Camillus scout knife help

B

Balrog99

Joined
Apr 13, 2013
Messages
315
So, I picked this up today for 5$ it's rusty and pitting a bit, but otherwise in good shape. I have a few questions though. When was it produced, how do I remove the rust on the back (and maybe get it shining) and how do I get rid of the blade play on the main blade. Any help would be appreciated
 
Interesting pattern, haven't seen it before.

I'm no expert, but I noticed your knife has the two-piece can opener. Camillus used this style briefly, for about two years after WWII.

Rust and blade wobble: we have bona fide experts on those subjects here at Traditional, they'll advise you much better than I.
 
Same can opener was on the Boy Scout model from 1946-1948. Of course, the Boy Scout model has a punch instead of the pen blade and has the Boy Scout emblem.
 
Interesting... It seems completely different than my Camillus army engineer knife from WW2. Is it a rare one?
 
No. 14Q38/No. 14S13 - Navy Utility Jack Knife
NavyUtilityKnife_zpsindwnbnx.jpg


note: "FG stag" in the description = Foster Grant stag, i.e. plastic.


aka Navy and Coast Guard General Utility Knife
KnivesThatWentToWar001_zpsrpawjxaq.jpg


Introduced/produced near the end of WWII (1944) according to Frank Trzaska of U.S. Military Knives. Don't know what year the contract ended, but likely in the late '40s/early '50s.

Not rare, but not as common as other WWII-era Camillus utility jacks.

You can clean out dirt/grime with warm soapy water and a toothbrush and pipecleaner. For red rust, apply baking soda and water (sorta make a paste) with a toothbrush then rinse. Dry with paper towels and compressed air. Then spray it down with WD-40 (water displacement). Wipe off excess. Let it sit for a day or so. Apply a drop or two of REM oil or mineral oil in the joints. I wouldn't try to make it shiny, but that's just me.

As for fixing blade play, you can use the search function in this forum. There are several threads/posts addressing this.
 
Too bad nobody can come up with specific info.:D
I haven't tried baking soda on rust; that will change.
 
I have one each from Imperial and Colonial. It's nice to know what they are.
I wouldn't mind finding one of those Army Air Corps utility knives.
 
This is the 14Q38, the Navy And Coast Guard Basic Utility Knife. Camillus continued making them after WW2 until the 60s, possibly the 70s. What makes it unique is that the Navy requested the pen blade instead of the awl. I think this makes it more of a jackknife. I have purchased a few of them recently for next to nothing. The only problem is that Foster Grant plastic called Fosterene, shrinks and cracks. I'm currently looking to get mine re handled. They are built like a tank. I fell into this rabbit hole by accident. I have since purchased three of them. And a Pal Blade Co version with plastic covers. I have been able to date this one to 1941-42 when they changed the name of the company to Pal Cutlery Co. And...I bought a version made by Boker USA, the 9631. Boker and Camillus also made the 9631 for John Primble Belknap Hardware. I've seen Utica/Kutmaster, Imperial, Hammer Brand and Craftsman branded examples. I know this is from a long time ago. But if I don't write it down, even I'll forget!
 
LAG3 said:
This is the 14Q38, the Navy And Coast Guard Basic Utility Knife. Camillus continued making them after WW2 until the 60s, possibly the 70s. What makes it unique is that the Navy requested the pen blade instead of the awl. I think this makes it more of a jackknife. I have purchased a few of them recently for next to nothing. The only problem is that Foster Grant plastic called Fosterene, shrinks and cracks. I'm currently looking to get mine re handled. They are built like a tank. I fell into this rabbit hole by accident. I have since purchased three of them. And a Pal Blade Co version with plastic covers. I have been able to date this one to 1941-42 when they changed the name of the company to Pal Cutlery Co. And...I bought a version made by Boker USA, the 9631. Boker and Camillus also made the 9631 for John Primble Belknap Hardware. I've seen Utica/Kutmaster, Imperial, Hammer Brand and Craftsman branded examples. I know this is from a long time ago. But if I don't write it down, even I'll forget!
Click to expand...
Sorry I can't post pictures at the moment.
 
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