Camillus Cutlery Co Question?

[DMLEATH]

I researched the tang stamp on this knife and it looks like the 1916-1930 stamp. This is a large knife 5” long. I don’t see anything like it in the knife book I have and I have had much luck on EBay. Does anyone recognize it?

[btrwtr]

Coke bottle folding hunter and an early pattern for Camillus. Looks like it has been rehandled at some point in time. Cool knife and love the large shield. I believe the handle bail is original to the knife.

[DMLEATH]

Coke bottle folding hunter and an early pattern for Camillus. Looks like it has been rehandled at some point in time. Cool knife and love the large shield. I believe the handle bail is original to the knife.

Thanks for that information! I feel like I’m in kindergarten on knife knowledge. I was wondering what would stand out as the knife being rehandled? I believe it but would like to know what to look for. Does all collector value go away on a knife that has been rehandled?

[btrwtr]

The handle color is quite light which tells me they aren't original. Original handles would likely be ebony or cocobolo wood which both tend to be much darker. Old wood handled knives like yours tend to darken even more with use. Rehandling normally will reduce the collector value.

[Gunsil]

Maybe you don't see any like it because the blade is well worn and heavily re-shaped, probably due to the tip being broken off at one point. Here is one in pretty nice shape, still has faint "Forest King" etch on blade.

[DMLEATH]

That makes sense! Thanks for the explanation! I see in these pictures that the knife Gunsil posted has the dark Handles.

Dave

[Ripster]

Maybe you don't see any like it because the blade is well worn and heavily re-shaped, probably due to the tip being broken off at one point. Here is one in pretty nice shape, still has faint "Forest King" etch on blade.

AD913029-B2D7-4AAA-938B-153AC10BD66A_1_201_a.jpeg286B0E01-A4A0-4DD1-99ED-3EBF3573E13D.jpeg

Gunsil. That’s a great piece of early Camillus work. It’s one of those that would be at the top of my collection. Thanks for showing one in good shape to compare to the OP knife.

[Gunsil]

Thanks JP, I have had it for maybe thirty or more years. I once had ten of the old wooden coke bottle hunters, always liked the big "working man's" coke bottle folding hunters, slowly sold them off as money was needed, the Forest King and a KA-BAR are the only two I have left. Camillus certainly made some might fine and well built knives in their earlier days. I've got an earlier (circa 1915) Camillus bone trapper with a super cool Camillus deep etch on the main blade. The build, fit, and finish on these early knives is equal to almost every other company at the time and better than many.

[Miller Bro's]

That's a beauty Gino

This one is not marked Camillus but was made by them.

[Ripster]

That's a beauty Gino

This one is not marked Camillus but was made by them.

Beautiful piece
Have a question now though? The OP knife has a bail and Gunsil and yours don’t . Did they not come with the wire bail and only the hole for lanyard or ? Both of those are just great old timepieces. Thanks for showing that old piece.

[Miller Bro's]

Beautiful piece
Have a question now though? The OP knife has a bail and Gunsil and yours don’t . Did they not come with the wire bail and only the hole for lanyard or ? Both of those are just great old timepieces. Thanks for showing that old piece.

The bail was usually added by the retailer if you wanted one attached. Some people, like me, don't like them so they didn't get one attached when they bought it new.

[Duffer]

Here is an old Camillus Folding Hunter with same tang stamp as OP knife. This one has etch OLD HICKORY.

[Ripster]

Here is an old Camillus Folding Hunter with same tang stamp as OP knife. This one has etch OLD HICKORY.

Another beauty,and with that Etch
Top shelf.
You guys sure have some dandies . Nice little knife show