Should I have gotten it?! (Camillus, BSA)

stingray4540

stingray4540

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Mar 26, 2007
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I found a blue handled Camillus Cub Scout BSA knife at the antique store today.
It had a spear (?) blade that look like it had never been sharpened down, or sharpened very little, a bottle opener, and an awl (?). The awl still had a VERY strong spring, couldn't even open it back up with my short nails.

The Main blade was still in great condition, but had lost about all of the snap in it's spring.

They were asking $28.

Should I go back and get it? Is it worth it?
I'm assuming the blades are carbon?

Would it be something to keep as a collector, or something to give to a future child who goes into the scouts?

Or, are there better places to pick up camillus BSA knives, that are still in good condition?

It was just like this one, but I didn't notice if it said stainless or not: http://cgi.ebay.com/camillus-cub-sc...6QQcmdZViewItemQQssPageNameZRSS:B:SRCH:US:101
 
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Hmmm... Purhaps not worth it, as it seems you can still get them from the boyscouts store for 29.99. I thought Camillus went out of business though?!

I guess I need to start doing my research BEFORE, I ask my questions. Sorry guys.

Still open for your inputs though.
 
Camillus did go out of business, but there are still a lot of them in the pipeline for sale.... The older ones are a great knife if you like the scout knives.
My son has one, even has the same style of blade lock as some of the Schrades.
I'm not sure how much they are bringing on the bay, but there used to always be a few on there...
 
Not having any snap left in the springs is like have 2 flat tires. The spare ain't gonna be enough to get ya goin'.
Greg
 
Ya also gotta figure one thing you said " would it be something to keep as a collector"? And I find myself asking myself this question all the time. Am I buying it as a collector piece or someting to make money on? When I buy something for my collection its cause I love it and have no intention of selling it. If your buying it for your collection then the only true value to be determined is by you. If they were asking $100 for the knife and you loved it and intended on keeping it forever and you got what you want then it was good for you. If your intending to sell it, I bought nearly the same knife ( I think) over the summer for around $10. I always try to get a good idea from ebay. Just search your knife under " completed listings" and you can get an average of what they may be going for. That way wether your buying to sell or buying to keep you have the best chance at getting the best deal. Just my 2 cents.-- Joel
 
Reading this thread I just had to bust out my BSA knives, circa 1985.

I earned a few merit badges with these babies, the memories.

BSA.jpg
 
Some months ago, I picked up a boy scout knife at a yard sale that was exactly what my dad gave me when I was 12. It was a bit rusty, a little worn but with lots of life left in it. Cost was 5 dollars. A little gentle stroking with 0000 steel wool and mineral oil, and it was ready to go.

Old scout knives show up at yard sales areound here for a few dollars. Old Imperial Barlows, Colonial jackknives also pretty often.

As a very general rule, antique stores overcharge for what they offer.
 
jackknife said:
As a very general rule, antique stores overcharge for what they offer.
Click to expand...

Yes, I noticed that. I looked a quite a few slippies at a few different stores. Nothing of decent brand or quality. There were quite a few asking anywere from $15 to $25 for knives with little blade left, or broken blades, or missing scales.

Oh well, at least it gives me something to look at while the wife is browsing. Between my search for decent pocket knives and tobacco pipes, it makes going to antique stores bearable.
 
Get the Friday paper and look for whatever estate sales will be taking place on Saturday morning. Also yard sales from a house being cleaned out by the "inheritors". The kids or other relitives may not recognize old Uncle so-and-so's old pocket knife as a good one, or those old smelly pipes as some nice Petersons or Nording's. I've seen both.

My present day edc I picked up was in neglected condition, but under the dirt was a nice scout knife. I've also picked up a very nice Savanelli bent stem Om-paul shape that smoked like a dream, for a couple of bucks. It was mixed in with a bunch of dirty junked up Doctor Graybows and no name's, all for 2 dollars a pipe, and they didn't know they had a Savanelli in the mix. I found a Peterson strait stem tankard the same way. A few pipe cleaners, a little whiskey on a pipe cleaner, a bit of buffing with a soft rag, and you're good to go!
 
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