Rich has been a good friend for many years and we have a number of common friends and acquaintances in the knife making/collecting world.
Grant – It is special when someone takes the time to hand make something for you and I appreciate the time and the work Rich put into this project. I know he made several of them and even has one for sale on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Knife-display-b ... Sw-3FZJajo
(Rich, I hope you don’t mind if I post this.)
It really is amazing when you realize how many of the different brand names bought knives from Albert Baer, either from Schrade, Ulster, Camillus or Imperial!
Grant asked what patterns that Camillus made for Case; aside from the scout pattern I know at one point Camillus made the yachtsman’s knife with the marlinspike for Case. It was after the Tested Era because the Camillus made Case blade I got from Tom Williams would not fit a tested era Case marlinspike knife.
I know they also made the TL-29 electricians knife for Case at one point. Tom Williams told me it one point in time that Camillus made about half of the TL-29 type knives sold by American companies. Among them: Boker USA, Case, M Klein, Schrade, Powr-Craft (Montgomery Wards), Craftsman, Proto, and no doubt many others.
I believe Camillus also made their hawkbill pruner for Case. I received a couple handle sets, liner/bolster/wood handle and shield for Case’s hawkbill pruner.
It seems to me that Camillus specialized in making utilitarian/work knives like scout knives, electricians knives, pruning knives and even the marlinspike knife would be considered a working man’s knife, IMHO.
The DNA of Camillus and also Schrade (I believe LT would agree with me) were working knives. Knives made to perform a task day in and day out and make the owners job and life easier. They were built to be depended on, not to look pretty and be collected.
When you see all the shields and all the stamps put together in one small plaque you realize just how much influence Camillus and Schrade had in the US and even the world cutlery market!
Thanks again Rich! I know for you this was a labor of love and a way to share with other people some of the cutlery history you love so much. I am humbled by such a thoughtful gift and reminder of our friendship.
