Buck 315 value and history sought.

S

Stainz

Joined
Jun 24, 2007
Messages
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I finally held a 315 Yachtsman at a gun show this AM. The dealer's usual spiel of 'such a deal' and 'I could get more at The Blade Show' followed his insistence that it was a 'first production' and well worth his $50 price. It was in VG+ shape with a good sheath, but no box. It's date code - a single dot to the left of #315 - indicated '74-'80 production by the B.K. Date Code sheet from BCCI.

I know folks want other things at gun shows... black rifles and ammo! Man, you couldn't walk there - I've been a member of The A.G.C.A. for years - never that crowded. Knives were not what folks came for, however.

What is the production history of the 315 - and when did Camillus make them?? Thanks for any & all help.

Stainz

PS Should I return and buy it for $50??



Is that a fair price?
 
The 315 Yachtsman was introduced in 1972. thats really all I know about it, but I have seen them go for more then $50.00 on e-bay.
 
Stainz,

AS I have gotten older and wiser, I hate doing cost estimates. HB is right on the ebay issue.
NIBs, slick looking will get raised up to what he offered. What about sheath. Black leather with 315 stamped on back.

The dot by the number is interesting, I wish you had a picture of it.
None of mine have one, and I have to say I have never seen it on any I looked at. To my limited knowledge it doesn't mean anything I know about.

There are seven versions of 315s. About five you actually see once in a while. Was this one with bolster or without. Did the tang say Made In USA or BUCK 315 USA. Was the backspring one piece or two piece. These are the things to look for.

Made in USA tang is the oldest.....because your a regular here. I will step on my tongue....

50$ is a OK price if it is slick looking, especially if you have box and/or sheath. Does it look like any of these ?
300Bucks

DSCF1563_edited-2.jpg
 
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I had one of those I bought back in the 70's. Long MIA :(
Always wondered what the swivel gizmo at the end of the handle on the blade side was about? Can someone educate me on that?

Stainz...I'd pay $50 or more for one in great shape. Then again, I also invested in Lucent Technology stock. Sadly, that knife is worth more than all of that stock I had. But, I have stayed at a "Holiday Inn" ;)
 
BA,
Old Salts, would or have some type of lanyard which they would attach or clip to the loop. They range from from the first picture to short cord weavings that form a ball on a short woven lanyard that would hang out of the pocket. This weaving is to while away the be-calmed hours at sea and is a sort of studly badge of sea honor, so I am told.

I would need the first one pictured to secure my knife, as I would be leaning over the rail feeding the fish my hardtack and grog. 300Bucks

FancyBraid.jpg

Buck315Lanyard.jpg
 
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Well, not having much cash left for a return visit this AM, I went to Evil-bay after posting that - and 'won' a 'NIB' 315 for $51 inc s/h. I had to take the CFO to lunch and then her favorite 'collectibles' store, as she had accompanied me through the gun show. Sadly, said store is going under - and we bought three display cases for my 'mad cash'. Now I have to find a way to get them home, of course. Even sadder still - they are for her goodies, sob, not for knives!

I cannot remember the knife's construction & labels. That dot may have been crud - or a scratch (It wasn't in 'great' condition - and the lighting was poor.). His only Boker Tree Brand jigged red bone Congress, another very recent interest, was $65 - no box - and so worn you couldn't see the tree emblem on the medallion. I just bought a brand new one from an Evil-bay dealer for a whole lot less delivered. That gun show vendor's prices weren't good - and the huge crowd there was really buying - black firearms, ammo, and reloading supplies - not knives.

I remember seeing the boatswain's mates on my ship (USS Fulton, AS-11; 12/69-11/72) carrying very similar knives. If Buck didn't make them until '70-'72 - who did? Were they Camillus knives? Thanks for everything - especially those pictures.

Stainz

PS 300 - it looked like the one in the lower right, as does the one I have coming from Evil-bay - which has a box. Did they always have the 315 numbered sheath?
 
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I just picked up a mint with box and papers 315 this weekend for 42.50 at an Auction. It is marked "Made in USA". No sheath as the box only had room for a knife in it. Anybody know what years the Made in USA ones were made? It also has the one piece backspring.
 
