Camillus lockback VS. Schrade LB8

K

kevins73cigars

Joined
Feb 24, 2006
Messages
276
Hi Guys,

Before I say anything on this topic, I want to make it clear that I understand that you need to make "apples to apples" comparisons between manufacturers and that you can not compare the top of one manufacturor's line with the middle or bottom of another's line. That said...

A while back I took a break from buying Schrade's and bought a few Boker trappers. I didn't like the satin-like finish of the Boker's steel or the so-so details of the handles when I compared the examples I had purchased to my Schrade 285UHs. So, I gave them away - one to my brother Bill and the other to my brother-in-law Joey.
I just received my first Camillus and I am doing the same thing as before - comparing it to my Schrade counterpart and looking for insights from you guys while I try to make up my mind if I ever want to buy another Camillus. This afternoon I received a Camillus lock back that is similiar (or at least looked similiar in the photos) to a 4-pin LB8. The derlin handles of the Camillus have decent color and two sheilds (a bomb type on one side and a long thin oval on the other) with nothing written in either. The tang stamp (not stamped - looks like it was printed) says only "Camillus" with "Made in the U.S.A." below.
My first impression is that this knife is not as heavy-duty or as well finished as my LB7s or LB8s. Seems decent enough for the price, but I think I would rather have one LB8 than three of these...
Anyone ever own one of these and actually put it to work? I am also interested in any qualified opinions on the general quality of Camillus knives relative to Schrade knives.

P.S. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I've provided a link to the knife I am describing below...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...30033172006&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWN:IT&rd=1
 
I hadn't seen that version of Camillus Lockback, but you got a heck of a deal on that one. I have their version of the LB7, and while I noted quite a few differences in tooling details, there was not a huge amount of difference in quality between the two. In fact, the two companies shared the same sources for a lot of their materials, and Camillus was a jobber for Schrade, doing assembly work on some Schrade lockbacks (and other knives), and occasionally providing Schrade with components for Schrade's in-house assembled knives. Eventually, Schrade contracted most of their knives sold to Sears from Camillus. Excluding of course the Chinese Craftsman power tools they sold over the past few years, Sears has never sold junk in their Craftsman line.


Here are the knives in the 1993 Sears Catalog with a closeup of the LB version.



And a detail comparison between the Schrade LB7 and Camillus LB, CM9.

 
Codger,
You sure do have the straight dope on these knives! I was getting a little confused because I just found a beat up version of my new Camillus on eBay with my latest "Schrade" search - but now it makes perfect sense. I thought the seller was wrong, that he just assumed it was Schrade because it had a Craftsman tang stamp and he thought all Craftsman knives were made by Schrade. Sounds like it can be considered a Schrade - sort of... Contracted by Schrade and built by Camillus. Sounds to me like it's still a Camillus knife, but I guess the seller will get more listing it as a schrade.

Thanks again for the quick response and sharp education.

link to the questionable eBay listing below...

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-CRAFTSM...4QQihZ014QQcategoryZ43331QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 
This thread saves me from having to start a new one.Did everyone finally decide that those LB7s marked Craftsman were made by Camillus not Schrade.The reason I ask is at some point I'm going to sell the two I have on Ebay.I don't want to list them as Schrade if they aren't.I guess I should have said LB7 types.Arnold
 
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