All About Pocket Knives

I see these offered on eBay, quite often for good prices. While I am pretty new to collecting Camillus knives, they somehow don't look like the stuff Camillus built. Are these the offerings from the buyers of the Camillus and Camco names? Made in.......??

Those are made for Acme United Corporation, the company that bought the Camillus name. They are made in China.

Here is a new promo Acme put out. Someone posted it in another thread.
It looks like they are moving in the right direction, having knives made in the USA!


Here is the link to their site: http://www.camillusknives.com/




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Thanks Dale! It is good to see they are bringing some of the manufacturing back where it belongs. What I would really, really like to see is someone taking over the old plant, sticking in some new machinery, and making the "classics" like the #16, #23, #72, the #50 and #51 Barlows, the various utility/scout/camping knives, the trappers, stockmen and peanuts.....Now that really would be something!

That would be nice, but not possible.
I understand the plant has been sold and turned into retail shops.
I think the majority of the salvageable machinery was sold at auction in September of 2007. The old Camillus is gone as is the old Schrade. We can only hope Acme will do a better job of honoring and living up to Camillus’ legacy than Taylor Brands has done with Schrade!

That would be nice, but not possible.
I understand the plant has been sold and turned into retail shops.

Pity. But, maybe an opportunity for an enterprising local knife maker?? Get a shop in the old Camillus plant...... can you see the tang stamp????? "Orvet Customs, Camillus, NY, USA....three or four lines, take our pic..

Seriously though, all life is a cycle of coming and going, ups and downs and all good things must come to an end, but it is truly sad in the case of Camillus, where it really wasn't necessary to go prematurely.

But the wheel will turn again - China is going the route Japan took in the '70's - and will take it to the same end, products will improve in quality, but also rise in price - and then one of these days India, or Bolivia, or Africa is going to be the new China and China will loose business to who-ever has workers willing to work for $2 a day...

I, too, are interested in this topic.
I bought one of these Camco on ebay. Surprisingly, the build quality was very good.
Scales are made of micarta with 2 copper layers. About the origin know exactly is China - tang stamp marked "P.R.C." (People Republic of China). On the knife and on the box there is no mention Acme or Camillus. At the same time on the sites of Acme and Camillus there is no mention Camco Workhorse. Maybe it makes someone else?

Vit,
I think those are the knives that showed up shortly after Camillus closed.
There was talk of Camillus bringing in knives from China, but as far as I know they closed before that happened. Perhaps they were in transit when Camillus closed. If so they were probably held up at the dock or at US Customs and eventually sold or auctioned off. Eventually yours probably made it to ebay, where you found it.

This is speculation on my part, but it seems a plausible explanation.

I think those are the knives that showed up shortly after Camillus closed.
There was talk of Camillus bringing in knives from China, but as far as I know they closed before that happened. Perhaps they were in transit when Camillus closed. If so they were probably held up at the dock or at US Customs and eventually sold or auctioned off.

And if this proves to be the case, you better hold onto that knife - it is going to become a real collectable!

orvet wrote:Vit,
I think those are the knives that showed up shortly after Camillus closed.
There was talk of Camillus bringing in knives from China, but as far as I know they closed before that happened. Perhaps they were in transit when Camillus closed. If so they were probably held up at the dock or at US Customs and eventually sold or auctioned off. Eventually yours probably made it to ebay, where you found it.

This is speculation on my part, but it seems a plausible explanation.

Can ask about it from someone who worked at Camillus until the closure of the plant?

That is on my list of questions for the next time I talk to Tom.

I too snapped up a few of the China made Camco's on the idea that they were still attached to the old New York Corporate Camillus during its bankruptcy.

I too snapped up a few of the China made Camco's on the idea that they were still attached to the old New York Corporate Camillus during its bankruptcy.

What is build quality like? Would you be kind enough to post some pics?

I guess I would say they are like a Steel Warrior or Frost China made knife. Very nice looking but not as rugged or with a sharp opening snap like Camillus NY made them. I will try and post pics if someone does not beat me to them. Still a few popping up on ebay new in box, price range of 10 to 25 bucks.