Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

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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MikeB
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by MikeB »

Hello,
Very interesting thread I've been reading it the last hour. My collection is modest so I have only two Camillus knives, first one is equal end pattern, with four lines stamp and no model number, when I got the knife it was rusty, hardly opened and the blades were full of file marks, it took me 3 days to bring it to its present condition. I don't believe it has significant loss on the blades. Any info on date and model name would be appreciated.
IMG_3738.JPG
IMG_3759.JPG
Second is a Peanut, model # 21 three lines stamp with long underline, I like the handles color which is different from the usual black one can see on this model, though i'd prefer it to be bone and not derlin. This one is in new condition. Any info on date would be appreciated.
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c4.JPG (30.94 KiB) Viewed 2234 times
Thanks for all the effort put by everyone.
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by orvet »

Welcome to AAPK!

Your first knife would date to 1946 or before, probably prewar as Camillus was busy making 15 million knives for the US Military during WWII.

The second one is a pony jack. I can’t enlarge the pic top see the tang stamp, but judging from the Delrin handles it is probably from the 1970s or later.
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by MikeB »

Thanks Dale :)
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by trail »

I've posted this one before but it's been a couple of years and I got some new pictures. I bought it at Ace Marine Hardware in Morehead City NC when they were closing out all their Camillus knives after Camillus went bankrupt. I bought quite a few knives but I should have come in with an open checkbook and bought them all.
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orvet
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by orvet »

Nice one Paul! ::tu::
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by jerryd6818 »

trail - Are you from the Morehead City area or were you just visiting?
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by trail »

Jerry - I'm from inland NC but I keep a boat at a marina near Havelock, so I get down to the area frequently. Are you a former Cherry Point denizon, by chance?
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by jerryd6818 »

Sept. '64 - July '65 8)
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This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by trail »

Jerry - I expect Havelock has changed beyond recognition in the last 35 years, but rest assured it still has everything to offer that a young man who had just proved himself in boot camp could want - lots of strip clubs, tatoo parlors, drink houses, used car lots, fast food restaurants, pawn shops, etc. I took a couple of shots at the base entrance. They have a little garden there that is dedicated to the POW/MIAs - a typical Marine garden, no flowers or pretty plants, just geometric rows of gravel paths - and I'm not ashamed to admit I felt a tear in my eye as I walked through it.
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by deanmm56 »

Trail,

Where you from in NC ? Inland could mean just about anywhere. I live in Durham.
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by jerryd6818 »

I was back there in September of 2007 for a reunion of some 3rd LAAM Bn Marines. I didn't really get into Havelock because we were staying at a hotel on Atlantic Beach. We did get a tour of the base on one of the days. Nothing looked the same, on base or off.

To make a feeble attempt to keep this on topic, has anyone seen one of these #72s. Dale, maybe you have one since you have everything? Is it a Ducks Unlimited version or is it like the Schrades with the geese on the handles (SC503), they just put it out because.
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Camillus #72 maybe a DUL.jpg
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.

This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by trail »

Dean, I'm in Winston-Salem. We seem to have a good contingent from NC/SC, so maybe someday we can get together for a rendezvous somewhere centrally located and talk knives.
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by carrmillus »

jerryd6818 wrote:I was back there in September of 2007 for a reunion of some 3rd LAAM Bn Marines. I didn't really get into Havelock because we were staying at a hotel on Atlantic Beach. We did get a tour of the base on one of the days. Nothing looked the same, on base or off.

To make a feeble attempt to keep this on topic, has anyone seen one of these #72s. Dale, maybe you have one since you have everything? Is it a Ducks Unlimited version or is it like the Schrades with the geese on the handles (SC503), they just put it out because.
jerry, this is the 100th. anniv. whittler, came in a padded box with certificate- i have another one, identical knife, except it has a blade etch of the smoky mountians and "ole smoky" underneath. came in the old 2 piece box stamped 72B.
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by jerryd6818 »

Thanks. I don't have this one in hand yet. In the pictures, it looks mint but there's no box or papers with it.
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
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This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by orvet »

jerryd6818 wrote: To make a feeble attempt to keep this on topic, has anyone seen one of these #72s. Dale, maybe you have one since you have everything? Is it a Ducks Unlimited version or is it like the Schrades with the geese on the handles (SC503), they just put it out because.
I don't know Jerry, I don't have one like that. In fact I have not seen one with the DU etch. ::shrug::
I probably only have 300-400 Camillus & Camillus related knives, and some are parts knives.
I am sure they put out more patterns than that over the years, let alone variations of the patterns.

