What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

The Camillus Cutlery Company was one of the oldest knife manufacturers in the United States with roots dating back to 1876. The company manufactured Camillus branded knives and was a prolific contractor for other knife brands up until its last days in 2007 when the company filed for bankruptcy.
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Lama »

Thank you for the info, gentlemen. I’ve been using it about a week and have got to say, it’s a really nice knife to work with. Those carbon steel blades took a wicked sharp edge. It handles really nicely when carving wood. Usually I use knives with a much thinner main blade and a smaller handle. The beefy spear point is showing new ways of shaving wood. It’s also really nice to work with a knife that fills your hand.
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by doglegg »

Whoa Nellie!!!
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by DM11 »

Lama wrote: Sun Jul 31, 2022 2:44 am Here's a well used whittler I just found. Though worn, all three blades are tight. The main has good snap opening and closing, while the others need help opening, but snap closed. All three have taken a wicked sharp edge. The handle is in pretty good shape considering someone used it as a hammer. There are some chips, but no cracks. It appears to have the 1941-1946 stamp, but is not listed in the 1946 catalogue. Any information about the model would be appreciated.
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Great score! ::tu::
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by #goldpan »

Lama wrote: Sun Jul 31, 2022 2:44 am Here's a well used whittler I just found. Though worn, all three blades are tight. The main has good snap opening and closing, while the others need help opening, but snap closed. All three have taken a wicked sharp edge. The handle is in pretty good shape considering someone used it as a hammer. There are some chips, but no cracks. It appears to have the 1941-1946 stamp, but is not listed in the 1946 catalogue. Any information about the model would be appreciated.
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That’s an awesome sleeve board whittler. It’s a good score! Congratulations! ::handshake::
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by gordonjohn »

Hi Guys this is my oldest Camillus four line bone handle circa 1933to1946
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Ripster »

gordonjohn wrote: Wed Aug 10, 2022 10:18 pm Hi Guys this is my oldest Camillus four line bone handle circa 1933to1946
Very nice ! Some nice old Bone on that old 4 liner
Hope things are well with you over there to the East . ::handshake::
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by gordonjohn »

Hi Ripster Thanks , is this old Camillus a Coke Bottle? it looks like it to me but the shape is rather slight. Hope all is well by you ::tu:: Gordy
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Ripster »

gordonjohn wrote: Thu Aug 11, 2022 12:17 am Hi Ripster Thanks , is this old Camillus a Coke Bottle? it looks like it to me but the shape is rather slight. Hope all is well by you ::tu:: Gordy
Hey Gordy , it looks a little like a Small Coke bottle .think though it would be a swell center frame much like the 72 s which came in around the same time frame as yours . Is it 3 and 5/8 inches long closed ? Camillus did not have much for Good reference before 1946 or so . There are some of the old Catalogs on the Camillus Collectors web site . They’re fun too look thru and you might find something to help you out.
All is great over here ,thanks for asking . ::tu::
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Lama »

Here's another one I just picked up in an estate lot of mostly junkers. I believe the stamp dates it to around 1916. The main blade was pretty wrecked, but man oh man, that bone shines!
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by gsmith7158 »

Fabulous old knife ! Thanks for showing it.
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by doglegg »

::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu:: ::nod:: ::nod::
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Ripster »

Lama wrote: Fri Sep 02, 2022 10:47 pm Here's another one I just picked up in an estate lot of mostly junkers. I believe the stamp dates it to around 1916. The main blade was pretty wrecked, but man oh man, that bone shines!
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Oh my, what a great old knife ::tu:: ::tu::
That got the blood flowing this morning . You have been coming up with a few dandies lately . Thanks for sharing some pics .
The old steel does take a wicked edge . Really like the feel of the old knives as you’ve stated, they fit the hand so well and are made to use . And the Bone ::nod:: . Enjoy your holiday weekend . ::handshake::
JP
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Lama »

Thank you all for your comments about this old knife. I was quite pleased to have it come my way.
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Gone2Three »

Beautiful bones on that one Lama! ::tu:: excellent find

Happened upon this three line, what I also believe to be a 1916 (same markings) easy open jack in a pawn shop, has some intresting scales ::hmm:: not sure what this wavy pattern is called but I like it... guessing they are celluloid or maybe composite handles with some minor chipping on the pile side, still has great snap with half stops on both blade's.
This old knife was well loved and carried that's for sure! ::nod::

The first three pictures are after clean up, followed by the before pictures, didn't want to polish it all up, I like them the way they are... just some light cleaning and oil after the removal of some100 year old pocket lint ::smirk:: oh if these old knives could talk

Randy
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Ripster »

Gone2Three wrote: Sun Sep 18, 2022 9:09 pm Beautiful bones on that one Lama! ::tu:: excellent find

Happened upon this three line, what I also believe to be a 1916 (same markings) easy open jack in a pawn shop, has some intresting scales ::hmm:: not sure what this wavy pattern is called but I like it... guessing they are celluloid or maybe composite handles with some minor chipping on the pile side, still has great snap with half stops on both blade's.
This old knife was well loved and carried that's for sure! ::nod::

The first three pictures are after clean up, followed by the before pictures, didn't want to polish it all up, I like them the way they are... just some light cleaning and oil after the removal of some100 year old pocket lint ::smirk:: oh if these old knives could talk

Randy
What a find ::tu:: ::tu:: Bet that made your day !
That’s a old stamp for sure and a great looking EO. That’s cool that you scarfed it up and gave it some TLC.
Thanks for sharing .
JP
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Gone2Three »

