Parallel Timelines?? -- The Buck 315 and the Camillus 695/696/697

Shepherd Jim

Shepherd Jim

Joined
Mar 21, 2010
Messages
174
I'm probably committing two or three heinous "forum crimes" by pasting a post I made over in the Camillus Collectors thread here in "Bucks". I'm just curious about Camillus' production of THE rigging knife for Buck and as well as for several other companies.

--------------- posted earlier this am in the Camillus area
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
 
i would guess it is one in the same time line for both
and likely had input from both camps.

some how i recall a knife like this with a liner lock on the main blade ?X?X?X?
some how i thought for years it was a Buck 317
but have never seen another
did Camillus make one with a LL ?
has any one ever seen a Buck with one?
 
110 Dave said:
i would guess it is one in the same time line for both
and likely had input from both camps.
...<snip>...
Click to expand...

I don't know about that. I have VERY NEW looking Camillus rigger with nickel bolsters ...more new than the no-bolster Camillus I have with solid black plastic scales which I KNOW was new in the late 1990's or thereabouts.
 
BS'er - person who gives there opinion with little knowledge or imformation on subject.

With that said, here's my opinion since this thread is about a knife model that only a few people are interested in and I will shoot breeze with Jim at least.

MY OPINION, is that - as Dave and Jim both suggest it was a knife shared by Buck and Camillus. Cami made some of these with their name on them and other folks besides Buck. Buck was wanting to have a full line of folding knives to enter and capture a share of the market, Camillus was already making them so build it with Buck shape,colors and stamps and instant Buck knife. During that era, old days now, the USA knife companies were producing knives that were most generally of good craftsman quality across the board. I am sure Buck watched quality control to insure their name and their warranty was kept to a high standard even though it was made off-site and was not their total design.

I have a Camillus barehead let me find it and I will stick in photo of the 'twins"
300Bucks
 
...this thread is about a knife model that only a few people are interested in...
Click to expand...

This is what we need!!!! More threads like this one!!!

Maybe if we could get more people interested in more and more unpopular and obscure and unwanted knives the prices on 110s wouldn't keep shooting up!!!

:D
 
There you go, thinking about yourself. But ole Jim and I will be in deep coinage if we rescue you from your CHOSEN fate by making ours more desireous ....ha Three of the versions on the 315 I have only SEEN once in many moons. I let someone in Tenn. outbid on one and the others were only photos to tempt my soul.
300Bucks

Working on 311 history now, will be up soon. Here is a photo till I can find the other one. The ones without bolsters are called 'Bareheads." Someone told me that a bolstered version was issued to each Coast Guard recruit when they went on their sea trial on board the USGS large 3 (?) mast'er, would like a coastie to say yes or no on that for certain.

DSCF1563_edited-2.jpg
 
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