Finally scored a #72

Hickory n steel

Hickory n steel

Gold Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2016
Messages
20,281
I've wanted a Camillus #72 carpenter whittler for over a year now but the prices and condition on the Bay have prevented that.
Today I found a pretty decent condition BSA #72 that I was able to score for under $20.
It's definitely used and I can see the pins so there may be a bit of play to take care of but overall the condition seems fine for a knife I intend to use.
I think it was lightly cleaned up with some steel wool or something, but I'll take what I can get when it's overall pretty good especially considering the price.


I hope I'm happy with it when it arrives.
 
It's great looking for the price. I may have to start looking for one myself.
 
MCar said:
It's great looking for the price. I may have to start looking for one myself.
Click to expand...
I wish you luck, I was looking for a while but they're a very desirable knife and the $45-$60 range in any condition is where they tend to be from what I see.
There's a mint one available right now for $50 + shipping, but it's a 90's example with the less attractive but probably better cutting flat ground blade.
Almost went for it, but I wanted the saber grind.
I think the only reason I got this one for under $20 is because either it has no model number or the seller didn't notice it, I couldn't see one in the pictures and it wasn't listed as a #72.
 
Last edited:
I love those Carpenter whittlers. Prices are certainly up these days on them.

I've found that the Schrade-Walden 863 is a suitable replacement though and I've found a couple in NOS condition in the $30-35 range. You just don't get that sweet matchstrike pull.
 
JustinR said:
I love those Carpenter whittlers. Prices are certainly up these days on them.

I've found that the Schrade-Walden 863 is a suitable replacement though and I've found a couple in NOS condition in the $30-35 range. You just don't get that sweet matchstrike pull.
Click to expand...

Oh yes, the match strike pull is one of the attractors for me.
 
Hickory n steel said:
I wish you luck, I was looking for a while but they're a very desirable knife and the $45-$60 range in any condition is where they tend to be from what I see.
There's a mint one available right now for $50 + shipping, but it's a 90's example with the less attractive but probably better cutting flat ground blade.
Almost went for it, but I wanted the saber grind.
I think the only reason I got this one for under $20 is because either it has no model number or the seller didn't notice it, I couldn't see one in the pictures and it wasn't listed as a #72.
Click to expand...

If you look at sold listings on the auction site the average price for a 72 is $20 or less.
 
They are great in the pocket, and the combination of blades work great for lots of tasks. I’ve had several of them over the years,only have one now. But I agree, asking prices I see are usually what I consider a little steep. Schrade 863 is a very good and similar knife too.
 
Been looking at these for a long spell. It seems to me that there may be two sizes. I could be wrong, but it appears some of the 72s (or Camillus brand 72 type variants) are 3 5/8" long, and some are 3 1/2" long.

I don't have one to measure. Could some of you with 72s please get out the rulers/measuring tapes?

Oh and, nice knife Hickory n steel Hickory n steel ! :thumbsup: It should give you good service, and have lots of life left.
 
I haven’t seen JerryD post here in awhile, but he has quite the collection of this knife - hopefully he will see this and measure a few for you. OH
 
As the Colonel intimated, I have a few Camillus 72's plus what I've come to call clones which are different brands with the same dimensions, blade compliment & frame profile. There are a bunch of clones, many of which were made by Camillus.

Camillus did not stamp the pattern number on the back tang of the 1047s so don't get all nervous when you don't find one. That and the Scout shield are the only difference between the 72 and the 1047. The closed length is 3-5/8" period. Since Camillus is the parent of the #72 pattern, I go by Camillus specifications and they never made any 72s or 1047s in any other size. The blade compliment changed in early 1947 and again just before "end of business" and handle materials changed early on before Delrin® became the standard in the '60s. Of course they dropped the pile side sabre grind and later the mark side sabre grind around 1992, other than that the pattern has been fairly stable.

I hope this has been of some help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top