Camillus Scout knife aficionados….

[315]

So here is my question for those of you that may know. Today while going through a couple knives I grabbed my old Camillus Cub Scout knife my parents gave me in the late 70’s. I compared it to another one I picked up for a possible re-handle project and noticed the can openers were a bit different. My original one is on the right in these photos and has a slight bend or kink to the opener. The other one I picked up does not. Any idea which is the older one and when the switch was made? I feel like my original one would be the older one but I could be wrong. Just curious if you may know? The awl on my original is also a different shape and does not have a nail nick either..Thanks.

 

[Campbellclanman]

I'm not sure , but The Krink in the opener and the different punch will definitely tell the story, I do have a book called 600 scout Knives.


Edit..... so I had a wee peek in there, your two knives are listed below.

I hope yours is 3 blade? if so look below
In the paragraph shown in photo below., read carefully the descriptions of both single punch ( pu) or Screwdriver ( sd ) off-sets, both your knives are listed here - note the single rivet description - which is yours, then determine the single or both the Punch and Screwdriver offsets, - you can then see whether your knife ( I am in the middle of painting so don't have the time for this) is a CAMO 3CR etc.......
From there hen you can use the CAM 3CR ( for example) or whatever it turns out to be the year of manufacture ( you have 4 to pick your knife from that have the single rivet listed ) to find them in the Camillus Catalogs etc. note the year above the paragraph is 1948 to present.

Leaves a little searching for you to make up your mind which one is which listed here which is kinda fun ...

 

[315]

Thanks Duncan!! By the looks of this my original is the 3CR and the other one I picked up would be the 7CR, so towards the end of their production. Now I’ll have some Detective work to do on years, if I can narrow it down. Thanks again!

 

[Campbellclanman]

Cool!
I am not too sure if you will find anything here my friend.......

https://www.collectors-of-camillus.us/Catalogs/Catalogs.htm

Or...simply using Tang Stamp Charts to find a round-a bout time frame?...

Camillus Tang Stamps

Learn about Camillus knife tang stamps and what they can tell you about the knife

www.allaboutpocketknives.com

something different, Camillus Tang Stamps with narration

Or here in AAPK....

dating a camillus - All About Pocket Knives

camillus, then a short line from the letter A till the letter U, then new york , usa, its a 69 deluxe bone stockman.

www.allaboutpocketknives.com

 

[abbydaddy]

It looks like you already have your answer. My assumption would have been that the more elaborate krinking would be associated with earlier manufacture, and that seems to be correct, but I wouldn't have had any evidence to support that beyond general streamlining of manufacturing processes over the 20th century.

 

[ranger0102]

Cool!
I am not too sure if you will find anything here my friend.......

https://www.collectors-of-camillus.us/Catalogs/Catalogs.htm

Or...simply using Tang Stamp Charts to find a round-a bout time frame?...

Camillus Tang Stamps

Learn about Camillus knife tang stamps and what they can tell you about the knife

www.allaboutpocketknives.com

something different, Camillus Tang Stamps with narration

Or here in AAPK....

dating a camillus - All About Pocket Knives

camillus, then a short line from the letter A till the letter U, then new york , usa, its a 69 deluxe bone stockman.

www.allaboutpocketknives.com

How accurate are the date ranges on the Tang Stamp Charts. I found 2 Cub Scout knives in my mother's estate that I thought may have belonged to me and my younger brother. They seem to fit the CAM03CR description above with the long punches and screwdrivers. Both the screwdriver and punch look offset. They have the blue handle and a single rivet. The Tang Stamp has Camillus in italics with a single long line under. The C in Camillus is squared off instead of rounded. There are periods between the letters U.S.A. The Tang Stamp charts say it was manufactured from later 1970's into 1980's. My brother was a Cub Scout from around 1972 to 1975 and I was a Cub scout from around 1965 to 1968. I can't figure out why my mother had two Cub Scout knives that appear to be manufactured after both of us were finished with Cub Scouts. My brother went on to Boy Scouts so I would imagine he would have had a Boy Scout knife in 1975 or 1976. One of these knives looks barely used and I thought that one was mine. The first day I used it I cut my finger on it that required stitches and my parents took it away from me.

Thanks