Nice snag!
Congrats! ::tu::
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by jerryd6818 »

orvet wrote:
jerryd6818 wrote: To make a feeble attempt to keep this on topic, has anyone seen one of these #72s. Dale, maybe you have one since you have everything? Is it a Ducks Unlimited version or is it like the Schrades with the geese on the handles (SC503), they just put it out because.
I don't know Jerry, I don't have one like that. In fact I have not seen one with the DU etch. ::shrug::
I probably only have 300-400 Camillus & Camillus related knives, and some are parts knives.
I am sure they put out more patterns than that over the years, let alone variations of the patterns.

Nice snag!
Congrats! ::tu::
Did you read Carrmillus's post that said it's the 100th anniversary edition? I was way off base with the DU guess. Kinda makes you wonder why they used ducks on the 100th anniversary instead of, oh say uh, "100th Anniversary". ::shrug:: Cause when I see ducks, 100th anniversary is the first thing I think of. Speaking of thinking of it, isn't the 100th anniversary gift a brace of ducks? Wait. Maybe I have that mixed up with a 10 caret diamond.
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
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"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by orvet »

carrmillus,
It that duck scene from the Camillus 100th Anniversary?
It looks a lot like a Ducks Unlimited etch used by Schrade. ::shrug::

Please post pics of your 100th Anniversary 72B.

Thanks! ::tu::
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by carrmillus »

orvet wrote:carrmillus,
It that duck scene from the Camillus 100th Anniversary?
It looks a lot like a Ducks Unlimited etch used by Schrade. ::shrug::

Please post pics of your 100th Anniversary 72B.

Thanks! ::tu::
dale, i'm a computer dummy, i'll have to wait for one of my kids to show up to do it, but i will post some photos.the duck scene is on the 100th. anniv. whittler. the 72B whittler isn't a 100th. anniv., i'm not sure when they came out-the tang markings are 3 line, with a line above and below the camillus, i think this is one of the last tang stamps. rear of blade is stamped 72, but the standard size box it came in(cream colored top, brown bottom) is factory marked 72B.the knife is identical to the 100th. anniv. knife-jigged black delrin, oval shield, only difference is the blade etch which is a mountian scene with "ole smoky" underneath. the 100th. anniv. kife is in a box about 4" x 6", and the blade etch design is repeated on the inside of the lid-red foam lining w/depression for the knife with the blades open- also has a certificate that says 1 of 2000.
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by TripleF »

Camillus 14
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by jerryd6818 »

Dale & carmillus, this is what's on the blade of the 72 I received and it's not etched, it's engraved (well, probably stamped).
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Forged on the anvil of discipline.
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This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by jerryd6818 »

Camillus #16 I received from Edit: Buck16 :oops: in the POS roundtable. POS? I don't think so!!
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Forged on the anvil of discipline.
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This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by Just Plain Dave »

From the pic I would be forced to agree with you Jerry!
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by jerryd6818 »

Dave, the blades show that they've been exposed to some rust and mistreatment but some polishing has corrected most of that. If a fella just wants his knife to cut things and doesn't need to carry a William Henry or a Tony Bose to feel good about himself, it would make an excellent EDC that would last a lifetime.
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.

This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by tjmurphy »

Well, you sure can't beat a Camillus knife for EDC. They have great steel in them. I like 'em, and I like that one too. You may have gotten the POS of the year, in a good way. ::tu:: ::tu::
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by jerryd6818 »

Yeah, I sometimes wonder if hanging around on these knife forums doesn't tend to occasionally skew our perspective. ::shrug::
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.

This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
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