Cammilus - Gentlemans Pen Knife

[Brumbydownunder]

Hi Folks First up I need to make it very clear I will NOT be pulling this apart, just giving it a thorough clean up - I would appreciate some info if anyone can throw some light on this style of knife.
I was gifted this little 3 3/8 Cammilus recently, a real Gem. Firstly I took the handle scales to be some sort of Bakerlite but now I think it is just a deep dark celluloid. Tang stamp reads Cammilus Cutlery Co Cammilus NY USA I realize tang stamp dating can be hit & miss but I am guessing pre 1950's (?)

I am curious about the way the scales are attached ... with just the back-spring pin I have to assume they are glued? They are not beveled under the bolsters and it's not a clam shell.
Bolsters are Nickle Silver & Brass liners
Is anyone aware whether Cammilus (or anyone else for that matter) were gluing handles scales on knives like these? Any info greatly appreciated.

[glennbad]

I could be mistaken, but I think they used a construction where the liners have had some pointy prongs punched out and bent out toward the outside of the knife. The covers are press-fit onto the prongs, and then the final pin put in place in the center. I would imagine they would heat the material or the prongs to make it easier to press in place, but that is a total guess.

[Brumbydownunder]

Thanks for taking the time to reply Glenn.
I think you may well be correct. On closer inspection there are two small 'dimples' at each end of the scales, which would point to your theory of a heated material being pressed onto some small spikes underneath.
I have highlighted them in this pic but on close inspection they can also be seen in the photos above. Cheers mystery solved I believe
Thanks again

[orvet]

That method of handle attachment was called "Prong Construction". It is seen a far back as some of the 4-line tang stamps (WW II and before).
I am not sure when they stopped using it, but I believe the nature of Delrin made it more difficult to use that method. They did use the post method where a piece of Delrin that protrudes through the liner and is melted to hold the handle firmly to the liner.

[Brumbydownunder]

That method of handle attachment was called "Prong Construction". It is seen a far back as some of the 4-line tang stamps (WW II and before).
I am not sure when they stopped using it, but I believe the nature of Delrin made it more difficult to use that method. They did use the post method where a piece of Delrin that protrudes through the liner and is melted to hold the handle firmly to the liner.

Thanks Dale .... all this info adds to the knowledge base. (And could help avoid some blundering mistakes on future knife restorations.)

Cheers Derek

[jerryd6818]

Derek, from what I've observed, they stopped using the "prong mounting method" right after WWII. They pinned the handles between WWII and about 1976 or 1977 when they changed to the "post" method. Below are images of the "prong" method and the "post" method. If you look in the blade well on a knife with "prong" mounted handles, you will see little triangular holes in the liners where they punched the "prongs".

[Brumbydownunder]

Thanks very much Jerry for taking the time especially with the photos
I gave my knife a really good going over today and yes I can see little triangular holes in the liners.

All this adds to the 'knowledge pool' and interesting as I am now getting a better fix on a possible age.

I have several hundred knives I suppose but as soon as I got my grubby mitts on this little beauty something about it really appealed to me.