All About Pocket Knives

So here's my dilemma...I picked this knife up for 10 bucks. It's a Camillus Stockman. The front side is beautiful...appears to be Roger's Bone. Sadly, the back side is missing it's scale. I'll probably fix it and gift it. The beauty of gifting (to the people I give them to) is they don't "know any better" and are usually happy at the "before and after" transformation.
So what are' y'all's thoughts?
1) Get over it...throw the front scale in a "parts pile" and replace both with matching scales.
2) Replace only the missing scale with some other type of scale?
3) Watch "the Bay" for another donor knife?
And...could someone help me with the pattern number on this (3 7/8" closed length).
Any thoughts on years of manufacture?
Many thanks, in advance, for your thoughts!

I believe what you have there is a Camillus 67 and the handles are Delrin®, not bone. Were I in your shoes, I would put some nice bone on there. What ever shines your shoes. JMHO

Well, that would definitely get me to pull the front off, if it were Delrin. I looked at it with a 60x loupe. Sure thought I could see haversion canals and cell formation. Did they make any of this pattern with bone?
Edit: Just back...from outside, in bright sunlight, with the 60x. Both cross sectional and smooth areas on the top...It sure looks like bone.
***And Jerry...thanks for the pattern; also, I value "humble opinions"...especially from you. Just wanted some ideas.

If it were mine, I'd get it rescaled in ebony or stag.

cody6268 wrote:If it were mine, I'd get it rescaled in ebony or stag.

I'm liking the ebony suggestion I'm thinking a complete re-handle is the way to go.
Still listening to suggestions...

That's a good knife. Personally, I'd get a complete re-handle and keep it. You, however, seem to want to gift it which is also fine. So the question is, if you're going to gift it, how much do you want to spend on it?

If you want to keep the cost nominal, go with Bone. If you want to spice it up a bit, you can't go wrong with Stag. Whatever you choose, I'm sure it will be a great looking knife that functions perfectly.

____________
Mike

XX Case XX wrote:That's a good knife. Personally, I'd get a complete re-handle and keep it. You, however, seem to want to gift it which is also fine. So the question is, if you're going to gift it, how much do you want to spend on it?

If you want to keep the cost nominal, go with Bone. If you want to spice it up a bit, you can't go wrong with Stag. Whatever you choose, I'm sure it will be a great looking knife that functions perfectly.

____________
Mike

If you did stag...would you replace the shield...or go without?

Nice find for $10! I haven't seen one of those that wasn't delrin, but since you don't have the other scale I'd go with a complete rehandle. Many possibilities. Maybe smooth red bone or maybe OD green canvas micarta. From your picture, it looks like the front pivot pin is sinking into the bolster, so probably time for the full monty anyway. Just my humble opinion.

Doc B wrote: If you did stag...would you replace the shield...or go without?

I would put the shield back on. But that is just what I would do.....

Nice knife BTW....

herbva wrote:Nice find for $10! I haven't seen one of those that wasn't delrin, but since you don't have the other scale I'd go with a complete rehandle. Many possibilities. Maybe smooth red bone or maybe OD green canvas micarta. From your picture, it looks like the front pivot pin is sinking into the bolster, so probably time for the full monty anyway. Just my humble opinion.

You are correct on the "sunken" pin...so good thoughts there.
I found older Camillus catalogues (Pre 1960 / Pre Delrin)...with the 67 pattern listed as "Brownstag". I'm assuming that is some synthetic material. I'm guessing this may be it? It sure doesn't look like the more recent Delrin covers, that I've seen in Google images...that kind of orangish smooth Delrin.

Doc,
I have owned several over the years with bone handles.

Doc B wrote:If you did stag...would you replace the shield...or go without?

Opinions vary, but if it were up to me, I'd put the shield back on. As a general rule, I like shields. It seems to give the knife a "finished" look. Not to say that some look fine without a shield but as I said, as a general rule, I like shields.

___________
Mike

I’d go with a nice jigged mahogany bone.
I’m neither here nor there on the shield, I think they look good on some knives, but other knives look just fine without them. Whatever you decide let us see the finished knife when you’re done. I know it’ll be great!
Jeff

Glennbad rehandled this one you sure couldn't go wrong with some slabs like this imho.

Before you tear the front handle off, let me see if I have a rear bone handle.
I know I have some #69 parts knives with bone handles, but let me check for a #67 as well.

Well, after checking I see they are all Delrin handled #67's.
If you want to put Delrin handles on it I'll send you a set.

By repairing this knife you are putting your own time and skill into it. This makes it a more special gift than one that had both original handles. The pre Delrin "brownstag" handles are a dull brown color, not like the front handle on this knife. If you are seeing dots when examined with a loupe it is bone. It is possible that someone removed the Delrin handles and replaced the front side with bone but did not get the rear handle installed.
I think matching jigged bone handles with the same shield on the front would be best for this knife.
kj

Thanks for the input, gentlemen! And Dale, even if you didn't have one...thanks for looking! Think I'l play with some jigged bone, I haven't tried and replace them both.

That sounds great Doc! Be sure you post some pictures!