Old scout knife ID

jblyttle

jblyttle

Joined
Sep 3, 2014
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I picked this up a few months ago and just now cleaned/oiled/sharpened it. Condition and snap is very good, I love it but can't ID it. The only marking is USA. It is old, all steel and excellent with bone scales. It's a keeper, and I know nothing else about it. Anyone have any ideas?

Early scout knife USA by Justin Lyttle, on FlickrEarly scout knife USA by Justin Lyttle, on FlickrEarly scout knife USA by Justin Lyttle, on FlickrEarly scout knife USA by Justin Lyttle, on FlickrEarly scout knife USA by Justin Lyttle, on FlickrEarly scout knife USA by Justin Lyttle, on FlickrEarly scout knife USA by Justin Lyttle, on FlickrEarly scout knife USA by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
 
That knife looks like a military Engineer's knife, late 1930s to 1942-43.
By 1944 the can openers were standardized to the curvey safety style.
Several companies made them, without shields. That one looks like a Camillus, but I am not 100% sure.
 
That is a beauty. Nice score. :)
I'm no expert, but with that early style can opener, (second series?) I'm guessing prewar, maybe 1920's to early 1940's or late 1930's?
My first thought was New York Knife Co. or Cattaragus (or however it's spelled) but I don't know if they ever made no-name knives. Colonial, Camillus, and Schrade did, I think.
The punch and long screwdriver/cap lifter look like those on my Camillus "Demo" knife. For the life of me, I cannot remember if my Ulster scout knife has a long or short screwdriver/cap lifter, but the punch matches.
My best guess would be Colonial or one of the Schrade companies. Maybe Imperial or Ulster?
I look forward to the experts who can recognize the jigging and know much more about these that I do to ID it. I'm curious as to how far off I am. :)
 
I'm leaning towards Camillus, they used the "Made in USA" stamp quite a bit.
 
I don't know. It doesn't look a war time Camillus to me. The bend in the can opener, and the can opener's style seems wrong to me. The shape and style of the awl doesn't look Camillus either. And the screwdriver is too long for that period. The only thing that looks war time Camillus about that knife is the bone.

Edit: I'm guessing Imperial or Kingston.
 
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Does anyone have a can opener with that "kink" in it??
That might tell us the tale!!
 
I recently got a camillus blade very similar to the one you have here. here is a link to the thread where it was discussed:http://www.bladeforums.com/threads/queen-cutlery-camillus-id-help.1516589/

I'm not an expert on old traditional knives but that thumb stud seems out of place to me. Mine has a bent section where the thumb stud is on yours. Other than that and the absences of a shield the scales, bolsters, and tools look the same.

In the thread I linked there is a link to a thread on a different forum that explains some of the dates for similar camillus knives. Hope this helps out.
 
I'm thinking it's a Camillus- but I'm going to pull out my scouts later and have a look! Interesting.
 
I sent pics of the knife to Dennis E. from Eugene. He did a study of old folder can openers, and I am betting he can I.D. that knife for us!!
 
Ok - I thought I did- I have this exact Knife- almost times two! :D
Knife # 1, Stamped:made in USA, the only difference this Knife of mine does not have the Thumb Stud on the Can opener - same Crinked Can opener - Stamped exactly the same - the Bone on my example is not quite as deep or as desirable as the OP's. Same Bail constuction

Knife # 2, Same Crinked Can opener, same Bail construction, only the Punch on this knife is slightly thinner- not by wear - but by manufacture, This Scout is a Keen Kutter- with the Long Screw Driver etc- smaller difference between the two Knives of mine - this Keen Cutter also has a crink in the Punch as well as the Can opener - where as the OP'S knife is like my Knife number 1 - where the Punch is not Crinked. This Knife also has Brass Liners compared to Steel on #1. The Bone on this Keen Kutter is a Dead Ringer for the OP's. Brass pins as well compared to steel as #1 and OP's.

