Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
In the years following 9/11 there were some hard time for cutlery companies. United Cutlery went out of business circa 2002, Schrade closed in 2004 and Camillus in 2007. After each company closed there were lots of knives in various states of completion, tons of parts, blades, and unfinished fixed blade blanks.
I bought a lot of those, mostly Schrade and Camillus and still have a couple drawers full of blanks. One that I've wanted to complete for a long time is a Camillus Mark II U.S. Navy commemorative. I have not seen the original completed knife as it came from the factory and finding the exact pieces to complete it would probably be impossible at this date. Of all the many blades I purchased in that time frame, this one was one of the few blades that actually had some protection on it to keep it from getting scratched. That was good because the finish on the blade is in very good shape and the goldleaf lettering is still intact. However the combination of the shiny deep blue finish and the goldleaf exit very difficult to photograph them in make them look right.
I used the leather rings for the handle and I used for smaller rings and dyed them blue and used to Kabar pommel disc. It required quite a bit of sanding because the leather rings were much larger to begin with. Along with sanding leather it creates a lot of dust and little frayed edges which took quite a bit of careful work with an X-Acto knife to clean up. The leather was then treated with a couple of different products to help firm it up a little bit and provide a finish and some water resistance to the leather.
Given the dates of 1941-1991 on the blade, I think it is a Pearl Harbor 50 Commemorative but I have never seen a completed one. There is a pic in the 1990 Camillus catalog but I found it after I completed this knife.
I think I like contrast of the light and dark two-tone handle better than the factory version, but that is just me.
I hope you enjoy the pics.
I bought a lot of those, mostly Schrade and Camillus and still have a couple drawers full of blanks. One that I've wanted to complete for a long time is a Camillus Mark II U.S. Navy commemorative. I have not seen the original completed knife as it came from the factory and finding the exact pieces to complete it would probably be impossible at this date. Of all the many blades I purchased in that time frame, this one was one of the few blades that actually had some protection on it to keep it from getting scratched. That was good because the finish on the blade is in very good shape and the goldleaf lettering is still intact. However the combination of the shiny deep blue finish and the goldleaf exit very difficult to photograph them in make them look right.
I used the leather rings for the handle and I used for smaller rings and dyed them blue and used to Kabar pommel disc. It required quite a bit of sanding because the leather rings were much larger to begin with. Along with sanding leather it creates a lot of dust and little frayed edges which took quite a bit of careful work with an X-Acto knife to clean up. The leather was then treated with a couple of different products to help firm it up a little bit and provide a finish and some water resistance to the leather.
Given the dates of 1941-1991 on the blade, I think it is a Pearl Harbor 50 Commemorative but I have never seen a completed one. There is a pic in the 1990 Camillus catalog but I found it after I completed this knife.
I think I like contrast of the light and dark two-tone handle better than the factory version, but that is just me.
I hope you enjoy the pics.
Dale
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Please visit my AAPK store: www.allaboutpocketknives.com/orvet
Job 13:15
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“Evil is Powerless If The Good are Unafraid.” – Ronald Reagan
Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
Dale - that is a beauty!! You did a great job completing that knife.
Mel
Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
I think it looks great Dale. You always do great work and that is an exceptionally good looking knife.
Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
Beautiful work, as always Dale, and I am so glad to see that historic beauty properly finished! What do you use for your final finish treatment on the leather rings?
"Better to do something imperfectly, than to do nothing flawlessly." ~ Robert H. Schuller
Herb
Herb
Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
Great work Dale. Will make someone a happy owner.
Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
The glued compressed washers are much harder than I expected. No way it could be finished by hand.
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Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
Awesome job Dale!!
Life is too short to carry an ugly knife!!
Shawn
Shawn
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Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
That is a beautiful knife Dale.... and it has a powerful message.
Great job on the finish work. It sure looks nice!
2 thumbs up!
Great job on the finish work. It sure looks nice!
2 thumbs up!
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
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Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
Thanks for sharing your procedure for finishing your leather handle.eveled wrote: ↑Wed May 13, 2020 3:20 am When I did mine I glued the washers with wood glue and compressed them. They sanded like a piece of wood without the fraying issues you had. I used a carpenters belt sander, drum sanders in a drill press. Then I filed in the grooves colored them with sharpie. Then finished with cordovan shoe polish.
