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.
Take a look at this knife and see what you think happened with it.
I have my own ideas from the pictures.
I think the seller is puzzled by it and seems to make great effort to describe what troubles him about the knife.
This is the seller's description: The more I read about dating Camillus Knives the more confused I get so if I am a little off on age bear with me and look at all the photos including the ones in description for condition viewing. Steel Pinched Bolsters.
Knife is 3-1/2" long shaped like Peanut style stag bone handles with a 5/8" bomblet shield. Pinched Steel bolsters, brass rivets and liners. Master blade is little over 2-3/4" at mid stop and small pen blade 1-3/4" ...Now for the interesting part. .....Both blades have tang markings. Master blade marked CAMILLUS - NEW YORK - U S A on 3 lines with a straight line under Camillus looking like the 1960-76 mark. Second blade tang best I can make out as the blade has some pitting CAMILLUS CUTLERY CO CAMILLUS NY U.S.A. on 4 lines resembling the pre or during WWII markings .. No other markings found including a Number.
Solid old knife. Blades have been cleaned and have some pitting. They also have a half-way stop and very good snap for its age whatever that may be and virtually no side to side movement when open. Back Handle has an old tight stress crack on back side rums from rivet to bolster edge. I have it marked in red in photo above. Couple photos may look like it is cracked thru and past rivet but it is not. Least I cant feel it with fingernail. Both handles have some scuffs/scratches but the front one looks very good.
This knife is from a local estate and part of a hugh old knife collection I purchase last summer. Gentleman had some good old unusual and rare knives and this be one of them. He did some cleaning as you can see and I did add couple turbine oil in pivots so might have a little oil residue upon receipt,..
Nice old knife being offered with NO Reserve. You can date it anyway you like. I offer a lot of photos most of the time but I do try and point out things in description you are unable to see or tell in photos in an effort to eliminate any suprises.
I am not a collector or repairer and I dont cull anything....If I dont think its sellable I try and not buy it!!..
Added Note..Has been suggested by couple fellow ebay'ers that another possibility is one or maybe two blades COULD have been replaced. I will say its a possibility and if so it is a job well done by someone other than me!!..
I don't think the seller is trying to do anything other than sell a knife he bought to resell.
I am interested in what some of you other Camillus affectionatos think about this knife.
I've seen several old Camillus knives with the rat-tailed bolsters, the serpentine shape, and the long narrow shield exhibited on this knife.
Clearly, the master blade has been messed with. When I first saw this knife on eBay, I wondered, "Where did they get that long pull blade (which would probably be correct for this knife) with that tang stamp?" I passed on without much closer examination. After looking closer at your pictures, it's pretty obvious that the new main blade has had some serious work done to it, particularly to that pull.
Because I have nothing else to do, I sent this message to him. He seems like a really nice guy, trying to do the right thing. Would be a great fit here on AAPK.
"I think it's as simple as a pre-WWII with the main blade replaced. The rat-tailed bolsters and four-line secondary lead me to believe it may be from as far back as the 1920s, I'd almost bet my next paycheck that main didn't come with this knife. She's a great old knife.
I may be full of beans and taters but I don't think so.
I hope this has been of some help. Thank you for your time. Good luck with your auction.
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D."
His reply came this morning.
"Hi Jerry, have had lots of input and we all agree that the knife PROBABLY has had the blade replaced but you are the second one to say the master been replaced. 4 or 5 have said the second blade replaced. I tend to agree with you more than the latter. It comes from a big time collectors estate so I couldnt tet any history. He had 6 or 7 hundred knives and they were all OLD and included some good as well as some not so good...It is an interesting old knife and a good conversation piece. I have had more "questions" with input about this than any I have sold in the last 4 or 5 years or so ..Thanks..And I do appreciate it ..
p.s.Generally I dont post anyone's input on the item auction page unless they volunteer it but on this one I wish I had started from the beginning. You wouldn't believe the input I have had...Oh...well!!...Maybe you would!!... Thanks again I appreciate it...Harley"
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
......I agree 100%, that knife has the look of a 1920 knife, someone probably broke the master and replaced it with a 1960-1976 blade-beautiful old knife!!!!....... ...............
He seems like a really nice guy. I invited him to join us here at AAPK and he said he is aware of our little corner of the world and uses us occasionally for information but he's too busy to participate.
Mark, it's those bolsters. You can swap blades all day long but to put bolsters like that on a knife? To me it just wouldn't be worth it. Plus those are genuine pocket worn handles that match up to the bolsters perfectly. It's an old knife with a new main blade. And a very nice old knife at that.
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.
"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
I've seen several old Camillus knives with the rat-tailed bolsters, the serpentine shape, and the long narrow shield exhibited on this knife.
Clearly, the master blade has been messed with. When I first saw this knife on eBay, I wondered, "Where did they get that long pull blade (which would probably be correct for this knife) with that tang stamp?" I passed on without much closer examination. After looking closer at your pictures, it's pretty obvious that the new main blade has had some serious work done to it, particularly to that pull.
Might be mostly original otherwise.
JMO
....I agree, looks like the pull has been lengthened and also the swedge forward of the pull looks hand-done, but a good job, in my opinion!!!.................. .................
