All About Pocket Knives

Perusing the bay the other day I ran across this old Camillus. It is not a pattern I collect but the bone and the bow tie shield caught my eye. It wasn't the condition of the blades that made me want to have it. But there was something about the tang stamp. These pictures are after a good cleaning. Ah yes, a No Line tang stamp which would place it immediately after the war. After a little more cleaning I uncovered the model # 17 Model 17 has the spear blade (model 16 had a clip for the main blade) and was in the 1946 catalog but was gone by the 1948 edition. So I have a no line post war, 1946 Heavy Equal End Jack model 17 only made 1 or 2 years. Paid a little more than I should ($38.00) but excited to get it.

I'm impressed, that is just the perfect knife that I like to collect when I can find them.
Great find doglegg!!!

.....I have to go look, I think I have one of these somewhere!!!........ ...................

Floyd, that is one that for sure deserves the HOK designation!
That one looks "comfortable", probably someone's companion for many years.
I congratulate you on rescuing that one!
Treefarmer

doglegg wrote: ↑Mon May 11, 2020 1:10 pm Perusing the bay the other day I ran across this old Camillus. It is not a pattern I collect but the bone and the bow tie shield caught my eye. It wasn't the condition of the blades that made me want to have it. But there was something about the tang stamp. These pictures are after a good cleaning. Ah yes, a No Line tang stamp which would place it immediately after the war. After a little more cleaning I uncovered the model # 17. Model 17 has the spear blade (model 16 had a clip for the main blade) and was in the 1946 catalog but was gone by the 1948 edition. So I have a no line post war, 1946 Heavy Equal End Jack model 17 only made 1 or 2 years. Paid a little more than I should ($38.00) but excited to get it.

You took a chance, you won. NICE roll of the dice Floyd.
Here are a couple of Camillus 16's for comparison.

..bad memory again-the knife I was thinking about is an equal end, 3 backspring cattle knife, and it has just a plain bar shield. it IS the only Camillus I have that has 3 backsprings, however!!............. ...................

My collection contains used knives almost exclusively. A used knife that still functions as it should seems to have 'character' or personality, that can speak to some of us knife collectors. They are good 'reference' knives because you know they are all original, never 'messed with'.
This Camillus jack #17 is fine example of a well used all original vintage knife.
kj

Wow, Floyd. What a find and I can't see any imperfections in the handles. Congratulations!!!!!

dlr110 wrote: ↑Mon May 11, 2020 1:57 pm I'm impressed, that is just the perfect knife that I like to collect when I can find them.
Great find doglegg!!!

Thanks, like finding the prized egg at Easter.

treefarmer wrote: ↑Mon May 11, 2020 2:08 pm Floyd, that is one that for sure deserves the HOK designation!
That one looks "comfortable", probably someone's companion for many years.
I congratulate you on rescuing that one!
Treefarmer

Thanks Philip, they seemed to use it but certainly didn't abuse it.

New_Windsor_NY wrote: ↑Mon May 11, 2020 2:48 pm

doglegg wrote: ↑Mon May 11, 2020 1:10 pm Perusing the bay the other day I ran across this old Camillus. It is not a pattern I collect but the bone and the bow tie shield caught my eye. It wasn't the condition of the blades that made me want to have it. But there was something about the tang stamp. These pictures are after a good cleaning. Ah yes, a No Line tang stamp which would place it immediately after the war. After a little more cleaning I uncovered the model # 17. Model 17 has the spear blade (model 16 had a clip for the main blade) and was in the 1946 catalog but was gone by the 1948 edition. So I have a no line post war, 1946 Heavy Equal End Jack model 17 only made 1 or 2 years. Paid a little more than I should ($38.00) but excited to get it.

You took a chance, you won. NICE roll of the dice Floyd.
Here are a couple of Camillus 16's for comparison.

Skip thanks for the pictures for reference. Two knice ones there, I especially like the short line one. Very knice.

carrmillus wrote: ↑Mon May 11, 2020 3:02 pm ..bad memory again-the knife I was thinking about is an equal end, 3 backspring cattle knife, and it has just a plain bar shield. it IS the only Camillus I have that has 3 backsprings, however!!............. ...................

Thanks Tommy, I bet that cattle knife is a prize. One to keep an eye out for.

kootenay joe wrote: ↑Mon May 11, 2020 4:18 pm My collection contains used knives almost exclusively. A used knife that still functions as it should seems to have 'character' or personality, that can speak to some of us knife collectors. They are good 'reference' knives because you know they are all original, never 'messed with'.
This Camillus jack #17 is fine example of a well used all original vintage knife.
kj

Roland I have to agree with you. I like the prestine ones but not more than the used ones. 'Character" is a good description. I think it gives the bones a warm look too. Thanks.

jerryd6818 wrote: ↑Mon May 11, 2020 4:19 pm Wow, Floyd. What a find and I can't see any imperfections in the handles. Congratulations!!!!!

Thanks Jerry, I thought the handle had been patched but when I soaked in in soapy water what ever it was came off. And a special thanks to you and Vit for educating me on the No Line. Vit's Camillus resource is priceless.

