Need Restoration of Camillus BSA

[JMA]

Just found my dad's CAMW3A with BSA insignia. The "woodgrain handles are shot, one side is almost gone and the other has a bad crack. Would like to get theis restored/replaced. Any help is greatly appreciated. I am in NC.

[orvet]

Sorry, but I am out of the repair business until about July.
I am having my knee replaced in about 3 weeks.
I can't wait!

[JMA]

Thanks for the reply. Good luck with the surgery and recovery. Not much luck finding anyone who will take this on, so you very well may here ffrom me again in July. Again, good luck and take care.
John

[Colonel666]

Hi. Scout knives are bought privately by troop leaders or members only. Currently, Colonial knife co. makes officially licensed BSA knives. Fixing your dad's when it is in bad condition like yours means "chopping" parts off other used BSA knives to add to fix yours.

[philco]

Hi. Scout knives are bought privately by troop leaders or members only. Currently, Colonial knife co. makes officially licensed BSA knives. Fixing your dad's when it is in bad condition like yours means "chopping" parts off other used BSA knives to add to fix yours.

When I see misinformation posted I can't help but step in and try to correct it. To begin with, anyone with the money can purchase an official Boy Scout knife. There are countless current production models (sadly most made in China) for sale on ebay on a daily basis. They are in mint condition and new in the box. You do not have to be a member of the scouts or a troop leader to buy a scout knife. If you did, I'd be in a heck of a lot of trouble considering I have a couple of hundred of the things.

Second, there is an alternative way of repairing damaged or deteriorating handles on an existing scout knife (or any other knife for that matter). One can acquire a variety of handle materials from various suppliers to use as replacements for the faulty ones. They may not be identical to the original handle material, but often, as in the case of handles that have shrunk, warped, or cracked, that is a good thing. A skilled knife repairman can take such a knife and make it look as good as, if not better than, it did when it was new.

Phil

[orvet]

You are absolutely correct Phil!
A person need not be a member of the Boy Scouts to buy a Boy Scout knife, anymore than a person has to be a member or former member of the United States Marine Corps in order to by a knife or T-shirt that says "USMC", nor do you need to be a member of the Swiss Army on order to buy a Swiss Army Knife!

Scout leaders may be able to purchase knives through the BSA organization, but anyone with the money can buy an official Scout knife.

Here is a link with 10 different official scout knives available to the general public:
http://www.swissknifeshop.com/shop/swis ... QgodXVsAuA

There are a bunch of scout knives at ScoutStuff.org that anyone can purchase:
http://www.scoutstuff.org/bsa/camping/k ... mit=30&p=2



Many people like to have knives repaired that have a family history.
A knife that belongs to a family member can hold a lot of memories for people.
A brand new knife won't have those memories.

And just for the record: I don't have to "Chop parts off other used BSA knives." It is usually not necessary.
I have quite a few new Camillus parts that have never been on a knife, depending on the model of course.
I wouldn't "chop" the handles off an old knife to replace his handles. He mentioned they are wood, other wood handles are probably scared up anyway. I would use new wood and make a new set of handles.

Please attempt to have your facts correct before posting them as facts!

[tjmurphy]

My step-father had a couple of sayings with regards to folks who had a lot of stories. "He's got more s**t than a cranberry merchant" and "He's got more s**t than Carter's got little liver pills." Always thought those were kinda cute.

[JMA]

I have attached 2 pictures of the knife I am trying to have repaired/restored...new handles.

[knives-are-quiet]

http://www.scoutknives.net/index.php?op ... &Itemid=58

Handles are plastic.

JW

[basser5]

http://www.scoutknives.net/index.php?op ... &Itemid=58

Handles are plastic.

JW

Hmm...The name under those knives looks familiar




Tim

[glennbad]

There are quite a few skilled mechanics on this site that can work with a knife like that. I don't think many are using the black jigged composition like on yours. Most people that have the knife covers replaced usually opt for bone or wood, but it will look different than the original knife looks.

Is something like that what you have in mind?

