Kamp-King

D

dawgit

Joined
Jul 19, 2005
Messages
15
This knife was my Dad's and I passed it on to my 9 yr old daughter after Christmas. She was telling me about her friend that had a "real knife". Boy did her eyes light up when I gave her this Imperial Kamp-King. I am happy to report that she carries it everyday and it has a place of honor center stage on her shelf!

IMG_2880.jpg
 
Ah the point I have striven ( is that a word?) to make, often in vain, regarding the value of a knife. A childs smile when holding there first knife made even better by it being given to her by her father and having belonged to his father. You are a very weathy man for you have owned a knife much more valuable than all of those that I have ever collected. Thankyou for telling us of this very personal moment. There is nothing that I can offer you to make your knife more memorable no display box no sheath. I truly hope that you realize you really already have it all. LT
 
Amen, brother. There is something magic now that my dad is gone in seeing something that was in his hand passed on to my kid's hands.
 
The most prized knives in my accumulation are the ones that belong to my father or my grandfather(s). I treasure them dearly, and, as many of you know, that was how I was bitten by the schrade bug so early on. My father's Father never owned a crappy knife, but it wouldn't have mattered what quality knife it was.

Thanks for sharing that great moment, dawgit.

Glenn
 
Two of my grandsons are into scouting. A while back I've found a nice old carbon steel, blue handled Camillus Boy Scout knife. I cleaned it up, shined up the brass and gave it to Triston for Christmas (he is 10). You should have seen how big his eyes got when he opened that package! I think he is hooked! :D
I have been looking for an Ulster Boy Scout knife for his older brother who is 15, but haven't found a good one yet. After Christmas was over, Kole was telling me that he didn't have a good pocket knife, and really needed one. I said. "here try this", and handed him a Swiss Army knife. More big eyes.
I promised both of them that they can come stay for a few days this summer and make a knife of their own. They are both really excited.

I think I have passed the disease on to my grandsons!!! :D :D :D
 
Always great to pass these to a new generation. Here's a Kershaw that my mother used to carry in her purse, I'm proud to have it and will pass it along.

Luis

 
Don Luis, thanks for posting the photo of your mom's purse knife. I have my aunt's "purse" knife from the '60's--a Kutmaster hawkbill pruner! I think that she carried it for intimidation mostly, at least that's what my mom told me when she gave it to me.
 
A great thread here. Thank you for visiting and posting, dawgit. I recall my days with Kamp Kings, as a young boy. I thought I was the most fortunate guy in the world to own one. Yep, my first kinfe. Cut myself with it the second day.

Phil
 
Is the Kamp-King the same as the Colonial Forest Master? The designs look nearly the same. How popular were these knives compared to knives made by more traditional methods? Were they considered high tech in their day because of their construction or were they seen as a cheap alternative in the depression?
 
The Kamp King and the Forest Master were made by different companies, Imperial and Colonial, but they both used the same technology, very similar materials, and the same generic "scout knife" pattern. To the casual user, the differences would be hard to spot.

These shell handle type knives were never considered to be high tech or top of the line products, quite the opposite. The shell handle knives were for several decades the lowest price point pocket knives of usable quality made in the USA. They were many, many kids first knife. Inexpensive and easily replaced at any local five and dime. I personally like them very much, as they represent a time in our nations history when every boy was expected to carry a pocket knife and just about any decent mom and pop store had a card or two of Imperial or Colonial knives on the counter.

Out of my very modest collection of Imp. and Col. shell knives, it seems to me that the Imps. are just a little bit better put together. Someone with a larger collection may be able to offer a larger sample for comparison.
 
Thanks OTguy. To me, they represent an interesting shift toward mass production methods considering the vast numbers made and sold. I've seen some old display boards proclaiming the use of "electrically tempered razor steel" which has a kinda "Buck Rogers" ring to it, hence my high tech question. When I see an old one, it always brings up images of my Dad as a kid in the depression and his stories of the tough times that the family endured.
 
Here is some stuff you may find interesting. Original die molds for the shells, (scales) various productions from old to the clampacks from Ireland. Maybe I should start making these. Sorry i could not respond sooner a bit busy. I hope you find the pics interesting. If I had more time I could fill a photo album and a book on this stuff I have lying around. LT
 
My heirloom knife is a stockman of my great-great grandfather's. Felsenheld out of NY, dated using Levine to about 1900. Still snappy, but nearly worn out. Needs tightened badly, but I think this one just might get a little TLC and ride in my pocket a few times.
 
Thanks for those pics LT, excellent stuff you have there. The first one is really interesting to me because it shows the unused handles with the locking tabs. I see better now exactly how these knives were constructed.

You should start making them, I'll even come to work for you.
 
Hey good looking out, I wondered if anyone would notice the tabs. The trouble with my production is that once I put the metal piece ( to be molded ) into the handle shell it simply takes to much out of me to press the two sides together to form it. I am not as young as I used to be and not as strong still I have to give it to the original cutlers they sure must have had muscles. Actually I am not really to adept at understanding tools and the mechanics of things so perhapes I have been doing it wrong. It seems to work better when I jack up my car and drop it on the mold form with a piece of metal in it however it is really screwing up my town car and drive way. By the way now that you know my production methods and mechanical acumen do you still want to work for me? LT
 
Glad to hear you do the work the old fashioned way LT. No stinking modern methods, just brawn and boilermakers. I'm in if you decide to go nationwide.

:D

Bill
 
LT,
You can come to Oregon.......might even find a few experienced folks from the other cutlery companies to work for you! :D
 
I have always enjoyed the 'scout' or utility pattern. Unfortunately, my budget keeps me from collecting all those bone beauties from Remington, Case, etc. that go for $150 each on ebay.

For awhile, I was gathering the less popular patterns, like the shell-handled Kamp kings, along with Colonials, Camco's, and other Imperials. I have taken some pics of some of them to show you, now mind you that these are in rough as-is shape. I have not had time to rehab them.

The first one appears to be a Kamp King by Hammer, but it also looks like Frankenstein's monster. Could be a hybrid mess, but it looks to have solid handle slabs.
Imperial007.jpg


Next is a Prov. Cut co. 'Campmaster' , shell handle, that looks quite a bit like the KampKing.
Imperial006.jpg


And last in this post is a Colonial Forest Master, a 3-blade with long bail, again, a shell handle.
Imperial010.jpg


Glenn
 
Okay, here are a few more...

Here are two shell handle Colonial Forest Masters. Interesting because the fist version has the standard punch, and the second has a blade similar to a sheepsfoot. Otherwise the same knives.
Imperial004.jpg

Imperial008.jpg


and here's an Imperial with a deer head on it, again a shell handle construction. A nice variation.
Imperial003.jpg


Glenn
 
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