White Scaled Buck 315 contract knives

300Bucks

300Bucks

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Apr 19, 2005
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Since the auction is now over and I did not win, I can ask Tom or Phil if they remember any details about these special order Marlinspike Knives. One of the rarest versions made of the Buck contracted model 315 'Yachtsman' knife, I am not sure how this knife fits in the chain of Camillus production.

I remember Tom telling me once that Camillus made a 100 white handled Buck 315s early in production, but I can not now find my my photo of a scrimshawed, Ted Turners boat winning the America's cup version I am swearing I had. (I think it was on my NOT backed up dead computer) I am thinking that the 315 pictured below was a subsequent production the next race, where Ted was defending the title. If anyone has any factual details, I will be sure to record them for posterity. 300Bucks

This defense knife was not the scrim version, only the blade printed next year version. Unless I dreamed up the scrimshawed one.





It may have originally come with a display case, likely an after production addition.



Here is a robbed photo of another 315, same as the above photo, I again was beat out of several years ago, at half the price of the one that just was auctioned. I wish I would have bid another $25 and won it back then. I would still be way ahead today. An actually have one in hand, but photos are sure less expensive.



I have a aged Ivory colored Micarta handled 315 I think was a run-over from a Buck Custom shop special order for a small run of scrimshawed tall ship decorated knives. Sold on the west coast. But the photo below this one looks like bone scales so its only a guess for now.



Here's another robbed photo of the tall ships scrimshawed version. If my memory is correct these were done by a lady up in the NW US. Notice the bone look of this scale, in comparison to the micarta.


Someone also made a yellow delrin scaled version, complete with a Buck shield. But I do not know who, in fact this is the only one I have ever seen. It may be a proto or salesman sample. This was NOT a post factory shutdown knife.
 
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The yellow handled Marlin Spike knife with the Buck shield was sold by Wallace Rockwell. Wallace worked at Camillus for 30+ years and worked in the Model Shop and made many of the samples and prototypes. Wallace is a very talented custom knifemaker and I have bought many knives from him. He has also made knife parts for me when original factory parts where not available. He has installed custom handles on several Marlin Spike knives that he sold on Ebay. His work is of the highest quality. I attended the local gun show on Saturday at the New York State Fairgrounds and I recognized a Camillus Model #72 Whittler's knife that he had installed celluloid candy stripe handles and an oval Camillus shield. The knife was absolutely gorgeous! You have to see his knives in person to appreciate the quality.
Tom Williams
 
I located the manufacturing records for the Buck model #315 Marlin Spike knife made by Camillus. Most of the records show complete knives with black Delrin "Saw Scored" handles and a Buck shield (some of the shields were purchased from Schrade). One of the records list two production runs of the Buck #315 assembled knife without covers. In June of 1980 and May of 1983 Camillus made 200 knives each time without covers (shadow knives). Camillus also made additional Buck #315 Spike knives (shadow) without covers beginning in September of 1985 with a run of 2,000 knives. On several other occassions Camillus made 5,500 knives, 243 knives and 5,000 knives in 1986. During 1987 three runs of 3,500, 91 and 43 knives were produced. In 1988, Camillus made three runs of 5,000, 600 and 3,000 Buck #315 shadow knives. The final order that is listed is for 4,053 knives made in March of 1989. More #315 Buck knives may have been made after this date, but that is as far as my records cover.
Tom Williams
 
Thanks Tom,

I intend to write a 315 history for the Buck Collectors Website. They are not Phd thesis but at least qualified information gets put down in writing for members to access and pass on. Eventually, hope to do a history on many of the 300 models. Worked on the easy ones first, now its time to try the hard ones.

For you Buck crossover guys I will link or copy this thread over to the Buck site when we get done here.

Wow, bunch of information that leads to some questions. Let me be sure of your posting. Camillus made all of the runs mentioned above without scales ? Or the shadow versions mentioned at the end of the years listing? I now have to figure out where all those 'scale-less" knives went. You just do not see that many in the used market place with 'after Camillus' scales. Saw-cut black is by far the majority.

The yellow scaled knife without shield I possess, and it was sold by Joe Houser as a Buck Custom shop modification pre-early 90's when I got it.

Thanks for putting a name on those knives made by Wallace. Yes they are factory quality and above. Now I will be able to answer questions by others if he sells anymore.

The yellow one with shield pictured was purchased from a retired Buck salesman by a collector in the mid- 90's. I do not have a written record or statement by a authority but was told for many years a Buck 315 was given to each Coast Guard Academy student when they went on the first summer sail on The CG's three masted sailing ship.

Previously, you have given me this information which I will put in the record. First 315 samples, 02/10/1969; 20,000 produced by 10/15/1971; Blade steel 440a. Anything you wish to add will be appreciated.

Missing from my personal sample tray, besides the white one lost on ebay, I still do not have a bolsterless model with hot stamp Buck in scale, or a version with partial blade serrations, if they actually were made. I have never seen one but I have seen a Camillus marked version with partial serration.

Thanks again for all you guys do here on the Camillus forum, several Buck regulars visit here frequently.......300Bucks
 
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