Camillus And O-V-B

Rusty1

Rusty1

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SMKW as some are aware have just started selling, knife blanks from the Camillus sale. On the SMKW web site they have a 9 1/2 in Bowie blade with the O-V-B tang stamp. I know that the stang stamp logo was used by Hibbard Spencer & Bartlett for their line of goods. Can anyone tell me what the Camillus connection was and what era the blade in question is from.

http://smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/pr...us&Mode=Catalog&Brand=&PriceStart=&SKU=CMBL03

Rusty1
 
Camillus started making the "Our Very Best" I think in 2002.
Several model were made, look at Ebay and type in Camillus OVB, and several will pop up. Also look at completed auction.
These were made from Jerry Fisks designs, and are really great knives. Very light weight and very ...nice to look at.
0170-6C carbon steel treated to 58-59rc hardness.
These were limited editions, and depending on which model and wood type your looking at, from 125 to 750 were made.
I have three of the Southwest bowies with 11 1/4 blade, and I wish I had three of the 7 1/2 blade versions to go with them.
Depending on auction, or buy it now, both have been selling for about $225 to $300.
These were made with smaller blades, but big is better.
 
I bought an OVB, 2 boot knives/daggers (wo0T!! Trent's ALL TIME FAVORITE Camillus pattern) and two ground blade skinner kits :thumbup:

I got a question:
What happens if i get one with the unground tip
Like in the picture
CMBL24.jpg

How much will a local knife sharpener guy charge me to ground the tip and/or blade?
10 bucks?
50?
I know how to make handles but I have never tried grinding or forging :(
I guess I can go to my buddies metal/wood working shop and give the grinder a try :cool:
Gotta start somewhere right?
I got Wayne Goddards 50 Dolla' Knifeshop and Custom Knifemaking: 10 Projects from a Master Craftsman books that I already read.........
 
Trent,
That's called the NEB...where the point will eventually be. I'd try to find a knifemaker, or someone who could show you that they have done blade blanks before. Maybe ask Nordic Knives in Solvang.

After you've put the handles on of course. :eek::D

Bill
 
Hahhaha
How do you know about Nordic Knives?
I went in there for the first time last week!!
Is that shop famous or something in the knife world?
They had A LOT of custom knives for sale :thumbup:
Outta my price range :(
I talked to the lady there and she said that they have been there for 37 years!!! :eek:
They must be doing something right....
When I left i told the ladies there
"I'll be back when I build up about 6 paychecks!!"
They both laughed

I go to Solvang every week
I'll take a picture next time
I was gonna make a post about them in the GOOD, bad and ugly :thumbup:

Thanks for the tip on the tip
Err..The NEB I mean
I never thought of them
I'll ask them how much next week....

Word on the Solvang street is they put on a nice annual knife show
I haven't been to a knife show yet
 
Famous Shop...famous show, as well.
They may not do the work, but certainly might know someone you could help you out.

Good luck, and let us know.

Bill
 
I know very little about knife making, so I have a couple of quesions.
The SMKW ad, says "The condition of each blank will vary, as well as whether they are unground or partially ground".
So does this mean it might just be a flat piece of steel, or does it mean it does not have a sharpened edge?
And will it already be heat treated and tempered?
I might be interested, if all I would have to do is add a guard and some wood, and break out the file and sharpener, and put an edge on it.
 
Thanks for the information about O-V-B guys, most appreciated, did not realise the knives commanded a decent price.

Rusty1
 
Mountainwind - YES!! to all of the above. Blanks were in all stages and you certainly take the chance of getting a hunk of steel, maybe even unheat treated or you may get one that's ready for a guard and handle. Pretty much a crap shoot.
 
maybe even unheat treated
Click to expand...
Can you tell with the naked eye if it's been heat treated or not?

What is the deal with this one?
Is it halfway through the black coating stage??
CMBL05.jpg


I figured it was a crap shoot as well
"AS-IS.....OUR CHOICE" was the give away

Maybe I'll roll a 7 on the come out........
 
That is a blank that went through the heat treat process. The markings are from the screen that it sat on going through the heat treat furnace.
 
It's been a few days, but I figured I'd chime in on this. I just got an order of these today; they're from all stages of mfg.

I got a Marine Combat, roll marked, fuller in the blade, no grinding, doesn't appear to be heat treated yet. Pilot's Survival knife blank, saw back on the blade & roll marked, but no other work done on it (no heat treat). What looks like a SchradeUSA Sharpfinger style, marked Camillus/Western, no grinding at all; same one in Trent Rock's post.

The six-piece "grab-bag" in this order had:
- Thin blade from the Cold Steel Carbon V days (pre-coated with black finish);
- Moore Maker blade, very nicely finished, just needs a handle & sharpening;
- Camillus skinner, 2" blade, only needs a handle;
- Remington gut-hook skinner, black finish, only needs a handle;
- Camillus drop-point hunter, heat-treated & roll marked and that's all;
- some other blade blank I can't figure out, but it'll make a nice knife.

This is a great deal if you want to make your own knives, and don't have the facilities to do it from scratch. I'll be looking for someone to grind & heat-treat for me later on. I'll definitely be buying more. :thumbup:

thx - cpr
 
I went to Nordic Knives today
I told the guy" Man..I didn't realize how FAMOUS in the knife world this place was"
Some guy who was looking at a knife turns to me and says
"Just to give you an idea of HOW famous this place is, I just flew 3,000 miles to come to this shop!" :eek:

They said they didn't know any bladesmith's or "grinders" :(
I guess I'll make a post in the Bladesmith sub forum for anyone nearby...

I am gonna check out the Solvang show next month :thumbup:
It'll be my first knife show
I'll bring a hundred bucks
Maybe I can buy a customized Swiss Army Knife for under a 100:cool:
 
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