New to the forum and collecting with my first Camillus

D

diesel0311

Joined
Oct 7, 2014
Messages
1
Hello all, my name is Matt and I'm looking to start a little Camillus collection. I have one knife right now that was my grandfathers, who worked at Camillus cutlery for many years after returning from WWII ( and possibly before I will have to do some family research). I assume it was made in 1989 because it was made for the 80th anniversary of the Camillus Fire Department (1909-1989) which my grandfather was also a member of. It seemed like a good start for a collection since I was born in '89 and never had the chance to get to know my grandfather.

Anyway, I'm hoping to learn more about this one in particular and any other tips or info for a new collector! Thank you all in advance - Matt





 
Welcome to the forum and to collecting knives. You will find them becoming addictive.:D

I know very little about folding knives as I am more of a fixed blade collector, but it's a nice user style, very similar to lock back folders I carried while on active duty in the Navy. (The PTB frowned on carrying fixed blades on ships.)

I think it's cool that you have your grandfather's knife. I still have the first small folder that my grandfather gave me back in 1961 when I started 1st grade and the first fixed blade he gave me in 1965. Whatever knives pass through your hands over the years, that one will always have a special place in your collection.

When it comes to collecting, there are as many ways to do it as there are collectors. Some pick a brand (Camillus, Imperial, Western, Buck, etc). Others pick a style - lock backs, slip joints, fixed,... Others pick pattern - fish knives, peanuts, tactical, tactilol, stockmen, etc. Some collecting paths change over the years as your interests change.

Other than early gifted knives, my collecting started out as just WW2 military sharp pointy objects (bayonets, knives, machetes). Later, I started adding Western fixed blades, some dive knives (after I got certified in SCUBA), then added Kabar hunting knives.

My basic advice is pick something that appeals to you, read up on it so you don't get burned too often with fakes (Trust me, it'll happen. Don't ask me how I know that. :rolleyes: ), don't go koo-koo-nuts from the git-go, brush up on maintenance and storage methods and, most of all, have fun. Know that not everyone (especially your family - again, don't ask :D ) will not understand your collecting sharp, pointy objects. That's OK. They'll do stuff that you think is weird as well. :D:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top