It sure does look great!
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
Beautiful work, Dale!
Jesus is life.
Everything else is just a hobby.
~Reverand
Everything else is just a hobby.
~Reverand
Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
Dale that came out almost looking like birch bark. Very lovely.
e, great job on that one. Very traditional.
e, great job on that one. Very traditional.
Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
That looks awesome! I agree, in liking the two tones...especially the predominant lighter tone, contrasted by the dark blade!
Heretical Refurb / Mods of cheap old folders, since late 2018
Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
I really like the handle.
David
"Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife" Meat Loaf
"Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife" Meat Loaf
Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
Wow Dale, that is quite nice!
Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
Well...
Thought it would make a great gift. My son is in the Navy...and he was born in 1991. So...after talking with Dale...this will be my "It's in the Mail" post!
Thought it would make a great gift. My son is in the Navy...and he was born in 1991. So...after talking with Dale...this will be my "It's in the Mail" post!
Heretical Refurb / Mods of cheap old folders, since late 2018
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Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
COOL.... And congrats!
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
- 1967redrider
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Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
Great work, guys!
Both turned out beautifully.
Both turned out beautifully.
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
Thank you. If you ever do one I’ll be glad to answer any questions. Here is the way I compressed it.Meridian_Mike wrote: ↑Wed May 13, 2020 11:40 amThanks for sharing your procedure for finishing your leather handle.eveled wrote: ↑Wed May 13, 2020 3:20 am When I did mine I glued the washers with wood glue and compressed them. They sanded like a piece of wood without the fraying issues you had. I used a carpenters belt sander, drum sanders in a drill press. Then I filed in the grooves colored them with sharpie. Then finished with cordovan shoe polish.
It sure does look great!
Thanks for the kind words 1967redrider
Congrats @DocB. It will be a fine present for your son. Dale does great work.
Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
Thanks guys for all your kind words. I did think this one turned out quite nicely.
The last coat I put on the handle was Fiebings Leather Balm.
I hope that helps Herb.
Y'all take care, and thanks again for the comments,
Dale
The first coding I put on was Gum Tragacanth, which is a burnishing compound. I burnishing the compound in by using strips of cloth dipping them in the compound and seesawing them back and forth on the handle. The gum is usually applied to the edge of the leather and then motion with friction is used to to set the gum up and harden the cut edges of the leather. I use it frequently on straps I cut and on the edge of sheaths. If you look up whether burnishing tools on eBay you can find their pretty inexpensive and quite varied in design.
The last coat I put on the handle was Fiebings Leather Balm.
I hope that helps Herb.
Y'all take care, and thanks again for the comments,
Dale
Dale
AAPK Administrator
Please visit my AAPK store: www.allaboutpocketknives.com/orvet
Job 13:15
"Buy more ammo!" - Johnnie Fain
“Evil is Powerless If The Good are Unafraid.” – Ronald Reagan
AAPK Administrator
Please visit my AAPK store: www.allaboutpocketknives.com/orvet
Job 13:15
"Buy more ammo!" - Johnnie Fain
“Evil is Powerless If The Good are Unafraid.” – Ronald Reagan
- Meridian_Mike
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Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
I found a couple of pics of a finished knife for sale.....
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I Like the one you finished a LOT better Dale.
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I noticed that the tang stamp is different on this one.....
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I Like the one you finished a LOT better Dale.
.
I noticed that the tang stamp is different on this one.....
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
I wonder if it is a one off piece. Maybe the sample for the logo? Even cooler. It’s a one of a kind from the start.
Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
Air Force vs Navy. Logo is different. Despite my upbringing...I like Dale's Navy one better.
Heretical Refurb / Mods of cheap old folders, since late 2018
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Re: Camillus Mark II Finally Finished
Yep.... y'all are right..... This old man's eyes betrayed him. The tang stamp wasn't the only thing different.....LOL.
I need to go get my eyes checked..... BUT, I know what they will say.....
"Your eyes are OLD....."
Maybe I will just eat more carrots..
I need to go get my eyes checked..... BUT, I know what they will say.....
"Your eyes are OLD....."
Maybe I will just eat more carrots..
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne