All About Pocket Knives

Not familiar with what I have here, nice aged bone handle, some blade loss, I’m guessing 1940s, but in my review of posts in the Camillus sub forum there was no mention of a #12. Any body familiar with this model or know the approx age?

I've had a couple of these 12 patterns. Mine were from the '40's and '50's. Your tang stamp looks like '40's to me, an uncommon stamp. I think this stamp was used before the short line stamp.

It is the no line stamp used for only a year or so after the war. Lovely old bones. Use shows that it served it's purpose. Knice pick up. (The no line showed up on some models ex. 99 for a little longer.) Great find.

Thanks for the input, I didn’t think I saw a comparable stamp in the charts available on the AAPK threads. Doglegg where do I find more information about this “No line” stamp, it was what was perplexing me since I didn’t see any lines,thought maybe they had worn down but that doesn’t make any sense when the words are visible. Is there a reference book that discusses this or perhaps a compendium of catalogues for Camillus?

Leo7504 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 24, 2025 12:45 am Thanks for the input, I didn’t think I saw a comparable stamp in the charts available on the AAPK threads. Doglegg where do I find more information about this “No line” stamp, it was what was perplexing me since I didn’t see any lines,thought maybe they had worn down but that doesn’t make any sense when the words are visible. Is there a reference book that discusses this or perhaps a compendium of catalogues for Camillus?

I can't point you to one place. There are discussions about it here on some threads. Most of the information is gleaned from comments of others. I'm not sure why it isn't included in our research section. I have 7 or 8 examples. Some say it started use as early as 1944 but I have no proof of that. In the first Camillus catalogues after the war the pictures are all no liners. Catalog can be seen on "Collectors of Camillus web site. There is a 12 on eBay right now.

Leo7504 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 24, 2025 12:45 am Thanks for the input, I didn’t think I saw a comparable stamp in the charts available on the AAPK threads. Doglegg where do I find more information about this “No line” stamp, it was what was perplexing me since I didn’t see any lines,thought maybe they had worn down but that doesn’t make any sense when the words are visible. Is there a reference book that discusses this or perhaps a compendium of catalogues for Camillus?

I can't point you to one place. There are discussions about it here on some threads. Most of the information is gleaned from comments of others. I'm not sure why it isn't included in our research section. I have 7 or 8 examples. Some say it started use as early as 1944 but I have no proof of that. In the first Camillus catalogues after the war the pictures are all no liners. Catalog can be seen on "Collectors of Camillus web site. There is a 12 on eBay right now.

Thanks dogleg, I enjoy learning about these long forgotten details that seem to be excluded from the mainstream.

Doglegg I happened upon your post from 2020 and saw your 12 and damn it looks a lot like mine, handle a little more of a red tinge, mine yellow, but that could just be the light. After looking at the catalogs I see the #12 in the 1946 catalog but not the 1948 catalog. I guess that gives a fairly solid end date for the #12.

Those catalogues have a lot of information and are helpful.

doglegg wrote: ↑Fri Oct 24, 2025 2:39 am

Leo7504 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 24, 2025 12:45 am Thanks for the input, I didn’t think I saw a comparable stamp in the charts available on the AAPK threads. Doglegg where do I find more information about this “No line” stamp, it was what was perplexing me since I didn’t see any lines,thought maybe they had worn down but that doesn’t make any sense when the words are visible. Is there a reference book that discusses this or perhaps a compendium of catalogues for Camillus?

I can't point you to one place. There are discussions about it here on some threads. Most of the information is gleaned from comments of others. I'm not sure why it isn't included in our research section. I have 7 or 8 examples. Some say it started use as early as 1944 but I have no proof of that. In the first Camillus catalogues after the war the pictures are all no liners. Catalog can be seen on "Collectors of Camillus web site. There is a 12 on eBay right now.

Leo7504. Nice 12 no line you have there . Our Friend Dogleg mentioned 1944 for first year of the #12 . That or early 45 is also what have gathered over many years of collecting Camillus knives . In 1946 I believe they had a#12 and some say 1947 . The 1948 catalog was put together in 1947 . Believe that was also the last year they made the # 12 model . Camillus didn’t keep real good track and so now there are gaps in the real paper trail . Any case there’s not many of them out there for sale . Here’s a short line (1946 thru 1950 is reported dates of this stamp ) 12 I picked up some years ago . Thanks for sharing your pics and hope this helps give you more insight.

