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Camper knife
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2026 1:31 pm
by Don L59
Who had one of these camper kniveswhen you were a kid you could get them at the five and $.10 store for a few bucks I couldn’t wait to get mine!
Re: Camper knife
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 12:32 pm
by OLDE CUTLER
Don L59 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2026 1:31 pm
Who had one of these camper kniveswhen you were a kid you could get them at the five and $.10 store for a few bucks I couldn’t wait to get mine!
I have had similar ones. Could you show it with the blades open?
Re: Camper knife
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 12:55 pm
by Don L59
Sure Old Cutler. Here’s some more pictures for you. All 8 tools are intact. Main blade looks to be never sharpened. This knife came with a leather sheath to carry it. To big for your pocket.
Re: Camper knife
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 1:41 pm
by OLDE CUTLER
I always wanted one of those when I was a kid, but never had one until just a few years ago. I made due with Kamp Kings. The one I have now is this Mambro 11 blade camper/hobo knife which is 4 and 1/2 inches OAL closed. The blades show no wear or sharpening marks. Most commonly this type was seen with a leather belt sheath, but mine lacks one.
Re: Camper knife
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 3:15 pm
by New_Windsor_NY
Re: Camper knife
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 3:58 pm
by Don L59
Wow! Old cutler! Yours is like brand new. Very nice!
Re: Camper knife
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 5:32 pm
by Mumbleypeg
Many of these were made in Japan during the 1950s and 1960s by Mitsuboshi. They may still be making them.
I recall when I was about 10 years old being with my parents on vacation at some tourist trap and seeing them for sale in the gift shop. Of course, I had to have one and ended up with my parents buying one for me (likely just to shut me up
). Can’t recall ever actually carrying or using it. Despite their looks, they’re not very practical.
You can find dozens of them for sale on eBay.
Ken
Re: Camper knife
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2026 7:24 pm
by Froe
As a kid I always wanted one.
Froe
Re: Camper knife
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2026 3:26 am
by cody6268
Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Fri Mar 06, 2026 5:32 pm
Many of these were made in Japan during the 1950s and 1960s by Mitsuboshi. They may still be making them.
I recall when I was about 10 years old being with my parents on vacation at some tourist trap and seeing them for sale in the gift shop. Of course, I had to have one and ended up with my parents buying one for me (likely just to shut me up
). Can’t recall ever actually carrying or using it. Despite their looks, they’re not very practical.
You can find dozens of them for sale on eBay.
Ken
From what I understand, they did well enough with these to the point they were approached by Tim Leatherman when the Pocket Survival Tool started to take off, and the existing facilities in OR at the time couldn't keep up with demand. These were made for much of the eighties, and are known as "JPST" or Japanese Pocket Survival Tool.
They are in fact still around--mostly making kitchen knives. They still have a close relationship with Leatherman, serving as their Japanese distributor.
https://mitsuboshi-cutlery.com/
https://ltj-1986.com/leatherman/
Re: Camper knife
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2026 3:49 am
by Mumbleypeg
Thanks for that info regarding Mitsuboshi making some Leatherman PSTs. We’ve discussed my Japanese made PST here previously
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... 03#p669203
Ken