Camillius Cub Scout Knife questions

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willintheweeds

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Aug 1, 2016
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Please excuse my ignorance, I tried searching and had no luck, so any input will be much appreciated.

I was able to find a couple of new old stock Camillius Cub Scout Knives for some cub scout nephews who will be earning their whittling chips this year(didn't want to buy the China made current ones). In searching noticed that what I think of as the older ones, maybe from the 60's, having a tendency for the scales to shrink away from the bolsters. Is this common?

The lighter blue handled latter ones don't seem to have this issue, at least based on my limited looking. I'd like to replace my long lost personal Cub knife, bought in 1964 I think, and get as close as possible to the knife I had, so I think I want a Camillius Cub, that has New York stamped on it, the scales or handles will be almost black, and those are the ones that seem to shrink. Thanks for any thoughts, Will
 
The older knives have celluloid scales that tend to shrink with age and also outgas, corroding the blades sometimes. The newer ones are handled mostly in Delrin, which doesn't do this. There is a method to determine which is which but I forget what it is.--KV
 
The earliest Cub Scout knives had black scales of celluloid (cellulose nitrate a component). They are know for shrinking and giving off corrosive gases. The first blue-handled Camillus Cub scout knife also had celluloid handle scales. However, the next Camillus model, circa 1960, had blue plastic scales and was marked Camillus/New York/U.S.A.
 
There is a sub-forum dedicated to Camillus knives and the folks who collect them. I think you are doing OK with getting info here, but if you want this thread moved to the other forum, let us know. Either report the thread, or just post in it and ask.
 
knarfeng said:
There is a sub-forum dedicated to Camillus knives and the folks who collect them. I think you are doing OK with getting info here, but if you want this thread moved to the other forum, let us know. Either report the thread, or just post in it and ask.[/Q
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The cel ones appear clear or transparent whilst the del ones are solid blue.
 
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