What is this camillus?

[Thunderbeardly1]

Found an estate sale Camillus 78 that doesn’t seem to match anything I can find. Can someone help identify?

[Ridgegrass]

Wow, never seen one like that! ??? J.O.

[Madmarco]

Unusual little "Cami" you have there, TB!
to AAPK!

[Thunderbeardly1]

Do you think it’s more something that is more of hodgepodge of pieces? Wondering if the scales are replacements too and was put back together with spare parts

[Ripster]

Do you think it’s more something that is more of hodgepodge of pieces? Wondering if the scales are replacements too and was put back together with spare parts

If it is stamped 78 on the pile side of main it’s possibly a Sword Brand blade with the etch worn off . The frame looks to be Camillus of an older period .
Could be wrong and if so please chime in . Looked thru the Camillus collectors site / old magazines and that’s how this came about . Couldn’t find a 78 that wasn’t a Sword brand . How long is the frame and are the pins 2 different metals ? Can’t tell from pic. 2 look brass and 1 looks steel ?

[orvet]

I haven't seen that type of file work on a factory Camillus. I suspect that someone has taken it apart and done the file work, quite nicely I might add. Made in the 1950s would be my guesstimation.

[Ridgegrass]

Wondering if it's not actually filed but stamped. I have this long-line Camillus "69" with "rippled" and coined liners that's similar. Close up the OP looks stamped. J.O'.

[treefarmer]

Studying the work on the back of the OP Camillus knife, I tend to agree with Dale's assessment. Looking closely there are several irregularities that probably indicate hand work.
Treefarmer

[knifeaholic]

Do you think it’s more something that is more of hodgepodge of pieces? Wondering if the scales are replacements too and was put back together with spare parts

If it is stamped 78 on the pile side of main it’s possibly a Sword Brand blade with the etch worn off . The frame looks to be Camillus of an older period .
Could be wrong and if so please chime in . Looked thru the Camillus collectors site / old magazines and that’s how this came about . Couldn’t find a 78 that wasn’t a Sword brand . How long is the frame and are the pins 2 different metals ? Can’t tell from pic. 2 look brass and 1 looks steel ?

I have owned two examples like the OP knife - same pattern, same file work. Each of mine had jigged dark composition handles. All original as far as I could tell.

[Ridgegrass]

Oddly, The "filework" ends short of the left end in the last picture. Strange that a customizer would do that after disassembly, filing, and reassemby. Could it be he was just practicing or learning on a Camillus? I gotta stick with it being stamped and stock. JMHO. J.O'.

[knifeaholic]

Here are pics of one of the two that I have owned.

[Ripster]

Here are pics of one of the two that I have owned.

Thank you Steve ! Nice Work on the springs on that one . Did find one on line in bone ,same frame as yours and the OP knife. No model #
Does yours have a # on pile side of main ? Think Camillus stopped that sometime in the long line early period . Late 50s early 60 s IIRC.

[knifeaholic]

Here are pics of one of the two that I have owned.

Thank you Steve ! Nice Work on the springs on that one . Did find one on line in bone ,same frame as yours and the OP knife. No model #
Does yours have a # on pile side of main ? Think Camillus stopped that sometime in the long line early period . Late 50s early 60 s IIRC.

It has pattern # 60 on the back tang.