Buck's 334 Millennium Trapper

David Martin

David Martin

Moderator
Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
19,520
I want to discuss Buck's Millennium 334 Jumbo Trapper.
This is one of the last knives Camillus made for Buck before closing their doors. I got this one from Stumps. Thank you. Which he posted in January.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ck-I-Picked-Up-At-A-Knife-Show…?highlight=334

I've been using it and enjoy it. This slip lock is not as heavy as a std. 110 and has 2 blades. I like the blade shapes which are 3 9/16" in length and of good width with decent belly. Handle material is smooth black delrin. With stainless spacers and brass liners. Plus, it has a lanyard hole. Something only this one and the 317 have among Buck slip-locks. But this model has only a front bolster whereas the 317 had a nickel front and rear bolster. It came with large finger grooves which cannot be used because the 2nd blade in the handle blocks them. Still, the drop point and Spey blades are handsome on this model. The blades are of 420HC steel as I visited with Mr. Phil Gibbs on this and he assured me that is what was used on the late model 334 Trapper. He went on to mention that Camillus heat treat incorporated a cryo-treatment at that time.
These knifes were offered through Smokey Mountain Knives as they appear in the 2000 catalog. Anyone else enjoy using theirs? DM
 
Good to hear you are getting some use out of it.
Did you clean it up and sand the bolsters even?
I think 300Bucks was probably right when he said yours was put together with left over parts.

I wonder why it didn't catch on….maybe because it's large enough to be a sheath knife?
 
Stump, I've been carefully working on it and peened the nickel pivot pin. (Which is a hard pin.) Creating a lip at the front bolsters like the pivot bolt the Buck Lights have. Then sanded any burrs off. But the pivot pin will not be set flush to the bolsters, just slightly proud. I believe this will create a stronger pivot/anchor pin. Then I've written some of our collectors who remodel some Buck slip-locks and have a shield making it's way to the Rio Grande. This insert will change the look of the handles a lot. Then with the use of my vise and flaring tool I was able to put a lip on the left side of the lanyard hole. The sleeve was really cut too short and should have been replaced. But I'll try to live with it as is. The blade spacers and liners at the spine need to be sanded smooth and flush. Which will give it more eye appeal. With a finished look & feel. Then I'm going to mirror polish the blades. And carry it in a 110 sheath and make use of it's lanyard hole. Somebody procured the parts and had enough know how to put it together but didn't get around to finishing it. Yes, this model is a good handful knife. Offering enough blade for the work I do. My thoughts on this handsome model. Thanks, DM
 
I'm guessing this knife was only offered a short time through Smokey Mountain. Then it was dropped from Buck's line.? DM
 
Last edited:
Well, guess what I did a forum search and here is one of the things I found. Now lets see if I can get photos to come also.... There were several good discussions about these models back in history. The main consideration was that this is a standard Camillus model. Several variations were produced by them. Try a search yourself.....300

Millennium Trapper
Stamped on tang; BUCK USA. Made by Camillus for Buck, offered for sale only by SMKW's.
Hence there is NO model number or date on tang. However, lets call it a model 334 Trapper.
As you can see in the case, year was 2000, came in two real flavors. Both were serial numbered on bolster. The bottom left is a Camillus closing, lets-assemble-all-parts for auction, knife. Note: odd bone color, no blade pad stamp, no serial number and a brass spring rivet instead of a nickle. Buyer beware. As I have heard said: They are big honkin' folding knives.
300Bucks
Buck334Trapper.jpg


This is another photo of same knives but note my wild-arse luck, consecutively numbered 0648 and 0649, bought at different times, different places.....why can't I buy a lottery ticket with that good luck.
DSCF1249-1.jpg


Note last edit date below

Last edited by 300Bucks; 12-12-2010 at 10:46 AM.
 
