Camillus camp folder

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

Slipjoint Addict
Joined
Feb 2, 2005
Messages
20,039
http://images.google.com/imgres?img...ges?q=camillus+camp+knife&svnum=10&um=1&hl=en

The guy I bought the Schrade fruit knife from has a couple of these, I forget the prices, but I would like to get one for my little brother. This link is for a discontinued (well, Cam went belly up too), just to illustrate what I'm lookin' for. Checked with Gus and Elliott, and the link is cool, just for an example (thanks guys :cool: ).

Anyway, handling one at this guys small stand, it felt like a great knife. I'd like to get one with wood scales for my brother, but I think this one will do. Before I dive in to get this one, could you give me your opinions on this? My little brother doesn't beat on his knives, but sure goes the extra distance with them. He puts them through their paces, and this is a design he wants. Camillus is one of the oldest and most respected brands out there, so I have no problems with their product. This was made for the military, so I have no problem with it from that aspect. If I remember correctly, the price was 40 on each of them, they were in very good condition, no boxes. Is that a good price? I can negotiate too :D .

More basic questions would be, what steel? How durable? Are the scales durable, this will be carried a lot, I am sure. Anything bad about the product? Anything really good about the product?


If you can recommend any others within the same price range, please do so as well.

Thanks.
 
Should be 420HC. As for durability, they're tanks. I've heard of older ones breaking backsprings, but that's only after a very long time of lots of use.
 
40 sounds a little steep, but now they might be bringing that much.

Might want to check an army surplus store. (are there still places like that around.) :D
 
A SAK Soldier, or most other SAKs for that matter. Most of them, it seems, have the basic Main blade, cap lifter, can opener, awl/reemer pattern. It's just that most (red scaled SAKs) have the reemer/awl on the other side of the knife, and have an extra blade or file instead.Of course you can get SAKs with many more implements, but for about twenty dollars you can get a Tinker, Spartan, Sportsman, or the like which are quite comparable to that Camillus, but have more bang for the buck.
Just something to think about.
 
My problem with the base SAKs is that the master blade sits low, leaving the liners sticking up. Hurts my thumb in prolonged use, so I favor a smooth-backed Soldier or Scout.
 
Silenthunterstudios, if you really want one of these "Demo" knives , as we affectionately call them, for your brother let me know. I have a Camillus made in 2003 that I picked up in the PX here in Iraq and have carried in my survival kit for a while. I would be wiling to trade it to you for another slip-joint like a peanut or small stockman. You can reach me at: rwclark1953@yahoo.com

RonC
 
Oh man, looking at that knife brings back memories. They had tons of those demo knives in our supply room at all the engineer posts I was at. They are also identical to the WW2 knives that Sunnys Surplus in Silver Spring Maryland had for 99 cents in the post war years.

They are an okay knife, but there's better to be had. I've seen some of these that are real nail breakers to get the bottle opener/screwdriver out. Look up Smoky Mountain Knifeworks and take a look at the Wenger SI or the Victorinox pioneer. Basicly the same design but much better quality, plus both Wenger and Victorinox have a 100% lifetime warrentee on thier stuff. I have an old Wenger SI that has been through hell and is still going strong.

Also see Felinevets site at sosak online. He has great deals on sak's.
 
The guy is actually charging 35, I could probably get it for 30 from him, but thats double what I've seen them for online. I did see a Wenger Soldier model for about 20 bucks at Gander Mountain in York PA. I think I will get that for my bro.
 
I think you would be getting a better knife for your brother if you get a SAK of some type. I've kept the Demo knife in my survival gear, as it is semi-indestructable, and pretty much stain-resistant. For carry, when I want a "camp-type" knife, I carry a Victorinox "Ranger" model or a Wenger "Soldier" model SAK.

RonC
 
$40.00 bucks!!!!!!! Yeow!!!! Man, that's awfully high for that knife. What you are looking for is a Camillus model #1760 (with U.S. stamp) or a model #1763 (same model, but with U.S.M.C. stamp). Check Ebay. Type in Camillus US or Camillus military knife. There are always a few on the auction. True, that the older ones had a tendency to break a spring. That usually only occurs when both blades riding on the same spring are opened at the same time or one blade is half opned and then opening another balde on the same spring. This causes double the tension on the backspring. All in all, they are great knives, built like tanks. They have a year of manufacture stamp on the main blade tang. I used several while in Vietnam (they kept growing legs and walking away or I lost them all). I now have a collection of several of them in various sentimental years. I always carry one hunting or carry a SAK Soldier. But, I like the large, oversized bail on the Camillus. Better find some soon as the most of the online knife stores are out of them and with Camillus out of business, the price will only go up as availability goes down. While you're at it, grab a Camillus U.S.A.F. pilot survival knife with metal-tipped sheath. They make a great hunting/outdoor knife IMHO.
 
I sold a friend my Camillus pilot knife, he was ready to retire his old Ontario pilot knife that he had had since he was a kid (he's in his 50's), I think he said he got it at a surplus store.

I bought a Demo on another forum for 25 bucks, Ron53, when you getting back from the sandbox?
 
Welcome Home, Ron! Hope you get to make up for some time. Dove season starts north of Highway 90, this Saturday, ya know. I'll be working, but that's okay. Still to hot for this old feller to hang around in a corn field.

One of the gals from Castroville just got back from her second tour in the Sandbox. LOL, her daddy would never let her drive the tractors on the farm, so she joined the Army Reserve as a truck driver while in college. She went from graduation to Iraq, then went again.
 
Amos,

I'm in and out of the Sanbox every 6 weeks...been doing that for 3 years now. Actually, I've spent 20 of the last 29 months in Iraq. It's such a wonderful, endearing place! HA!

Went hog-hunting with a friend last Saturday near Dime Box, Texas. I was carrying my Ruger Flattop .44. We jumped a 300-pounder, but it was a little too quick for me...he got away! It was "interesting" hunting with handguns for these monsters in chest-high grass, though.

Ron
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top