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Marlin Spike knives -- Folding Riggers and related Sailing Knives!

Above is my Rough Rider Marlin Spike knife in White Smooth Bone The Scrimshaw work was done by TX Force O'Brien. The scene is the Mermaid of Warsaw. (more on that knife later!)

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I think it is the idea of traveling around the globe is what brings a certain mystique to the sailing knife. When I come across an old sailing knife I try to imagine who might have used it, where they may have gone, what they may have been through. When getting a new one I wonder where it may go, what it might be called upon to do and how other like-minded souls will put it through its paces and test the steel of its blade and spike. The sailing knife just seems to naturally exude adventure and daring unlike that of any other knife.

What is a sailing knife? It is a knife designed for use onboard a boat or ship, especially a sailing vessel; with a primary purpose to cut line, untie knots or any other day to day job while at sea. Most people are familiar with the Marlin Spike knife or the folding riggers but there are several other knives that were made for use on board boats and ships or by people who spend their lives on or around a body of water. The sailing knife goes by several names, some you may have heard, while others may seem obscure.

Most of the modern folding sailing knives, often called a marlin spike knife, can trace their roots back to the British Pattern 6353/1905 clasp knife that was adopted for service use in 1905. This was a large frame (almost 5 inches/ 120 millimeter) knife with a large spear blade, small punch and very intimidating marlin spike. Surprisingly the knife was used by all branches of the British military on land, sea, and later air!

The 6353/1905 pattern knife is itself similar to early rigging knives used in the 19th century. A smaller frame pattern which has become a standard pattern used by many American companies is a variation of this 6353/1905 that was adopted for American Maritime service in 1942. It has changed very little since the adoption. Still other versions were adapted and modified for the civilian market. Over time new steels were introduced and ergonomics and the sailor’s needs further tweaked designs.

Despite the adaptions one thing remains universal with most of the folding marlin spike knives; the familiar Z pattern the knife make when the main blade and marlin spike are moved to the half open position. And while some companies continue to churn out the tried and true traditional patterns, other companies do nothing but try to perfect the perfect sailing knife!

Let’s see some sailing knives! It doesn’t matter if they are folding or fixed, with or without the Marlin Spike. If you have a knife that was made for use at sea, show it off!

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on October 19, 2015 at 8:22

Hi Syd, A nice find. That is a CM 695, Is is sometimes called the Camillus Boatsman as it was marketed under that name for a while. The one with Bolsters in the CM 697. The CM 696 looks similar to the CM 695 as it is also non-bolstered but it has either a serrated or half-serrated blade. The CM 696 was known as the Camillus Piranha. Those are a little harder to find. I'm still looking for one of each in good shape at a decent price!

I too am looking for a Buck 315 Yachtsman, however, the going price for them is above what I'm willing to pay.

Permalink Reply by Syd Carr on October 19, 2015 at 14:02

Hi Tobias, as always, thanks for the info. I indeed am still hunting for a Buck 315 Yachtsman, (and also a 321 Bird Knife), but like you I haven't found one in decent condition at a price I would (can) pay. There seems to be a lot of 315's out there, but they are definitely costly compared to their Camillus counterparts. There are several BIN listings on the bay at exorbitant prices that keep getting relisted, but I am not so desperate to find one to justify the price(s) they are asking for them. I think my best hope of finding an affordable one is to stumble on one at a swap or estate sale, so the search goes on.

According to the information you just provided I now have two of three variations of the Camillus Marlin Spikes, and will now be on the look out for one with serrated blade, (CM 698). This one is a bit rough, at least the master blade has issues. A butter knife is sharper, and there is a divot on the blade, (that could be eventually sharpened away), but at least it is a representative sample of that particular model I can display on my knife stump. I'll give it a cursory sharpening and just enjoy it as it is, might even carry it once in awhile. I notice that it is much lighter in weight than the bolstered version, but the blade and spike are identical in both. I think between the two this version would be less likely to be damaged in normal use due to the handle material, and this one definitely seems to have been ridden hard and put away wet. That's ok, I like well used tools anyway, and for under $10 I think I did just fine.

Thanks again Tobias.

Tobias Gibson said:

Hi Syd, A nice find. That is a CM 695, Is is sometimes called the Camillus Boatsman as it was marketed under that name for a while. The one with Bolsters in the CM 697. The CM 696 looks similar to the CM 695 as it is also non-bolstered but it has either a serrated or half-serrated blade. The CM 696 was known as the Camillus Piranha. Those are a little harder to find. I'm still looking for one of each in good shape at a decent price!

I too am looking for a Buck 315 Yachtsman, however, the going price for them is above what I'm willing to pay.

Permalink Reply by Syd Carr on December 14, 2015 at 15:39

Here's a sailor's knife for you: #15 Navy Knife Cola Jigged Bone. It comes in various handle materials, but the jig on this bone version is awesome. No spike, but how often do you need one of those?

If any of you want to be my Secret Santa feel free, this is on the top of my list.

Happy holidays to all!

Permalink Reply by Michael Squier on December 14, 2015 at 16:14

Awesome knives people.

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on December 14, 2015 at 16:39

That is normally called a "rope knife." An excellent looker. Is it stainless?

Syd Carr said:

Here's a sailor's knife for you: #15 Navy Knife Cola Jigged Bone. It comes in various handle materials, but the jig on this bone version is awesome. No spike, but how often do you need one of those?

If any of you want to be my Secret Santa feel free, this is on the top of my list.

Happy holidays to all!

