Camillus Cutlery Memories

cody6268 · **Reply #30 on:** February 14, 2020, 04:51:40 AM

I think pretty much every cutlery manufacturer still extant in the US has imported lines and or parts. Gerber and SOG, I think are largely imported. Utica, at least what I find in stores here, has a lot of imported lines. Bear and Sons has the Bear Edge line, which is imported. Case has Tec-X. Even Camillus and Schrade, as the original companies, had multiple imported lines.

But, personally, I am not really impressed by what Taylor Brands (now owned by Smith and Wesson, I think) and Acme are doing with the Camillus and Schrade names. The quality seems to scream "bargain bin special" and they all use mediocre steel. Yet, my Rough Riders are half the cost of a Chinese Schrade or Camillus, but 100X better. And it doesn't help that Taylor are taking over the mom and pop hardware store cutlery displays. Our Farm Bureau replaced Case (they were a silver level dealer) with Taylor Schrade. At the very least, they could allow Bear and Sons, Utica, or even GEC to produce some knives in the USA. There were some GEC Schrades, I might add, in 2005-6 based on the Oregon Trapper; done as a special edition. Now, an Oregon Trapper, in Old Timer trim with sawcut bone would look awesome!

In terms of modern designs, I love my Schrade Tough Tool, Cliphangers, and am trading at present for a Lake and Walker. Camillus had great stainless steel, and a ton of modern designs. The LEV-R-LOK was especially cool, and I find the Sierra to be a great workhorse.

ElevenBlade · **Reply #31 on:** February 14, 2020, 04:58:26 AM

I still use a Camillus lockback when I go camping. Definitely one of my favorites,

I think it's unfortunate that Camillus fell apart. There are posts in other forums that talk about how they were inconsistent and disorganized in their production,

The Demo knife is an American Classic, which was re-vitalized for a short time recently, and its a shame it hasn't lasted. If the Demo is anything like the Camillus Scout (which I also have, but don't use), the backspring is made of the same hard metal as everything else - making it extremely stiff, hard to open, and prone to breaking. Knowing a reasonable stiffness for a backspring should be very basic for a manufacturer - when there are so few components, they all need to be on point.

Rapidray · **Reply #32 on:** February 14, 2020, 06:30:56 AM

Case knives and China - I haven’t that...last I heard is Case is USA period.

Mechanickal · **Reply #33 on:** February 14, 2020, 07:21:06 AM

My recently found Camillus Demo knife opens perfectly!
It's not giving me a feeling of being too strong whatsoever

Spartan19 · **Reply #34 on:** February 15, 2020, 04:16:28 AM

It's sad the quality being pushed aside for cheap knives. I've seen a lot of cheap knives on display and fewer quality knives on the shelves

Spartan19 · **Reply #35 on:** February 15, 2020, 04:18:19 AM

Quote from: Rapidray on February 14, 2020, 06:30:56 AM

Case knives and China - I haven’t that...last I heard is Case is USA period.

Thankfully the trads are still American Ray, it's just the tech x series of economy linerlocks

Rapidray · **Reply #36 on:** February 15, 2020, 04:51:16 AM

Quote from: Spartan19 on February 15, 2020, 04:18:19 AM

Thankfully the trads are still American Ray, it's just the tech x series of economy linerlocks

Thanks for the information

Spartan19 · **Reply #37 on:** February 16, 2020, 01:24:09 AM

Quote from: Rapidray on February 15, 2020, 04:51:16 AM

Thanks for the information

Anytime, it's getting pretty confusing these days

Ray S · **Reply #38 on:** February 19, 2020, 03:06:10 AM

Thought I would post up some of the Camillus knives I have accumulated over the years.
#1 A 2 blade with celluloid handles and tip bolsters.
#2 A 2 blade ebony handles with a 3line stamp and arched stamp on secondary blade.
#3 A 3 blade with celluloid handles and an unusual manicure secondary blade.
#4 A 2 blade coffin pattern with swirl celluloid handles.

