I need some help w/ a Camillus knife

[johnwaynesandw]

Today I had the chance to swing by one of the pawn shops I used to stalk . There I found a Camillus automatic knife. It is the orange one that was issued to the para-troopers. It has the main blade that is auto, and a hook blade for cords. My problem is, The blade fires out fine but the blade is loose. Most of the time it fires out the blade flies forward and does not have the chance to lock. How can I get the blade tighter?


Thanks,
John

 

[Ed T]

I bought one of these when they came out and had the same problem. I was very dissappointed. I still have it somewhere. I always meant to send it back. Oops.

 

[Dr. Mudd]

Today I had the chance to swing by one of the pawn shops I used to stalk . There I found a Camillus automatic knife. It is the orange one that was issued to the para-troopers. It has the main blade that is auto, and a hook blade for cords. My problem is, The blade fires out fine but the blade is loose. Most of the time it fires out the blade flies forward and does not have the chance to lock. How can I get the blade tighter?


Thanks,
John

The Camillus paratrooper knife you found is just made that way. Even when new (they are still available if you look a little) they are sort of quirky. I find that they must be held horizontally, closed, and with the blade up so that when it opens the spine of the blade is down. That way mine will open and lock correctly, but it won't if held in any other position. As recently as 10-15 years ago they were being issued at Pensacola Naval Air Station I was told by the man I bought a pair of them from. I've seen them advertised for about $50 recently, though I don't remember the source. As switchblades go, it's not much of a knife, but it's a minor collectible. When my wife was a teenager she enjoyed playing with her air force father's issue knife like that, so I got her one for Christmas some years ago.

 

[johnwaynesandw]

Thanks guys for the help. This was a used one with the tip broken. I bought it for $3, so it makes a nice letter opener for the office. Thanks again for the info.


Thanks,
JOhn