Quick question to Camillus experts

rebeltf

rebeltf

Joined
Jan 29, 2005
Messages
6,768
I inhereted one of these from my Sister n' laws Grandpa.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-4-Blade...ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting
The knife works like a charm after some TLC and is one of the sharpest knives I own. The can opener is one of the best I have used (on a pocketknife that is).
However the scales have shrunk and crack in one place. I am considering putting new scales on it but if it's like some valuable treasure I dont want to ruin it , the blades have a beautiful old time patina.
So any ideas ? Thanks in advance.
 
I am NOT a Camillus expert. I collect Schrades, but Camillus & Schrade were sister companies, both owned (Camillus at least in part) by the Baer family.
Typically those "Camp Knife" patterns were not very expensive and were very common. There are quite a few around. As you can see that one has been on ebay for almost 6 days and no bidders at $9.99. That tells me something.
When I look a the Camillus patterns on ebay I see a lot of that style of knife, and they don't seem to move too well or very fast.

I doubt the knife is worth much monetarily, but is probably worth more to you as a user and for any memories that you may have attached to it (if any).

I hope a real Camillus expert will come here and answer your question, but since you had not had a response I thought I would give you my thoughts.

Enjoy a good old American made knife.
Dale
 
Thanks for your reply ! :D
I came to the same conclusion after this thread , while rummaging around on eBay, these knives seem fairly common.
Now I can plan on some new scales for it , will post pics when I'm done.
 
Yes the 4 blade camp knives are common, but you have a rare knife made for the military. The knife has the 2 piece can-opener used during the 1940's and 1950's. There is a blade instead of the usual punch or awl. This knife was made in 1949 for the U.S. Navy.

Tom Williams
 
This is why CAMCO is so valuable to us. I sure didn't recognize the value of the old camp knife. I've sent the original poster a message to come back here and read before he pulls the scales off.

'Company Historian' is a position not many knife companies bother with. For those of you who do not know, Tom is retired from Camillus, and contributes here out of love for the brand.

Phil
 
Oops...
Well I thought my question was resolved and last night I got bored so off came the old scales.. hehe like I said they were shrunken as it was. sigh..
Thank you all a ton for your replies though.
That can opener is one of the best I have ever used on a pocketknife , it works flawlessly with little effort :thumbup: and like I said the blades are so easy to sharpen and they hold a fine edge.
I use the smaller blade for cutting leather when I make a sheath and it works wonderfully.

Well at any rate if you folks have any other ideas or advice I'll wait a little before I apply new scales , this knife has been well used and loved and is still in excellent working condition for it's age.
 
Several years ago a knife like this was returned to Camillus with the same deteriorated handles. I sent the knife to the repair dept. and they installed new black Delrin handles from a Boy Scout camp knife. Two pile side handles (no shield cutout) were used. The new handles were from a 5779 pattern knife and they closely matched the originals.

Tom Williams
 
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