All About Pocket Knives

This statement is in no way blasphemous, but recognizes the extra human effort needed to create beauty. The ability to do so is a divine gift to humanity. We can never be perfect, but we can sure try.
This pen knife was spotted and captured by knifeaholic, and I am grateful to him for parting with it.
I've looked at a lot of old knives, and hope to look at many more. I've come to appreciate the patina that represents a careful history, and the beauty that shows through from initial good quality.
This little gem has got it all. The blades snap nicely in all three positions. The knife was carefully sharpened, and not "cleaned" (shudder").
The bone appears hand jigged, testifying to its age, and is carefully fitted and beautiful!
Rattail bolsters, grooved with a round or "rattail" file are proportioned perfectly. The stamps on the tangs are scaled to the blades, instead of being partial or "run-off". The pins are hand-peened; the backspring fit is tight like a custom knife- - it goes on and on!
In an era where bigger knives are king, this little guy represents man's best efforts!!

I thought I'd add some detail pics for your ogling pleasure!

great knife charlie. old world quality.

That is very sweet upnorth Thanks for sharing it. s-k

Where ya been, waynorth? Camillus made fine knives right up to the end. I have here on my desk one of the CCC knives, the five inch texas toothpick, with 7mm etch. Real jigged bone handles, nicely polished. Grooved (or threaded) bolsters, imaginative shield, a blade that sits precisely centered between the liners, which is held open by a powerful backspring. Top notch quality, a combination of old time craftsmanship and state of the art machinery.

Too bad the fine old brand Camillus is only 'collectible' for the masses now, now that the company has gone under. BR Levine likes to write that knife collecting is all about fashion. What is in fashion now? Camillus, in a small way, for a short moment.

Very nice Charlie!

The bone is "alive" with very little wear. The tang stamps are so clean and clear; looks like you have a treasure for sure.

Gr8Scout wrote:Where ya been, waynorth? Camillus made fine knives right up to the end. I have here on my desk one of the CCC knives, the five inch texas toothpick, with 7mm etch. Real jigged bone handles, nicely polished. Grooved (or threaded) bolsters, imaginative shield, a blade that sits precisely centered between the liners, which is held open by a powerful backspring. Top notch quality, a combination of old time craftsmanship and state of the art machinery.

Too bad the fine old brand Camillus is only 'collectible' for the masses now, now that the company has gone under. BR Levine likes to write that knife collecting is all about fashion. What is in fashion now? Camillus, in a small way, for a short moment.

Actually G8S, I've been collecting the odd older Camillus since before the "troubles". They, like this little congress (3 1/8" BTW), will always be in fashion, in my book!
But I appreciate the quality of some of their later stuff. Many people own Camillus-made knives and don't know it. I probably have some Case knives, made by Camillus.
Show us your state of the art toothpick please!!

Nice one Charlie!

I have been in love with Camillus knives since I was issued one in the Marine Corps. Many of their knives, especially the later less expensive ones, do not have the excellent workmanship yours has. But the thing I like so much about them is that they ALL cut better than the average knife.

I recently found an old Camillus Barlow that has some of the best edge taking & edge holding, best cutting steel of any knife I own.

Camillus will be missed & collected for a long time to come. Especially when people post outstanding examples like this one of Charlie’s.

Dale

That is some knife Upnorth! Really like 2 blade congress pattern and that bone is sweet!

Sad about the death of yet another U.S. manufacturer. I agree that Camillus produced quality until the end but that wasn't enough to sustain them. That by itself makes their demise a tragedy.

Glad you folks like the knife, and its details! Here's another nice knife, within a group of knives. I have a serious soft spot for Schrade Peachseed bone. Old George Schrade did a good thing when he designed the machine that made this stuff, providing the industry with a less expensive yet functional and beautiful handle material.
The whittler is in nice condition, and has a nice little detail! Worked liners!
Along with the whittler, you can see a Schrade-made KK moose, and an equal end jack.

nice ones! i especially like the tapered center liner on the whittler.

this post prompted me to dig out my roll with my camillus moose in it as I didn't know what tangstamp was on it, lo and behold the three line stamping!

I just picked up a queen that looks very similar this weekend.
could you post a pick of that fine looking cam closed? I would be eternally grateful

Nice moose Kaleb!

Here is my most recent Camillus acquisition that fits nicely into this category.
Notice the detail work on the bail. The blades have nice snap open & closed as well as at half stops. This is some of the most beautiful bone, even though the two sides don’t match. I am told this is typical of the WWII era knives. I have some Pal knives from the same era that also have mismatched handles, but the bone is beautiful.
If Goins’ is correct in his dating of the tang stamps, the stamp on this one also puts it in the WWII era.

I have not cleaned this knife, but I think someone probably has at some point before I got it.

Perhaps Tom will be along and add further insight into this knife.
I am sure you can see why this knife frequently finds it’s way into my pocket!

Dale

WOW I've liked everything I've seen so far A LOT! There's something about the feel and quality of these old knives that can't be matched today. Here's my old Schrade Cut. Co., my first old knife.

Hey Charlie,

This thread came up again, and I took another look at my Wolfie.

Whada' ya think ?

Mines 3 1/2'', how long is your's ?






The knife.....how long is the cami ?

Fran

"The knife.....how long is the cami ?


Fran"

It's only 3 1/8" Fran........the knife that is !

Another Knife Collector wrote:WOW I've liked everything I've seen so far A LOT! There's something about the feel and quality of these old knives that can't be matched today. Here's my old Schrade Cut. Co., my first old knife.

That's a nice "scout" AKC!! Early, with the "wrench" cutout!! Is that the original etch??

Yep, it's the original etch, my great uncle gave it to me when I was little, he pulled out a tackle box full of nothing but knives one day and let me and my cousin pick out one each that was our favorite. My cousin picked a sterling fruit knife, which he still has, and i picked my scout. I can only imagine what else was in that tackle box. I guess I was destined to be a knife collector from age 9 or ten when I got it. The rest of the box was probably full of mint remington bullets and case sunfish. I did a little more than answer your question I guess.

This might make an interesting thread, "how you started collecting knives".

What a GREAT, generous great uncle!! I imagine you wonder where all those knives went??