Ripster wrote: ↑Fri Oct 24, 2025 5:23 pm

doglegg wrote: ↑Fri Oct 24, 2025 2:39 am

Leo7504 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 24, 2025 12:45 am Thanks for the input, I didn’t think I saw a comparable stamp in the charts available on the AAPK threads. Doglegg where do I find more information about this “No line” stamp, it was what was perplexing me since I didn’t see any lines,thought maybe they had worn down but that doesn’t make any sense when the words are visible. Is there a reference book that discusses this or perhaps a compendium of catalogues for Camillus?

I can't point you to one place. There are discussions about it here on some threads. Most of the information is gleaned from comments of others. I'm not sure why it isn't included in our research section. I have 7 or 8 examples. Some say it started use as early as 1944 but I have no proof of that. In the first Camillus catalogues after the war the pictures are all no liners. Catalog can be seen on "Collectors of Camillus web site. There is a 12 on eBay right now.

Leo7504. Nice 12 no line you have there . Our Friend Dogleg mentioned 1944 for first year of the #12 . That or early 45 is also what have gathered over many years of collecting Camillus knives . In 1946 I believe they had a#12 and some say 1947 . The 1948 catalog was put together in 1947 . Believe that was also the last year they made the # 12 model . Camillus didn’t keep real good track and so now there are gaps in the real paper trail . Any case there’s not many of them out there for sale . Here’s a short line (1946 thru 1950 is reported dates of this stamp ) 12 I picked up some years ago . Thanks for sharing your pics and hope this helps give you more insight.

Wow, some beautiful bone covers there. Have a good weekend.

Ripster,
Wow, that’s a 75 yr old knife that has not seen heavy use Ripster, rare condition for a knife that old. This is a popular pattern check this out. Top is the Camillus prob 1946 or so, middle is a WR case and sons 1905-14, bottom is a Wabash Cutlery co, 1926-35. All of these have seen significant time on the whetstone, I don’t think it was unusual for a knife owner to sharpen his personal carry knives on the whetstone and as I know this is a particularly pleasing activity, I love the smell of the oil and the feel of the grinding on the stone and the results as these high carbon blades can carry an edge but alas over many years these blades show the effects of continuous sharpening.

Leo7504 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 25, 2025 1:28 am Ripster,
Wow, that’s a 75 yr old knife that has not seen heavy use Ripster, rare condition for a knife that old. This is a popular pattern check this out. Top is the Camillus prob 1946 or so, middle is a WR case and sons 1905-14, bottom is a Wabash Cutlery co, 1926-35. All of these have seen significant time on the whetstone, I don’t think it was unusual for a knife owner to sharpen his personal carry knives on the whetstone and as I know this is a particulawonderrly pleasing activity, I love the smell of the oil and the feel of the grinding on the stone and the results as these high carbon blades can carry an edge but alas over many years these blades show the effects of continuous sharpening.IMG_2692.jpeg

A wonderful trio

I'm going to pop mine in here. Not sure if it's a #12, it's the same style and dimension, but doesn't have a 12 tang stamp. It is a Camillus 4 Line Tang Stamp bone handle swell end trapper. So if you guys know the actual pattern number I would appreciate it.

Papa Bones wrote: ↑Sun Dec 14, 2025 7:12 pm I'm going to pop mine in here. Not sure if it's a #12, it's the same style and dimension, but doesn't have a 12 tang stamp. It is a Camillus 4 Line Stang Stamp bone handle swell end trapper. So if you guys know the actual pattern number I would appreciate it.

Camillus Crest shield swell end bone.jpg

Pattern #? The bones are a perfect 10!

doglegg wrote: ↑Sun Dec 14, 2025 11:00 pm
Pattern #? The bones are a perfect 10!

Thanks Floyd.

Papa Bones wrote: ↑Sun Dec 14, 2025 7:12 pm I'm.....

Smitty, whatever the pattern number is,
it is still a GORGEOUS piece of pocket cutlery.

