My Earliest Scout. How Early?

[leghog]

Camillus with KENT N.Y. CITY U.S.A. three line tang stamp.

Pre-war . Likely 1930s, but what years are possible?

 

[Codger_64]

When we look up the mark in Goins Encyclopedia Of Cutlery Markings (1998), we see that he attributes the mark to A. Kastor & Brothers (Camillus) as used on knives manufactured circa 1931-1955 for F. W. Woolworth. Does this knife have brass linings? Can you see crimped prongs inside where the covers are held to the outer linings?

Albert M. Baer was put in charge of sales in 1930. Albert signed George Herman ‘Babe’ Ruth to endorse autographed baseball bat figural knife for Kastor Bros., first of many endorsements. In order to permit Baer to be a stockholder, Alfred B. Kastor sold him 50 shares of his common stock. Under Baer's management of sales, Camillus manufactured KENT brand knives for F.W. Woolworth's beginning in 1931.

 

[leghog]

Did Camillus used that can opener into the 50s? Also, I assume Camillus curtailed production of knives for retail brands during the war or at least the second half of the war.

Not sure what you mean about crimped prongs. There are indents on the inside of the outer liners. One toward both ends of each outer liner. Looks like the dent a punch would make vs a crimped prong.

 

[leghog]

Did Camillus used that can opener into the 50s? Also, I assume Camillus curtailed production of knives for retail brands during the war or at least the second half of the war.

Not sure what you mean about crimped prongs. There are indents on the inside of the outer liners. One toward both ends of each outer liner. Looks like the dent a punch would make vs a crimped prong.

Actually, they may not be indents after all but rather holes through the brass liner.

 

[Codger_64]

Brass liners pretty well preclude the war years plus late 1940 when there were war material restrictions. The triangular holes were punched like a church key opening an old fashioned oil can, bending the prong formed into the scale material. I am not aware of this being used post-war, but it absolutely was in 1939 and likely 1940. Camillus used that old non-safety opener only briefly after the war. They then began using the newer safety opener patent. I'll see if I have something in my resords indication when.

 

[leghog]

Brass liners pretty well preclude the war years plus late 1940 when there were war material restrictions. The triangular holes were punched like a church key opening an old fashioned oil can, bending the prong formed into the scale material. I am not aware of this being used post-war, but it absolutely was in 1939 and likely 1940. Camillus used that old non-safety opener only briefly after the war. They then began using the newer safety opener patent. I'll see if I have something in my resords indication when.

The holes in the outer liners are definitely no triangular. The are circular and perfectly so. I'll see if I can get a pic, but that'll be tough with my limited photography skills.

 

[leghog]

Brass liners pretty well preclude the war years plus late 1940 when there were war material restrictions. The triangular holes were punched like a church key opening an old fashioned oil can, bending the prong formed into the scale material. I am not aware of this being used post-war, but it absolutely was in 1939 and likely 1940. Camillus used that old non-safety opener only briefly after the war. They then began using the newer safety opener patent. I'll see if I have something in my resords indication when.

The holes in the outer liners are definitely no triangular. The are circular and perfectly so. I'll see if I can get a pic, but that'll be tough with my limited photography skills.

 

[Codger_64]

I just reviewed some of my materials. Restrictions on production of pocket cutlery for civillians did not really have a lot of effect on availability until late 1944 to early 1945. It seems that Camillus acquired the two piece safety opener during the war, along with nearly every other cutlery. They definately used you type in 1939-40 and still in 1941-42 (these are fall/winter listings). The number of patterns of pocket cutlery steadily dwindled as they concentrated on war production and were supplanted in their Dunlap, Sta-Sharp and Kwik-Kut lines by Baer's Ulster offerings under the Craftsman tang. By 1944 there were only four patterns offered by the two cutleries combined reflecting the exemption for farmers and tradesmen's knives. Production of civillian pocketknives did not fully resume intil circa 1946/47.

Here is the Camillus catalog of 1946:
http://www.collectors-of-camillus.us/Catalogs/1946-Camilluss.pdf

And here is the pdf file of defense production showing them producing the newer style opener for contracts in 1943.
http://www.collectors-of-camillus.us/History/Camillus-Military-1941-1945s.pdf

 

[leghog]

Pic of the holes in liner. Each liner has two with one toward each bolster.