Awesome piece Floyd. Thanks for all the info on that one as well. It helps us all out to learn about a knife! Enjoy!

Thank you WW. I appreciate your kind words.

doglegg wrote: ↑Mon May 11, 2020 1:10 pm Model 17 has the spear blade (model 16 had a clip for the main blade) and was in the 1946 catalog but was gone by the 1948 edition. So I have a no line post war, 1946 Heavy Equal End Jack model 17 only made 1 or 2 years.

Model #17 was not available already in 1947, so it was produced only one year. You really have a rare knife. Congratulations!

My #16

..another mint example, vit!!!!............ ...............

Thanks Vit. Wonderful 16. And no line as well. I appreciate all you do for us Camillus collectors. Thank you.

doglegg wrote: ↑Mon May 11, 2020 1:10 pm I uncovered the model # 17

It's a beauty, doglegg.
How long is this jack knife?

carrmillus wrote: ↑Mon May 11, 2020 8:47 pm ..another mint example, vit!!!!............ ...............

Carrmillus, you flatter me! This is not mint at all .

FRJ wrote: ↑Tue May 12, 2020 12:31 am

doglegg wrote: ↑Mon May 11, 2020 1:10 pm I uncovered the model # 17

It's a beauty, doglegg.
How long is this jack knife?

The catalogue list the closed length as 3 5/8".

Vit_213 wrote: ↑Tue May 12, 2020 2:10 am

carrmillus wrote: ↑Mon May 11, 2020 8:47 pm ..another mint example, vit!!!!............ ...............

Carrmillus, you flatter me! This is not mint at all .

....compared to most of the ones I am able to find over here , it looks gteat, vit!!!!!................... ...............

Morning everyone, and hope your Easter Sunday is a good one .
Floyd ( Doglegg) Am going to post this 12 short line here, hope you don’t mind me tagging it on your post .
Want to thank a couple of you for help on this one ,would like to hear from others there thoughts,facts ,etc on this 12 .
Is it a one year run on production, and if so does anyone know approximately how many ?
Some nice 16 s and 17 s posted here , anyone have a 12 that you could show? Would be appreciated.
Thanks for a great post Floyd , always something nice to read and see from you and others here !

Ripster wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 12:51 pm Morning everyone, and hope your Easter Sunday is a good one .
Floyd ( Doglegg) Am going to post this 12 short line here, hope you don’t mind me tagging it on your post .
Want to thank a couple of you for help on this one ,would like to hear from others there thoughts,facts ,etc on this 12 .
Is it a one year run on production, and if so does anyone know approximately how many ?
Some nice 16 s and 17 s posted here , anyone have a 12 that you could show? Would be appreciated.
Thanks for a great post Floyd , always something nice to read and see from you and others here !

Ripster wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 12:51 pm Morning everyone, and hope your Easter Sunday is a good one .
Floyd ( Doglegg) Am going to post this 12 short line here, hope you don’t mind me tagging it on your post .
Want to thank a couple of you for help on this one ,would like to hear from others there thoughts,facts ,etc on this 12 .
Is it a one year run on production, and if so does anyone know approximately how many ?
Some nice 16 s and 17 s posted here , anyone have a 12 that you could show? Would be appreciated.
Thanks for a great post Floyd , always something nice to read and see from you and others here !

JP I posted else where but here is my 12, a no line tang stamp so early after the war. I believe that they only used bone on them the first year and the 12 doesn't show up in the next catalogue.

doglegg wrote: ↑Mon Apr 05, 2021 1:47 am

Ripster wrote: ↑Sun Apr 04, 2021 12:51 pm Morning everyone, and hope your Easter Sunday is a good one .
Floyd ( Doglegg) Am going to post this 12 short line here, hope you don’t mind me tagging it on your post .
Want to thank a couple of you for help on this one ,would like to hear from others there thoughts,facts ,etc on this 12 .
Is it a one year run on production, and if so does anyone know approximately how many ?
Some nice 16 s and 17 s posted here , anyone have a 12 that you could show? Would be appreciated.
Thanks for a great post Floyd , always something nice to read and see from you and others here !

JP I posted else where but here is my 12, a no line tang stamp so early after the war. I believe that they only used bone on them the first year and the 12 doesn't show up in the next catalogue. DSCN6727.JPGDSCN6728.JPGDSCN6729.JPGDSCN6731.JPGDSCN6733.JPG

Floyd ,that’s nice looking bone on your 12
Thanks for posting it, believe we have the Same shield as well. Really like the Ww2 period stuff ,and always something to learn ,and getting to be a challenge to find them .
Have a great day there my friend

doglegg wrote: ↑Mon Apr 05, 2021 1:47 am
JP I posted else where but here is my 12, a no line tang stamp so early after the war. I believe that they only used bone on them the first year and the 12 doesn't show up in the next catalogue. DSCN6727.JPGDSCN6728.JPGDSCN6729.JPGDSCN6731.JPGDSCN6733.JPG

Well, between you and JP, my heart is jumped up 20 beats. Floyd, that is just a down right beautiful knife. You and JP should be proud of those.

JP has a beauty and I am fortunate to have one too. Thanks P. B.

Beautiful old knives!