Tin Opener Jack

[kootenay joe]

I think this 100 yr old Camillus Regular Jack is fine enough to have it's own thread and maybe there are other Camillus Tin Openers that members will post here.
4 3/4" Regular Jack with steel liners & bail. Handles are ebony, spearpoint master blade and a tin opener secondary. This pattern was never a U.S. military issue but i believe it was for the British Navy. (not this knife, but the pattern)
I was told that this knife dates to 1914, or just before WW I.
kj

[gsmith7158]

Very fine indeed kj!
Does the tin opener have a locking mechanism?

[wlf]

That is a fine old antique Roland. Remarkable condition

[kootenay joe]

No locking mechanism, but it does have a very strong spring.
I doubt "Tin Opener Jack" is the correct name because i made it up. The British refer to "cans" as "tins" and the secondary blade is named a "tin opener", but the knife might not be known by the name of it's secondary blade.
kj

[gsmith7158]

Considering the age of the knife I can imagine that it may have opened many tins of kippers at tea time. A very unique knife with a highly desirable stamp!

[kootenay joe]

Greg, i don't think it did open many tins, or maybe none. I see no signs of use on the Tin Opener blade. There is a faint 3 digit # in black writing on back side of master blade. I think it was a sample knife.
kj

[carrmillus]

............never heard of or seen this pattern before!!!..that is outstanding!!!........ ..............

[kootenay joe]

Carrmillus, there are lots of Vintage British knives of this pattern: Spearpoint & Tin Opener, bail (often copper), very stout robust knives.
kj

Edit to add pictures:
1 & 2) Here are 2 similar jacks: 4" E.C.Simmons/Keen Kutter and a 4 1/8" Wade & Butcher Sheffield

3) With a Marlin Spike on bottom deck: 4 3/4" British, markings worn off and a 4 3/4" 4 line Camillus

4) The Camillus with the Spike is the same frame size as my Camillus "Tin Opener Jack" and same era too.

It is amazing the knives i find around here when i go looking.
kj

[JohnR]

KJ, that is a wonderful knife and I'm thinking pretty rare, I've never seen another.

I picked up one of the Camillus knives made for the British navy, rather poor condition but you don't come across them all that often so it will have to do unless I find a better one. Interesting in that the tang stamp has 1915, I found some information out there that this may have been the only time this tang stamp was used with a date.
Also posting a couple pictures of the same knife made by Shatt&Morgan for the Canadian Navy, same vintage.

[danno50]

Great condition on that old knife, Roland. Also some nice ones subsequently posted, Nice Schatt and Morgan, John. I have a 4 line Camillus with the 1915 date on it also. I had thought it was made for the Canadian military?
Dan

[Miller Bro's]

Nice knife Roland

I have one made by New York knife company same pattern but different can opener

[kootenay joe]

JohnR, thanks for pointing out the "1915". I had not noticed that 1915 is on the jigged bone knife i show in the last picture along with my OP knife.
Danno thanks for posting yours as well. Three of these posted here already so i guess it is not a rare one.
so, British Navy, Canadian Navy, or both ?
I believe Case made a similar pattern, all metal, for the Cdn. Navy. Maybe someone has an example to post ?
kj

[Miller Bro's]

I believe Case made a similar pattern, all metal, for the Cdn. Navy. Maybe someone has an example to post ?
kj

Here's one I have from Case.

[kootenay joe]

That's the knife i was thinking of. Thank you MB. Was this a WW I or WW II issue ?
kj

[Dinadan]

This is an interesting pattern that I do not recall seeing before this thread. Thanks for posting the examples, fellows.

[Miller Bro's]

I believe this one is post WWI.

[Miller Bro's]

Here's a bunch of them with the can opener blade, and one Camillus to keep the thread on track

[kootenay joe]

Lovely old Camillus Rope knife. Is it 4 3/4", as is my Tin Opener knife ?
kj

[Miller Bro's]

Yes it is, it had a bail and " U.S. Navy" etched on the blade.

[carrmillus]

..........every time I get to thinking I have a pretty good collection, somebody comes up with a new one(to me) that I never heard of!!!............. .........................

[Ripster]

..........every time I get to thinking I have a pretty good collection, somebody comes up with a new one(to me) that I never heard of!!!............. .........................

Old post ,hoping to bring some life back to it .
Some of you fellas are still around ,so wondering if you guys have any more pics or info too add?
Learned much reading this post that Roland ( RIP ) started years ago . He sure knew his stuff !
If anyone has the 1915 stamped 4 line and would be willing to part with it Please let me know .
It’s like Tommy said here awhile back . Just when you think you got it going on , something new ( or old in this case ) comes along and throws a wrench in the Spokes ! Now the hunt will Continue .
Take care out there all you knifers .