Permalink Reply by Syd Carr on December 14, 2015 at 17:29

Yes, (I think), but for some reason that link has been disabled so I can't check for sure. It was a link from TSA Knives in my email. It also comes in Micarta handles, but I liked this particular knife so much I thought I'd share the link here. Definitely on my want list, some of the best looking modern jigged bone I've seen..

Tobias Gibson said:

That is normally called a "rope knife." An excellent looker. Is it stainless?

Syd Carr said:

Here's a sailor's knife for you: #15 Navy Knife Cola Jigged Bone. It comes in various handle materials, but the jig on this bone version is awesome. No spike, but how often do you need one of those?

If any of you want to be my Secret Santa feel free, this is on the top of my list.

Happy holidays to all!

Permalink Reply by Syd Carr on January 14, 2016 at 15:12

Well Tobias, this one was used hard and put away wet, (and broken), but at least I have one now, a long sought after, (by me), Buck #315 Yachtsman by Camillus, (same frame as Camillus #697). I actively collect Buck 300 Series knives made by Camillus, and this is one of the models I was missing in that collection, and though it has issues it can still be put on display as a representative of that model.

On this one the spike won't lock, for reasons I cannot determine yet as there is nothing obviously broken from a visual inspection. The springs are carbon, and are very rusty, so that may be the seat of the problem, so a soak in solvent and some time with my Dremel may be a solution. There is also one handle pin in bad shape, with corresponding cracks in the handle, but in a used knife that is a minor inconvenience in my book. I'm happy to finally have one in the collection, and being broken the cost was low, so at least I now have one. I have an old Camillus #696 with a buggered blade, perhaps I can use that as a pats knife to repair this one? I assume being the same frame and manufacturer would mean that the springs might be interchangeable, but that is unknown at this point, (and I'm not sure I even want to do such a surgery).

Well, if you stand back a bit it looks pretty good, and it does fill a hole in my collection. Maybe I'll eventually find a pristine one, but for now this will have to do.

Permalink Reply by Syd Carr on January 15, 2016 at 0:41

Hey Tobias. I was looking at what I thought was a non bolstered Camillus #696, considering whether or not to use it for parts for the Buck 315 above, and noticed something I hadn't noticed before. It is actually a Kabar Rigging Knife, you can just barely make out the imprint on the handle. What intrigued me was the fact that the tang stamp says Camillus. I looked on the bay and found several Kabars for sale, and not a one of them had a CC stamp, they all were stamped "Kabar" on the tang. I also noticed, (under magnification), that the word "Kabar" on the handle was stylized like a logo, instead of just printed out like "rigging" is printed. I got this for around $5 at the local swap, and the blade is toast, having a gouge out of the edge of it, and the rest is not even as sharp as my worst butter knife. I wonder though, did I find a factory mistake, or did Camillus put out Kabars with CC stamped on the tang? Lemme know what ya think.

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on January 15, 2016 at 8:47

Syd, My bet is Dr. Frankenstein probably made it from spare parts.

The Camillus CM695 was marketed as a Boatman's knife. (CM 696 is the same basic knife but with a serrated or half serrated blade and called the Piranha). Both rhe 695 and 696 use the same basic frame as the 697. The difference is they lack bolsters, have smooth delrin hanldes and bird's eye rivets.

Camillus made similar marlin spikes with this set up for W.R. Case & Sons under pattern number 3246 and 32146, (normally with other colored handles). The Ka-Bar 1121 Rigger Knife is also the same knife, made under contract by Camillus with scales normally stamped Kabar Rigging Knife.

Several Japanese made knives also use this set up with many of them also stamped "rigging knife" The scales on the Japanese knives are not always made of delrin and the grades of stainless steel probably also differ.

Permalink Reply by Syd Carr on January 15, 2016 at 11:12

Thanks for the clarification about the model numbers Tobias. I was just curious that mine had a Camillus tang stamp, (unlike other Kabar riggers I've seen), yet it has Kabar on the handle.

Tobias Gibson said:

Syd, My bet is Dr. Frankenstein probably made it from spare parts.

The Camillus CM695 was marketed as a Boatman's knife. (CM 696 is the same basic knife but with a serrated or half serrated blade and called the Piranha). Both rhe 695 and 696 use the same basic frame as the 697. The difference is they lack bolsters, have smooth delrin hanldes and bird's eye rivets.

Camillus made similar marlin spikes with this set up for W.R. Case & Sons under pattern number 3246 and 32146, (normally with other colored handles). The Ka-Bar 1121 Rigger Knife is also the same knife, made under contract by Camillus with scales normally stamped Kabar Rigging Knife.

Several Japanese made knives also use this set up with many of them also stamped "rigging knife" The scales on the Japanese knives are not always made of delrin and the grades of stainless steel probably also differ.

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by John McCain on May 25, 2016 at 15:22

I Just bought this old gem at an antique store for $35. A Kutmaster, Utica, NY, USA - 1944-796 United States Coast Guard Approved rope knife with black walnut handles. (circa 1940's ??) .I believe the 1944 stood for the first year the knife was USCG Approved and the 796 was Kutmaster's model number. Also, if I'm correct, the Coast Guard was actually under direction of the US Navy in that time period. Please correct me if I'm wrong or if you can provide further information.

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on May 25, 2016 at 15:43

That's about it, John. The knife was approved for use by the Coast Guard. There has long been a debate as to what that means. Some think it means it became the official rope knife of the USCG. Others think it means the knife was approved for use by the Coast Guard for the maritime services (merchant marines). I believe it was probably both; a knife approved for use in the Coast Guard as well as other Maritime Services of The USA.