Quality of older rigging knives

[mdhafner]

I've been looking for a rigging knife for rope work, and like the look of
the somewhat older knives (not antique) from around the 50's - 80's.
The problem is that I can't find any information on them.
I gather the Camillus and Buck rigging knives are good quality, and
usually stainless (440A?), but I can't find anything on the Schrade Walden 735
or the Case Marlin Spike, and not much on the KA-BAR.
I'm mostly interested in the general mechanical quality, and
whether the blade is hard and holds and edge well.
It doesn't hurt to know what alloys are used, but that's hard to get
with these discontinued knives.
Do you have any information or experience with the Case/Schrade/KA-BAR
or other older rigging knives?

 

[yablanowitz]

The only one I have is a Buck Yachtsman I bought back in the late 70's. It is still a good, solid knife today, and holds an edge well. I never had any rust on it, even when I was in Hawaii and Guam in the Navy. I can't help with the others.

 

[Messersmith]

I can't add much other than Camillus made the Yachtsman series for Buck.

I have a late 80's Camillus that has held up well over the years. Not sure what the blade steel is.