All About Pocket Knives

Thanks to a heads up from Jerry and an understanding wife, I now have my first bone handled Camillus 69! She just arrived off the bay this afternoon. Other than a chunk out on the scale she's in great shape. There's very little blade loss, the deluxe stock knife etch is faint, but there, the blades are tight, and the snap is good.

I can't get the tang stamp to show up in a pic, but it's a long line stamp, bone scales, federal shield, and triple jimping! Look at it, jimping on top, the bottom center, and the bottom sides. I've never seen one just like it.

Now I have two questions. Anybody have an idea on a date range?

And, what would you do about the scales? They're good and tight. Would you leave it alone, or rehandled it? Im leaning toward leaving it alone, but............

In the 1957 catalog, the handles for the #69 are listed as "Genuine Bone Stag" and the pictures do not show the long line stamp.


In the 1965 catalog the handles for the #69 are listed as "Stag" and the tang stamps in the pictures are not legible.


In the 1972 catalog the handles for the #69 are listed as "Cabone" (Delrin). and the long line can be seen on some of the knives in the catalog.

I'm going to guess very late 1950s (1958 or later) to very late 1960s. Unless one of the ex-Camillus employes would have records for that period, I don't think you're going to get any closer.

I vote for leave it be. I've never seen one with all three liners jimped on the back either. (Not that I've seen all that many #69s. They just don't seem to show up very often.)

I was guessing very late 50's just based on things you've posted, and others. But I'm far from an expert.

I'm agreeing with you. Leave her be. It's the only one I've come across like it.