Good Camp-pattern knives made today?

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May 24, 2016
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I'm considering picking up a camp knife to carry for a bit as EDC. Does anyone know of any camp knives made today? I'm looking for carbon steel, 3.5" or so, and I prefer the typical 4 blade variation (spear blade, awl, can opener, and bottle opener) to keep things thin.
Thanks!
Conor
 
Any number of SAKs fit the bill except for the carbon steel requirement. Case also (I think) still make a Camper knife but also in SS. Personally I would go with a Vic Spartan.
 
The closest thing I can think of is the Queen Scout knife. I believe it's the 99 pattern but I'm not sure. Has all your requirements except carbon steel but the spear blade is D2 which is very close and an outstanding steel. Not sure what the other implements are made of.
 
If stainless is okay, then I'd recommend a Victorinox Swiss army knife. If carbon is essential and HUGE is okay (much larger than 3.5"), then I'd recommend a GEC Texas Camp Knife. Otherwise... for a carbon steel scout, I'd recommend looking for an older knife or an antique. With some searching, you can find antique scout knives that are in beautiful condition.
 
The Queen #99 is a camp knife, but it's 3 3/4" and D2. I don't know if that puts it out of the running, but I thought I'd mention it.
 
Any number of SAKs fit the bill except for the carbon steel requirement. Case also (I think) still make a Camper knife but also in SS. Personally I would go with a Vic Spartan.

I've been edcing a tinker for the past 4-5 weeks, but I miss the patina, so I'm looking for more of a carbon steel SAK. Thanks, though!


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I'm not aware of any made today that have all of what you are looking for. However, as has been mentioned, you can find them on the online auction site and you will find a lot of them that meet every one of your requirements. An added bonus is that they come complete with a patina at no extra charge.
 
The sportsmesser, about which there is a current thread, might be a possibility. The older Bokers may have carbon blades, but I don't know that for sure by any means. As someone mentioned the auction sites would have older models that are definitely carbon.
Thanks, Neal
 
If you really want carbon steel, at an affordable price, I suggest looking for a NOS Kabar 1152 on auction. You can often find them new in box. It was made by Camillus, and has all carbon steel springs and tools. Deeply jigged Delrin scales. It's a heck of a knife.

Md8EySyh.jpg



The Queen 98 is also pretty nice, although a little expensive. Stainless tools and an awesome thinly ground D2 blade. Fit and finish can be a tad dodgy, but the covers are quite beautiful.

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The GEC #98 Texas Camp Knife is of extraordinary quality and is carbon steel. But it's rare and crazy expensive on the secondary market. It's also too large for many people. Somewhat nonstandard blade configuration too.

zYnycUAh.jpg


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The Kabar is carbon, huh? I wouldn't have guessed that, I've had one for awhile with no sign of patina, although it never gets out of the drawer.
 
If you really want carbon steel, at an affordable price, I suggest looking for a NOS Kabar 1152 on auction. You can often find them new in box. It was made by Camillus, and has all carbon steel springs and tools. Deeply jigged Delrin scales. It's a heck of a knife.

Md8EySyh.jpg



The Queen 98 is also pretty nice, although a little expensive. Stainless tools and an awesome thinly ground D2 blade. Fit and finish can be a tad dodgy, but the covers are quite beautiful.

6UBGDU6h.jpg



The GEC #98 Texas Camp Knife is of extraordinary quality and is carbon steel. But it's rare and crazy expensive on the secondary market. It's also too large for many people. Somewhat nonstandard blade configuration too.

zYnycUAh.jpg


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I'll take a look at the 1152. Thanks everyone!


