Camillus Streamline Jack Restoration

This forum is for those who like to repair and restore knives, and for those who would like to learn.
Post Reply
User avatar
orvet
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 19901
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 6:23 am
Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon

Camillus Streamline Jack Restoration

Post by orvet »

I have always had a fondness for Camillus Streamline jacks. After all what’s not to like, a nice clip point with a beautiful swedge and a master blade with STREAMLINE stamped deeply in the blade? Most all of these were made with a light almost cream-colored celluloid with darker lines running through them all and almost all of the ones I have purchased with that color of handles have had damage from the offgassing celluloid. I actually had one knife that the liner split in half in my hand when I popped off what remained of the celluloid handle. Apparently the celluloid supplied enough support that the tension from the spring hadn’t completely split the liner weakened by the offgassing until I removed the remainder of the handle. The knife gave a little twitch and I watched a crack form in the liner from the rocker pin to the top of the liner and split the liner completely in two.

This is the color of most of the Streamlines I have found over the years, although I found at least one with a black composite handle.
As you can tell this color of celluloid tends to off gas pretty badly. This one is actually in better-than-average condition. When I get these knives I remove the handles, disassembled them and wash them with water and baking soda to neutralize any asset that may remain on them from the offgassing process.
Streamline Camillus before a.jpg
I have collected a fishing tackle tray full of Streamline parts, and usually takes me parts from three or four knives to restore one halfway decent knife. This knife is the finest example of a Streamline I have owned; it had dark handles with cream-colored stripes through them. I owned the knife for several years and watched closely to see if it showed any signs of offgassing. A few years ago I detected some early signs of offgassing and removed the handle before any serious damage was done.

This is a picture of the knife shown below that I restored. The pictures taken shortly after I got it and before before it began to off gas –
Streamline.jpg
Because I caught this knife before the offgassing became too serious, it was mainly a matter of cleaning up the brass liners and finding some nice handle material. This handle material I purchased from Mister Ron Lake at the Oregon Knife Collectors Association show this last April. He had several sets of stag that he wasn't going to use and decided to sell them. I was fortunate to get a few sets from him.
This whole restoration went fairly easily without any great problems, aside from trying to take pictures of a shiny knife indoors. ::facepalm::
I will try to get better pictures tomorrow if it’s not raining because this knife is so shiny it’s almost impossible to get a good picture indoors under artificial lights, with my photographic skills and equipment (read lack thereof).

I need to etch my name on the back of the blade and do the final polish yet, and then get some better pictures for my store.

Thanks for looking and I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Streamline stag custom a.jpg
Streamline stag custom c.jpg
Streamline stag custom d.jpg
Streamline stag custom f.jpg
Dale
AAPK Administrator

Please visit my AAPK store: www.allaboutpocketknives.com/orvet

Job 13:15

"Buy more ammo!" - Johnnie Fain
“Evil is Powerless If The Good are Unafraid.” – Ronald Reagan
User avatar
just bob
Posts: 2835
Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:05 pm

Re: Camillus Streamline Jack Restoration

Post by just bob »

When stag is done right there is nothing that beats it. Nice !
“The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion.” (Paulo Coelho)

Men make plans and God laughs

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.
User avatar
djknife13
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 7930
Joined: Sun Oct 13, 2013 6:28 pm
Location: Northern Minnesota

Re: Camillus Streamline Jack Restoration

Post by djknife13 »

Dale, that is really nice work and a great looking knife. ____Dave
User avatar
Meridian_Mike
Posts: 5041
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:36 pm
Location: Mississippi

Re: Camillus Streamline Jack Restoration

Post by Meridian_Mike »

WOW... Dale, that is a sure 'nuff beautiful knife! I have to agree... the "Streamline" etched deeply into the main blade makes it a very desirable knife! Great job on the restoration! The stag is a real bump-up to this knifes overall appeal!
You another winner there!