Goins :
MADE IN USA c1924 - 1941- a mark used by Sears& Roebuck- STA SHARP SPORTSMAN is etched on Main.The Knife seen with this marking was made by Camillus.

MADE IN USA c1941 - 1960 - Marking used by Sears & Roebuck. CRAFTSMAN FORGED STEEL is etched on Blade, Knives found with "MADE IN USA" marking on the Tang - contract Knives made for Sears & Roebuck Company of Chicago, Illinois.
An ink stamp on the Blade denotes the sears bran name they were using during a specific time period.
Camullis, Schrade and Ulster all have made knives fro Sears using this Tang Stamp.
End of quote - Goins.

I looked up some Pattent patterns of the Punches - because if I found the Punch- we have the manufacturer - I have one close- but not quite as this Punch in the OP's post does not have a laminated Tang as the one I found.

So collating all that together - I think that Ulster made the OP's Knife as well as my knife number#1 mentioned in this post.


Out of interest post 353 Charlie posts an Ulster- with striking similarities- Punch is slimmer- and longer, Main slightly wider- but was the OP'S when in pristine condition?
http://www.bladeforums.com/threads/lets-see-your-scout-camp-knives.1463060/page-18
 
waynorth said:
I sent pics of the knife to Dennis E. from Eugene. He did a study of old folder can openers, and I am betting he can I.D. that knife for us!!
Click to expand...

Charlie my friend- when you here back from Dennis - that is when I will get egg on my face with my assumption- but as least I gave it a good go- and always learning when doing such studies- that in all was a couple of hours!
 
Think how great that egg will taste when you are proven right, Duncan!!:D
 
Nice knife

That's not a thumb stud on the can opener. That piece rides the lip of the can when the opener is in use.
 
I forwarded Justin's pictures to Dennis Ellingsen, and here are his comments;

"The knife pictures sent are Ulster with collaboration of Imperial. They used the Made in USA to conceal the manufacturing facility. Another effort was to use the name Kingston which I think, was the name of the county where Ulster was located. After the war there was a surplus of these knives which many went to the BSA (Boy Scouts) with a faint etch which wore off almost immediately. Held in the right light sometimes reveals stamping if present. There were numerous styles of can openers as the evolution of the new can opener was evolving at this time. Yours would be an early WWII with this can opener.'

A big thanks to Dennis, a true student of the traditional cutlery we love, and with The Oregon Knife Collectors, a presentor of the OKCA Shows!!
 
Great Work Charlie.
I am pleased with the report back from Dennis ( Egg tasting ok Charlie :thumbsup: ).

As we have discussed in the past- the collaborations that happened can make finding exactly whom made the knife near impossible.
 
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Byrom Hermo said:
Nice knife

That's not a thumb stud on the can opener. That piece rides the lip of the can when the opener is in use.
Click to expand...

Thumb Stud was merely used as a reference to the Stud on the opener - which by the way is used as a "Thumb Stud " to open the Can Opener.
 
"Campbellclanman, post: 17443436, member: 196289
"Great Work Charlie.
I am pleased with the report back from Dennis ( Egg tasting ok Charlie :thumbsup: ).

As we have discussed in the past- the collaborations that happened can make finding exactly whom made the knife near impossible."[end Duncan's quote]

Eggs Benedict most likely!! Yum!!
Nice research my friend!:thumbsup:
:D
 
Re: Post #3.
DaRn. I guessed "Imperial or Ulster", not "an Ulster in collaboration with Imperial".
Oh well. I was almost close. :)
 
Buzz came closest to nailing it on first glance!!
 
I agree Charlie- Buzz pointed out many things on the Knife - the bend of the Can Opener, The style of Can Opener and the Awl - a lot of important things to the trained eye- I though at first Camillus because of the Bone.
I have always enjoyed reading Buzz's comments on the scouts!

ps - Sue and I went out for Lunch- eggs beni it was lol
 
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