All About Pocket Knives

Here is the Camillus/CAMCO easy open jack that I won in the last Johnnie Fain auction. I know this will be one of my most treasured knives because it belonged to Johnnie and it is a Camillus with an interesting history.

For anyone who didn't see it in the auction, here is Dale's description of the knife:

"It appears to me that this may be a Johnnie Fain custom job. I
think it is a CAMCO blade in a WWII military easy open jack frame. I know the
CAMCO name was not used until 1948, but this knife looks very much like the
military jack knives of WWII. It is possible that it was made after the war with
left over parts at the Camillus factory. The knife has nickel silver bolsters
and brass liners and most of the military jacks had steel liners and bolsters. I
am really not sure what this knife is, except that it is very nice and would
make an excellent user. As you can see, the blade is full."

Looking at the knife carefully, I have to feel that this is a true custom job rather than a factory knife. I think the second set of pins at the base of the knife are where a bail would have been from the factory. The slight gapping of the handle at the lower bolster also makes me think this knife is an example of hand-made craftsmanship rather than the impersonal perfection of a machine. But no matter, this is a great knife that I will show with pride.

Trail.. Please send that knife for furhter inspectiopn!! I need a better look and feel!! SWEEEEEETTTT!!! John

Here are two rope knives I bought from a new AAPK store, Coffee Shop. When I got them, I found that one had a beautiful patina, so I left it alone. The other had some scratches on the blade where someone had sanded it, so I worked it down with 400 and 600 grit paper to a nice finish.

These are the first Camillus rope knives I have held in my hand, and I was surprised at their diminutive size. They are big enough to get the job done but not so large as to be inconvenient for pocket carry. I photographed them with a Case trapper so that others like me who are not familiar with these knives can get a sense of scale.

I am very impressed with the steel in these knives. I don't really want a razor edge on a rope knife, but getting a nice sharp edge that still has enough bite to cut rope was an easy five minute job on my Gatco set.

We have seen a lot of beautiful traditional Camillus patterns on this thread, but I think the true essence of the company was the Great American Work Knife maker. These knives fit right in that tradition.

Do these count?

I think so Mitch.
They wear the Camillus name and were made by or under the auspices of Camillus Cutlery.
The top one was made at the Camillus factory, IIRC.

What is that thing on the left............doesn't look Camillus to me.

Dale

Here is a nicely-detailed brass handled advertising knife made by Camillus

"What is that thing on the left............doesn't look Camillus to me."

Dale

Dale you are correct sir! It's a AB COLTELLERIE 11inch Italian Stilletto, I was just to Lazy to edit it out of the photo.

A couple of Camillus. Not so old Delrin handled pieces.


165 pattern - 3 3/8" Stockman


709 pattern - 3 1/16" Half Congress

I have a few to add to the thread!

Not sure if I ever posted these....





But they are all Camillus....

Here's a couple of Muskrats I've picked up over the last few years

#19 & #20

Keith

Here's a cool little Camillus I just got off ebay. Some wear but more character. Stamp places it about 1916. Don't have it yet but when it comes I will post some better pictures.

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Nice little knife tjmurphy, I always like it when I get one of the old arched Camillus stamps. Your knife appears to have steel bolsters, another hallmark of an older piece.

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Thanks a lot. I like those old knives that show a lot of character and I've been waiting for one with the arched stamp, price was right too. I could buy the nice new pristine knives, and I have, but anybody can have one of those, not very unique at all.

Love those Muskrats Ozzie. I got a soft spot for a nice Muskrat. Thanx for sharing.

Heres another, just picked it up this past weekend. A (717)

Here are a two Camillus I picked up in vacation a couple weeks ago,
The first is a 711Y, a Yello-Jaket stockman. It has a good etch on the blade, but the scanner didn't pick it up very well. It is NOS, in the box from an old hardware store.
The second one is a jigged Delrin handled Muskrat. I found it in a pawn shop in a small town we visited.
It may have been carried a little, but I think it still has the factory edge on it.
There are a few Camillus still out there, but I am buying them as fast as I find them.

Dale

Strange... I've just proclaimed my old love for the Yello-Jakets as EDCs in another thread and then Dale is showing a newly acquired on here..!

This Camillus knife came in the mail today.
I intend to use it, I like the size and weight, good for in the pocket without being too big.
I however do have a question; Who knows when this knife has been made, it has a 4-line stamp, my other Camillus knife, a stockman, only has a 3-line stamp.

Regards,

Paul T.

Paul Tummers wrote:This Camillus knife came in the mail today.
I intend to use it, I like the size and weight, good for in the pocket without being too big.
I however do have a question; Who knows when this knife has been made, it has a 4-line stamp, my other Camillus knife, a stockman, only has a 3-line stamp.

Regards,

Paul T.

Camillus stopped using the four line tang stamp in 1945 or 1946, per Tom Williams, the historian for Camillus.
Here is the kicker though........They had a three line stamp before they went to the four line, & then they went to another three line stamp.
Post pics of the other knife & tang stamp & maybe we can figure out when it was made.

Dale

Here are some pictures of the other Camillus knife, This is the one with the super edge-holding blades

here are some

Nice Jacks Paul!!
I can't quite make out the tang stamp on the top one, but the two below it with the arched tang stamps are around WWI according to Tom.

Nice find.

Dale

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travman, love those old Camillus wooden jacks, especially the ones with the old curved stamping. There is an even older stamping that you rarely see, it consists of the curved stamping on both blades.

Nice ones.

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