Camillus sword brand?

M

metacarpels

Joined
Jan 16, 2001
Messages
156
hey all, i recently acquired a gift from a friend of mine and its a curiosity to me. Its a camillus 3 blade stainless steel medium stockman. Its in the originial box and it came with a pocket sharpening steel. the shield on it has two swords crossing eachother pointed down and it says sword brand. Any idea on the age of this knife?
 
That knife would date from the late 1960's to maybe 1980 or so....it was a popular item for Camillus in the mid 70's.
 
Camillus made some nice traditional knives under their "Sword Brand". I came across this serpentine (like a stockman) framed Harness Jack, with nice jigged bone handles. It has the 4-line Camillus stamp on the reverse of the tang.
GSserpentine.jpg

Do you know if that dates in the same period as the previous knife, knifeaholic (or anyone??)??
 
Waynorth,

Your Harness jack is Pre-WWII.....their premium line of knives in those years used the SWORD BRAND tang stamping and the 4-line Camillus stamp on the rear tang (usually). I think that these were 20's to 30's up to WWII.

The original poster's knife is a 1970's era, in that time frame Camillus always used the CAMILLUS NEW YORK USA tang stamping but they used the "Sword Brand" blade etching on some knives, as far as I know only those with stainless steel blades.
 
Waynorth,

BTW congrats on your recent big Schrade cigar whittler - I tried but couldnt go that high.

I am still kicking myself for passing up that same knife mint with a salesmans sample marking a few years ago.

Hope that you post a pic of it when you get it.
 
As I understand it, the 4 line stamp was used from 1919 to 1946. All blades were marked until 1941, from 1941 on only the master blade was marked.
 


Camillus Cutlery Co. (A. Kastor & Bros.) added the Sword brand with the Crossed Swords trademark in 1906.

Codger
 
Huh, I was just about to ask about the same name.

I picked up a tiny Camillus lockback knife, all stainless, for 60c in a bin of junk Chinese knives. Says "Camillus, New York" on one side of the blade, and "Silver Sword" on the other.

So it's not an offshore-produced Camillus, just a different sub-brand?

-MV
 
Actually, for many years, Camillus was a subbrand of Adolph Kastor and brothers. They imported knives from Checoslovakia, Austria, and their own factory, Germania in Oligs-Soligen Germany. These were sold under W.H. Morley & Son, A.W. Wadsworth & Sons, Clover Brand, etc. They also bought the factory at Camillus from Charles Sherwood in 1902 and produced knives there. Those were sold under Cloverbrand, Streamline, Stainless Cutlery, Fairmount, Syracuse, Sword Brand, XLNT, and WIlbert, Dunlap, Sta-Sharp, Kwik Kut for Sears. I think there were more, but I can't remember them all just now.

Codger
 
It's nice to hear from a seasoned vet! I'm a relative newbie, and learning slowly! Thanks knifeaholic!
I always get a twinge of regret when I win an auction, and see a BF'er in the bidding list. I guess it happens to all of us though. Certainly does to me; and I'll surely post pics (if I ever hear from the seller? I'm getting a little worried!)
when it gets here!
 
Here's a shot of a packaged knife/steel combo:
2hylax0.jpg
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Eric
 
What are the stampings on that one Eric? Nice Knife!!
 
Tang stamp is Camillus (underlined) over New York, over U.S.A. The blade is etched with crossed swords and Razor Edged Stainless.The shield also has crossed swords on it. The back of the box has instructions on how to use the steel. (Still waiting on those whittlers :) )
Eric
 
No, I meant I was still waiting on the Warren's that I'd mentioned last week. Sorry for the confusion, that's what happens when yo go off topic :o
Eric
 
I have a Camillus it look's like a Canoe but three blades, it has the crossed swords etched on the main blade, did Camillus ever use 440c Stainless for these knives, Oh Yeah its made in the U.S.A. it seems to be made great, wood inlays, it was also used by a guy that worked for N.C.R. to cut wire etc. It's in great condition and no blade damage that's why I asked about the stainless steel. It's still very sharp, all I did is strop it.
 
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