All About Pocket Knives

Hello everybody.

I've sent the details of this posting to Tom Williams (Camco) but I'd like to hear your ideas and opinions as well, please.

A buddy at work has a Camillus USN Mark 1 with the black plastic pommel that I'm looking at. There is a slight amount of play in the pommel, but otherwise the knife seems sound with much of the bluing remaining.
The edge has been sharpened, although not excessively.
The leather rings in the grip are smooth and tight.
The scabbard is a fiber/plastic B.M.Co.
There is no corrosion or verdigris on the knife or scabbard.

Questions, please:
Are the Camillus Mark 1s particularly desirable?
Can the pommel nut be tightened?

Thanks for your input!
-Tip

imo yes to both questions. i have my uncle's(ww2) camillus and used it sinse it was given to me(1957). truly holds an edge and is fit as a fiddle. i touch up the blueing on it when needed. remove the rear nut. this should reshape the screw on the tang. padded vise needed. and work slow, the screw is mushroomed to the nut. clean and renstall til tight . ping between nut and thread with a fine punch. small file will clean any burrs.

Hi Tip;
Just for the heck of it why don't you wait until hearing from Tom before performing surgery on the Mk 1. I am nearly positive there are several folks who would like to have the knife as is. Keep in mind it has given some sixty five years of faithful service.
moss

Tip,
Copies of the Camillus Mark 1 knife records were mailed out yesterday.

Tom Williams

Jonet143, Mossdancer, and Tom: thanks for the replies.

Tom, I really appreciate the info; I look forward to getting it!
One more thing I look forward to getting: my first Mk2! I'll post pics when it arrives.

What book do forum members suggest for military knives, please? M.H. Cole's? I don't have anything that covers military knives, yet, so I can't tell you exactly what I have coming except that it is unusual!. (I'm hoping collectible, too!)

-Regards

At Least Two to start. The second is about $25 plus delivery the first is $10 plus delivery. You can get them both from K.W. books.
moss

Thanks Moss. I'll start setting aside funds now for those two books.

Edit: Can someone post the K.W. Books link? I've searched for it and can't find a site that shows inventory. I'm not sure if I'm even looking at the correct "K.W. Books." Here's the closest link I've found, and I don't think it allows viewing available books: http://www.yellowpages.ca/gourl/http:// ... tore.on.ca

And Tom, thanks for sending the Camillus Digest and factory information. I'm much oblig'ed!

You've been most helpful, fellas!

Cheers!

Hi Tip;
Here are two links about the books.

If Tom does not mind I would really like to have copies of the documentation he sent you. Email would be fine,
moss
My E-mail is: wbcox97103@yahoo.com

http://www.knifeworld.com/milkniv.html

http://www.knifeworld.com/howtoorder.html

Moss,

I'll do you one better; (if it's OK with Tom) I'll scan the docs he sent me, post them here and anyone can have a copy. Let's see if that's not violating any copyright laws, and if not, I'll do it.

-Tip

P.S. Thanks for the book links!!

Tip,
Please post the Mark 1 info for everyone to see.

Tom Williams

WILCO Tom. Pics coming soon.

Edited: Whoops! I just reread your last post, Tom; I'll scan the Camillus Mark 1 info and post it for all.
Thx

Well, I've bought the Camillus Mark 1 (no fuller on blade) in a USN MK 1 scabbard (Navy Ordnance contract no. NORD 6804).

Here's a link for the Mark 1 scabbard info; scroll to bottom of page for Beckwith USN Mark 1 and Mark 2 Scabbards:

http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/bayo_points_14.htm

I've done nothing to the knife/scabbard, but plan on lightly cleaning it.
Tom, and others, what opinions do you have on whether this knife and scabbard were originally mated together?
Thanks and best regards!



USN MARK 1 stamp on ricasso:



Slight rotational movement in plastic pommel. Leather washer handle fully intact:



CAMILLUS NY marking:

Hi Tip:
Nice knife, Here is part of an art. from the green book I posted. See second paragraph. Keep in mind, nothing is absolute. You might have a set.
moss

Thanks, Moss.
I wonder what is meant by, "these were changed over to the hard plastic scabbards..."
Does that mean changed over prior to being issued or the leather scabbards that had already been issued with the knives were swapped out for plastic ones?

So much to learn...

Here's a similar knife with the same scabbard for sale on Gunderson's:

http://www.gundersonmilitaria.com/pictu ... lasticGmGa

Edit: I just reread the excerpt. It seems that some Mark 1s were in fact packaged/mated with plastic scabbards by the cutler.
-Opinions?

P.S. The techie in my house (my wife ) is assisting me with our scanner; I hope to post CAMCO's shared info before the weekend is up!

Jonet143, or any others...
Does anyone have this particular Camillus model paired with the plastic MK 1 scabbard? -i.e. black plastic pommel, black (actually, dark brown) leather handle, glazed (blued) blade?



If so, I'm curious what gov't contract number is on the back?



If you've got any Mark 1s, I'd enjoy seeing them! I'm trying to learn some of the differences, too.

Thanks!

P.S. I just came across another example of a Mark 1 with a MK 1 scabbard (bearing the 6804 contract number).
http://columbus.craigslist.org/clt/550934671.html

I know this thread died out about 2 years ago,but I'm new to registering on this forum and just came across it.I collect military knives,mostly US,and have 2 Camillus MK1s.I see references in this thread to Camillus MK1 knife records and wonder if that is something that could be posted here or PM'd to me by Camco,Tip or anyone else who might be privy to the information.Thanks ...

Guess the pace of this forum is a tad slow.

I know this is an old post but hoping someone can help. I’m looking at a Camillus that is marked USN on one side & Camillus NY on the other but NO Mark 1. Can someone tell me if this is a MK1 or not please?

CarMan wrote: ↑Thu Sep 21, 2023 2:44 am I know this is an old post but hoping someone can help. I’m looking at a Camillus that is marked USN on one side & Camillus NY on the other but NO Mark 1. Can someone tell me if this is a MK1 or not please?

Just read your post from a year ago . Will answer your question with a yes it is an early Mark 1 ,I believe. Does it have the screw on pommel nut ?
The early ones I believe only had NAVY stamped on the one side and no mark 1 stamp.
Am not very versed in the Mark knives yet but have come to realize the leather sheaths are a little harder to sort out than the plastic sheaths.
Here’s one that I just purchased with a leather sheath. Do believe it correct for the knife .
Maybe Eveled or one of our forum experts on this matter can chime in .
Nice fixed blade you have there . HAPPY THANKSGIVING .

Thank you sir & happy Thanksgiving to you. Yes it does have the screw on nut on the pommel. I appreciate the help.

Ripster. I am sorry I missed your question. I haven’t spent much time figuring out the sheaths. Mostly because I assumed they were matched up later so any sheath could end up with any knife. The NIB Pal knife I have was preserved in tar of some sort and wrapped in layers of impregnated material. It had no sheath packed with it.

With that said I’ve not noticed one like yours before. It certainly looks like the one in the book. In the picture Mossdancer posted.

eveled wrote: ↑Sun Dec 29, 2024 6:47 pm _1_4_zpshxruc6ss.jpeg

Still in paper, that’s awesome. Great find.

I agree!