Tang stamps/age of knife

[redranger]

Hello, I recently purchased this knife through an auction on eBay and I noticed that it had different stamps on each blade and I was wondering why. Was that something camillus did in the earlier years?any idea on the age of the knife because of the different tang stamps? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Dan In MI]

More info on Camillus tang stamps can be found here:

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/co ... nce-guide/

Based on the more recent tang stamp, your knife appears to have been made between 1916 and the 1930s. As for why it has blades with two different tang stamps, my best guess is that they had some of the older blades laying around and needed to use up that inventory.

[redranger]

Thanks for info. I appreciate it.

[Gunsil]

More info on Camillus tang stamps can be found here:

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/co ... nce-guide/

Based on the more recent tang stamp, your knife appears to have been made between 1916 and the 1930s. As for why it has blades with two different tang stamps, my best guess is that they had some of the older blades laying around and needed to use up that inventory.

This is incorrect. The main blade has the early three line mark, it is not the four line mark of the 1930s. The blade marks are correct for Camillus knives of the teens. Many early three line Camillus knives have the arched stamp on the small blade and the straight line three line stamp on the main blade. Some say this combination of marks dates pre 1916.

[redranger]

Thanks for the updated info.

[Mumbleypeg]

Cutleries are known for frugality - they wasted nothing. So it’s not uncommon to find knives having markings spanning several years, having an older blade that is a year or two (sometimes more) older than the newer blade. Unless the stamps were changed during the interim period no one would ever know it, else it would be seen more.

And remember, your knife was made long before the advent of knife collecting and the internet. Knives were simply tools to be used and the buyer likely never knew the significance or meaning of the differing stamps. Who knew years later there would be a bunch of goofy folks like us obsessing over those details?

Ken

[Dan In MI]

This is incorrect. The main blade has the early three line mark, it is not the four line mark of the 1930s.

I forgot to specify early 1930s, which is per the AAPK research page I linked to. Thanks for clearing that up.

[Gunsil]

Still not early 30s, the OP knife is circa 1914-1916, maybe a few years earlier. That is not an instance of using up older left over blades with earlier marks. Many older companies specifically marked the main blade differently than the secondary blades and the earlier Camillus knives are examples of this. NYK often used a smaller different mark on the secondaries, KA-BAR used several different Union Cut Co marks on their secondaries. Often the stamp used on main blades would not fit on the smaller secondary blades and they had specific different stamps for these blades. If one looks at a lot of early Camillus knives one will see plenty of knives marked just like the OP knife. These early Camillus knives are not common or often seen, but I have four of them and have sold a few, all with the same marks as the OP knife, and I have seen a lot more. By the way, there will be a small knife show in Camillus, NY Aug 21st, lots of Camillus knives will be on display and for sale. There is also a small museum dedicated to Camillus knives in town, well worth a visit. The show is at the firehouse for anybody interested, and more info on the Camillus Collectors site.

[Dan In MI]

I still don't know everything about old pocket knives, but I'm now a little more knowledgeable. Thank you for the education! Sadly, I won't be able to make it to the show, but I sure would like to check out the museum someday.