All About Pocket Knives

I found this to be not just informative, but really interesting. It about the Camillus US utility knife. Notice Camco helped on the info on the site.

http://www.donrearic.com/demoknife1.htm

That is cool!

Interesting, a simple, strong and inexpensive knife, I have three, all stamped U.S.M.C. on the covers.

Here's two with different blade stamps, the one on the left: "CAMILLUS 1997", the one on the right: "WESTERN U.S.A.".

Luis

Great article.

Dale

It appears that there was a commercial version stamped 'USMC.' Are the GI versions stamped with branch of service or just "US?"

Dan, I don't know anything about this type of knife, or have very much interest in them, but here's one I picked up in an antique mall today with the plasic bag it came in. I haven't had a fix for a couple of weeks, and was desparate.

This may, or may not, answer your question.

Fran

It appears that there was a commercial version stamped 'USMC.' Are the GI versions stamped with branch of service or just "US?"

I read somewhere (but could not find it now) that issue knives were stamped "U.S." and others were commercial versions and could be stamped "U.S.M.C." "U.S.N." or "U.S.A.F.". But note that the link posted by Mountainwind shows one stamped "U.S. MARINE CORPS"

I believe that the person who brought mine got them from The Knife Center.

Luis

That was an interesting article as is the discussion following here on the forum.
I am attaching a photo of my only one. I rescued it from a storage unit after the death of an uncle. He was not a military man, so I have no idea where he got it. I always assumed it was military issue. Is that likely so?
The scale is stamped US and tang is stamped simply Camillus (over)1977. It is a decent specimen and now over 30 years old.

Camillus has been making the 4 blade stainless steel knife with the date stamped on the blade since 1949. Handle stampings include "U.S.", "U.S.A.F.", "U.S.M.C." and "U.S.N." A plain version without a handle stamping was made for Canada. This knife was also made with the Western tang stamp (some of the Western examples have a hollow ground spear blade). This knife was one of Camillus' biggest sellers with over 12 million produced.

Tom Williams

I have been wondering for a while, if the life of the utility knife was almost over. With different screw heads, cans with pop tops, twist cap bottles, it seems like for the knife to continue its viability, it would need to be redesigned to fit modern times.

You aint kidding Mountainwind. Next thing for them will be a plug-in to down load what you will be needing the knife for.

in the field, those knives will serve many years to come.