[JMA]

Honestly, I'm not getting any responses from people who are interested in repairing the knife. I do have one person looking at options. At thie point, what is important is the I retain the BSA insignia shield, wood would be my first choice if none of the original handles are something similar can't be reproduced.

[jerryd6818]

There are quite a few skilled mechanics on this site that can work with a knife like that.

Of which Glenn is one!!

Your knife is a Camillus #1047 (the Scout version of the Camillus #72). It has those old black synthetic "shrinky dink" handles they put on during the '40s and up through the '50s. Yours is most likely 1950s sometime.

If wood is what you want for a re-handle, then ask the mechanic you choose to put wood on. If you have any interest in jigged bone, Culpeppers has some really great jigged bone. Be specific about what you want. You've already said you want the shield retained, do you want the knife buffed and shined up or just new handles installed?

I think you need to ask the mechanics if they are interested because it doesn't look like there's a lot of volunteering going on. PM Glennbad or Whitebuffalo58. There are others but those are two that have done work for me and I was quite satisfied. No disrespect intended towards any of the other knife mechanics.

[just bob]

Only my 2 cents worth. I agree that putting bone or wood handles on this is a pc of cake. I think most are missing the point that the owner wants to inlay the original shield into the new handles and if you've never tried to do that it takes talent and not everyone can do that. I wonder does anyone have a donor knife with good handles and bad blades - doesn't even have to have shield because the original is there. If so please post that info.

[orvet]

I Have repaired that same model of Camillus knife before and inlaid the shield into the new bone handles.
Here is one I did for TJ in smooth red bone.
TJ has better pictures of the knife than I do, I just took a couple quick scans with my old scratched scanner before I mailed the knife back to him.

The old handle material used on these knives was a plastic they used before the invention of DuPont Delrin.
JerryD calls them "shrinky-dink" handles and aptly so. They shrink and curl with age.
There is nothing you can do except replace them.
If you want the knife close to the original look I would use black jigged bone and then inlay the shield.
I do have a few replacement blades for that model, but those blades look nice and full. They just need to be cleaned up.

Inlaying the shield requires special tools, IMO. A Dremel is too fast with too little torque to do the job properly. I have a couple Foredom flex-shaft tools I use to inlay shields. It is labor intensive to do them freehand, but unless you have a hardened template from the factory for that exact shield, then you have to do it freehand. Since there are no templates sold for the Camillus scout shields, I do them freehand. It can take a couple hours or more to inlay a shield, depending on the handle material and the size and shape of the shield. I use magnifying glasses to be able to see the fine detail when inlaying the shields.
Like a lot of knife work, it is labor intensive and requires some specialized tools, but I enjoy the work.

If you can wait until my knee heals up after the surgery, I can replace the handles and inlay the shield into the new handles.

[muskrat man]

FWIW I offered to install original handles, or customize with his choice of alternative handle material. Still waiting on confirmation.

[Colonel666]

Please try not to be so nasty to my post when you don't understand all the facts to which I mention. This site forum is like a bunch of bullies beating up on each other like old women! My post is accurate in regards to "Colonial" brand only. The catalog they mailed me a few years ago had the "Scout Membership required to purchase" above all Officially Licenced by BSA selections. I have it saved so when I return from vacation I can photo an attachment as proof. So far as using parts from one to restore a more cherished knife you own, is common practice by many to get an original stock look. If other materials for the grip plates were used then it would be custom. This question then would be in the "custom knife" forum. This was asked as a "restoration" advise, but seems no one knows the difference. If my son were to take the knife I know and love and "pimped" it out custom purple with green polka-dots so that I don't even recognise it anymore I would send him off to his room with no supper.

[orvet]

You posted:

Hi. Scout knives are bought privately by troop leaders or members only. Currently, Colonial knife co. makes officially licensed BSA knives. Fixing your dad's when it is in bad condition like yours means "chopping" parts off other used BSA knives to add to fix yours.

In part you said:

Scout knives are bought privately by troop leaders or members only.

