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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tjmurphy
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by tjmurphy »

Don't know if it is the oldest stamp or not, but I sure do like the knife ::tu:: ::tu::
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orvet
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by orvet »

carrmillus wrote:"i have to wait for one of my kids to show up to post photos, but i have a camillus tuxedo knife-ebony wood scales, bar shield,3 1/2" closed, 2 blade. both blade tangs are marked with the arched 3 line stamp. according to goin's, this is the oldest marking-am i correct????"

Here's some photos, anyone have any info?

Nice old knife! ::tu::
I think there is a 3-line stamp that predates this one.
Until I have a chance to set down and exchange some pictures with Tom Williams and discuss some of the old stamps I am reluctant to do more than give approximate dates for these old Camillus tang stamps.
Without going through my notes (just not up to it tonight, I have a migraine) I would say it is probably pre WW I.
I know there was a stamp like that or similar that had a 3-line straight stamp on the second blade.
I believe the year for the knives with the 2 different stamps was 1915. I think it is back earlier in the thread.

Nice old tux!
I hope you can post some more pics.

Dale
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carrmillus
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by carrmillus »

dale, thanks for your help. this knife has the same style and size tang stamp on both blades. i have another that has the straight 3 line stamp on the primary blade and the arched 3 line stamp on the secondary blade.
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carrmillus
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by carrmillus »

dale, every time i look at the "goin's" ency., i find something i missed. the straight and arched 3 line stamp was used in 1915. the way it reads, the arched 3line on all blades was 1902-1915. btw- the best cure for migraines is that good cajun whiskey-"jacque danyel"!!!
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basser5
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by basser5 »

My latest Camillus....Thanks bronc! ::tu::
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Paul Tummers
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by Paul Tummers »

Nice knife!
Has it a liner-lock?
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basser5
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by basser5 »

Yes, it does Paul. The small blade has a liner- lock ::tu::
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by Toejammer »

Camillus Muskrat and Electricians knife

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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by travman »

A couple of nice knives there Toejammer ::tu::
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by travman »

Here are a couple knives ive pick up lately :D
The first two pics are a 4-1/4" sword brand jack
the third and fourth are a 3-5/8" jack 3 line on main and the curved stamp on secondary blade
travman
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by Paul Tummers »

Very nice knives!
Wood remanins always a nice material for grip scales.
I still have a couple of knives which deserve an overhaul- no snap of the master blade due to wear, but otherwise in a very good condition, but do not know were to go with them for that.
It prooves, one can make a blade so very good, that the joint wears out before the blade had to be re-sharpened many times
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by DR_MAGOO »

Nice knives, only got one and it is rough. I think that it may be fairly old, possible 50's or 60's? Can anyone help? Needs a good cleaning and some new handles.
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orvet
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by orvet »

DR_MAGOO wrote:Nice knives, only got one and it is rough. I think that it may be fairly old, possible 50's or 60's? Can anyone help? Needs a good cleaning and some new handles.
I think you are right on the dating.
Camillus started using Delrin in the early 1970s and those handles certainly ain't Delrin! :lol:

I need to ask Tom Williams what material they used for handles that seemed to melt of their own accord without excess heat. I have a lot of old Camillus' that the handles melted like yours. Celluloid tends to get brittle & crumble when it gets old and starts to off-gas, but those handles get hard. Strange stuff. I think it is an early plastic they used after they stopped using celluloid and before they settled on Delrin as their main handle material.
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DR_MAGOO
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by DR_MAGOO »

Thanks Dale, I'll try and get a pic of the tang stamp sometime soon.
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by Toejammer »

Camillus stockman w/ white pyroxin handles needs cleaned up, but otherwise nice. (lousy pictures, sorry...... don't know why macro isn't working)

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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by trail »

Here is a Camillus 77. The 1965 catalog describes it as "Midget Stock" with a length of 2 3/4 inches closed.
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by Toejammer »

Camillus Jack - four line / sword brand

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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by Toejammer »

Camillus Jack - Sword Brand - four line tang - "Streamline" on main - weird cell handle, kinda like a fake bone

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orvet
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by orvet »

Nice Toe. ::tu::
Those were both made prior to 1946 or 47.

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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by Toejammer »

Sure wish there was more info on handle material with Camillus, any idea when they used certain types ? (bone, cell, pyroxin)
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orvet
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by orvet »

It is all in the catalogs.
I am working on correlating all that info bit it is a BIG job, just covering from WW II to 2007 when Camillus closed.

Someday I hope to post it in the Research Section here on AAPK.
At the present time it is a Work-In-Progress.
It will be a while before I get it all put together, (probably a year, I mean there is a ton of information).
I don't even have all the catalogs or price sheets yet, so I am working with partial info.

I may be able to look up info on a specific pattern, as time permits, as long as I am not inundated with requests for info.

Dale
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by Paul Tummers »

Toejammer wrote:Sure wish there was more info on handle material with Camillus, any idea when they used certain types ? (bone, cell, pyroxin)
Yes, and it would be even better when somebody did find out how to stop shrinking, or even better, how to bring back the handles which have shrunk already to their original dimensions by a way of bringing back into them of what has evaporated over the years.
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Toejammer
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by Toejammer »

orvet wrote:It is all in the catalogs.
I am working on correlating all that info bit it is a BIG job, just covering from WW II to 2007 when Camillus closed.

Someday I hope to post it in the Research Section here on AAPK.
At the present time it is a Work-In-Progress.
It will be a while before I get it all put together, (probably a year, I mean there is a ton of information).
I don't even have all the catalogs or price sheets yet, so I am working with partial info.

I may be able to look up info on a specific pattern, as time permits, as long as I am not inundated with requests for info.

Dale
Thanks for all the hard work Dale !

Till then, I'll just keep snatchin them up !! :mrgreen:
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carrmillus
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by carrmillus »

trail wrote:Here is a Camillus 77. The 1965 catalog describes it as "Midget Stock" with a length of 2 3/4 inches closed.
i have one exactly like this, pattern 77. also have a pattern 48, which appears to be identical, except for the handle material??
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carrmillus
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Re: Show Us Your Camillus Knives!

Post by carrmillus »

Toejammer wrote:Camillus Jack - four line / sword brand

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i also have one of these, identical handles, and they are cracked inthe same fashion, i've never seen delrin crack like this, it has to be something else.
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