For these Camillus contract skeleton Yachtsman 315s we have about covered all the fancy issues to celebrate the America's Cup race, except for the very first most rare version which was done right after Ted Turner won the cup and the later one below. I do not have a 'Ted' knife photo, but you will know it because it is scrimed with a close-up vision of Ted Turner at the helm of his yacht that won the race. Flags that give signals in yachting are flying from a rope at the bow of the boat. These are very rare, I had a chance to buy one for less than $300 in the early 90's and decided it was not worth it when I had so many 300s to find. Now I would tell someone to gladly pay $ 5 - 600 in a heartbeat if they were trying to make a collection. None for me, thanks. Most all these additions were issued while Buck was in southern CA.
This top photo is a Americas Cup knife that celebrates the past, but is a scrimed on a 315 Yachtsman, from Jerry Quinn's collection, that pop's up on occasion. It was a special order old custom shop issued by some west coast organization, scrimed by someone on west coast. A woman in OR I think.
I believe you call the 'spike' a marlinspike or "fid" in sailing knife parlance. It was used to loosen knots and many seamen braided fancy lanyards for them. I believe that only boatswains mate's were allowed to carry knives onboard U.S. ships.
Info from Matt J. ( 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.)
Some modern sailing knives , made with salt resistant metals can be pricey. Lots of Buck 315's are around because the Coast Guard gave every Academy graduate one for a bunch of years. And the Navy kept a supply at their PX's for sale. I have an in ivory micarta one that was the basis of the old photo knife, pre scrim. Many experienced seamen preferred a belt sheath with a straight knife and a separate and slightly larger 'fid'. 300
For you science details guys, yes those are freshwater mussels.
You guys see how it works, over one shoulder and under the arm knife in pocket
. When I polished the patina off the bolsters I opened the Marlin spike all the way and it locked open
. It took me a while to figure out how to unlock it
.
