All About Pocket Knives

Vit_213 wrote:Camillus Wrangler #78

78.jpg

And group photo - four sizes of Camillus Indian Stag Stock knives

70-71-78-89.jpg

......where's your #73,vit????............. ...............

carrmillus wrote:......where's your #73,vit????............. ...............

I was expecting this question... ...
My hunting is still going on... ...

Vit_213 wrote:

carrmillus wrote:......where's your #73,vit????............. ...............

I was expecting this question... ...
My hunting is still going on... ...

....vit, I thought I had 2-#73's, but I only have 1 and I hate to part with it!!.......i'll keep my eyes open, and if I find another, i'll let you know!!!....... ...................

carrmillus wrote:......i'll keep my eyes open, and if I find another, i'll let you know!!!....... ...................

It's great. Thank you!

Vit_213 wrote:The "Silver Sword" series was started in 1982. I have two knives from this series.

I've got a couple Silver Sword's ... one just like the one of yours on the bottom. To me, these seem like Camillus' budget offering - the blades are really chunky by comparison & not ground as finely as most other Camillus knives I've owned.

Lansky1 wrote: I've got a couple Silver Sword's ... one just like the one of yours on the bottom. To me, these seem like Camillus' budget offering - the blades are really chunky by comparison & not ground as finely as most other Camillus knives I've owned.

One thing to keep in mind is that the Silver Sword is a far cry from the old Sword Brand that Camillus introduced in 1906. The Sword Brand was the top of the line, the best quality knife made by Camillus.

The Silver Sword was a later series, (1982 as per Vit). In looking at the 1984 Camillus catalog and it seems like many of their designs were patterned after many of the knives coming in from Japan in the same time frame. If you compare the 1984 Camillus catalog to a 1984 Kershaw catalog you will see a lot of stainless steel frame knives with wood inlays in them.

I have had some of the Silver Sword knives and saw some of them in the 1980s when I managed a cutlery store and one of our major lines was Kershaw. I always thought several patterns of the Silver Swords were modeled after Kershaw, but the design was not as well executed as Kershaw or some of the other Japanese knife makers of that time, (the Valor brand comes to mind). All similar style knives but the fit & finish and edge retention of Kershaw always seemed better to me than the other brands.

Overall the Silver Sword line seemed to me to be a heaver knife than other Camillus patterns and as you said, some of the blades did seem "chunky" when compared to other Camillus knives.
I would even go so far as to say the early Silver Swords patterned after the Kershaws seemed "chunky" when compared to Kershaw. IMO, Kershaw had a cleaner execution of the design that the comparable Silver Sword patterns.

Thx Dale - appreciate the intel.

Camillus Angler #31

........that's a winner, vit!!!.........I kept one in my tackle box for over 30 years, and I've still got it in a display now!!....they are great knives!!.......... ....................

Silver Sword Canoe #826

Silver Sword Canoe #834

Silver Sword Gambler #40/862

I just found my old Sword Brand Camillus Knife, that I carried in my dress pants pocket in the 1940s & 1950s. I don't know what that style of knife is called, or the age of it. Can anyone help with that? I am getting ready to pass it, and couple of my old work knives, to my Son. Thanks for sharing.
https://www.allaboutpohttps://www.allab ... &id=295307

Sut Tatersaul wrote:I just found my old Sword Brand Camillus Knife, that I carried in my dress pants pocket in the 1940s & 1950s. I don't know what that style of knife is called, or the age of it. Can anyone help with that? I am getting ready to pass it, and couple of my old work knives, to my Son. Thanks for sharing.
https://www.allaboutpohttps://www.allab ... &id=295307

This pattern is called an equal-end lobster. Typically they have three or four blades but it's not uncommon to see a two-blade version. The pattern name "lobster" is because when there are two blades on the same end, one on the top and the other on the bottom and both opened it sorta looks like a lobster's claws. I have no idea when yours was made but it's an old pattern, originated in the early 1800s Sheffield England. Maybe one of the Camillus experts will know more about yours.

Ken

carrmillus wrote:

Vit_213 wrote:Camillus Wrangler #7878.jpg

And group photo - four sizes of Camillus Indian Stag Stock knives70-71-78-89.jpg

......where's your #73,vit????............. ...............

My #73 And updated group photo

...................... ....................

Hello AAPK. I bought 3 knives this weekend at a flea market, then came home to read here and see what I had bought! Isn't that the proper order?

One has sword brand on the tang, but the knife looks much newer than a 40's era knife.
Hopefully the Camillus forum can set me straight.









So did I buy a knock-off? If not, is it possibly NOS that was put together during Camillus' last months with old parts? (both blades rub outer scales when closing. That can't be good, right?)

Any help greatly appreciated, and I am thoroughly enjoying reading old posts here!
(I'm working my way through how to get pics up. Old dog and new tricks)

Camillus Skinning Knife #19

Vit-213, That is a handsome knife. The slanted bolsters give it distinction. Congratulations.

"...So did I buy a knock-off?..."

No, it is an authentic old Camillus, probably pre WWII.

JMO

msteele6 wrote:"...So did I buy a knock-off?..."

No, it is an authentic old Camillus, probably pre WWII.

JMO

Sorry I missed this when you posted. Thanks for the feedback.

Hmm, I'm thinking this may be a good candidate for re-handling? I like this one except for the cheesy cracked handles, and the shield that sits on top of (not well-fitted). Maybe some antique bone sans shield, and it would be something to proudly carry...

I bought this old Sword Brand this morning because it looks just like a first generation 72. I haven't found out much about this handle material other than it is a hard composition. It's most likely pre-WWII with the 4 line stamp but lack of info from that period makes it difficult to properly identify. I've noticed a few old catalog cuts floating around in various threads here. I think I will try to consolidate those to one of the stickies in the Camillus forum.

Nice one Greg!
I was trying to find out what they call those handles in the Camillus catalog and price sheets, but I don't have any that go back that far.
Tom Williams said he had no catalogs and pricelists that went back to World War II or before, and he was the company historian and worked there for 30 years. I guess the companies in those days really were not interested in leaving a written historical legacy, I guess they figured their legacy was their knives.

I believe the handles you have on that knife are a stagged version of celluloid, very much like Schrade used Delrin to make the handles of the Uncle Henry knives look like stag. I could be wrong, but I have had other Camillus knives with similar handles that began to off gas. Just keep an eye on it in case it becomes unstable.

Nice find though, I haven't seen many 72s with those handles. In fact, now that I think about it yours may be the first one I have seen.

Thanks Dale! This kind of changes my thinking on the timeline for the 72. I'll keep a a watch on those handles.

Greg, here is a Camillus Sword Brand #21 that has the same type of handle material.
I am not positive but I think this material was probably used before World War II.