Ripster wrote: Sun Sep 18, 2022 9:56 pm
Gone2Three wrote: Sun Sep 18, 2022 9:09 pm Beautiful bones on that one Lama! ::tu:: excellent find

Happened upon this three line, what I also believe to be a 1916 (same markings) easy open jack in a pawn shop, has some intresting scales ::hmm:: not sure what this wavy pattern is called but I like it... guessing they are celluloid or maybe composite handles with some minor chipping on the pile side, still has great snap with half stops on both blade's.
This old knife was well loved and carried that's for sure! ::nod::

The first three pictures are after clean up, followed by the before pictures, didn't want to polish it all up, I like them the way they are... just some light cleaning and oil after the removal of some100 year old pocket lint ::smirk:: oh if these old knives could talk

Randy
What a find ::tu:: ::tu:: Bet that made your day !
That’s a old stamp for sure and a great looking EO. That’s cool that you scarfed it up and gave it some TLC.
Thanks for sharing .
Thanks JP ::handshake:: yep was pretty quick to pounce on it once I figured out what it was

Randy
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Lama »

Love those handles, Randy, and seeing all the fluff and gunk that came out of it. It's a wonder it could close with all that stuff packed in.
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by JohnR »

Picked up a knife you don't see all that often a true Camillus Whittler, most Camillus whittlers are not your traditional whittler but more like the 72 carpenters whittler I posted earlier. This one appears to be unused with a 4 line tang stamp putting it right around WW2.
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by wlf »

Dandy John

Like the old wharncliffe and the EO.!
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Ripster »

JohnR wrote: Mon Oct 03, 2022 6:54 pm Picked up a knife you don't see all that often a true Camillus Whittler, most Camillus whittlers are not your traditional whittler but more like the 72 carpenters whittler I posted earlier. This one appears to be unused with a 4 line tang stamp putting it right around WW2.
Very very nice 4 line Whittler !! Like the worked liners . Have a 4 line/ Sword Brand true Whittler with same worked liners .But yours is the first 4 line true Whittler with milled liners I’ve seen . Thanks for posting pics . Take care .
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by New_Windsor_NY »

JohnR wrote: Mon Oct 03, 2022 6:54 pm Picked....
BEAUTY!! ::tu:: ::tu::
Would you PLEASE post it here also:
viewtopic.php?f=63&t=65329
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by JohnR »

Lyle, JP, Skip, thank you. Skip I added it to the whittler thread. JP, I have not seen many early Camillus whittlers at all, don't know if they did not make many or they just did not survive.
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Ripster »

JohnR wrote: Wed Oct 05, 2022 3:11 pm Lyle, JP, Skip, thank you. Skip I added it to the whittler thread. JP, I have not seen many early Camillus whittlers at all, don't know if they did not make many or they just did not survive.
John ,like you haven’t seen many old Whittlers from Camillus around . Snagged these 2 swell centers in a package deal and a couple others out of maybe 100 pre WW2 knives . These 2 have used some and they get and hold a wicked edge !
Here’s a couple pics of this last Summers wheeling and dealing . Have posted a couple here and there asking questions. But here’s a few recent group pics before they get some TLC and then put away for awhile .
Have a good one out there . Take care .
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by JohnR »

Ripster wrote: Thu Oct 06, 2022 1:49 pm
JohnR wrote: Wed Oct 05, 2022 3:11 pm Lyle, JP, Skip, thank you. Skip I added it to the whittler thread. JP, I have not seen many early Camillus whittlers at all, don't know if they did not make many or they just did not survive.
John ,like you haven’t seen many old Whittlers from Camillus around . Snagged these 2 swell centers in a package deal and a couple others out of maybe 100 pre WW2 knives . These 2 have used some and they get and hold a wicked edge !
Here’s a couple pics of this last Summers wheeling and dealing . Have posted a couple here and there asking questions. But here’s a few recent group pics before they get some TLC and then put away for awhile .
Have a good one out there . Take care .

That's a nice bunch of knives JP, love that large etched cigar, great knife. Looks like one of the whittlers is pretty much the same as mine with different covers.
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Re: What is Your Latest Old Camillus? (pre-1960)

Post by Ripster »

WVbladetrade wrote: Fri Feb 08, 2019 1:01 am Always liked this piece ,3 line, salesman mark, block etch, 3 back spring whittler, punch... My first attempt at pics....so bear with me please..IMG_1985.jpgIMG_1989.jpgIMG_1992.jpgIMG_1998.jpgIMG_2005.jpgIMG_2007.jpgIMG_2008.JPGIMG_2009.JPGIMG_2012.jpgIMG_2013.jpg
Tom, it’s been a few years since you posted this knife here . What a beautiful knife ,and in such great condition! Wondering if you still have the knife ? It’s looks like a 5 digit number ( ink ) on the main. Trying to collect a little info about Camillus and there use of Salesman ink ,etc . They sure are hard to find . Roger came thru and just received this 4 and 3/8 “ long ( closed) Bone covered early 4 line . It’s the first Camillus inked knife that have had the pleasure to hold and really study . Roger,don’t know where you found this one ,it’s like right off the factory floor mint condition . Like has been said here in these few pages,it’s hard to believe there’s 100 year old (plus) knives out there in this condition, but they’re out there . For its age that’s hard to find, and the ink looks great . Can someone tell us what kind of ink they used or a good resource for some ink info. Was reading thru this thread and there’s sure a lot of great stuff here . Thanks to all who have contributed.
Roger , Thank you for this Salesman sample knife . It’s everything you said it was and more . ::handshake::
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