Last edited:
I noticed a telling clue about your Buck models. The first item that caught my eye was the jigged bone knives got a brass lanyard sleeve and the smooth delrin handles got a nickel sleeve. Also, something else I noticed is the delrin handled model has pins on a even horizontal line at mid-handle. And your jigged bone brass pin model does as well. Yet, the other jigged bone models do not. Their pins are staggered for some reason.? Yes, you were lucky gettting knives with consecutive serial numbers. My blades do not have the U.S.A. stamp on them. How many of these were made? Thank you for posting your attractive photos.
Yes, these are large knives but I like their size & heft. It makes me think these weren't expected to be carried. As they offered a clam box to display them instead of a leather sheath. That round brass emblem is of Buck's 2000 inverted pyramid. What's the wording below it? DM
 
Last edited:
Dave, the link is of the knife in unfinished shape. What does it look now? Want to see what you did to it. Thanks
 
It's cool that I got one of these last Camillus / Buck models. I carried a O.T. slip-lock for 15 years. From age 9 thru college. Since, then it's been a 110 or 500. But I'll carry this one. You're welcome, DM
 
David you are a bad influence. Can't help but love the slippies with lanyard holes. Sometimes even a blind squirrel finds a nut. A Camillus left over parts 334. Has no medallion, but I can easily remedy that. This will replace my bigger 317s as a "city" edc, Don't worry the 317s will be the backcountry edc.







 
gsea, great... I'm glad you got a 334 Millennium Trapper. It looks to be in very good shape. What handle material do you think it is? Mine has an additional hole drilled in the handle about 1" to the rear of the hammer emblem/ shield. Your's doesn't have this. It was for Buck's edge 2000 emblem. Which the inked on wording on the blade pertained to or commemorated. These are interesting models. I sheath carry mine. DM
 
It was mint never used and yes there is no additional hole for the Buck edge emblem. The handle seems to be the bone color that the etched version came in and not the bone color the other leftover parts knife came in. Just guessing maybe it is one of the first leftover parts knife and they still had a few of the original color bone scales that were getting ready to be finished (hence no hole and no medallion) and when they ran out they then found the other bone color to use. Who knows.
 
Ok, great, mint. I studied Craig's 3 models carefully. Theres some differences that make them 3 different models. Apparently the Millennium Trapper was offered 3 different ways. 1) one model has the jigged bone, with edge 2000 shield and silk screen '2000' on the blade. On this one the lower pivot pin is further back not in vertical alignment. Model 2) has black smooth delrin handles. With the edge 2000 emblem and the silk screen wording, '2000'. Plus, the middle pins are nickle in vertical alignment. Model 3) is like yours. It has jigged bone handles, no edge 2000 emblem and no silk screen wording, '2000'. Plus the pivot pins though in vertical alignment the bottom pivot pin is a larger brass pin and sets proud. All the rest of the pins set flush. My guess is that frame was drilled for a larger pin. Or one with a large head was used. Does any one have a photo of these knives offered in 2000 in a Smokey Mountain Knife catalog? Or a A.G. Russell catalog?
 
David I do not have that particular page. The Guru of SMKWs catalogs is Chuck Reed. If you don't have his email I will send the last one I have to you. 300
 
Thank you. However, I do not. The reason I would like to look at this offering from the catalog is, I suspect only 2 models are shown in the catalog photo. The one gsea has may not be shown. DM
 
Oh, well I am going to bet that it is not shown. Bet you a nice cold, hot weather soft drink. Those came out into the market before Camillus closed down. I cannot remember, an I did not write down where I got it and what it cost. (Everyone - Don't do that, write it all down somewhere). Your knife and some I saw in various kinds of finish after the factory auction were made different. Bet, you can go over to the Camillus forum and show a photo(s) and at least two guys will have your answers. I am going to guess, that they just used all of the circle unrouted jigged slabs for the scales and his may have just lost his shield . Also remember Camillus sold another companies version of this same knife with jigged scales. Didn't they show this over in Camillus forum with a deer head emblem on the scale. Trying to pin some stuff down right at the end of the Camillus factory closure can be frustrating. 300
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top