Camillus Military Pocket Knife

TAH

TAH

Joined
Jul 3, 2001
Messages
6,135
One of my favorite multi-tools...

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...and one of my favorite multi-purpose knives. ;)

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Thanks for looking! :)
 
Nice...I still have the one just like it I carried for 22 years of service in the Navy. Used to get them from small stores and hand them out to all the guys in my department.
 
Thanks. They go well together because they're both built like tanks. :thumbup:
 
I saw this, and was like. I'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE!! So I rummaged through a box of assorted knives I have after seeing the camillus logo on yours. I was curious about the one I had. Bam! Found it, exact same thing, I got if from my dad about 10 years ago, he got it the year it was made, 1972 and used it up to 92-93 ish when he retired. Here's a few pics of it :D
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Here's two more of it if your interested.

http://i1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee442/Swoop033/DSCN0375_zps7254feb6.jpg

http://i1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee442/Swoop033/DSCN0377_zps41e3a82d.jpg
 
Yep, that's a good one, Swoop. Yours has the old style bottle opener. These knives are just about bomb proof and they come with a bail that could pull a Jeep. My knife is dated 1993.

Thanks for the pics! :thumbup:
 
I have about a dozen of them. I find the fit and finish sub par compared to Vic and Wenger alox soldiers, but I still love them.
 
William Cannon said:
I find the fit and finish sub par compared to Vic and Wenger alox soldiers...
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I agree, but that's exactly what I like about them - their tough, utilitarian appearance. And they're made in the U.S.A to boot! :thumbup:
 
TAH said:
I agree, but that's exactly what I like about them - their tough, utilitarian appearance. And they're made in the U.S.A to boot! :thumbup:
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Although they look tough and utilitarian, I haven't had good luck with them. Out of 2, both
wound up with broken back springs with only moderate use. That was many years ago, maybe later ones were better made, but I found mine disappointing. Any others had that experience?
 
I've read about broken back springs, but the back springs on my knife have held up to everything that I've ever, or will ever, ask it to do....and it has performed some tough jobs.

I've also read this knife doesn't like to have more than one blade opened at a time. Not saying you did this, but just be aware.
 
TAH said:
I've read about broken back springs, but the back springs on my knife have held up to everything that I've ever, or will ever, ask it to do....and it has performed some tough jobs.

I've also read this knife doesn't like to have more than one blade opened at a time. Not saying you did this, but just be aware.
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Oh, it's entirely possible I did this. In those days, I knew next to nothing about knives and although I don't have specific memories, I may well have done abusive things out of ignorance. But anyway, I brought into the service with me my trusty Kamp King, almost exactly like the Camillus except with imitation jigged bone scales that i found more comfortable than the bare bones GI. It held up very well, so I didn't really need the others. Glad to learn yours were good.
 
I'm sure you knew more about knives than I did back then. I've only owned this knife for a few years, so I knew about the back springs going into it.

Thanks for the comments and thanks for your service! :)
 
I have been in for 23 years now and have had many of these knives (still carry one even today).
Not one of them has had a broken back spring ever my issue is loosing them or giving them away like an ink pen and the borrower never returns.
I have heard that complaint and read it on many wed sights but I am sceptical based on my positive experience with this knife.
I LOVE SAKs as well but this knife is truely American, blue collar, and rugged and built to last
its solid stainless steel awesomeness not plastic and aluminum with thin steel. I think what happens is it gets used HARD,harger than a SAK because we know its so rugged and it eventually breaks. But I would suggest trying doing the same tasks with a SAK and check the result I would bet it would break too.
just my 2 cents take care to all
 
I had a couple where the springs were ok, but I didn't do much with them. Handled a few others with broken springs in stores and have also seen on ebay. I would guess it is a heat treat or stress riser issue with the rough build quality. I don't think an alox model sak gives up anything to them, but they are a nice piece of memorabilia.
 
FYI;
Also known as the MIL-K818 pattern knife. After over one hundred years of knife making its the knife that Camillus made the most.
Forum member/moderator, CAMCO is the official historian for the old Camillus Co. You can find him here under the Collectors subform, Camillus Collectors Forum.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/695-Camillus-Collector-s-Forum


CAMCO still has a good supply of many of the parts of a lot of different knives that Camillus made. He’s repaired many of these knives including one of mine.

My knife with worn spring and bent clevis.

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After CAMCO finished with it. Snaps like a new knife.

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As close as your ever going to get to a Camillus factory repair of the old knives.
 
During Vietnam guys used to call the Camillus folder, the lifer knife.I recently found my old Camillus fixed blade.
 
sac troop said:
FYI;
Also known as the MIL-K818 pattern knife. After over one hundred years of knife making its the knife that Camillus made the most.
Forum member/moderator, CAMCO is the official historian for the old Camillus Co. You can find him here under the Collectors subform, Camillus Collectors Forum.

CAMCO still has a good supply of many of the parts of a lot of different knives that Camillus made. He’s repaired many of these knives including one of mine.

As close as your ever going to get to a Camillus factory repair of the old knives.
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Great information! Thanks! :thumbup:
 
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