someone else decided to butt in and make a huge issue out of this at my expense.

No offense taken from your point of view. Since this error on my part, I've come to discover that your expertise in 112 collecting is well known. My apologies to you for my mistake, and Thank You for being cordial in your reply.