Can anyone tell me about Acme United?

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sac troop

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Has anyone been following the progress of Acme United regarding the manufacture of Camillus named knives? I'm interested if they are making them in a factory that they run or are sub contracting them out. Are parts made in different places and assembled at a central location? On their site they do make it clear that they won't work on the "real thing".

http://www.camillusknives.com/
 
Made in China as far as I can see...no mention on their website that I noticed about any US factory. I's my understanding they bought the Camillus name, not the factory.
 
When I came across their web site I tried to see if they provided any details about their manufacturing. I couldn't find any meaningful information. This makes me assume things like (made in China), but I don't want to assume anything. Here's a link to their page where they make it clear that they only bought the rights to the name Camillus and their associated brands.
http://www.camillusknives.com/Support/Older+Camillus+Knives/Older+Camillus+Products/1470
 
There were more than a few things in that article that I would take exception with, but to be honest it would require more of my time to properly respond to it than I believe this topic deserves.
One thing I will say is that both the company and the author seem to (talk out of both sides of their mouths). When it’s convenient they have no problem siding up to the reputation, history, and name recognition of Camillus. When it is inconvenient they make it perfectly clear that they (Acme United) just bought the name as a business decision and nothing else. While I can understand why the people who paid for the rights to the name have an expectation to profit from that name. I don’t see why they should automatically expect it. I believe the author had the opportunity to exercise greater objectivity.

The people that made up the original company and their actions over 130 years are responsible for making the name Camillus so valuable to others.
 
I don't live too far from Camillus...or Ellenville, the historic home of Schrade...so to me both companies (among others) were like local businesses to me. That said, I have no interest in what I see offered by the "new Camillus", and VERY limited interests in what I see offered by the "new Schrade"...at least Taylor does offer some of the old patterns of slipjoints. I know of several learned collectors who have bought some of Taylors new Old Timers and deem them serviceable and a good value for the buck. I haven't been able to bring myself to follow suit, but may bring myself to do it someday.

That said, I sure do love the "old" Camillus and have quite a few...as a military knife collector, it's a must!
 
Personally, I wish company names & logos weren't transferrable to the new owners if all they do is use the name as a rubber stamp for their crap. The "new" Camillus smells just like the Taylor/Schrade turd to me.
 
Stelth said:
Personally, I wish company names & logos weren't transferrable to the new owners if all they do is use the name as a rubber stamp for their crap. The "new" Camillus smells just like the Taylor/Schrade turd to me.
Click to expand...

The irony in this statement is thick. Camillus would have ended early last century had this been the case. The original name of the company was Adolph Kastor & Bros. before they bought out Camillus from Chas. E. Sherwood circa 1901. Camillus sold again in 1963 to Albert Baer, owner of Schrade Walden Cutlery which he bought in 1946 when it was Schrade Cutlery Co., a name he revived in 1973. Baer shortly transfered his Camillus stocks to his two daughters, Betsy and Marjory, whose families continued ownership until bankruptcy in 2007. At what point would we have ended the Camillus or Schrade names?
 
You would put the new Camillus on par with what Albert Baer did when he bought Camillus? I said I didn't like rubber stamping.
 
There is no "new Camillus". The name is now nothing more than a nostalgia marking that the owner of the trademark puts on knives which they have made for them elsewhere by someone they don't name, same as Schrade. I have no idea as to what quality of knives now bear the Camillus trademarks. They don't interest me and I don't buy them.
 
I know that Codger. That's why I said this:


Stelth said:
Personally, I wish company names & logos weren't transferrable to the new owners if all they do is use the name as a rubber stamp for their crap. The "new" Camillus smells just like the Taylor/Schrade turd to me.
Click to expand...
 
Intellectual property is just that - property. It can be bought, sold and traded. Just like patents. They are bought, sold and traded all the time. Camillus Cutlery bought the Western IP and made use of it. Baer bought the IP of quite a few companies and made use of it.

I agree with you that we wish someone had come forward and bought both Imperial Schrade and Camillus Cutlery and continued those companies as U.S. knife manufacturers. But they didn't. Both companies and their histories ended when they were sold piecemeal at auction and all the employees were sent home. As collectors, all we have is the remanents of over a hundred years of production from each company when they were going concerns, and the task of recognizing modern made knives that use the trademarks of thse companies so that we can avoid them if we wish to.
 
