Styles and dating of the standard Camillus boxes

The Camillus Cutlery Company was one of the oldest knife manufacturers in the United States with roots dating back to 1876. The company manufactured Camillus branded knives and was a prolific contractor for other knife brands up until its last days in 2007 when the company filed for bankruptcy.
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Vit_213
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Styles and dating of the standard Camillus boxes

Post by Vit_213 »

No.1: ? - 1975
box1.jpg
No.2: 1975 - 1976
box2.jpg
No.3: 1977 - 1989
box3.jpg
No.4: 1988 - 1993
box4.jpg
No.5: 1994 - 2006
box5.jpg
Late boxes No.4 had a second version with a slightly pink background.
Late boxes No.5 had slightly greenish tint background.
Question to experts - when were started the red boxes (No.1)?
And please correct me if I'm wrong somewhere.
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carrmillus
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Re: Styles and dating of the standard Camillus boxes

Post by carrmillus »

......vit, this is something I know nothing about!!....I do have one of the red boxes, but it has no knife no. on it anywhere, so I have no idea how old it is???................ ::shrug:: ................
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Re: Styles and dating of the standard Camillus boxes

Post by kootenay joe »

The generic Camillus boxes were used towards the end of Camiilus days for any Camillus knife that would fit in. There are a lot of these boxes 'out there'.
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Ripster
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Re: Styles and dating of the standard Camillus boxes

Post by Ripster »

Vit_213 wrote: Mon Feb 01, 2016 9:20 pm No.1: ? - 1975box1.jpg

No.2: 1975 - 1976box2.jpg

No.3: 1977 - 1989box3.jpg

No.4: 1988 - 1993box4.jpg

No.5: 1994 - 2006box5.jpg

Late boxes No.4 had a second version with a slightly pink background.
Late boxes No.5 had slightly greenish tint background.
Question to experts - when were started the red boxes (No.1)?
And please correct me if I'm wrong somewhere.
Hello Vit . This is a older post but was wondering if you ever figured out the years for the Red Box ?
Take care over there my Friend . ::handshake::
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orvet
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Re: Styles and dating of the standard Camillus boxes

Post by orvet »

I have an old box for Camillus #72. I believe six knives came in the box. I will post pictures of it later.
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orvet
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Re: Styles and dating of the standard Camillus boxes

Post by orvet »

I finally got time to post these pictures. I don't know when boxes like these were used, I would guesstimate the late 1950s and early 1960s but I don't know a lot about printing and box making. Someone who is well grounded in those areas might be able to give us a much more accurate opinion.
I took several pictures of it because the Information is different on the top and the bottom halves of the box.
Hopefully someone will be able to give us an idea of when this box was used. I believe originally it contained six knives when shipped from the factory.
Attachments
Camillus #72 box a.jpg
Camillus #72 box b.jpg
Camillus #72 box c.jpg
Camillus #72 box d.jpg
Camillus #72 box e.jpg
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#goldpan
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Re: Styles and dating of the standard Camillus boxes

Post by #goldpan »

I’ve got a couple of the red boxes. One is for the 72 and the other is marked for #51. I too would like to know more about when they were in use.
F47E5993-8F55-47DD-A21F-C0B0D35974CB.jpeg
9E2D8B5C-3DED-48A1-97DF-131075D245C4.jpeg
7DA0D620-D4C8-40E2-BFC0-64A37AE1C64C.jpeg
While the 72 box is empty the 51 box is full. ::super_happy:: Half are long line Camillus and the other half are Camco 551 barlows.
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C5060917-08AD-4A38-98C2-53BB596960B0.jpeg
C31C362D-07B7-468F-9232-47BFCD05D693.jpeg
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orvet
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Re: Styles and dating of the standard Camillus boxes

Post by orvet »

Great box of knives Randy!! ::tu:: ::tu::
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OLDE CUTLER
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Re: Styles and dating of the standard Camillus boxes

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

orvet wrote: Tue Mar 29, 2022 4:19 pm I finally got time to post these pictures. I don't know when boxes like these were used, I would guesstimate the late 1950s and early 1960s but I don't know a lot about printing and box making. Someone who is well grounded in those areas might be able to give us a much more accurate opinion.
I took several pictures of it because the Information is different on the top and the bottom halves of the box.
Hopefully someone will be able to give us an idea of when this box was used. I believe originally it contained six knives when shipped from the factory.
One indicator on old boxes is if it has a zip code with the company address. Zip codes started in 1963.
"Sometimes even the blind chicken finds corn"
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#goldpan
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Re: Styles and dating of the standard Camillus boxes

Post by #goldpan »

Thanks Dale, Olde Cutler!
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Re: Styles and dating of the standard Camillus boxes

Post by Ripster »

#goldpan wrote: Fri Apr 01, 2022 1:45 am I’ve got a couple of the red boxes. One is for the 72 and the other is marked for #51. I too would like to know more about when they were in use.
F47E5993-8F55-47DD-A21F-C0B0D35974CB.jpeg9E2D8B5C-3DED-48A1-97DF-131075D245C4.jpeg7DA0D620-D4C8-40E2-BFC0-64A37AE1C64C.jpeg
While the 72 box is empty the 51 box is full. ::super_happy:: Half are long line Camillus and the other half are Camco 551 barlows.
Randy ,Dale Old Cutler very good posts and conversation. Randy that box of 51 s is Awesome ::tu:: ::tu::
As to dating ,think you guys nailed it pretty close . The 1/2 Dozen boxes 1950s to maybe mid 1960 . Then the Box that Vit shows in his first picture is mid 1960s to 1975 possibly. His looks to be a single knife box ?
Anyone have any boxes with other patterns besides the 51 and 72?
Attachments
172B8418-9BF8-4698-86A1-EA3352A36627.jpeg
41E43F39-CC61-467D-85A7-A90DC161999B.jpeg
77D20404-442B-4BC9-A118-14403B0B51C6.jpeg
JP
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#goldpan
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Re: Styles and dating of the standard Camillus boxes

Post by #goldpan »

2C137E59-8E9F-4D9F-8AA5-F8E42A344E41.jpeg
I’ve had this one for long time. I didn’t realize that it was Camillus related. Someone recently posted some Camco catalogs that have the same art work. I don’t recall what thread it’s in. Now I need to find a Camco 751 to go with the box!
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B0B41957-493D-4FAE-B95E-C2A0317D1F04.jpeg
DanTX1953
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Re: Styles and dating of the standard Camillus boxes

Post by DanTX1953 »

I just picked up a Camillus # 696 in the silver box shown below. The top of the box reads "SILVER SWORD" and shows two cross swords.
I believe the #696 knife was produced until 2007.
* any idea when these silver boxes were first used ?

thanks
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Z  box 1.jpg
Vit_213
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Re: Styles and dating of the standard Camillus boxes

Post by Vit_213 »

DanTX1953 wrote: Thu Aug 25, 2022 2:32 pm I just picked up a Camillus # 696 in the silver box shown below. The top of the box reads "SILVER SWORD" and shows two cross swords.
I believe the #696 knife was produced until 2007.
* any idea when these silver boxes were first used ?

thanks
Camillus used these boxes for the SilverSword series from 1982 to circa 1988. #696 was never supplied in such a box.
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