That says to everyone here who speak the English language that Scout knives are a) only purchased privately and that they are b) only purchased by troop leaders or members.

I understood what you said. Don’t say one thing and then tell us that we do not understand when you don’t bother to tell us that it applies only to Colonial knives! You did not say that in the original post and if Phil had not stepped in and corrected you, rather nicely I thought, new collectors would read your post and think they could not buy Scout knives unless they were members of a troop or a troop leader. That just is not true! Besides, Colonial is only one company that makes official Scout Knives. What may apply to Colonial does not necessarily apply to all the other companies that make scout knives. Details you neglected to include.

Please try not to be so nasty to my post when you don't understand all the facts to which I mention. This site forum is like a bunch of bullies beating up on each other like old women! My post is accurate in regards to "Colonial" brand only.

After someone calls you on your error you whine that they are bullying you like a bunch of “old women.”
I have known a lot of old women in my life and I have known several that whine and complain when things don’t go their way, but I have not known any old women who were bullies.

So far as using parts from one to restore a more cherished knife you own, is common practice by many to get an original stock look. If other materials for the grip plates were used then it would be custom. This question then would be in the "custom knife" forum. This was asked as a "restoration" advise, but seems no one knows the difference. If my son were to take the knife I know and love and "pimped" it out custom purple with green polka-dots so that I don't even recognise it anymore I would send him off to his room with no supper.

What are "grip plates?"
Actually the original poster was not asking for people to “advise” him about the repair, he stated that he had recently found his dad’s scout knife and the handles were in poor shape. He asked for help in getting the handles “restored/replaced.” He did not ask what anyone thought about repairing knives!

Just found my dad's CAMW3A with BSA insignia. The "woodgrain handles are shot, one side is almost gone and the other has a bad crack. Would like to get theis restored/replaced. Any help is greatly appreciated. I am in NC.

Knife handles do break and deteriorate, especially when made of some of the early plastics used in knife making. They are kind of like tires on cars, they wear out and go flat and given enough time they just become deteriorated and unusable. I have an old pickup that belonged to my dad. If I apply your definition of “pimping,” can I even replace the tires when they wear out without risking being accused of “pimping” the old truck? Or if someone hits my pickup can I have it repaired or would that too meet your definition of “pimping?”

Look, the USA is still a semi-free country at this moment. You are allowed to have any opinion you like about knife repair. But don’t come on here and give your opinion as fact and whine that people are being mean to you when they disagree.

[wazu013]

I walked into the local "Offical" Boy Scout store and bought these 2 knives without producing any Scout I.D. I was able to buy an Axe along with some camping equipment as well. All the Chineese made items were available too.

[wazu013]

Here's a stockman for sale on Ebay now. Run it down and tell him the magic man made him better one. I can't get a real good picture here for you so click on the link if your interested.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Near-MINT-Vinta ... 19daca1dca

[jerryd6818]

Waz -- I've had that one on my watch list since the morning after it was listed. That baby's been fluffed and buffed within an inch of it's life. I have a feeling it's going to go for something so far out of my price range I won't be able to see it with binoculars. If there is a definitive example of "shiny sells", this knife may be it.

[tjmurphy]

ORVET - When I was a kid, there was only one store in town that was licensed to sell "Official" Scouting uniforms and equipment. I'm sure that some of those items were meant for Scouts or Scout Leaders only, the pocket knife could be purchased just about anywhere, from hardware stores to the five and dimes.

[treefarmer]

Jerryd, looking at the pictures of the knife that Waz posted, the one you are watching on ebay, does the handle shrinkage concern you? Will it finally turn into the knife that started this thread? Just wondering your thoughts on it other than it was highly cleaned? Treefarmer

[wazu013]

I'd like you Guys to check this link to a Cub scout knife the same seller of the above knife has listed. I'm not sure I believe what he is saying. He is saying this knife was made in 1946
http://www.ebay.com/itm/A-Beauty-The-FI ... 5d3ccee9c6

[tjmurphy]

With that stamp, I don't think so. Beautiful knife though.