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Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2012 2:39 am
by Colonel26
Here is my story. I copied it from the post I made on the Chinese knife forum in response to a question from Old Hunter. Here's the copied portion.

OH, I think I can help you out here.

Disclaimer: I don't buy chicom knives or shotguns personally but I wound up with one anyway

Now that that's out of the way so I don't get flamed, let me explain. I don't know about the exact two that you mention, but I can tell you about the differences between the 301 USA stockman and the 371 China stockman. My wife gets me and the boys identical knives every year for Christmas. After hearing me talk about Buck quality and reading their company philosophy she decided that this past Christmas it would be Buck instead of Case as usual, fine by me. She didn't know that they had a chicom line so she bought what she thought was a good deal on a large stockman, the 371. I was a little disappointed at first, but since it was a gift and it was from the wife I decided to pack it edc for a while and give it an honest shakedown (I was curious too). Fit and finish were great, the springs were great, it was sharp right out of the box, and I couldn't knock the product at all. I carried it, I used it and it was a fine knife. The edge held up well for stainless and it resharpened easily. As a matter of fact it was so good that I thought the USA version had to be perfect so I bought one. Not so great.

The springs on the USA version were weak, the nail nicks looked like they had been chiseled out there were so many tool marks in them, and the blades just looked rough. I was far from impressed. Other than having slightly better metal the USA version was a looser all the way around. So I sent an email to Buck. I told them very politely point by point why the USA version was inferior to the chicom knife. I ended by telling them how saddened I was that this was the case that the USA version of their own knife wasn't as good as the communist Chinese version.

A couple of days later the head of US manufacturing for Buck emailed wanting to speak to me. I called him back and he addressed each issue point by point telling me where they had messed up on each item of my list. He had been to China to help set up Buck's plant over there and to teach them how to build knives to Buck's specifications. He told me that you are more likely to get an unsatisfactory US knife than a Chinese knife because they can afford to simply throw them away if they aren't perfect whereas in the US they cannot afford to do so unless they are really bad. He told me that he's seen them throw away knives that he would have to sell.

In the end they made me a new 301 special in his words just to show me what they could really build. He sent it to me no questions asked and simply told me to send him the bad one when I got around to it so they could study it. He also had me send in all my other Buck knives for their spa treatment at no charge too! My new 371 is one of the best quality knives I own and I don't even like stainless. It is an amazing knife.

Moral of the story, as a product the Chicom knife will probably be a very good one but not have as good metal as the USA version. The USA version will be a good knife as long as it wasn't made on Monday morning or Friday afternoon. If you do get one that is unsatisfactory, Buck will make it right. If the chicom version had the metal in it that the USA version has, they'd put the USA version out of business. And that hurts me to say that.

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 12:04 am
by garddogg56
huh ,that an interesting story,at least they took care of you ,now on the other hand I've never had a problem with a Buck knife but then I only buy what I can touch Never by mail I own one china Buck( long story) and I won't give it pocket time just feels cheep .I keep it only because it was a gift or I would donate it to the Salvation Army ::shrug::

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 8:17 pm
by Colonel26
The quality of my 301 rivals any of the newer knives I own and surpasses many of what should be premium brands. I love the one I have now. The first one not so much. I'd take my Buck 301 any day over my Queen "premium" Stockman.

I guess it was just the luck of the draw on that first one.

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 1:07 am
by garddogg56
Colonel It's a crap shoot at times ::shrug:: My favorite is a Camillus made cadet I want to get a new 301 and a solitare in yeller ::nod::

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 1:32 am
by Colonel26
Do you have one of the newer style 301's with the triple back springs? I really like it, not having the blades canted, and man is it smooth. It's much smoother than some of my much more expensive knives.

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 1:39 am
by garddogg56
Don't have one yet my 303 is made by Camillus1974 and is a great knife I hope not to get disapointed in the newer 301's

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 1:51 am
by garddogg56
here are some of my more modern new additions to my Buck family ::groove:: I have Caleb to thank for the Avid ::handshake::

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 11:34 pm
by 313 Mike
I've got a 2004 Buck usa 301 with the three backsprings and it is turning out to be a great knife, gets smoother the more I use it...definititely a winner in my book. The more I carry it the more I like it....

Mike

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 1:29 am
by Just Plain Dave
I have an unknown year 303 USA (Likely mid 2000) that a buddy gave me. I have never really gone for the sort of grind Buck puts on these.

I can't get it to slice paper QUITE as well as some other knives, but it is reasonably sharp.

A little fat with the three backsprings.....

Slant bolsters are kinda nice....

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2012 1:19 am
by garddogg56
I've been heming and hawing over a watch-pocket knife for work ::shrug:: been going between a 55 or a 503 so the winner is :shock:

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 12:46 am
by Old Hunter
Had a bit of a dry spell recently, been tied up vacationing (working!) and with real work. Finally stopped by an antique & collectibles store I have been driving past for years - the guy had a decent selection of knives - picked up this pre-86 Buck 303. I can check that one off my list - an older 303 has been on it for awhile. Got a decent price per looking over e-bay - right in the average, but this one is now in my pocket. I like the fact that it is nearly new, but not mint - don't have to do the "should I EDC it or should I preserve it" debate!

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 1:34 am
by garddogg56
MAN OH thats clean ::woot::

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 2:00 am
by Just Plain Dave
Someday I GOTTA get me one of them older flat ground Bucks!!!

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 10:24 am
by Old Hunter
Dogg, I'm pretty excited about this find - a bucket list knife - looking forward to adding it to my EDC rotation.

Mike, I'm with you - the modern Buck blade grind doesn't do a thing for my sense of style. I do plan to add one with yellow handles to my collection, both to support Buck and to have a modern Buck mfg example, probably go with a 301 for that knife whenever I add it. Variations is what makes this collecting hobby so interesting (fun) to me.

