I'm curious as to what you guys think about each of them. My current Edc is a Kamp-King and I have a hammer brand scout knife from the 30s. I also have 2 colonials. 1 is a red one with all the tools of the kamp king plus a corkscrew and the other simply has a blade and a cap lifter. I really want to get a Camillus and my friend has a cub scouts knife which I love. I'm just curious as to your opinions and personal experiences with all three, or just one.
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Camillus vs imperial vs colonial
- Thread starter Balrog99
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In my opinion as an owner of a lot of Imperials (Frontier brand), a few Camillus and lots of Colonial advertising Barlows and Electrician knives. The top of my list of knives are the Camillus ones. The Imperial Frontiers were also made by Camillus. The Colonials are useful but nothing to brag about. The Colonials were always found at the stores on the counter and were more of a use and throw away knife.
Quality-wise, Camillus made as nice a knife as you could want, but contracted a lot of cheaper knives. Colonial and Imperial pioneered some cheaper construction methods, including the shell handles. All are good users, particularly Imperials after Schrade purchase, where they used steel very similar to that in Old Timers and generally had nice, thin blades.
Camillus was the only manufacturer of the three that regularly made what we would consider "collector grade" knives of quality equivalent to Case, Queen/Schatt, GEC and Schrade. Colonial and Imperial knives may have collector interest, but typically because of very unusual pattern or advertising material.
Camillus was the only manufacturer of the three that regularly made what we would consider "collector grade" knives of quality equivalent to Case, Queen/Schatt, GEC and Schrade. Colonial and Imperial knives may have collector interest, but typically because of very unusual pattern or advertising material.
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I feel Camillus made some great knives good enough to have a lot of other people put their names on them.I only have one in my collection a double lockback large trapper and the craftsmanship is outstanding.
My buds Camillus is one of the nicer knife I have had the pleasure to use and I really want one. I have only seen them for a good sum of money and I would like to know if they can be readily found for under 20$. He bought his in CO for five dollars, but I was broke because I had bounpght a new sak.
kootenay joe
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Yes, you can find old Camillus knives for under $20 on ebay. If you search "Camillus" and are patient you can win a Camillus folding knife in very good condition only lightly used for under $20, sometimes even a bone handled one. Most will go over $20 but there always are some fine knives that get very little bidding so your snipe bid of $19.50 might just snag it.
kj
kj
afishhunter
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Thank You! I had forgotten about the Colonial brand! (what can I say? I'm old.) Did they have blades only marked "USA" and "Made in USA"?
Old Hunter
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Colonial had several tang stamps (even in their later years) and usually included their patent numbers on them. Here are a few; the RAP knives were top of the line, hand assembled and made by Bobby Paolantonio - their master cutler (some were marked RAP, others Old Cutler). The standard like of Old Cutler knives were mid-grade with Delrin handles - similar to an Old Timer while the shell handles were like virtually any other shell knife. These include a circa 1981 RAP Barlow (Old Cutler tang stamp and "pocket worn" jigged red bone scales), an Old Cutler 4" Texas Jack with Delrin handles and a Colonial SS shell handle Dog-leg Jack. OH
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Seeing as you have a Kamp-King, I assume that your interest is in the scout pattern. I just happen to be a lover of Camillus Knives, and mostly just collect scout knives.
A Camillus scout can definitely be found on auction for cheap. The Camillus 99, their stainless scout knife has some of the best ergonomics on a scout pattern. The spear blade is absolutely heaven to use. It's a great knife. I've found them on auction for $20.00 to $25.00 new, on a good day.
Same goes for the old Camillus 99 in carbon steel. I just grabbed this from auction last night for $35.00
Also remember that Camillus made a lot of knives for a lot of companies. Many of the Boy Scout knives were made by Camillus, as were many delrin scaled late model Ulster and Western branded knives. Camillus also made scouts for Remington and Kabar. All of these knives are pretty much based on 2 different Camillus knife patterns, sometimes with just a blade or a scale variation.
My favorite Camillus-made scout is the Remington R-4. It's basically a Camillus 99 with an added wood saw blade, and a sheepsfoot blade instead of an awl.
Good hunting. Be patient and you can find an excellent new Camillus scout knife on auction for less than the original purchase price. They are definitely worth double the price. Camillus had the scout down to a science once they developed the 5779 pattern used in the stainless 99.
Here are some websites with great Camillus info:
http://camillusknives.ru/2mainframe.htm
http://www.collectors-of-camillus.us/
A Camillus scout can definitely be found on auction for cheap. The Camillus 99, their stainless scout knife has some of the best ergonomics on a scout pattern. The spear blade is absolutely heaven to use. It's a great knife. I've found them on auction for $20.00 to $25.00 new, on a good day.
Same goes for the old Camillus 99 in carbon steel. I just grabbed this from auction last night for $35.00
Also remember that Camillus made a lot of knives for a lot of companies. Many of the Boy Scout knives were made by Camillus, as were many delrin scaled late model Ulster and Western branded knives. Camillus also made scouts for Remington and Kabar. All of these knives are pretty much based on 2 different Camillus knife patterns, sometimes with just a blade or a scale variation.
My favorite Camillus-made scout is the Remington R-4. It's basically a Camillus 99 with an added wood saw blade, and a sheepsfoot blade instead of an awl.
Good hunting. Be patient and you can find an excellent new Camillus scout knife on auction for less than the original purchase price. They are definitely worth double the price. Camillus had the scout down to a science once they developed the 5779 pattern used in the stainless 99.
Here are some websites with great Camillus info:
http://camillusknives.ru/2mainframe.htm
http://www.collectors-of-camillus.us/
Old Hunter
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Camillus also made the Scout pattern for Ulster and Case (not all, but some). OH
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I have been in literally hundreds of antique stores over the past 25 years and only found one knife that I bought. A WW2 issued PAL Cutlery Co. tear drop Jack with clip and pen, in Rodgers bone handles. Most folks these days will sell them online because of a quicker return I think.
You're more apt to find the Colonials, Imperials and such in antique and pawn stores maybe.
You're more apt to find the Colonials, Imperials and such in antique and pawn stores maybe.
Colonial's new lineup is better than it was. While many of their newer knives are of the "lightweight" persuasion, a good number of them are refined "carry" autos and assisted openers. They still have the old military and Girl Scout knives too.
Look them up.
Look them up.
Another of the Camillus scouts. Camillus 98
Here's a single spring Ka-Bar I'm certain Camillus manufactured. Picked it up very inexpensively at a local gun show not long ago not long ago.
Here's a Camillus sigle blade Remington I picked up at the same show. Another BF Trads Forum poster owns it now.
Here's a single spring Ka-Bar I'm certain Camillus manufactured. Picked it up very inexpensively at a local gun show not long ago not long ago.
Here's a Camillus sigle blade Remington I picked up at the same show. Another BF Trads Forum poster owns it now.
This Craftsman (9549) is actually an Ulster (114). Very similar to the Camillus 99.
Camillus 99
