695 Rigger with TEXTURED handles ??

Shepherd Jim

Shepherd Jim

Joined
Mar 21, 2010
Messages
174
Just when I think I have a small niche of knife knowledge tied down tightly in my mind ....

I recently purchased a "late model" Camillus 695 Spike Knife -- NIB, complete with a "Silver Sword" box. Unlike ALL the other versions of this knife I have -- that'd be ones with tang stamps reading "Camillus" as well as "Buck" and "Ka-Bar" -- THIS knife's black composition (Delrin?) handles are textured -- NOT glass smooth like how you're used to seeing 695's, AND 696's, for that matter.

It's not a great picture but you can make out the texture in the photo attached of the tang stamp close up. The texture is perfectly executed -- definitely not something that a previous owner did in his home shop with his wife's emery board. :rolleyes:

Does anyone have any knowledge about this variation??

Camillus_695_textured02.jpg


Camillus_695_textured.jpg
 
Yes, that was the latest version made. The textured handle allowed for fewer steps in processing and therefore, held the price point. The Silver Sword boxes were nothing more than using up old boxes that had no use. Again, a last ditch effort to save some money.
 
RickR said:
Yes, that was the latest version made....<snip>...
Click to expand...

Thanks Rick! Would you have any definitive info as to when Camillus intro'd the change from smooth to textured?

...failing that, what would be your best guess re the change.

One of these days I'm going to work up a multi-mfgr "Rigger Timeline"
 
Hey edbeau!

The last catalog (2006 Dealers') was not very specific about the handles and the pictures of the 695 and 696 were too small to be able to tell if the Delrin was glassy smooth or textured.

Going a bit further back (2003, 04) the catalogs specifically state "Smooth Black Delrin"

...though, I know from personal experience, once "money worries" settle in, anything goes :grumpy:-- the company would probably not have thought twice about re-tooling and producing textured handled riggers if their financial survival might have depended on it -- even if they had just sent out beautiful color catalogs showing smooth handles.
 
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