Mystery Knife

[pocketkeeper]

I picked up this "mystery" knife at a Florida yard sale. The main blade is marked "WATERVILLE Cutlery Co. Conn" which would be a pre-1890 blade. The pen blade is Camillus with the curved mark with a broken underline and dot in the middle (1902-1916) Both blades are tight with very strong snap and half stops.
My guess is the knife is Camillus with a Waterville replacement blade. The tang of the Waterville blade sits too high above the bolster when closed although it does line up with the spring when open.
On the other hand the pen blade sits a bit too low in the body and there is a crudely fashioned "easy open" notch to allow access to the nail nick. So perhaps the knife is Waterville with a Camillus replacement blade.
A third theoretical possibility is BOTH blades are replacements in some unknown knife body.
Perhaps the shield is a clue.
The knife as is, has amost no collector value but I think its mysterious history is fascinating. What do you think the original knife is?

[philco]

Going on gut feeling alone, I'm gonna say it's a Watterville with a well worn main blade and a replacement Camillus secondary pen blade. I'm out on a limb here but hey, that's nothing new. Cool knife whatever the linage.

[knife7knut]

I'm with Phil on this one;definitely shaped like a Connecticut Valley knife(Waterville;American Knife & Shear;etc.)I have a couple of handles like that and are just begging to be filled with new blades.

[RobesonsRme.com]

That puts three of us out on that limb. I think the knife is Waterville, too.

I agree the notch is not original, but put there to allow access the Camillus pen blade.

Charlie Noyes

[peanut740]

Ditto the 3 wise men.

[pocketkeeper]

Thanks guys. I like those replies as I have lots of Camillus knives but only one other Waterville. So am glad it is the Waterville.... also I believe that makes it a lot older than the Camillus mark. According to Goins the Waterville would be pre- 1890. I like 'em the older the better. Knives that is.

[Mumbleypeg]

Knife doesn't look like Camillus to me, so I'm throwing in with the wise guys!

Ken