You never know; with what Acme is having produced under the Camillus name they may end making it a big loser and selling it off themselves. I think the Camillus website very nicely establishes that Acme doesn't plan on carrying on any tradition of quality or character.
 
yttcs said:
I think the Camillus website very nicely establishes that Acme doesn't plan on carrying on any tradition of quality or character.
Click to expand...

From the camillusknives.com website: "This has allowed us to give new life to this trusted brand and combine the Camillus heritage with our innovative material technologies and design capabilities."

yttcs: Where in their promotional materials does Acme establish that it does not plan on continuing the Camillus tradition? Am I missing something?

While I'm no cheerleader for imports, I believe the jury is still out as it relates to the extent to which knives produced for Acme United will match the quality of the product made in Camillus, NY.
 
From the Acme Camillus web Site.

Do you have a Camillus Knife built prior to 2007?


If you are the owner of a pre-2007 model Camillus knife that was manufactured by the original Camillus Knife Company, before Acme United Corporation purchased the designs, patents & trademarks of Camillus knives in 2007, you may have special questions and/or concerns. Below is some information that may find helpful:

Repairs/Replacement Parts – Your knife is broken and you would like to have it repaired or you would like replacement parts shipped to you…
Acme United Corporation only purchased the designs, patents and trademarks of Camillus Knives after Camillus closed its doors in 2007. Unfortunately Acme United does not have any possible way to source or provide parts for your original Camillus Knife. We did not purchase any of the previous stock or replacement parts and do not have the tooling to produce such parts. We are therefore unable to assist with the repair of your product. We suggest you look for a local knife shop for assistance.

Lifetime Warranty – You have an old Camillus knife (not manufactured by Acme United Corporation) that has broken and it is supposed to be covered by a Lifetime Warranty…
Acme United Corporation did not take ownership of the Camillus Knife Company. Long after Camillus closed its doors, we purchased the intellectual properties of Camillus (designs, trademarks/brand names, patents, etc.). This has allowed us to give new life to this trusted brand and combine the Camillus heritage with our innovative material technologies and design capabilities. We do not have any responsibility for technical issues or warranty claims related to products manufactured prior to the purchase of the patents and trademarks by Acme United Corporation in 2007. Camillus knives were manufactured for 135 years and it would be beyond our ability to provide warranty support on all of these products. We will, of course, honor the Lifetime Warranty on all of the products that are manufactured and sold by Acme United Corporation now and going forward. We appreciate your understanding and hope that you will continue to purchase Camillus products.

Product Manufacture Dates & Materials – You have an old Camillus knife (not manufactured by Acme United Corporation) and you would like to know more about it – where was it made, when was it made, what is the handle made of, was it made for the military…
Because Acme United Corporation purchased intellectual properties after the original Camillus Knife Company closed
its doors, we do not have the ability to check the particulars or study the details of the knives that were manufactured by Camillus for 135 years. Only a limited amount of product literature or knife history is now in our possession so unfortunately, we do not have the means to research all of the different products manufactured in the past. In addition, it is difficult to assess the age or material details on a product that we cannot physically see. Perhaps some on-line research may help you. We’ve found many old Camillus knives on e-Bay and have seen several knife blogs that can be a great source of information.
 
Translation: "We know nothing about Camillus made knives. We can't date them, research them, repair them or replace them. We only purchased the intellectual property of Camillus in 2007, long after that company closed (Feb., 2007). We intend to uphold the tradition of using that intellectual property to sell knives."

Pretty plain to me. "Camillus" and all of the other trademarks are now nostalgia marks. Camillus and it's products is now history. How Acme intends to use the trademarks is up to Acme.

Personally, for myself, it will take a bit of doing to overcome this mental image.

Acme.jpg
 
I also think of Wile E. Coyote when I hear "Acme".
ACME.png
 
When I hear the Acme United name I also think about the cartoons and United Cutlery. According to the Camillus Borchure the knives are "Made in China and Taiwan steel from Japan".
 
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