What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

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.
JACK OF ALL TIRADES
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by JACK OF ALL TIRADES »

Meridian_Mike wrote:
JACK OF ALL TIRADES wrote:My pic is good or at least right side up until I click it.
LOL.... congrats! You can read!!

::handshake::

::tu:: ::tu::
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Thats what I was told by my teacher when leaving eighth grade. What a memory from sixty fourteen years ago.
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Meridian_Mike
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Meridian_Mike »

JACK OF ALL TIRADES wrote: Thats what I was told by my teacher when leaving eighth grade. What a memory from sixty fourteen years ago.
::tu:: ::tu::
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
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Twhite
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Twhite »

My dad gave me this busted up Camillus. He kept it thinking one day he would fix it. He really likes the scales.

I was thinking of trying my hand at knife repair. I will need to keep an eye out for a 4 line doner knife. I will need the main blade and an awl.

I want to surprise him with a good working knife.
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Meridian_Mike
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Meridian_Mike »

The seller of this guy took my offer and it's on the way.
Poor pics but it looks like this one might be a 1941-46 time period.
It has a nick or 2 in the scales BUT the blades look full. Just needs a good clean-up.
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Mike

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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by kootenay joe »

"Old" does not mean "Busted". Age and Condition do not refer to the same thing. A 100 year old knife can look brand new. Age cannot be determined by looking at the condition.
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Meridian_Mike
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Meridian_Mike »

Not sure if your comment was intended for me KJ, but I was placing a time period of 1941-46 on mine because of what I can see of the tang stamp. It looks like a 3 line stamp to me.
And this guy sure looks to be in good shape, all except for the spot on the blades.

LOL.... well, never mind... I see where the "busted" part of your comment was intended to go....LOL.

Mike
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"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by kootenay joe »

Mike, not directed at anyone. It is something that took me years to 'get' which is why i have so many rather 'busted' knives. I think the confusion between age & condition is common among beginning collectors.
If someone had spelled this out for me a few decades ago, i would now have more 'top' examples. Money spent for 10 poor condition knives = one 'top condition' knife.
Go for the top.
kj
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Meridian_Mike
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Meridian_Mike »

10-4... Yep, that is a good philosophy KJ.....

The ones I search for are the ones that are "sorta sick" and not really "busted up" I recon.... I like to doctor 'em up and get 'em goin' again.
I tell ya' what, I have learned a LOT by doing this.

Mike
:D
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by kootenay joe »

"I have learned a LOT by doing this"
Me too. It is like a library of knives to refer to.
But when time comes to sell almost nobody wants them.
With better condition knives you can get some of your money back.
kj
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Meridian_Mike
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Meridian_Mike »

Very TRUE!
Good thing I just want to keep mine....LOL.
(I'll just let my kids give 'em away when I am gone....)

:D
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
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Twhite
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Twhite »

The wife and I were out junking today. I was keeping my eye out for a doner. As I want to fix that old “busted” Camillus my dad dad saved. Well anyhow I found a doner for $2 with a good blade and awl. 4 line just like I was looking for.

Now to try my hand at repair work. I can’t wait to give it back to my dad. That will bring back some good memories for sure.

Tom
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carrmillus
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by carrmillus »

..be sure and post photos when you finish!!!...I tried to restore a couple years ago, but didn't have much luck doing it!!... ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu:: ..................
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Twhite
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Twhite »

carrmillus wrote:..be sure and post photos when you finish!!!...I tried to restore a couple years ago, but didn't have much luck doing it!!... ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu:: ..................
Will do. I took the downer apart last night and got the rust off the blade. I will take the other apart this weekend. I need to purchase some rod stock for re-pinning.

Tom
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by UnderDawgAl »

From my great-grandmother, born in 1879, here's my only old Camillus.
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by woodwalker »

UnderDawgAl wrote:From my great-grandmother, born in 1879, here's my only old Camillus.IMG_20181209_084416346_HDR.jpg

IMG_20181209_084448664_HDR.jpg


IMG_20181209_084247983_HDR.jpg
Wow what a treasure!! :)
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Twhite
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Twhite »

I found this little 4 line this past weekend with 2 other pen knives. This Camillus had bent pins. So I decided to give knife rehab a stab.

On this one I did not want to spend a bunch of time getting all the stains off of the blade. I only removed the active rust.

Anyhow this is it all put back together. I will clean the pins up smoother and sharpen the blades. It was a fun project. First pic before. Second inside all grungy.
Tom
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Kingston73 »

Here are some of mine. The middle ones a Kingston and seems to good to be true, is there such a thing as a fake engineer knife?
Also, the bottom one has something wrong with the spring, you can see it's indented and the main blade doesn't snap open or closed. Probably no way to fix that?
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Twhite
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Twhite »

Anyhow several weeks ago I posted pictures of an old busted Scout with green handles. The main Blade was broke and the awl was broken at the tip.

I found another doner 4 line and proceeded to try my first rebuild. It is all together now. I need to do some finish work on the bolsters and scales.

The knife has no wobble and good spring. Pretty happy with my first attempt.

Before and after
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carrmillus
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by carrmillus »

...good job!!!...... ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu:: ...........
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Meridian_Mike
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Meridian_Mike »

Heck yeah!! Great job!

Mike
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by gsmith7158 »

Here's one I found floating in the bay last Sunday!
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Twhite »

gsmith7158 wrote:Here's one I found floating in the bay last Sunday!
Great looking knife. I really like the jigging on the handle
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by gsmith7158 »

Thanks Twhite! I had never seen one in that condition. I thought I'd better get it. :D
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by carrmillus »

...greg, I wish I could find a sheath in that condition- I have 2, but the sheath's are junk!!........... ::td:: ..............
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by woodwalker »

gsmith7158 wrote:Here's one I found floating in the bay last Sunday!
That's a beauty Greg!! Good job, great pickup!! :)
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