Is Camillus next?

[kapt kopter]

Damn shame about Schrade going under.
How does this affect the Camillus company...........the official guide to Collector Knives by C.Houston Price states on page153 that Camillus is owned by the Baer owned conglomerate Imperial Knife Associated Companies.
Do they have anything to do with Schrade?

Kap

 

[CamillusColClub]

It certainly is a damn shame. Anytime when an American business goes out due mainly to foreign imports. Just a little harder when it hits close to home.

Camillus and Schrade is/was owned by the same family but not necessarily the same people - just the same family. I guess only time will tell what effect this will have on Camillus. Although I don't think there will be any direct results from the Schrade closing. The companies are two completely separate entities. But let's not forget the industry that we are in. If it comes down to putting food on the table or buying a new knife - guess which one happens! This is a tough industry to be in today with so much negativity regarding weapons and such. Also, as I mentioned earlier, the foreign imports are making it almost impossible to compete. People, in general, really need to wake up and realize that buying foreign made products are putting America out of business.

In the end, I think Camillus will do well. At least that is what everyone here at Camillus is hoping for. We have a great group of people who work hard and realizes what consequences could be in store if things turn sour.

One little disclaimer, if you don't mind. These opinions are solely mine and are, by no means, a statement from Camillus Cutlery.

Again, on a personal note, I would like to send out my well wishes to everyone at Schrade and wish you all the very best. God bless.

Rick

 

[nonbox]

I thought the Camillus Heat was made in Taiwan but the box says made in USA.

Camillus has awesome designs by Darrel Ralph. There is always a lot of positive threads on this board about the Darrel Ralph Camillus knives but I seldom read anything about Schrade. Perhaps Schrade did not innovate or hire top notch knife designers.

 

[Cyblade]

Shrade kept themselves in the past no innovation very few truely new designs and also hardly any forum participation, that last one sounds kinda vain but companys that listen to the public tend to stay around for the long haul. Camillus has come out with the Becker line of awesome affordable fixed blades, the CUDA line that includes designs from Darrel Ralph and Bob Terzuola in premium steels and great fit and finish and the OVB series of bowies designed by Jerry Fisk all with awesome fit and finish and at an amazing price. If they stay the course that they've laid out then I dont see them going out of buisness......

 

[fishbulb]

Camillus has built their reputation and their success on well-designed and well-made knives spanning several different markets, everything from old fashioned slipjoints to the most modern of tacticals and outdoor knives.

In fact, there are very few niches in the industry where Camillus does not have a very competitive product available to the customer.

Schrade made a good slipjoint but the rest of their product line was uninspiring at best.

Schrade Avatar, anybody?

How about a Cliphanger?

Or an iQuip?

While foreign competition certainly made a contribution to their troubles, Schrade's products were simply not good enough to make them competitive. That will kill any business, regardless of where your competition is based.

We see other companies in the knife industry who continue to prosper despite the same foreign competition. How do they do it? In no small part by manufacturing innovative, world-class products.