The other feature I like about the old model 303 is the fact that it is built with two springs instead of the three springs Buck uses on the new models - more classic in my opinion.

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 2:03 am
by Colonel26
That's a dandy OH! I like the looks of it a lot. What size are those 303 bucks?

I love my new 301, especially the three back springs. No it isn't traditional, and I'm usually a sucker for traditional, but it's just so smooth and works so good. I got the dyamond wood. Get one I predict you'll fall in love.

But those pics surely do give me a hankering for o e of them 303's.

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2012 10:36 am
by Old Hunter
My NOS Buck 303 measures 3-3/8" OAL (closed). If you lay it next to an Old Timer OT33 or OT34 it is virtually identical in size. I carried this knife yesterday in both jeans (all day for work) and in shorts (after I got home). In the jeans I had to check a time or two to ensure it was still in my left front pocket - in the shorts you can feel it moving when you walk, but not twisting like a bigger knife. The size is very nice in length, not too long, and the blades have enough width and heft to be more useful than a penknife - my only use yesterday was in using the tip of the master clip blade in prying up the paper cover on the adhesive to seal a Priority Mail shipping box - worked good! I will add a new Buck eventually - yellow handles in either a 301 Stockman or Solitaire - all my Buck pocketknives (except one 309 Whittler) are Schrade or Camillus made. I have noticed in pictures that the early Buck mfg 300 series knives (late 80's and early 90's) have the flat grind - I think I will try to find a few of those to add to my variations.

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 6:53 pm
by trey
I just got this and I really like it.

Image

Image

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 1:46 am
by garddogg56
Man Trey I like that too is it a flipper? that color would be perfict for the boys for hunting ::nod::

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 2:26 am
by 313 Mike
Yeah Trey that is a nice one! I like the jimping on both ends of the handle, nice touch. Also like the orange camo, I've taken to putting a strip of orange duct tape on the handle of some of my camping hunting knives to make them easier to find in low light conditions, on the forest floor, or in a crowded gear bag. Does that open up just with the thumbstuds? What is the model number?

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 5:14 pm
by 268bull
A 526 C lockback Scout knife. I bought the knife at an estate sale, Buck makes a quality knife, and the price they were asking, I couldn't pass it up. ::nod:: Bull

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 1:20 am
by Old Hunter
Stopped by Dick's Sporting Goods in Jacksonville NC this past Tuesday to see what new hunting season items had arrived (deer stands, duck decoys, dove shells, etc.) and saw a pretty nice display of Buck Knives (Gerber too). I was looking at a Buck 119 Special when I noticed this 113 Ranger that was on sale; it looked like an open 112 in the package, but it is a fixed blade (nice, short but wide drop point) - nice skinning style with a 112 style handle. I haven't opened it up yet, might save it for one of the great-nephews (if one shows enough "stick to it" when deer hunting with me this season). - or I might open it up and skin one with it myself - time will tell. Old Hunter ('bout ready for some hunting too!)

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 1:31 am
by garddogg56
WOW OH as you know I'm a 112 man that is beautiful ::woot:: What is the blade lenth??Is there a sheath??? ::smirk::

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 1:42 am
by trey
The orange knife is a Bantam. It is marked 284 (or 264) on the blade. It is the small Bantam.
It opens easily with the thumb studs, it isn't a flipper. I really like it. Can't beat it for $17.00.

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 1:49 am
by Old Hunter
Dogg, there is a black leather sheath (it is in the big blister package, behind the knife). I haven't measured it, guess the blade to be no more than 3" - it is out in my shop, will go back out in the morning and measure the blade for you. Let's see if I can find a link on Buck's website to this knife: http://www.buckknives.com/index.cfm?eve ... uctid=3960

0113BRS-B
Ranger Skinner
Overview Tech Specs
Originally created as a limited edition model, the 113 RangerĀ® Skinner is a stylish and performance oriented combination of Buck?s famous RangerĀ® and the classic Buck VanguardĀ®. Streamlined to be smaller, yet designed to be effective, this knife will get any job done in the field. The classic look, ergonomic handle and ease-of-use design guarantee that you will come to rely upon it. This design fills the need for a sturdy, compact knife with a versatile skinning blade.

Made in the USA

Blade Length: 3 1/8" (7.9 cm)
Blade Material: 420HC
Carry System: Black leather sheath
Fixed Blade: Yes
Handle Material: Macassar Ebony Dymondwood
Quantity: Yes
Weight: 5.2 oz. (148 g)
$84.00
Currently Not Available


Buck's website is saying $84.00 - Dick's sale price was $49.97 plus sales tax (cost me $53 and some change). Buck is also saying Currently not Available - that must be because they have shipped truckloads of them to all the Dick's stores - the one I was in had at least a dozen out on display.

Re: Whats your newest addition to your Buck family and why?

Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 12:44 pm
by Old Hunter
Dogg, just for you buddy I went ahead and opened the Buck package up this morning (like I really needed a hard push to do that ::ds:: )! The blade measures just slightly over 3" (3-1/16", but that depends on exactly where you set the ruler with the curved bolster/guard). In my hand the grip is medium sized (I wear XL work gloves), it feels just right with three fingers wrapped around the grip and the pointer finger on the top of the blade - the way you would wield the knife when skinning a deer. I picked through the knives on display at Dick's to find one with "streaky" wood, light and dark streaks that give it character - most of them were very even like the 110 and 112 grips. I think you will like this knife - I am looking forward to skinning out a whitetail to give it a try. Old Hunter

Ps The leather sheath fits the knife nice and tightly; it has a plastic liner sewn into the leather, down in the sheath to protect the stitching from being cut - the knife fits tightly and I think will be secure when carried in the woods.