Vintage Camillus Knife Display

[PA Knives]

HI Gang!

I attended an auction yesterday of old hardware store from Ripley NY. It has been closed for decades and the family decided it was time to clean it out. It was great. I knew that some cutlery items had to be there somewhere. It was mostly old paint products and farming stuff. My last walk through during the auction revealed a really nice Camillus knife display in oak and glass. It holds 12 knives opened with the blades going through a slot and the bottom bolster sitting in a wooden cradle. Green felt like back ground. The inside has Camillus instructions on proper cleaning and use of the knives. The size is about 9" high by 16" wide 8" deep with slanted glass front. This is in GREAT condition. As it came up for bid the auctioneer did me no favors by telling the crowd that this was prize for any knife collector. Come to find out there was numerous others in the crowd. Needless to say the bidding was intense. I won finally at $125. I figured someone in this bunch would love to own such a great piece of Cutlery history. I am not looking to make a dime on this. I just thought that this group would be interested. If someone is? Please e-mail me privately [email protected] I would only ask for additional on the shipping cost. I don't want to make anything on it. By the way the framing is OAK. I can send photos if you like. If this thing had anything to do with Pennsylvania it wouldn't be going anywhere, I really like it. Nice size for display anywhere in the house without making the wife mad for "to much knife stuff"

See Ya!

[sunburst]

If this thing had anything to do with Pennsylvania it wouldn't be going anywhere

pa,

I appreciate your honesty and the chuckle you gave me as I read this...Thanks

I am just wondering now if I want to collect decades old Camillus knives in an oak case...It's almost like treasure hunting...

Thanks,

Sunburst

[PA Knives]

Sorry, this display doesn't have any knives with it. Man that would have been even better Although no one likes to lose money. I would entertain offers. But be aware that I have $125 in it. I will try to post photo's of this great display.

[PA Knives]

OK, here are some pics. No the knives don't come with it. but they are some of the prizes in my collection of Pennsylvania knives. Which ones do you like. Any way, this looks great and would be great for any collector. Make me a reasonable offer, I will just have to lose a couple of bucks. I like it a lot but wife says no more displays.

[PA Knives]

these are not included. Don't you wish, this is 30 years of work

[CCBill]

That looks like a really nice bunch of knives. If you would, please, tell us what they are marked, I'm sure I'm not the only one that would like to know. Somewhere in my "stuff" I have an old, Eagle, Philadelphia. The blades aren't the greatest, but if memory serves me correctly, it has some relly nice, unmolested, bone handles on it. If you can use it(and if I can find it), I might just send it to you.
CCBill...

[PA Knives]

In order they are as follows:

Atlas
Beaver Falls
Huessbuck
EK Tyron
Gilbert
Hollingsworth
Baldwin
Cat
CF Wolfretz
Albertson
Albion
Tidoute

I spell poorly too, I did this without looking I really like each of these knives. I thought this would be a great display. Eagle was used on other brands with the orginal name ground off. I think that they are beautiful. would love to see it.

[wt3l]

WOW!!! P.A. Thanks so much for letting us see a some of your collection. That's a fantastic group there. I need to get busy, i've passed on a couple of auctions. Keith J.

[CCBill]

Hey, Pa.
Here is the Eagle, Philadelphia and a C. F. Wolfertz & Co. Hawkbill. You almost need pliers to open hawk.
The punch in the Eagle is stamped, Pat. No.701873(1902?) The bone handles are perfect on both sides. The back side is a little bit lighter than the front...
CCBill...

[PA Knives]

The Allentown knife is really nice. It must have been made prior to the change in name from Wolfertz to C.F. Wolfertz. The later beng the older stamp. I say this due to the iron bolsters and flat end piece. It appears to be in very good conditon for its age. You have a nice piece their. The other is a fine example of a "harness Jack" VERY collectable pattern. Many people look for this exclusively. I beleive that the numbers you mention can be traced to the orginal manufacturer, but I am not at home so I can't find it for you. Eagle was noted for buying knives from "Premium" manufacturers and then grinding off thier name to stamp thiers. Quite often they left part of the name on so you can still Identify. In your case the pat. numbers should tell you the orginal manufacturer. Although it is well used, I find that collectors like me will look that the handles first for condtion and then the blades second. Certainly will not bring top dollar but again, very collectable. Hope this helps, thanks for sharing. I am currently finishing an article for possible Knife World publication titled "MInt Verses Everything Else" kind of on the subject of less than perfect knives for collecting. One look at my knives above and you will see that I have very few mint knives. I don't mind that a bit.