New_Windsor_NY wrote: ↑Sun Dec 14, 2025 11:17 pm
Smitty, whatever the pattern number is,
it is still a GORGEOUS piece of pocket cutlery.

Appreciate It Skip.

Papa Bones wrote: ↑Sun Dec 14, 2025 7:12 pm I'm going to pop mine in here. Not sure if it's a #12, it's the same style and dimension, but doesn't have a 12 tang stamp. It is a Camillus 4 Line Tang Stamp bone handle swell end trapper. So if you guys know the actual pattern number I would appreciate it.

Camillus Crest shield swell end bone.jpg

Very nice old 4 line there Smitty ! Them old bones and that shield really are attractive.
As far as the pattern number IIRC our friend Vitale said they used to be 4 numbers then Camillus dropped the first and second number. So the #12 in the short line was either 2012 or 1012 in the earlier 4 line period . Can’t remember if the No pattern number was before the 4 number patterns. Believe it was . As Camillus grew they needed better inventory control so they started stamping numbers on the pile side . This may be off as it’s by memory and conversation between Vit and I a few years ago. Miss seeing his posts ,maybe someday he’ll return.
Somewhere in these hallowed pages in the Camillus section is the posts that we had this conversation.
The 4 line Barlow is a pattern that has 4 digits stamped on pile side quite often. Or there are just more Barlows floating around.
Merry Christmas to you and yours brother

Ripster wrote: ↑Fri Dec 19, 2025 1:25 pm
Very nice old 4 line there Smitty ! Them old bones and that shield really are attractive.
As far as the pattern number IIRC our friend Vitale said they used to be 4 numbers then Camillus dropped the first and second number. So the #12 in the short line was either 2012 or 1012 in the earlier 4 line period . Can’t remember if the No pattern number was before the 4 number patterns. Believe it was . As Camillus grew they needed better inventory control so they started stamping numbers on the pile side . This may be off as it’s by memory and conversation between Vit and I a few years ago. Miss seeing his posts ,maybe someday he’ll return.
Somewhere in these hallowed pages in the Camillus section is the posts that we had this conversation.
The 4 line Barlow is a pattern that has 4 digits stamped on pile side quite often. Or there are just more Barlows floating around.
Merry Christmas to you and yours brother

Appreciate all the info there J.P. I may go back through and search for that. I know Camillus, and knives made for Sears & Roebuck by Camillus, from late 1940's and early 1950's and back, had the pattern numbers printed or lightly etched on the main clip blade, but no pattern numbers stamped on tangs. Sometimes by going through older catalogs of Big Brand Stores or Hardware stores of the time, you can find pattern number with a description & size, but most were not photos, but were retail design artist renditions, and then print setters putting in the correct blocks. And even then, I know in a couple references for Craftsman in Sears catalogs, they have had wrong pattern number for the photo. But I guess, even if we're not positive of a pattern number, if we have such an older piece in great shape, we should be happy. After all, if everyone kept them pristine over the years, and didn't use them, then the desire to find them would be low and their values would be Nil. Wish you the best, and Hope You and Yours have a great Christmas also.

I figured I probably had an old #12 laying around somewhere. It turns out I picked one up last month at a gun show. Not a pristine example, but then again i'm not a pristine example and it's older than I am!
Goins dates the tang stamp as circa 1946-1956. I'm not certain that Goins is correct, it may have been used during the war as well. I will have to dig into my notes and correspondence with Tom Williams. Tom was not confident. about Mr Goins' dates of Camillus tang stamps.

Whenever it was made, it's a nice old example
of carbon steel and bone handles!

orvet wrote: ↑Wed Feb 25, 2026 5:14 pm I figured I probably had an old #12 laying around somewhere. It turns out I picked one up last month at a gun show. Not a pristine example, but then again i'm not a pristine example and it's older than I am!
Goins dates the tang stamp as circa 1946-1956. I'm not certain that Goins is correct, it may have been used during the war as well. I will have to dig into my notes and correspondence with Tom Williams. Tom was not confident. about Mr Goins' dates of Camillus tang stamps.

Whenever it was made, it's a nice old example
of carbon steel and bone handles!

Very sweet old knife Dale.

Sweet!