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Dang,
I should have known someone would want dates with pics. Aways happens, always. Someday there will be a history on the website and prices on these can go up too........

Oldest first
Nickle bolsters, Made In USA, 315 on reverse tang 1972-1974
Nickle bolsters, BUCK,315,USA 1974-1985
All black scale, no spring rivets, BUCK,315,USA 1986-1988
All black scale, 2 spring rivets, BUCK,315,USA 1988-1998
Same version, split back springs,BUCK,315,USA ???1988-1998
Maybe that period will be figured out by time history is written
ALL 315 series are Camillus contracted for BUCK. Some were rescaled in Buck Custom shop for individuals.

300Bucks
 
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300Bucks said:
Dang,
I should have known someone would want dates with pics. Aways happens, always. Someday there will be a history on the website and prices on these can go up too........

Oldest first
Nickle bolsters, Made In USA, 315 on reverse tang 1972-1974
Nickle bolsters, BUCK,315,USA 1974-1985
All black scale, no spring rivets, BUCK,315,USA 1986-1988
All balck scale, 2 spring rivets, BUCK,315,USA 1988-1998
Same version, split back springs,BUCK,315,USA ???1988-1998
Maybe that period will be figured out by time history is written
ALL 315 series are Camillus contracted for BUCK. Some were rescaled in Buck Custom shop for individuals.

300Bucks
Click to expand...

Thanks 300,
Great info, as for the price going up it is just a matter of time before these 315's will be through the roof. :)
 
"...Always wondered what the swivel gizmo at the end of the handle on the blade side was about?"

Its a shackle key and is used on the thumbscrew end of the pin. Very handy when working on light cable rigging, esp in the cold.
 
The evil-bay illness peaked... the one that may be here Saturday has nickel silver bolsters. Yep, that implies I 'won' another one. There is another one about to be on it's way... a black one. I should have bought the one at the show last weekend... then this evil-bay buying spree wouldn't have happened. It's an illness... like gambling. Sadly, my mad money, enough for a Vantage Pro, went for the 315... next month's mad money goes to the IRS.

The sad news, as I found out a few posts back, is the 315s aren't even Bucks!

Stainz
 
Its stamped so right on the tang.....warranty is still same. Plastic scales all the same.....It just depends on where you draw the line.

Which 300 series do you "not" want me to talk about next time so I don't lead you astray.........300Bucks
 
Yes, And I hold my shield at my side and take off my helmet when a picture of it passes by.(The semi-holy grail) Have only seen one alive and one in picture. Serrated blades pretty tuff also....don't have one of those either..

300bucks
 
They both arrived today. The 'NIB' with nickel silver bolsters and Buck 301-style scales may have been unused - but it was tarnished. The second was black with spring rivets and a bit shinier. Both perked up with some elbow grease and Semichrome paste on a few cotton swipes, with FP-10, a gun oil/lube used to free the innards.

My reaction is simple - they are larger than I recalled - certainly larger than a 301. Neat knives - I'm happy. The NIB included a nice box and instruction sheets, but no sheath. The black one include an 'original sheath' - a 112 label. As said, I am happy. The Marlinspike 'lock back', or loop/bail, is silver in one - more monel-like in the black one.

Thanks for the help.

Stainz

PS Did I 'kill the value' by polishing and removing the 'patina'??
 
No. I myself do not consider SS to have "patina" the way carbon steels do. It is tarnish...

I believe I am correct, but cannot recall by memory, there is a certain date that bolsters and hardware on most of the 300 series switched from nickle silver to SS. But with odd parts it is no-telling what Camillus ended up doing.........

300Bucks
 
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You asked! Here they are, post cleanup:

IMG_3376.jpg


In the box/sheath they came with. The box is for a 315 - so no sheath must have come with it!

IMG_3377.jpg


For scale, a Victorinox 'Skipper' SAK - with skeletonized Marlinspike - and my 19 yr old 301.

IMG_3379.jpg


Keep in mind everything has been cleaned, oiled, polished, etc. No Neatsfoot, so I bummed the leather cleaner and wipes for my wife's car ('05 SRT-4... I drive the '05 Jeep Liberty...). Thankfully, SS and nickel silver - and the scales - picked up nicely with the Semichrome. I should have taken 'before' pix - they really looked bad.

Stainz
 
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