Buck 315 Rigging knife

MIKE MACINTOSH

MIKE MACINTOSH

Joined
Mar 31, 2006
Messages
823
Hey guys
I dont often get over here but I'am hopeing you kind folks can help me find the answer to a question.
I just recieved a like new Buck 315 yatchsman with nickel silver bolsters, an online search sayes these knives were made for Buck Knives by Camillus Cutlery. my question is what steel was used to make these blades. my searching so far has turned up nothing. thanks in advance for any help.
Mike
 
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I have a copy of the work order and it says the blade was 440A stainless and the spike was 420 stainless. The spikes were purchased from E. D. Clapp Mfg. Co. Inc. Camillus manufactured the blades and just put the spikes on.
 
mbjannusch
Thank you for your help. 440A was not what i expected,its certainly not my first choice in blade steel by a long shot. but it must have worked for it's intended purpose. Camillus had 3 versions that i've found, Buck had two more. I belive they made the Yachtsman model for other companys as well.
BU315NSB.jpgBUCK YACHTSMAN #315.jpg
 
Matt must have got busy, so I will finish this up.

The steel is the steel, it was in common use by Camillus at the time in most models made for Buck and for many others.

The 315 Yachtsman was made ONLY by camillus and never by Buck itself. They rescaled a couple but never made them. Cami would send them in boxes of 10 or 20 and Buck would rebox them for sale.

There were 7 or 8 versions (that is collectors versions). Or you could just lump them into major versions and say 6. Your bolstered version came in two variations. One says BUCK, Made In U.S.A. on tang and the other says BUCK, 315, U.S.A. The other pictured displayed is the 'Barehead' or bolslterless version. They came in one spring variations and split spring variation. The earliest barehead had hidden spring pins and the last had BUCK hot stamped on the handle. Cami made there own barehead version also.

They are a serviceable sailors knife, I believe the Coast Guard use to issue all new recruits one. The models with bolsters came with a black leather flap over belt sheath, with 315 stamped in the leather on the back.

300Bucks

Seminar5PDF-1.jpg
 
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300Bucks
Thanks for info on the 315. Mine is the second version. BUCK, 315, U.S.A. like I said earlier 440A is not my favorite steel but I like this knife. it should provide years of service if a little care is taken on my part
Mike
 
MIKE MACINTOSH said:
300Bucks
Thanks for info on the 315. Mine is the second version. BUCK, 315, U.S.A. like I said earlier 440A is not my favorite steel but I like this knife. it should provide years of service if a little care is taken on my part
Mike
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Mike I think your knife is probably the most common version. Next being the Buck Made in the USA, and the barhead is a bit harder to come by. I have never seen the Hot stamped version at auction yet, But if I do, I won't tell...:)
 
Mike,

This design was created in the ole sailing days. The blade shape and marlin spike were specialized tools used by folks that needed to deal with rope work. (A marlin spike by itself is sometimes called a 'Fid'.) Sailors knives are still made by other compaines in many forms, some quite fancy. A bunch of years ago I had a Camillus model and thought it would make a good canoe and kayaking knife. Not so, you need a fixed blade for its access while you are struggling for breath being buffeted by waves (note the sound of persoanal peril, I mean experience) ...... Your 315 would also be a good 'Scout' knife which would come in handy for knot tying and lashing together woods projects. I have talked to a couple fo people that liked them for use in the hobby of rope weaving, one especially made rope hammocks. Here is a photo of a fancy over the shoulder knife safety rope for high wave sailors. The bail on the 315 can be used to turn threaded shackle pins but with too much force will bend and become loose.
Some folks will braid a rope on the bail several inches long and let it hang out of there pocket or sheath for easy access...Good luck
300Bucks

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Buck315Lanyard.jpg
 
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Mike, thanx for starting this thread.
mbj and 300, thanx for all the info.
I got one of the bolstered 315's a while back because it reminded me of my time in the Coast Guard. While doing my time aboard ships these were allways seen hanging from a beltloop of the Boatswains mates. During my time as a deckhand, then later as the cook I was usually the go to guy for sharpening....I allways kind of had a knack.
most of the time a lanyard was braided onto the shackle with a brass clip and a monkeys fist... like the bottom picture of 300's barehead but with 3 wraps.
I know camillus made a fully serrated version, was that version ever offered by Buck?
 
