Are We Dying Here?

P

popcornpicker

Joined
Apr 3, 2007
Messages
625
While Camillus was going out of business there was a lot of traffic here. Now that they are gone, most of the interest seems to be: What is it and how much is it worth?

Now is the time to preserve the history, documentation, and recollections. The Collectors of... site has a few download files but no personality. I'm truly sorry about the way everything ended, but with wiser ownership and a realistic union, things may have ended differently.

The end was ugly, but for over a hundred years, there had to be a lot of good memories. This forum should also be a tribute to those workers and the industrial revolution that came from a small town in New York.

I'd like to see a picture of somebody's grandpa working on a Gran'pa Knife. It might be too soon, but you should be proud of your history.
 
..from my years as a Scout and Scouter. During those formative years my Camillus BSA knives always performed well and withstood all the abuse a teenager could dish out. I also was issued a "demo knife" when I shipped out but rapidly laid it aside. Wish I still had it though. I have learned a ton about the history of Camillus, Schrade, etc. on these forums. I have little to contribute but much to learn. Please keep this forum alive.
 
i have been thinking the same thing lately, a camillus was the knife that started it all and lead me to this site, and the camillus section was always hopping when i first joined, then slowly it just stopped. i suppose its to be expected since the rush is over from the auctions... In time i hope it will pick back up.
i still check it daily though. Remember not knowing a single thing about reading a knife and trying to find out what kinda treasure i had (my grandpas #26 2 bladed hunter)
Still a wealth of information to be searched out in here and i still use it.
At the risk of sounding corny, for me it all started with camillus and it always seems to go back to camillus.
cheers
ivan
 
I personally don't think collector interest in Camillus is declining. But new members and guests do not have access to the search function to read old posts, and I believe that has at least a slight chilling effect on the usefulness (and entertainment / educational value) of the forum.

Perhaps those of you who have paid memberships and would like to see more traffic here could revive some older, interesting posts on Camillus history, patterns, etc. and add a bit of onformation to them or questions as a stimulus.

Likewise, to add some life and interest to the Camillus collector site, donate some usable materials, even just good photos of knives in your own collections if you don't have original catalogs, advertisements and other memorabilia. And perhaps give Mr. Vickery some suggestions on improving the layout and accessability of the site. Collector input is vital to both venues.

Codger :thumbup:
 
Codger_64 said:
I personally don't think collector interest in Camillus is declining. But new members and guests do not have access to the search function to read old posts, and I believe that has at least a slight chilling effect on the usefulness (and entertainment / educational value) of the forum.
Click to expand...

Here is an example of being able to search. Here I did a search for Camillus posts that were done once in the Schrade Forum, back around the time after Camillus shut down. It was thought maybe there was no need for both a Camillus and Schrade Forum, and talking of combining them. There is interest in both brands, and I've seen interest at its peak when more people contribute knife pictures and knife stories. This is a good thread to revive.

It is fitting who last posted to the 7 page thread of folks showing off Camillus knives on June 1st-2008.

CLICK HERE - Camillus knives
 
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It's really very sad. Living in Syracuse I had a front row seat for the last gasps of a once-great knife company. I even got to go to the factory in Camillus for the first-ever sale of knives on the premises. It was fun and interesting to see the facilities and chat with the employees, while discovering some of the Cold Steel knives made by Camillus right there in Central New York.

It's a shame that this brand couldn't recover. Something was really lost from the knife landscape when Camillus went out of business.
 
I started off with a W49 and my collection grew to most wooden scale Western fixed blade knives. I also have three Westmarks. Part of my collection can be seen on the above site that IRV listed. I learnrd a lot on this forum and tried to pass it on.
 
the right idea, perhaps we need to see if we can get the blood pumping again in this forum;) Start posting some collection pictures, stories, etc.
Hopefully people will take notice that its not a graveyard...
maybe i'll buy a new/old camillus... you know for the good of the camillus forum:D least thats what i'll tell the wife, honey its for the forums...
ivan
 
Slightly off track, is it alright with all that pictures of Remington marked Camillus knives be thrown into the mix?
I always associate 80's-2006 Remington knives with Camillus.
 
Speaking from my own point of view, it is perfectly acceptable. Camillus was, afterall, the largest manufacturer of private branded knives for many years. Look at a 1993 Sears catalog.
 
timsclips said:
Slightly off track, is it alright with all that pictures of Remington marked Camillus knives be thrown into the mix?
I always associate 80's-2006 Remington knives with Camillus.
Click to expand...

:thumbup:Only seems natural to me, Camillus made the REMS. The way I see it is a company made it (KNIVES) in this event as already stated under contract but all the literature IE.warranty work was to be done by Camillus and I like REMS. carry on!:D;)
 
As far as collectability and value, I just got a model 49 on the bay, and was the only bidder. Picked it up for the minimum of $20.00 + $7.00 shipping. According to the 2001 price list, they were $25.95. I generally base my bids on what they sold for new. The 6 and 26 are starting to go up, but a lot of times, you can buy Camillus NIB for less than when they were being manufactured.
 
IVANKERLEY said:
the right idea, perhaps we need to see if we can get the blood pumping again in this forum;) Start posting some collection pictures, stories, etc.
ivan
Click to expand...

I have been wanting to take some pics of my collection, but it has been so hot I have not ventured outside much except to go to work.
I don't have the lighting inside for picture taking. I will get to it... someday.
 
Didn't Keen Kutter contract with Camillus at one time? This here is Mr. Holder.

kk-pocketknives-holden.jpg
Do you all know him?

Anyway, here are a just few of mine.. Some older, some newer, but I love all these classic Cam'ys..

WWII vintage..
000_0782.jpg


1950's or 1960's perhaps??

000_1400.jpg


Viet Nam Era,, I think??

000_1401.jpg

000_1402.jpg


1970's Sportsman Series slippy's
000_1104.jpg

000_1001.jpg


Please, lets not let it die!
 
Nice pics. I've been trying to follow Mr. Levine's tips on using a scanner, but if I go less than 200 dpi they look fuzzy. I can't get any resolution with less than a meg and he says that is way too much. At 100 you can tell it is a knife, not much else though.
 
Sunnyd, your ww2 engineer's knife has a slightly different shaped can opener to the ones that I have (14 in all). Mine have parallel sides and a 'U' cut at the end, yours has a 'V' shaped cut and slanting sides. Yours looks to be an unsusual variant that makes it even more collectable. I know that Camillus made millions of knives during WW2 so there must be a number that deviate from the norm. This is why our hobby is so absorbing. Keep the pictures coming, Camillus mustn't be forgotten. When I get time I will try and get some pics of my ever growing collection of Camillus pocket knives.
 
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