2 thumbs up!!
::tu:: ::tu::
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
User avatar
Doc B
Posts: 3700
Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 10:57 pm
Location: San Antonio

Re: Camillus Streamline Jack Restoration

Post by Doc B »

I too, think the Streamline, main blade, is a cool blade! Your restoration of it...takes it "Over-the-top"!!! ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::
Heretical Refurb / Mods of cheap old folders, since late 2018
User avatar
glennbad
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 8178
Joined: Mon May 15, 2006 11:13 am
Location: NH

Re: Camillus Streamline Jack Restoration

Post by glennbad »

That is a fine, fine, looking knife Dale!
User avatar
Meridian_Mike
Posts: 5041
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:36 pm
Location: Mississippi

Re: Camillus Streamline Jack Restoration

Post by Meridian_Mike »

Dog gone it Dale..... I like the look of that knife so much that I had to go find me one....
You just cost me $48 plus shipping.

I have one of these on the way. It's gonna need some new handles but the blades look pretty good.
I will post some pics of mine in it's own thread.
Yours is a beauty..... I hope I can do justice to the one I have coming.

::tu::
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
User avatar
TPK
Posts: 11019
Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2019 6:16 pm
Location: Bayern, Germany
Contact:

Re: Camillus Streamline Jack Restoration

Post by TPK »

Now I want one. ::doh:: Your both responsible! :x I hope the two of you can sleep at night. ::huff::

::super_happy::
TOM - KGFG - (Knife-Guy-From-Germany)

I believe..., every knife is a soul, looking for a soulmate. :wink:

Weebit-Nano https://www.weebit-nano.com/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weebit_Nano

US - ARMY - COMBAT - ENGINEERS - 1990 - 1993 - God Bless Our Troops!
User avatar
Meridian_Mike
Posts: 5041
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:36 pm
Location: Mississippi

Re: Camillus Streamline Jack Restoration

Post by Meridian_Mike »

TPK wrote: Wed Nov 13, 2019 7:29 pm Now I want one. ::doh:: Your both responsible! :x I hope the two of you can sleep at night. ::huff::

::super_happy::
Heeheehee....
I can show you right where a good one is waiting for you!

GO GET IT!

:lol: :D :lol:
"Life is tough.... but it's tougher if you're stupid."....John Wayne
User avatar
TPK
Posts: 11019
Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2019 6:16 pm
Location: Bayern, Germany
Contact:

Re: Camillus Streamline Jack Restoration

Post by TPK »

Meridian_Mike wrote: Wed Nov 13, 2019 7:50 pm
TPK wrote: Wed Nov 13, 2019 7:29 pm Now I want one. ::doh:: Your both responsible! :x I hope the two of you can sleep at night. ::huff::

::super_happy::
Heeheehee....
I can show you right where a good one is waiting for you!

GO GET IT!

:lol: :D :lol:
I'd love to see it but my wife would kill me. ::woot:: I went way over my budget on knife stuff this month. ::super_happy::
Darn it!!!!!!!! ::facepalm::
TOM - KGFG - (Knife-Guy-From-Germany)

I believe..., every knife is a soul, looking for a soulmate. :wink:

Weebit-Nano https://www.weebit-nano.com/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weebit_Nano

US - ARMY - COMBAT - ENGINEERS - 1990 - 1993 - God Bless Our Troops!
Reverand
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 4471
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2018 6:45 pm
Location: Pisgah, AL
Contact:

Re: Camillus Streamline Jack Restoration

Post by Reverand »

Great job on those stag handles, Dale!
Jesus is life.
Everything else is just a hobby.

~Reverand
User avatar
orvet
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 19901
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 6:23 am
Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon

Re: Camillus Streamline Jack Restoration

Post by orvet »

Thanks guys I appreciate all of your comments. The Streamline is one of my favorite patterns, so I really enjoy it when I can restore one.
Dale
AAPK Administrator

Please visit my AAPK store: www.allaboutpocketknives.com/orvet

Job 13:15

"Buy more ammo!" - Johnnie Fain
“Evil is Powerless If The Good are Unafraid.” – Ronald Reagan
Post Reply

Return to “Knife Repair and Restoration”