"Old Knives"

danno50 said:
Very nice, Augie, I was wondering when you were going to come up with another one!:thumbsup: I was wondering about age so went to Goins. The 3 line stamp on you main blade (basically the 4 line without the USA) is not mentioned in Goins? I wonder if that makes it a rare stamp??
edited to add: I just found the same stamp on Rob's dogleg Camillus on the previous page. I guess Goins missed that one??
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Thanks Dan, the Camillus 3 line is thought to date from 1916 to 1930 and the 4 line 1930 to mid 1940's. Most of the time when I've seen the mix of tang stamps the pen has the earlier tang stamp, this is the first example I've found with the main having the earlier stamp. Rob's knife is an very nice example of what I usually see, an early curved 3 line pen and then either a straight 3 line or 4 line on the main.
Apparently Camillus would make up a ton of blades and use them over many years, consensus is dating Camillus knives by tang stamp is not very accurate. Here is another example, A very early stamp on the pen 1902 to 1915 and a 4 line on the main, easily a 15 year difference in tang stamp charts.


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Thank you very much for the explanation of the Camillus stamps, Augie. That is another fine Camillus!:thumbsup:
Duncan, when you say "Federal tang stamp", are you referring to the ones with USA on them? I have not previously heard the term.
 
Speaking of Camillus. I just got this four line premium stockman. It's a #67 although there is no 67 stamped on the blade. All three blades have the four line stamp and a partial etch is left on the main blade. I'm assuming it said Premium Stockman. Small patch on the pile side bone center pin. All blades still have good snap.


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Great Premium Stockman there Steve- Man...didnt Camillus do a good job! What a beauty!

Dan, the "Federal" name was used a couple of times, Camillus used it as a Brand name FEDERAL KNIFE Co. Syracuse, NY, USA. ( 1920's ).

I'm unsure about this part, perhaps the same brand - listed directly underneath in Levine 4,,FEDERAL KNIFE COMPANY,( under Johnston in Thorton ) - sold to Colonial ( a 5 year life span from 1945 to 1950 ).
 
Good on you Steve matey, again - thats a nice one!

I have owned a couple of these in the past, unfortunately they are- what they are meant to be- very very well used!, I came across this example the other day, it is surprisingly in very nice shape, this is exactly how it came to me- the last owner did not clean it - but it has been cleaned before at some stage- unless the knife came out with tiny wee pits here and there originally :D

In saying that I am very pleased with the condition of this Knife, it does carry quite a bit of age and is the best by far that I personally have come across - so I am quite pleased with it.

I haven't seen many with the lighter Bone Handles, most I have seem have Ebony or dark Horn so this is a first for me to find this example, I actually really like the Bone, the Colouring and the activity of the Bone.

The Clip Points on these Nest Knives are very pronounced- very similar to a lot of the Civil War Bowies Knives that are reproduced, they almost look kind of over pronounced- but I think that's kind of cool because the Knives do make a statement of being their own.

The Blades are very full, the Knife has had more exposure through it's storage rather than its use in life - it's in very nice Shape, Walk and Talk is superb, Authoritive snap upon opening and Closing- yet not a nail breaker. the blades have absolutely no play in them whatsoever in any position.
The other thing you can't go past with these Knives are that they are prolifically Stamped- and I love that, Deep, Clear and old Font.
Clip Point Blade has the famous Nest Knife Stamp with the Nest resting on Branches,the Tang: Southern & Richardson Sheffield. ( No England).
Spey Blade has Castrating Knife - again deep and clear with the same Tang Stamp as the Clip.
Bolster Face Side is Stamped with the Nest Logo as well.
Pile Side only the Spey has the Nest Logo stamped on the Tang.

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Campbellclanman said:
Good on you Steve matey, again - thats a nice one!

I have owned a couple of these in the past, unfortunately they are- what they are meant to be- very very well used!, I came across this example the other day, it is surprisingly in very nice shape, this is exactly how it came to me- the last owner did not clean it - but it has been cleaned before at some stage- unless the knife came out with tiny wee pits here and there originally :D

In saying that I am very pleased with the condition of this Knife, it does carry quite a bit of age and is the best by far that I personally have come across - so I am quite pleased with it.

I haven't seen many with the lighter Bone Handles, most I have seem have Ebony or dark Horn so this is a first for me to find this example, I actually really like the Bone, the Colouring and the activity of the Bone.

The Clip Points on these Nest Knives are very pronounced- very similar to a lot of the Civil War Bowies Knives that are reproduced, they almost look kind of over pronounced- but I think that's kind of cool because the Knives do make a statement of being their own.

The Blades are very full, the Knife has had more exposure through it's storage rather than its use in life - it's in very nice Shape, Walk and Talk is superb, Authoritive snap upon opening and Closing- yet not a nail breaker. the blades have absolutely no play in them whatsoever in any position.
The other thing you can't go past with these Knives are that they are prolifically Stamped- and I love that, Deep, Clear and old Font.
Clip Point Blade has the famous Nest Knife Stamp with the Nest resting on Branches,the Tang: Southern & Richardson Sheffield. ( No England).
Spey Blade has Castrating Knife - again deep and clear with the same Tang Stamp as the Clip.
Bolster Face Side is Stamped with the Nest Logo as well.
Pile Side only the Spey has the Nest Logo stamped on the Tang.

iUdYbYf.jpg


00xZUdu.jpg




t0BnfLO.jpg


uQyiFYL.jpg


LwooXkH.jpg


DWIO5S9.jpg


huNqFcQ.jpg
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Cool knife! There are a few patterns that seem to have been made primarily for the Australia/New Zealand market and don't find their way stateside very often. Another that I like is the bunny pattern.
 
This E.C. Simmons KeenKutter 3 3/4" Cattle knife showed up today and it is a very nice knife, pocket worn and well used but not abused, someone really loved this knife, still great snaps and pulls on all blades, has real beefy springs. All blades tang stamped but the main is mostly worn away, tang sits low in frame and would have rubbed. Pocket worn stag in good shape, surface crack on mark side that does not go all the way through.
Looking in Sellens book it appears to be on page 220, listed as a K44833 and only listed as coming in genuine stag. Stag was not a common handle material on early American made knives.


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