Just bought an Old Camillus

[ducks_and_bucks66]

Hey guys,
Mostly collect Schrades but saw an older Camillus in great condition, so decided to pick it up. I can't get a pic of the tang stamp but here are pics of the knife:

The tang stamp says:
CAMILLUS (in a half-moon shape) with a line underneath it. Then under the line, it says CUTLERY CO. And then NEW YORK underneath that. The seller says the knife is from 1902. My question: how do you know exactly which year it was produced? I paid $85 for it, so don't know if I got ripped off or not.

Thanks!

 

[Codger_64]

I seriously doubt anyone can tell the exact year these were made. John Goins said in his last book that the curved stamps were used circa 1902 - 1918. A copy of a letter I recently received which was written by a fifty year employee (and likely was there at the beginning, or not long after) stated that there was no real emphasis placed upon maintaining or changing the tang stamps, they were quite simply used until they were used up. By this, I take it that several different style stamped blades might be found in the factory at any one time. An estimation of "circa" or "Post-" or Pre-" is usually the best one can hope for. The same was true of Schrade Walden being changed to Schrade Cutlery in early 1973. While advertising, letterheads and catalog logos might change with a rough date, the tang stampings did not. If we take Goins as our best authority (he is often in error), your knife is likely pre-WWI. Perhaps CAMCO can clarify.

Codger

 

[ducks_and_bucks66]

Thanks Codger. For what I paid for it, I think it's worth it and man, this knife has incredible walk and talk for it's age.

 

[Codger_64]

I like it. You just can't beat old pocket worn bone (not CASE) and good tempered carbon steel. That knife has a charactor of it's own as is. I'll see if I can get the letter transcribed tonight. It is difficult to read as is (handwritten ... or I would post it as-is), but makes some excellent points about Camillus tang stamps worth sharing.

Codger

 

[Codger_64]

Some collectors claim to relate styles of tang stamp with dates of manufacture. However, I am not aware of these claims.

During my 50+ years here I recall little emphasis on ****** control over stamp style. Let me illustrate:

In the WWII years as the two digit Camillus line was being developed the word CAMILLUS was designed with a splay-foot ‘M’... CAMILLUS. This was used on cards, advertising, catalogs yet the tang stamps did not use this logo but used a block type with an underline, 3 lines

CAMILLUS
NEW YORK
U.S.A.

Most Camillus knives of the 1945 - 1987 period used this style. And there are still blades with this style in process (1992). I would guess that some “splay-foot” tang stamps were used but our policy was to use up the old style first so it did not get too old.

Some years ago, perhaps in the late 1960's a slant lettered logo was adopted as a forecasted **** to greater marketing achievement. Again, this was used on all sorts of printed matter for several years and at times without the lozenge and with the “has the edge” which had originated with the splay-foot in the 1940's. Tang stamps using the slant letters were used but the policy of “use up the old” limited the adaptation.

Sword Brand was frequently used on Camillus knives in the 1920's & ‘30's. Reintroduced on selected items in the 1960's the crossed sword **** ** was part of the Silver Sword brand used in the 1980's on a line of Camillus knives.

In the late 1980's the current logo was adopted in which the C & S in Camillus are enlarged & connected by a bar, a line or bar appears under Camillus

CAMILLUS

On tangs this logo appears as a single line but in most cases three lines with

CAMILLUS
NEW YORK
U.S.A.

The N & Y enlarged. On printed matter the Camillus logo frequently accompanied by eagle, crossed swords, colonial flag and legend ‘Quality Knives Since 1876' . Recent blades in process carry tangs stamped as above.

 

[orvet]

That is a nice old knife Marc! :thumbup:
Great find!

I agree with Codger, that old worn bone has a unique & pleasant feel in the hand!

Dale