Camillus 695, 696 & 697 -- differences?

Shepherd Jim

Shepherd Jim

Joined
Mar 21, 2010
Messages
174
I've been searching around and THINK I've learned that the Models 696 and 697 were very similar -- the 697 being made to "military specs" and the 696 being the "civilian version."

How can you tell a 696 from a 697 ?? All the Camillus rigging knives on eBay are billed as "Navy" or "military" without any specific backup to those claims.

I think I read somewhere in BF that the 695 was somewhat smaller??

Some of the Buck collectors have begun to put together a timeline of the Buck 315 "Yachtsman" versions. Of course, that Buck rigger was made by Camillus. So, did the Camillus 69# follow the same evolution?
 
They were all the same size. The 696 was the smooth black handle with plain sheepfoot blade. The 697 was the same knife except the sheepfoot was serrated. The 697 was the government model with the brown delrin handle and bolsters. Hope that helps!
 
RickR said:
They were all the same size. The 696 was the smooth black handle with plain sheepfoot blade. The 697 was the same knife except the sheepfoot was serrated. The 697 was the government model with the brown delrin handle and bolsters. Hope that helps!
Click to expand...

Hey Rick! I think it might be a bit more complicated than how you lay it out.

One of my sons gifted me a new Camillus rigger sometime around 1999 --- it has the smooth black scales and a half-serrated sheepfoot blade --the serrated half of the blade being that closest to the tang/hinge.

...and, I just bought a Camillus rigger on eBay which has a straight sheepfoot blade. Its handle is made from the brown jigged plastic.

I'm wondering if, like with so many mfgrs and models, the specifics changed over time -- the 697 of the 1980's might have morphed into the 697 of the '90s.
 
I dug out a couple af Camillus for pictures this morning. Not sure of the ages. Both are Delrin handles.

cami_165.jpg

165 pattern - 3 3/8'" Stockman
 
Jim,
The 696 was made with a full serration for a VERY short period of time and then switched to the partial serration. The 697 was made to the government specs and sold to the government as well as the public.
 
My friend 300Bucks from the Yahoo BuckKnifeCollectors group recently put together the following "timeline in development" re the Buck 315. I'm pasting this here because all the Buck "Yachtsman" Model 315s were made by Camillus under contract. Buck offered them in their catalogs from 1972 -1997.

I'm wondering how much parallel there might be between the development history of the Buck 315 and the Camillus 695/696/697.
Did Buck pretty much accept whatever was the then current Camillus "rigging style" model or did they dictate to Camillus what they wanted? Who was the chicken and who was the egg?

  • 1. Metal Bolsters, Tang stamped - Made in USA, 315 Opposite, Solid backspring -- 1972-1974
  • 2. Metal Bolsters, Tang stamped - BUCK, 315, USA -- 1974-1985
  • 3. Metal Bolsters, Tang stamped - BUCK, 315, USA Partical serrated blade. ( I do not have one or have even handled one)
  • 4. Metal Bolsters, Tang Stamped - BUCK, 315, USA, Split style backspring (I have not seen one, not sure they exist)
  • 5. No bolsters,SOLID springs, scales - no rivets , BUCK hot pressed into scale, Tang - BUCK,315,USA (Have only seen a photo) 1986?-1988?
  • 6. No bolsters, SPLIT spings, scales - no rivets showing. Tang - BUCK,315,USA -- 1986-1988
  • 7. No bolster, split springs, spring RIVETS showing, Tang - BUCK,315, USA -- 1988-1998
Jim
 
With the exception of the blade stamp, the 315 Buck and the 695 Camillus are identical. No special parts (that I'm aware of) were made specifically for the Buck knives.
 
RickR said:
With the exception of the blade stamp, the 315 Buck and the 695 Camillus are identical. No special parts (that I'm aware of) were made specifically for the Buck knives.
Click to expand...

Hey Rick!

Can you be a bit more specific about the timeframe you're reffing?

I know that the "early 2000's" Camillus rigger (not ready yet to 'affix' a model number to it) my son gave me and the last available Buck 315 were identical ...except for the tang stamp. That's the one with the all black plastic (plastic? Zytel? phenolic?) scales and a set of split springs.

Were there earlier -- 1960's -- Camillus-stamped riggers with nickel bolsters that "matched" the Buck 315's of that time? I haven't seen any photos of such yet.
------------------- CORRECTION (maybe) --------------------------
I have seen Camillus riggers with nickel bolsters -- I HAVE one!! ...but I'm still very unclear about when and what Camillus was making and offering stamped with their own name. The nickel bolstered rigging folder I have appears to be a newer knife than solid black scaled rigger that my son gave me.
 
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thawk said:
I dug out a couple af Camillus for pictures this morning. Not sure of the ages. Both are Delrin handles. ....<snip>...
Click to expand...

BTW -- thanks thawk for showing off the Delrin scales. I was mis-thinking that the solid, black "plastic" scales on the riggers under discussion were Delrin.

Jim
 
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