There may have been a few that escaped Cami with Buck stamps but were not a 'catalog' model. I have photo somewhere of partial Cami serrated. If there is one it will be a barehead. Besides Matt and I there are about 3 other guys besides you that like these to work on a collection......If anyone finds one I would appreciate a photo...... I also appreciate the stories of how they were used. Eventually a history for the BCCI website will get written and a couple of 'Sea Stories' might be good to include.
300/ch
 
I went to a Swap meet( rummage sale) a few weeks ago and found a Camillus version. It was rusted pretty bad but I thought I'd pick it up. The owner wasn't around and I got tirred of waiting. Maybe it will be there this weekend, YA RIGHT.
 
sitflyer said:
Mike, thanx for starting this thread.
mbj and 300, thanx for all the info.
I got one of the bolstered 315's a while back because it reminded me of my time in the Coast Guard. While doing my time aboard ships these were allways seen hanging from a beltloop of the Boatswains mates. During my time as a deckhand, then later as the cook I was usually the go to guy for sharpening....I allways kind of had a knack.
most of the time a lanyard was braided onto the shackle with a brass clip and a monkeys fist... like the bottom picture of 300's barehead but with 3 wraps.
I know camillus made a fully serrated version, was that version ever offered by Buck?
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Yes I have one fully serrated.
 
I've heard 440a is a worse steel than the other 440's in all areas except corrosion resistance. So it makes sense for a marine application. Rigging knives always were folders with flat or rounded blade ends. You climbed into the rigging with them. If the knife fell, or you fell, you wanted it folded. They were only opened when in actual use. Flat or round end was, again, for if the knife fell or you fell. You did not want it to stick into a crew mate or for you to land on a point. They were for cutting rope, so no point was necessary. This knife has a more pointed blade than was traditionally used. Divers use fixed blades in case they get tangled and need to free themselves. But divers never fall out of the rigging.
 
Pondoro2310 said:
I've heard 440a is a worse steel than the other 440's in all areas except corrosion resistance. So it makes sense for a marine application. Rigging knives always were folders with flat or rounded blade ends. You climbed into the rigging with them. If the knife fell, or you fell, you wanted it folded. They were only opened when in actual use. Flat or round end was, again, for if the knife fell or you fell. You did not want it to stick into a crew mate or for you to land on a point. They were for cutting rope, so no point was necessary. This knife has a more pointed blade than was traditionally used. Divers use fixed blades in case they get tangled and need to free themselves. But divers never fall out of the rigging.
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o_Oo_Oo_Oo_Oo_Oo_O:confused:
 
I was just looking at a Mastodon Ivory from the old Custom shop on BCCI Buck collectors FaceBook page..Pinkesh looking. It had a odd blade etch but not the scrimshaw..
 
bucksway said:
I was just looking at a Mastodon Ivory from the old Custom shop on BCCI Buck collectors FaceBook page..Pinkesh looking. It had a odd blade etch but not the scrimshaw..
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Clint, the one on the BCCI page looks like an over run that was not Scrimmed from the below issue.




Here is the ordering history for the above knife
https://books.google.com/books?id=APM1AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA5-PA36&lpg=RA5-PA36&dq=Buck+americas+cup+knife&source=bl&ots=fcuPdpQye4&sig=Tzt7WPnDOFBSgNjyXvkscHCGW2U&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjTyKzig8DVAhXHqlQKHfNpAh0Q6AEIKzAB#v=onepage&q=Buck americas cup knife&f=false

JB
 
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Any of Bucks scrimshawed knifes has always got my attention ..There is a artist named 'Natalie' who was active in the early 80's who did 2 112's I have. In my research I found a advertising in a Yachting magazine that she would scrim the name of your boat on a 315 with Ivory micarta but after that it was a dead end. If anyone here has a knife scrimed by her or any information please post it here. I know of only 1 other 112 done in 1984 of former president Reagan..
 
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