ElevenBlade · **Reply #39 on:** February 19, 2020, 03:07:41 AM

Ray S · **Reply #40 on:** February 19, 2020, 03:09:41 AM

Page two
#1A George Washington commemorative knife issued on the 200th anniversary of his birth(1932).
#2 A similar knife without the signature on the handle.
#3 A military issue utility knife from World War 2
#4 A 3 blade with unusual snakeskin pattern celluloid handles.

Ray S · **Reply #41 on:** February 19, 2020, 03:14:26 AM

OOPS! Double posted the George Washington knife;here is the unmarked version.
#2 A 3 line 4 blade senator pattern;probably pre-WWI
#3 A so-called,"Red Cross" knife issued by them to soldiers during WWI
#4 A US Coast Guard approved rope knife issued during WWII

Ray S · **Reply #42 on:** February 19, 2020, 03:18:08 AM

Page three
#1 A #1 pruning knife with synthetic handles.Advertising on the blade is for Channellock tools.
#2 A #1 with wood handles and lanyard hole.
#3 A # 21 Peanut pattern.
#4 A #23 advertising the Orr Felt & Blanket co.

Ray S · **Reply #43 on:** February 19, 2020, 03:21:39 AM

Page four
#1 A #23 without advertising but having a shield.
#2 A #35 trapper with outgassed celluloid handles before repairing.
#3 the same #35 with new wood handles installed and cleaned up.
#4 A #42 with celluloid handles and tip bolsters.

Ray S · **Reply #44 on:** February 19, 2020, 03:25:31 AM

Page five
#1 A #64 harness jack with spiral punch blade.
#2 A #69 stockman
#3 a #72 whittler.
#4 A #86 reject that somehow made it out of the factory.Nothing is right on this knife!

Ray S · **Reply #45 on:** February 19, 2020, 03:29:57 AM

Page six:
#1A #89 stockman with synthetic stag handles.
#2 Camillus & Syracuse bar knives. Syracuse was one of Camillus's many secondary brands.
#3 A fixed blade bar knife with serrated blade;olive fork point;guard is a combination cap lifter and can opener.
#4 A TL-29 electrician's knife(military issue) with wood handles

Ray S · **Reply #46 on:** February 19, 2020, 03:33:05 AM

Page seven:
#1 An electrician's knife with synthetic handles.
#2 A Camillus paring knife.
#3 an S-702 Yachtsman's knife.
#4 A gentleman's lobster pen knife.

Ray S · **Reply #47 on:** February 19, 2020, 03:37:18 AM

Page eight:
EDIT: The pic of the electrician's knife in the preceding post has wood handles;not synthetic.
#1 Camillus Tip Top barlow pattern
#2 Fisherman' Luck fishing knife.
#3 Camp knife;a knock off of the official Boy Scout knife.
#4 A military Telephone Linesman's kit with pliers and a TL-29 electrician's knife.

Ray S · **Reply #48 on:** February 19, 2020, 03:41:18 AM

Last one is a solo:
A most unusual handle material on this Sword Brand Camillus sleeveboard jack:Celluloid with bits of mother of pearl and abalone floating within.

SteveC · **Reply #49 on:** February 19, 2020, 06:38:56 PM

Sweet collection of Camillus knives Ray !

Does that Cattle knife with the Snakeskin covers have a model # on the main blade ? It looks like a #70 with different covers.

Ray S · **Reply #50 on:** February 19, 2020, 09:12:02 PM

Quote from: SteveC on February 19, 2020, 06:38:56 PM

Sweet collection of Camillus knives Ray !

Does that Cattle knife with the Snakeskin covers have a model # on the main blade ? It looks like a #70 with different covers.

Thanks for the kind words Steve.No;it does not have a number on it.I think it may have had the master blade re-profiled from a spear to a clip point.It is a 4 line.Here is another pic.