This looks like an older discussion but I owned a model 315 YACHTSMAN for a short time and I thought it was one of the awesomest knives I'd seen . As it turned out I should of kept it . My daughter and son-in-law bought a ranch and I found the old knife while me and my daughter was cleaning out the garage at the ranch house . I knew my daughter would give it to me so I mentioned what you going to do with this old knife her reply was "you can have it ".  Me knowing knives weren't a big deal to her  got me around my son-in-law . It cleaned up beautiful and I kept it for a few weeks . But guilt kinda set in so I felt I should give it to my son-in law with explanation where I found it and how I had  cleaned it up for him . He was pretty fascinated by the knife also and I kind of mentioned it would be a good keepsake for his son if he were to save it for him , ( my grandson is 4 yrs old.)  Well a few days later my son in law showed me the knife and he had gotten an engraver and had scribbled his name on the knife blade and not very well at all . In hindsight now I shoulda of just put the knife up and saved it for my grandson for when he came of age to handle and care for a knife .  

Syd Carr said:

Hi Jan!

Yes, according to 300bucks over on AAPK there are numerous versions of each frame. He said that if I wanted ALL of the Camillus-made 300 series that would entail something in the neighborhood of 35 different knives. Even among the Camillus knives there are different versions, some had handle pins, others didn't, and there were some differences in blade shape, number of spacers, type of handle pins, (brass and/or steel), types of springs, (SS and/or carbon), etc, etc, and that is just from Camillus. Schrade and Boker also made some of this series too according to him. He has posted photos of the differences in blade shapes, etc, of the various versions in various places on AAPK. I'll be happy if I simply find a single example of each of the Camillus-made knives, I can collect the Schrade versions in another lifetime.

Jan Carter said:

Excellent Post!  I did not realize there were so many variations of each one

Well Marvin, I cringed when you said it had been badly engraved, few things damage a knife's value more than that, (unless engraved by Daniel Boone or somebody like that). At the same time it's a way to treasure and then pass on to future generations a well-made tool, and many "non-collectors" do that. Generally collectors shiver when they see those things, but not everybody is a nit picking collector. You can still find them for sale on Ebay, they were very popular in the day so there are lots of them out there; prices go from $40-$100+ depending on condition. Thanks for posting, it's about time someone stimulated some discussion on this thread.

Marvin said:

This looks like an older discussion but I owned a model 315 YACHTSMAN for a short time and I thought it was one of the awesomest knives I'd seen . As it turned out I should of kept it . My daughter and son-in-law bought a ranch and I found the old knife while me and my daughter was cleaning out the garage at the ranch house . I knew my daughter would give it to me so I mentioned what you going to do with this old knife her reply was "you can have it ".  Me knowing knives weren't a big deal to her  got me around my son-in-law . It cleaned up beautiful and I kept it for a few weeks . But guilt kinda set in so I felt I should give it to my son-in law with explanation where I found it and how I had  cleaned it up for him . He was pretty fascinated by the knife also and I kind of mentioned it would be a good keepsake for his son if he were to save it for him , ( my grandson is 4 yrs old.)  Well a few days later my son in law showed me the knife and he had gotten an engraver and had scribbled his name on the knife blade and not very well at all . In hindsight now I shoulda of just put the knife up and saved it for my grandson for when he came of age to handle and care for a knife .  

Syd Carr said:

Hi Jan!

Yes, according to 300bucks over on AAPK there are numerous versions of each frame. He said that if I wanted ALL of the Camillus-made 300 series that would entail something in the neighborhood of 35 different knives. Even among the Camillus knives there are different versions, some had handle pins, others didn't, and there were some differences in blade shape, number of spacers, type of handle pins, (brass and/or steel), types of springs, (SS and/or carbon), etc, etc, and that is just from Camillus. Schrade and Boker also made some of this series too according to him. He has posted photos of the differences in blade shapes, etc, of the various versions in various places on AAPK. I'll be happy if I simply find a single example of each of the Camillus-made knives, I can collect the Schrade versions in another lifetime.

Jan Carter said:

Excellent Post!  I did not realize there were so many variations of each one

I'll have to keep an eye out for a 315 YACHTSMAN.  I have a small collection of knives with locking marlin spikes.  They are really handy if you are around ropes and boats.  I spend 3 weeks every summer on a small island, in and out of boats all day long.  No one else seems to know how to tie a proper knot or care is they got an over hand knot in the anchor line.  Anyway, I don't have one of those.  Any idea how long were they made?

Syd Carr said:

Another hole in my 300 Series collection has now been filled. Just received this beat up #315 Yachtsman Marlin Spike, made by Camillus, probably in the '70's. This one has a few issues, spike won't lock, boogered handle pin with small cracks around it, very rusty carbon springs, but it does fill a gap in my collection, (and doesn't look so bad if you stand back and squint). On the good side, being slightly broken meant it didn't cost me that much, so I can console myself with that thought while I continue looking for a pristine one. Soon I hope to post a photo of a complete 300 Series collection, and this gets me closer to that goal. The search continues.