Camillus WWII and before!

[Miller Bro's]

I think those handles may be Rogers bone, perhaps an earlier pattern or one that is worn way down.

IMO that is not Rogers bone. The jigging pattern is typical of what you see coming out of N.Y. state knife companies pre WWI.

Very similar to the pattern you see on Walden, Pressbutton & N.Y. Knife Co. knives of that period. I have a couple early Camillus knives that have different jigging patterns, then it seems they settled into using just the Rogers pattern we are more familiar with

[orvet]

Thanks Dimitri.
I really appreciate your input!
You have more Rogers Bone than I do, so I figured you would know.

Thanks.

[Miller Bro's]

Your welcome Dale

Here is an example of what I am talking about, this is, I believe, a pre WWI era knife with the same type jigging that Trav posted.

[travman]

Great knife MB
Would that have been for military use or the common seamans use?

With Camillus still in its young age were they not tooled up to
produce their own jigged scales at the time , maybe having to get
their supply from others? It seems the jigging varies in the early knives?

Trav

[Miller Bro's]

With Camillus still in its young age were they not tooled up to
produce their own jigged scales at the time , maybe having to get
their supply from others?

That is what I was thinking.

It seems the jigging varies in the early knives?

I have noticed two variations so for in the early jigging.

Would that have been for military use or the common seamans use?

I can`t prove it but it is almost identical to the wood handle version you see more often, this knife is missing it`s bail

[msteele6]

Some really great knives on this page (oops, last page).

The last two have what I have seen called "pick bone" handles. It appears to have been one of the earliest handle materials Camillus used, probably in the 1910's or thereabouts.

[travman]

Heres a Camillus harness jack
3-5/8" ebony handled
3 line stamp on main and punch with a 1908 patent date
MAIN
CAMILLUS
CUTLERY Co.
NEW-YORK

PUNCH
CAMILLUS
CUTLERY CO.
CAMILLUS.N.Y.

BACK OF PUNCH
PATENTED
AUGUST 11th 1908
NO.895778

Trav

[orvet]

WOW Trav,
Where do you keep finding these beauties???
Don't let Charlie (upnorth) see that, he will want it! He loves HJ's!

[Miller Bro's]

Nice one Here are a few more oldies

[travman]

Dale i found that HJ in a carpenters tool chest i got at a flea market a couple years back
MB that blade on that easy opener is AWESOME It appears to be etched ? easy opener?
Is it the typical 3-5/8"?
Here is another 3 line Camillus
5-1/4" Forest King
match striker pull
CAMILLUS
CUTLERY Co.
NEW-YORK
Trav

[orvet]

These belong in this thread too.
These tang stamps with serif letters are 1916 accordine to Goins.

[Miller Bro's]

MB that blade on that easy opener is AWESOME It appears to be etched ? easy opener?
Is it the typical 3-5/8"?

Yes on all counts

[travman]

Nice one Dale
That knife has had a good life ,used alot but well treated
Trav

[Miller Bro's]

Couple utility knives.

[orvet]

Nice ones Dimitri.

Does anyone have an extra shield like the ones on the two knives Dimitri just posted?
I need a USN or MD USN shield for a knife I am building for my niece who is a nurse in the Navy.

[Miller Bro's]

Dale,

The first one I posted above has the shield "U.S.A.".

The ones marked MD USN are very hard to find, I don`t have any parts knives I can take one off. I may have a USA shield if you want one of those

[orvet]

Thanks Dimitri, I didn't enlarge the picture when I looked at it and I thought it was an "N".
I may have an extra USA shield. I appreciate the offer I will let you know if I need it.

[MikeB]

Here is an EO I picked up some time ago, it has 4 line stamp on the main blade which is hard to see and even harder to photo, it has no shield, but the bone is great. I wonder if it is an army issue.




I'd appreciate any info

Mike

[orvet]

Mike, I would say most likely that knife was a military contract knife, or a knife made right after World War II from blades and parts left over from the military contracts.

I do know there were some contracts were canceled when the war ended. Camillus had already begun production on some military contracts and had tens of thousands of parts left over. Since they already had the parts made they finished out a lot of knives with parts they had already made for the military contracts. As a result Camillus sold a lot of military knives on the civilian market after the war. I know this was certainly the case for the MIL-K knives, but I am not certain that your easy open jack was one of them. It is most likely, imo, that your knife was made for the military.


Nice knife by the way, I love that pattern!

[MikeB]

Thanks Dale, an interesting explanation.
Mike

[Mossdancer]

Here is an oddball for the oldies. It is named a Rase or Timber Scribe. I believe it was for marking the grade of the fallen tree. Or the timber company that cut it. Anyone with a wag at the year?
moss

[orvet]

Definately pre 1946, but most likely pre WWII.
Nice find Moss!


I think I have one somewhere. I will find it & post some pics.

[travman]

Here is a pre war Camillus
3-3/4" English Jack
4 line stamp on main and pen blade
Trav

[orvet]

VERY NICE Trey!
That is not a common pattern.
Love that bone!
Is all the handle there on the other side?


Where are you finding all these unusual patterns in such nice condition?

[travman]

Thanks Dale
The bone on the back is just as nice
yes a very uncommon pattern ,such a sweet knife both blades walk an talk
I as they say "Pound the pavement" to find these knives
my focus is on the Camillus Brands searching wherever i go
it is getting hard to find these different patterned Camillus knives

Trav