What do I have here?

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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treefarmer
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What do I have here?

Post by treefarmer »

This Camillus is similar to a yellow handled 716 double lockback that I traded for a year or so ago. This one is a little over 5" closed, has a main blade that is a saber ground clip and the other is a saw, both appear to be stainless steel. Has a hole for a lanyard. I see lots of Camillus knives on the web but not one like this. Any suggestions on where to find out some more info on this one? Thanks for any help ::handshake:: .
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treefarmer
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Re: What do I have here?

Post by treefarmer »

Finally found info buried deep in a site, Collectors of Camillus. The knife is mentioned in a 1988 Camillus pamphlet. 1992 catalog identifies this knife as a 892B, 440 Stainless steel blades, 4" clip, 4" Bone saw, in a group of knives called ProMaster. Price in '92 was $24.64mfg/$61.95suggested retail. :D
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basser5
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Re: What do I have here?

Post by basser5 »

I have never seen one but i like it!!
My name is Tim and i'm a stagoholic.
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wishful
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Re: What do I have here?

Post by wishful »

I may have one of those knives NIB. I will search in my mess and let you know.
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Re: What do I have here?

Post by Vit_213 »

treefarmer wrote:The knife is mentioned in a 1988 Camillus pamphlet. 1992 catalog identifies this knife as a 892B
This knife is similar to the 892B, but has a different handle. Analogous handle Camillus did for Cold Steel, so maybe it's an early version of the 892B knife ::shrug:: .
I'd like to see the 1987 catalog ::hmm::
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treefarmer
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Re: What do I have here?

Post by treefarmer »

The washer under the pivot pin has Camillus stamped 3 times and the pin is left proud on each side, where the models in the catalog don't have a rivet and washer or any pins showing through the handles. The Kraton handle checkering is not the same as the catalog pics as was pointed out. Also the catalog pics show a Camillus etch, where this one does not appear to have had one. Then there is also the brass lined lanyard hole? Maybe this ain't an 892B ::shrug:: . Blade lengths are identical.
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Re: What do I have here?

Post by orvet »

Vit_213 wrote:
treefarmer wrote:The knife is mentioned in a 1988 Camillus pamphlet. 1992 catalog identifies this knife as a 892B
This knife is similar to the 892B, but has a different handle. Analogous handle Camillus did for Cold Steel, so maybe it's an early version of the 892B knife ::shrug:: .
I'd like to see the 1987 catalog ::hmm::
To the best of my knowledge there was no 1987 Catalog.
Tom said they did not print one every year.
The list of catalogs we have can be found here: http://www.collectors-of-camillus.us/Ca ... talogs.htm

The Promaster series has a steel liner with a rubber overlay ( Kraton) on top of it. There is some give to the Kraton.
I have the 873 and you cannot see any pins in the handles, they are covered.

I am not sure when Camillus made the knives for Cold Steel, but they usually made their own brand of every SFO knife unless the company ordering it paid for (and therefore owned) the tooling.
My best guess is they were made about 2000 or later.

You can find similar knives to yours in the 2006 catalog in the Buck Master series, though I don’t see a 2 blade version. Also in the Sierra Series in the 2003 catalog.
Those knives have the Dupont Zydel handles, a resin filled fiberglass product that is very durable. There is no give to the Zydel, it is hard.
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