All About Pocket Knives

I got this one a while ago. Used but not abused. 2 part can opener. I can't find the tang stamp anywhere. I can find half and full line references but not this one. Both my books do little more than acknowledge Camillus' existence. I understand Camillus tang stamps are kind of a moving target. Any ideas on age? Or any other information. Thanks
Bruce

That tang stamp is seldom seen. It's pretty scarce. There is little to no information on the dates of use. Best guess is the 1940s and maybe some in the early 1950s. The can opener is the best indicator of age. The two piece opener was used in the 1940s (maybe some in the late 1930s) and was gone by the very early 1950s. Based on the tang stamp, handles and can opener, I would put your knife in the 1940s.

Edit: Are the bolsters, liners and pins steel? If so that would put it pretty solidly in the era of WWII.

Is that the same stamp that is marked 1946 through '56 on the Camillus charts here on the forum? It looks like the 5th one down in the right column.
Treefarmer

treefarmer wrote:Is that the same stamp that is marked 1946 through '56 on the Camillus charts here on the forum? It looks like the 5th one down in the right column.
Treefarmer

It is but I don't think you can hang your hat on those dates. Pretty close but not solid.

Lliners are brass, pins and bolsters are steel. Thanks
Bruce

Berryb wrote:Lliners are brass, pins and bolsters are steel. Thanks
Bruce

That combination of material suggest to me that it was made toward the end of World War II, or at the beginning although I suspect it was towards the end. I imagine brass had become available again for my knife making but they still had a surplus of steel bolsters left that they were using up before starting how to use nickel silver again.

Berryb wrote:I got this one a while ago. Used but not abused. 2 part can opener. I can't find the tang stamp anywhere. I can find half and full line references but not this one. Both my books do little more than acknowledge Camillus' existence. I understand Camillus tang stamps are kind of a moving target. Any ideas on age? Or any other information. Thanks
Bruce

"Camillus primarily used the two piece can-opener on the four blade camp knives, including the official B.S.A. knives, from 1946 to 1948. In 1948 we began using the one piece can-opener that is still used today."
Tom Williams (2001)

My Camillus Navy and Coast Guard General Utility Knife (short line tang stamp)

Vit_213 wrote:"Camillus primarily used the two piece can-opener on the four blade camp knives, including the official B.S.A. knives, from 1946 to 1948. In 1948 we began using the one piece can-opener that is still used today."
Tom Williams (2001)

I think you just provided me proof that the 4-blade scout knife with the 2-piece opener and short line stamp is pre-1950. Replace the pen blade with a punch and it's the same knife as yours, just much dirtier.

Tsar Bomba wrote:I think you just provided me proof that the 4-blade scout knife with the 2-piece opener and short line stamp is pre-1950. Replace the pen blade with a punch and it's the same knife as yours, just much dirtier.

One more knife with the 2-piece opener and short line stamp - the first Camillus official BSA knife

Thanks for the help. Digging in and finding out about stuff is what makes collecting anything interesting. So if I'm reading this correctly the 2 piece opener puts the OP knife 1946-48. The tang stamp was used interchangeably with the short line stamp during the same period. The OP tang stamp was used for a few years longer than the short line, but may be less common.
Bruce

Vit_213 wrote: "Camillus primarily used the two piece can-opener on the four blade camp knives, including the official B.S.A. knives, from 1946 to 1948. In 1948 we began using the one piece can-opener that is still used today."
Tom Williams (2001)

Maybe so and far be it from me to argue Camillus history with Tom BUT I present this for your consideration. That can opener is shown in the 1957 catalog. Lazy advertising people using old print cuts?????? Catalog says "Brownstag" handles, which according to catalog descriptions, was used starting about 1956 or so. My example has the no line stamp and black "shrinky dink" handles (since replaced with bone). I feel confident it's a 1940s version.

Hey Jerry, I've got the same knife except with a pen blade. These knives are excellent knives for rehandling since the original handles are usually of the "shrinky-dink" variety.

Spot on T.J. and that one turned out very well.

Here's one that was the exception to the "shrinky-dink" handles. Probably older, closer to the 1946 era, with Rogers Bone handles and the U.S.A. shield.