[El Lobo]

Hey there pa knives,

That is a cool display.

As I'm sure you know, Camillus doesn't seem to be a popular collectable (except military knives) for some reason. They are popular users, of course, and have made knives for about a gazillion others, and have a great product lineup. But the namesake brand...??? Maybe no real dating system, or too much contract work?

Anyway, enough rambling. I was just going to offer a thought about your find. Why don't you at least post a picture of the display at the Camillus forum? I know you are an active participant at Bladeforums, and may not be able to sell there...but a couple pictures might draw some interest. Just trying to help, hope you don't object.

Bill

[PA Knives]

Gosh, I wouldn't never object to your comments Bill, you have been an inspiration to many of us on this site. Point well taken and I will try to follow through with that idea.
Thanks

By the way, you didn't comment on my knives in display, I can't beleive that one of them didnt' catch your educated eye. That's thirty some years of searching in that box.

[El Lobo]

I liked all of your knives... etc, etc.
In fact, I'm sending a couple of my "BOYS" to see you...better lock those knives up!!
Just teasing, of course.

Just for fun, here are a couple of Camillus knives for you.....with one I believe to be a very close friend.

Bill

[PA Knives]

I take that dark bone handled one with the cork screw off your hands anytime Nice knives, what is the story on the bottom one? Nice looking for a newer knife;

[El Lobo]

I'm pretty sure the more recent Remington was made by Camillus. I just put it in to address the contract knife part of my previous ramble.

Bill

[CCBill]

Hi, Pa...
Thanks for the response. The Wolfertz appears to be un-sharpened. Somebody that really knows what they are doing, could buff the scratch marks off the blade and WOW!
If I read my Goins book, correctly, it was made between 1905 & 1944(I stand corrected). Thanks pa...

I liked all of El Lobo's knives, too...
CCBill...

[PA Knives]

I think if you check Goins book again you will see that yours is slightly later in age. When it changed to C F it was turn of the century. Stamps with just the last name are older. I think yours is at the beginning of the next phase though. JMO

[CCBill]

Hi, Pa...
How is your recovery from surgery coming along? I hope you are feeling much better...
I re-checked my Goins book and here's all it shows.
C. F. Wollfertz Co. c. 1862- 1873
Wolfertz & Waldman c. 1873- 1905
Wolfertz & Co. Allentown, Pa. c. 1905-1944
I'll bet you are right about the date. Maybe Mr. Goins just omitted the
"C. F." part, in the book. I stand corrected. Thanks...
CCBill...

[PA Knives]

I stand correctedk, I was wrong. I checked my sources and you are the one who is right. Yours is the older of the names. Hey when your ready to part with that beauty let me know. In this hobby you need to realize when your wtong, and it does happen to the best of us. Sorry, but gosh I don't mind when it is a great subject like this.

Thanks.

[CCBill]

Hi,pa...
All I can say, is WOW! I thought it was the older stamp, but I am certainly not an authority on anything. Don't know how it has survived in the shape it is, for this long. It looks better in person, than in the pics. The backspring is so strong that I broke my thumbnail, trying to open it a while ago. I'm thinking about selling my hawkbills. Don't know if I'll put the whole lot of them on freebay, or if I'll break them up and sell them. You should be the one that ultimately gets this one. I think you would be proud to own it. Make me a good offer. Who knows? I paid good money for it, so It won't be very cheap...
...CCBill...

[PA Knives]

I would certainly like to add that knife to my collection. Interestly enough, hawkbills are not highly collectable patterns, not sure why. I woud speculate that it is due to the ease of construction, one blade, usually wood handles, and most were bought for serious use and not to admire. I found your comment on buffing etc. interesting too. Many people are doing this now, but I for one and many others on this forum are very much against that. If you look at my knives, none are buff out. I clean lightly to remove rust and oil the jionts and that is about it. I am not preaching, I am stating my thoughts. I beleive that we have had several previous threads on this subject. Keep me informed.