Camillus Display cases

Gr8Scout · Post by **Gr8Scout** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:11 pm

I enjoy finding old knife company display cases and bringing them back to life, filled with the original brand's products. If they are the proper knives for the display, fine, but no big deal, whatever will fit is OK with me. One of my favorites is what Tom Williams, former company historian at Camillus, told me was that company's first post WW2 display. it is beautiful.

But here are two I have that I know nothing about. One Camco, where the knives sit standing straight up, blades inserted into the slots in the diagonal support. The other is a neat old Camillus display, unreal how the delicate 'Camillus' logo piece is still in one piece.

I have some detective work to do and some knives to find, it looks like.

Phil

muskrat man · Post by **muskrat man** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 12:19 am

nice displays, it looks like your cat likes them too

LRV · Post by **LRV** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 2:05 pm

Phil,
I know what youve asked Santa to bring you for Christmas!
I look forward to seeing them complete real soon.
Nice stuff to fill your man cave with.
TTYL
Larry

Case V42 · Post by **Case V42** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 5:20 pm

Gr8,

Do you have any idea about what year your CAMCO display is from? I have an identically built display, but mine is painted red and white with, "for fine quality knives / CAMILLUS / has the edge".

Mark

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 8:21 pm

Here are a few displays a camillus motorized and the case of knives it advertised. Neat to watch the blade open and close especially after a couple of libations. The others are either doubles of ones i have displayed or projects waiting to be done there is an old remington, a Case , A KA BAR which was for sharpening stones. Which really is a great collection item there are stones available from every company many marked or in marked cases or sheaths. I have filled the KA BAR case. These can often be bought on ebay for a dollar or two at flea markets for a quarter, This is a collectable that will not be overlooked for much longer they are kind of like straight razors were 25 years ago no one wanted them now some go for hundreds they really are interesting, A colonial, a BOKER with a tree in the case that you hung the knives on for display. A fiftys or 60 tys Schrade Walden spinner, and a tough tool. That is about all I can put on one post. All these are waiting till I get to them maybe never. The building they are in is all wood and plexi which is why the light is really bright. I built it years ago and had a hot tub installed so that I could look over the landscape watch TV and drink in the tub. In the winter you sat in 104 degree water and looked at the snow falling then inside to the barroom and the fire place. Now that I am alone I sold the hot tube to a young couple at a very reasonable price and as you can see it is another building filled with STUFF. Take my advise if you live alone do not get a hot tub they just are not as much fun by your self.. I still have my Rubber Ducky ( somewhere). LT

Gr8Scout · Post by **Gr8Scout** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 1:03 pm

Case V-42... I bet your camco display is the correct, factory colors. Mine has been painted, so thanks. I have a real Camillus expert checking on the dates of these.

Those are beauties, LT. No better way to show off knives then in the original displays. Does not matter to me if the necessarily correct knives get put in, but it is a challenge to do so.

Here is my oldest Camillus case, the first such issued by Camillus after WW2. I just keep some special Camillus knives in it.

And here is my favorite big Schrade display, sorry if I have shown this before. Most of the knives has some little extra about them, mostly blade etches. Many are the complimentary etched knives given away by the factory. None of these are standard buy-off-the-shelf knives. There is an NRA marked knife or two, a 'Guns and Ammo' Sharpfinger, some odds and ends. Ducks Unliimited as well.

And as LT shows, a Tough Tool rotating display.

Gr8Scout · Post by **Gr8Scout** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 1:09 pm

Some more: My favorite 'fun' brand to collect, Imperial Frontier Knives. I use an Ivory Delrin handled Carbon Drop point from this series to gut out my deer, and a stainless/wood 'Double Eagle' upswept to skin them.

And some more.

And a realtively new display I am slowly filling. From the 1970s, Imperial 'Hammers'. These have the simulated 'hammering' or forging marks on the blades. Hard to find. I am always looking... so if you run across one... No model numbers stamped on the knives themselves.

Phil

W5RWU · Post by **W5RWU** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 1:36 am

Those are all really really nice!
Randy

sunburst · Post by **sunburst** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 2:07 am

That is way beyond cool..

It makes me think I'm walking through Joe's hardware or something...Thanks for sharing them with us...

Sunburst

Upstream · Post by **Upstream** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 3:08 am

Nice displays Phil, it does look like you have put a lot of time and attention to detail into them. Thanks Rick

LRV · Post by **LRV** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 4:36 pm

woops Wrong thread

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 5:48 pm

Here are a some displays I have had more time to deal with. I thought since some seem to enjoy the pics I would just post a few and then at a later date perhapes reintroduce them and explain a bit if any one has an interest. I hope you enjoy the pics. I will be posting right below this to get all of the pics on. I did not want to take up any more space. merry Christmas. LT

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 5:55 pm

Second batch. LT

sunburst · Post by **sunburst** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 7:03 pm

Lt,

Have you ever done an inventory on your knives...My gosh that's a lot of knives. Are they all kept under one roof or do you have to rent storage...

You keep on blowing me away with your beauty's please don't stop..

Thanks,

Sunburst

ribbedbumpers · Post by **ribbedbumpers** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 11:48 pm

Truly an incredible collection, LT… Thanks so much for taking the time to share with us… I know this isn’t your favorite time of year – but wishing the Christmas season is the best it can be for you.. You have certainly made ours more enjoyable just by being here..

I have an identical display to this particular Jack Master… All knives in the display I have are in very good condition with the exception of what looks like a fixed blade at the bottom.. This knife is missing.. Can you tell me exactly what it is so I can see if I can find one… Thanks much.. Gary

BrokenCamillus · Post by **BrokenCamillus** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 12:18 am

LT, thank you for sharing this great collection with us.

I used to have one of those striped handled fixed blades that Gary (Ribbedbumpers) is asking about. I may still have it in some hidden box somewhere, but as I remember the hollow sheet metal handle was beaten pretty well.

What we do to knives when we're kids......LOL

Al

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 1:54 am

This knife is the 812 originally under hammer. however tanged imperial and used in many of there series of displays . Your display is actually from the series prior to the black and white attached pic. However I have both in this thread and it is mainly the design of the display case which is the most different. Check the other pics here are some stats from the factory brochures 74 and 79 which will give more info. and you might like the pics which show some of the lines produced. I have as in most of this stuff the complete time line. However on Christmas eve with numerous bookcases filled with each year this is what I can come up with immediately . You have an idea of the amount of displays now try to imagine all the bookcases and buildings full of written material . That is why I could not be more exact in fact it is amazing I find anything. Hope this helps. By the way ebay look under imperial knife and within a few weeks one will show up sometimes a bunch sometimes nothing 5 years ago at a gunshow they were a dollar ( hollow handled and inexpensive) and the displays empty were under 20. As Dillon said The Times They are a Changen. LT PS yours filled now is 200 to 300.

ribbedbumpers · Post by **ribbedbumpers** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 2:12 am

LT.. Thank you very much.. that was exactly what I was looking for.. I appreciate your help...

Gary

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 2:44 am

Here are a couple more pics 1984 naturally I was looking for something else. however it is a nice brochure and the knives are the ones either mostly or completely in your earlier display. The next displays after this one were the JM series there were 4 JM- 1,2,3,4. I have three in this thread I think I am missing the 3. Anyway this should give you a better pic of the knives. With minor variations these are most of the same pattern knives used in all three series.

ribbedbumpers · Post by **ribbedbumpers** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 11:19 am

Thanks for the additional pictures LT... Those knives are exactly the same knives as in my display... I'll keep my eyes open for the sheath knife now that I know what to look for.. I appreciate the help! Gary

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