Boy Scout Pocket Knife: Still USA Made?

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VorpelSword

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The Boy Scouts of America has re-branded the organization an overall program as Scouting America. This not intended to be a direct discussion of that change.

The intended topic is the traditional pocket knife. Looking through my stuff the other day (my wife uses another word for stuff) I ran across our son's Boy Scout knife. and got to looking it over from a collector's point of view. IDating from the early 1990s, it has five tools; knife blade , can opener, cap lifter/screw driver and Philips head screw driver. The blade is etched (still!) with Boy Scouts of America and the tang stamp is Camillus, New York, USA in three lies. I am guessing that it is stainless.

The new Scouting America website shows a very similar knife, but I cannot make out the tang stamp.
Is the current scout's pocket knfe still "Made in the USA"?

BSA Deluxe Pocket Knife, 2 1/2" Blade | Boy Scouts Of America

Packed with functions that are perfect for BSA adventures, this multi-tool is the perfect knife for Scouts!
www.scoutshop.org www.scoutshop.org
 
I haven’t seen any US made official BSA knives since Camillus closed their doors.

Other than a few from Buck. I remember looking at the Camillus BSA knives in the Scout store in Needham Ma when I was young. They were good knives.

My rule of thumb is, if it’s made in USA, they tell you. If they aren’t boldly saying where it was made its imported. Sad but true.

We lost so much when Camillus closed.
 
When I blow up the image, I can see part of last two letters under "stainless." Kind of looks like "NA." 🤔
 
It is rare to find almost any mass-produced product not made in Chine or some third-world country. Knives seem to be an exception, although apparently not "Scouting America" knives.
 
I would like to see Medford move his American Service Knife into this realm. However, problems people have with him or the price of such an option are obvious obstacles.
 
I looked again and squinted hard . . .Looks like maybe it is stamped "Peerless"?

Who is that?
 
TC is correct, "Made in China". The price is also a bit of a giveaway. I doubt you could get such a knife, made in the US, for that price.

The packaging says "Made in China".

Screenshot 2025-02-23 083621.png
 
Mixed bag. Bear and Son handle some, Buck some others, Case some, Victorinox some, and some more are Chinese of various brands. The most traditional Scout pattern is Chinese now.
 
There's not more Boy Scouts of America anymore! They finally did anyway with it, it's just the Scouts of America now! 😪
 
The Boy Scout (traditional scout knife) is made in China now. Comparing the fit and finish, construction, etc. I would guess it is made in the same factory that Rough Ryder knives and current Marbles brands are made.
I have one of the Chinese made boy scout knives, and a Marbles branded "scout knife" without any BSA branding, and it looks almost identical to the one the scouts are currently selling.
They are pretty good knives for the money in my opinion.20250223_124642.jpg
 
If I was a Scout, I’d get the Buck Spitfire, one hand opening, locking blade of 420HC with pocket clip for $50, Buck quality made in US. When I was a Scout, I had an official BSA Bird & Trout made by Western. There is no fixed blade BSA knife listed 😟
 
landing_page_section_02.jpg
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The Eagle Scouts had/have the option to buy these a couple of years ago. Made in America, 1095 steel. Not sure who that version of Camillus contracted the work to, this was just before they got sold to GSM.
 
Just noticed - at the bottom of the picture I posted earlier it still says "Boy Scouts of America," not the new name. Someone in DEI failed miserably there. 😁
 
VorpelSword said:
The Boy Scouts of America has re-branded the organization an overall program as Scouting America. This not intended to be a direct discussion of that change.

The intended topic is the traditional pocket knife. Looking through my stuff the other day (my wife uses another word for stuff) I ran across our son's Boy Scout knife. and got to looking it over from a collector's point of view. IDating from the early 1990s, it has five tools; knife blade , can opener, cap lifter/screw driver and Philips head screw driver. The blade is etched (still!) with Boy Scouts of America and the tang stamp is Camillus, New York, USA in three lies. I am guessing that it is stainless.

The new Scouting America website shows a very similar knife, but I cannot make out the tang stamp.
Is the current scout's pocket knfe still "Made in the USA"?

BSA Deluxe Pocket Knife, 2 1/2" Blade | Boy Scouts Of America

Packed with functions that are perfect for BSA adventures, this multi-tool is the perfect knife for Scouts!
www.scoutshop.org www.scoutshop.org
Click to expand...
Read the top comment in the review section on that page.
This is an excellent quality knife especially given the cost. True to the original! I am sure it will provide me with many years of service. It is ironic though that a knife representing one of the oldest and greatest institutions in the US is now made in China.
Click to expand...
 
knarfeng said:
Read the top comment in the review section on that page.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that.

I have an early 1990s knife of that model by Camillus . . .with the Philips Head blade. I have seen one on e-Bay in slightly less than pristine condition offered at $80. So the $30 retail for a brand new one is a good price.
 
knarfeng said:
These days, if Case were to make a full size four blade Camp Knife, I'd expect street price to be over $100. Bear & Son would likely be a bit less.
Click to expand...

And based on my years as a scout leader, not many parents would pay that much for their son’s knife. With all the gear a scout might need for outings and campouts, the cost quickly exceeded what most parents were willing to pay. They therefore cut corners wherever possible. This led to serious problems with footwear and shelters.

These days I recommend a victorinox scout pattern. Not terribly expensive and good quality.
 
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