All About Pocket Knives

hi folks,am trying to find info on a knife i have,,,,,,it a camillus "american wildlife"series,,,,,has 1 blade,and a kinda curved hook on other end,not a gut hook,,,,says camillus,new york on one side of blade,,,,and the number 17 on other side of blade,,,,,,any help with this is greatly appreciated,ty,,,,,,,terry

Hey Dundee, does it look like this one? If so, I think it's called a #17 Canada Goose. AS far as history, I don't know but, someone will be along shortly that does know.

hi duffy,,yes look like that,,only,its 17,not 17b,and looks more like a heron than a canadian goos,,also,whats the hook for?,ty much
terry

Welcome to our forum, Dundee. Looks like Duffy has your knife. The knife is made for a gamebird hunter, the funny blade being a 'bird hook' for ease in cleaning birds. Easy once you have used it once or twice. The emblem is 14k gold under acryllic. Dates from the 1990s. The Wildlife series was huge and popular.

Phil

hi phil,ty for ya info,,,,any idea what ists worth,its still in original box,never been sharpened or used

Dundee, you might try watching E-bay for knives like yours and use that as kind of a measuring stick as to the value. Do take note though, not all prices payed on E-bay are what a certain knife is worth. That's why I said use it kind of like a measuring stick. Another option is to buy yourself some books on knife prices to date. Good luck in your hunt for info, and if I can help in anyway just give me a yell.

Hi Terry,

The Camillus bird knives came out in 1985, part of a series of American Wildlife knives, including the jumbo trapper and a lockback. Bird knives were the least expensive, of course. Just because it was a cheaper pattern to produce. Also, the figures under the acrylic were pewter, on the bird knives, gold on the others. I forget the guy's name that struck the dies for the inlays - I wanna say Sid Bell, but I could easily be corrected. They WERE a popular series, I sold a bunch of 'em.

As far as value, the list price on your knife was $20.75, back then. The value today is whatever someone will pay. I've got the full set of bird knives - Goose, Pheasant, Mallard and Turkey, still in boxes and cardboard sleeves. I'll sell the whole set for $60, so there's a starting point for your knife.

Take Care,
JR

(Yours is the 17C Turkey, btw).

I'd go along with ringmaster on this one. Sid Bell, yep that was the artist.

Ringmaster, how about sending me a pm, I'd like to take those four bird knives off your hands. Let them clutter up my knife room instead of yours.

Phil

I sent the PM, Phil - let's hope it works...

Well, now that I am the new owner of four new Camillus model 17 bird knives, I know a lot more about them. Nice pieces. It is probably the pheasant that I will pocket carry with me when afield, I'll put up the rest. Thanks JR!
Phil