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While on the lookout for a 1152, I picked up this little neglected guy on the auction.
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It cost me $6.50 including shipping. I contacted the seller, who said that the snap is good and the rust seems to be just on surface, not deep rust, but I guess I'll see in a week. My biggest concern was that the pivots / pivot pins have rusted, but the seller says that it doesn't appear to be so. For less than the price of lunch, I think I found a nice little project. I have to admit, this knife had something that drew me to it rather than the clean ones that went for $5-6 more. I think it has something to do with myself connecting more with knives that I've worked on to restore or modify. This has that charm to it, and even though it looks bad on the surface, I'm sure once I get that rust off it'll show some serious character.
Speaking of which, does anyone have experience with stripping rust using vinegar? I'd prefer to use what I already have but if need be I can probably afford to pick up something designed to strip rust.

(By the way, the pics are from the seller's listing)
 
Vinegar leaves an ugly dull gray finish and no patina, I recently had a knife that was just as rusty that I cleaned up with a soft wire wheel in my dremel. There's likely gonna be some scratches you can't get out and maybe even a little pitting, and might as well polish a knife if the patinas gone, which is too much work for a user. I really think your best bet for this knife would be a dremel wire wheel, wd40 , Steel wool and a bunch of elbow grease.
BTW great score on that imperial kamp king, most of imperials folders weren't built like tanks but the Steel is great and my jackmaster Barlow has pretty good walk and talk with zero blade play. I really need to get myself one of those kamp kings as I have my dads hatchet and a replacement for his h6 fixed blade, but not the kamp king ( his wasn't the 3 piece set, but he recalls owning one nonetheless ).
I hope your new knife proves to be a great user and I look forward to the end result 👍
 
Vinegar leaves an ugly dull gray finish and no patina, I recently had a knife that was just as rusty that I cleaned up with a soft wire wheel in my dremel. There's likely gonna be some scratches you can't get out and maybe even a little pitting, and might as well polish a knife if the patinas gone, which is too much work for a user. I really think your best bet for this knife would be a dremel wire wheel, wd40 , Steel wool and a bunch of elbow grease.
BTW great score on that imperial kamp king, most of imperials folders weren't built like tanks but the Steel is great and my jackmaster Barlow has pretty good walk and talk with zero blade play. I really need to get myself one of those kamp kings as I have my dads hatchet and a replacement for his h6 fixed blade, but not the kamp king ( his wasn't the 3 piece set, but he recalls owning one nonetheless ).
I hope your new knife proves to be a great user and I look forward to the end result [emoji106]

Thanks!
I plan on this being just as much of a user as all my other knives, but I do take some pride in making old knives sing again. I'll probably experiment with soaking it in WD-40 rust remover or using a magic rust eraser on it.


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Thanks!
I plan on this being just as much of a user as all my other knives, but I do take some pride in making old knives sing again. I'll probably experiment with soaking it in WD-40 rust remover or using a magic rust eraser on it.


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That should work just fine ( C.L.R can do the same as vinegar ), and luckily that black delrin isn't bone...ect or you'd have to worry about it absorbing the rust rust remover. That black delrin can get brittle when it gets really old like I think it may be ( can't see a crown over imperial in the pic ) but I don't think any chemicals will affect it.
 
The best way I have found to remove rust is with a wheel on the grinder made of scotch brite. Its called a Scotch brite multi-finishing wheel. It just wears the rust and crud off and leaves a brushed finish, with some black pitting spots from the deeper rust. It still looks old but cleaned up and shiny. Recommended.
 
Here's a beautiful old EC Simmons Keen Kutter. I recently sold it on the Exchange but I don't think the buyer will mind if I share a photo.


 
Yup. Best value is definitely a Victorinox SAK from the Pioneer series. Not carbon steel, but still excellent knives. Why pay more and not get more knife than you can with a Pioneer or Farmer? I post that reply as a many with many scout pattern knives in my collection.
 
I'll take a look at the 1152. Thanks everyone!
Being it was made by Camillus for Kabar, also look for Camillus 98s and 99s and Western 901s.
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The Sears Craftsmans made by Schrade/Ulster can also be found in great shape at excellent prices.
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