All About Pocket Knives

This may be an odd approach but I am really curious what you all see and what I may be missing.

These are two auctions, one still active the other closed (cuz I bought it - LoL)
Both are Camillus Pilot Survival knives with sheaths and stone.

One is a 1981 with really nice appeal if you ask me, coloration, wear pattern, it just looks good on both knife and sheath.
It also has the correct stone. Heres the link:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/326738946653?_ ... p_homepage


The other is a 1972, also complete with proper sheath and stone. (this is the one I purchased for $107)
Sheath still has 1972 print on rear and is the tip protected model. Even verified that black rivets and grey pommel paint are correct for the year.
Link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/116742109088


My question is this. Why does the top one have so much activity and a ticking price tag and the second so little interest?
I tried my best to authenticate the 1972. The blade does look almost too black, and the sheath almost too clean but I got additional pics from the seller and from I can discern it's original and all correct.

The other is a later 1981 model and has the full rear protected sheath. It does looks really great with perfect patina on everything and I get that but is that why the added interest, or does mine come off as repro maybe?

The other bit is that tracing the correct sheath for these (without the rear print of course) is tricky and some infer that the fully protected sheath (with brass rivets) is earlier 67-68 ish. Is that maybe the key to all the interest?

So those are my questions for any of you pros.

I chose the 72 as it just seemed all correct, was in good condition and was an early model at a descent price.
Was I wrong?
Either way I am happy.
Thanks !
Swedge

Swedge, they both look like factory Camillus to me . No expert by any means. The pommels both have been peened from factory and have gray and black paint on end of pommel. The Armorers would dab paint on them before issuing them to Service personnel. The difference in prices and auction activity could be just different sellers with different followers and style . They made over 2.5 million of these . Some 6 inch blade and some 5 . The 5 inch seems more common and believe was the latter of the 2 . And the dates do make a difference to some of us as collectors .
You did your research and asked seller for more pics and got a decent military knife in my humble opinion.

Ripster wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 8:00 pm Swedge, they both look like factory Camillus to me . No expert by any means. The pommels both have been peened from factory and have gray and black paint on end of pommel. The Armorers would dab paint on them before issuing them to Service personnel. The difference in prices and auction activity could be just different sellers with different followers and style . They made over 2.5 million of these . Some 6 inch blade and some 5 . The 5 inch seems more common and believe was the latter of the 2 . And the dates do make a difference to some of us as collectors .
You did your research and asked seller for more pics and got a decent military knife in my humble opinion.

Thanks JP. It was a question I was asking myself while considering them "what might I be missing here?", and I must have had 20 of them in the running - boiled down to these two (although an early 67 would be cool).
The blade on the 72 is almost too pristine, so I over-scrutized it some. I mean it has no wear and that pointed tip is as pointy as they come. It's going to be fun in any case, but I value other opinions as there are just so many and repros are definitely out there.

Appreciate you looking !