Camillus Geo. Washington ???

Sauconian · Post by **Sauconian** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 9:13 pm

I went to two small shows today, with no luck finding anything I was looking for. Started hanging out at the table of a dealer friend, when out of boredom I wandered back across the isle for another look in a case of knives. This one caught my attention, and when I asked to see it, the seller said it was $10 but he didn't know what it was. He said the writing on it was German though !!

After looking over the outside, ( all good ) , I looked to see the blade was used and sharpened, heavily patinaed but reasonably full, and was tight with good snap. I then looked for the stamp. (Pa. take note !)

The stamp looked like Camillus, but as usual, I forgot my magnafier.

Went back across the isle to borrow one from my friend, who, when I told him what it was, said Take it !, Take it !, TAKE IT !

After paying, I returned to have my friend hand me a book, describing this knife as a reproduction of Geo. Washington's pocket knife. It was pictured, described as quite a find, and with a high book value.

Can anyone give me any details on this, or maybe a real world value ?

I'll bet George didn't realize he wrote in German.

Fran

knife7knut · Post by **knife7knut** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 10:18 pm

Nice score for $10! Don't know the exact value but the valuation in the book I'm thinking of(around $200)is way off base.

I have two of those in different sizes;one is the Camillus 4 line and the larger made by(for)B&B in St.Paul Minnesota. The copyright date on the B&B is 1931 which I believe commemorated the 200th anniversary of Washington's birth.The Camillus was probably issued in the same year.

When I first got the Camillus I thought the tip of the blade was broken off and/or re-ground but that was the way it was made.The B&B I bought on e-Bay awhile back for under $20.

Duffy · Post by **Duffy** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 10:18 pm

I think the Germans had those made up for when they won WWII

. Just kidding Fran. I've never seen one like that before. Your giving me the urge to go to a gun & knife show now Fran

.

Sauconian · Post by **Sauconian** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 10:55 pm

K7K,

I'm not surprised you have one. I could set a new collecting goal just looking for a knife you don't have !

Thanks for the reply. I haven't yet see a price guide that reflected the real world, but most seem to quote prices less that what I have to pay. I often wish they were catalogs. This one seemed too high at $175 in friend's book.

Duffy,

It's a terrible thing to come home with nothing ! Not a whole lot of knives at those little gun shows, but then the gun dealers sometimes don't know a good thing when they have it.

Fran

justold52 · Post by **justold52** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 11:45 pm

Well it was one of your most remembered show after all.

If I were you and I am not, but I think you need to buy your friend a meal out and some beer for his help...

Cuz you did leave it until he said Take it !, Take it !, TAKE IT !

Duffy · Post by **Duffy** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 12:46 am

I agree with justold. justold and I can take a doggy bag and a 6 pack as left overs from your dinner. OK with you justold?

Sauconian · Post by **Sauconian** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 2:32 am

Come on guys, I'm not that far in the hole. I had already made up my mind to buy the knife, IF......it was a Camillus. Friend just told me what it was after I paid for it.

I've bought 5 knives from him, including a Tryon no one else has wanted for 3 years, sold him 2 GEC's for $45 each, and installed a cap on his chimney because he doesn't do roofs.

That justold mooch ( whose birthday is Nov.29th. ) doesn't surprise me, but et tu Duffy ?
I would have thought you guys still had turkey leftovers to work on !

Fran

PA Knives · Post by **PA Knives** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 3:16 am

NICE buy,

I have owned and sold a couple of these. I got about $75 for each of them as they were not mint. There was a remake of these not to long ago.

Rusty1 · Post by **Rusty1** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 5:23 am

Nice catch Fran, I have only ever seen one of these before around about eight or so years ago in real poor condition

Rusty1

Duffy · Post by **Duffy** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 7:04 am

I ran across one on E-bay a little while ago but it's in no way close to the condition yours is in. From the sellers description they are expecting it to sell pretty high.

Gr8Scout · Post by **Gr8Scout** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 8:52 am

I think Camillus offered two versions of the Washington knife between the 1930s and 1998. I have the last issue, which featured handles of a material called something like 'Atlante' . A cast polysomething that looks kinda like MOP. My version is the one based on the actually knife held on display at the Masonic temple in Va that named after George Washington. The original knife was used as a model for this one. Part of the proceeds of the knife went to the organization. It's a nice knife, all decked out in typical 'Commemorative' fashiion with a fancy box and informative insert.

I wonder if lthe B+B shown above was actually made by Camillus? Knives even made by companies such as BUCK KNIFE were actually constructed in the NY factory.

More infor could probably be provided by member CAMCO.