U.S.N. Pocket Knife

[32shooter]

I picked up the knife at one of the local thrift shops last week. Rubbed it down with some Kroil and rag. Looks to be in good shape. Sometimes these things just catch my eye and I think I need to have it. I don't know much about it orher than what little research I did online.

 

[WAYNO]

Good catch. That is one I do not know about.

 

[RC44Mag]

Nice, wish I came across that.

 

[WAYNO]

Camillus.

 

[eveled]

Early or pre ww2. Nice knife.

 

[T.A. WORKMAN]

Kurt,
How many times has your wife bopped you up side the head for...something that just caught your eye ?
Terry

 

[32shooter]

Terry,
I lost count a long time ago. It was only $10 , so she didn't bop me too many tmes. When I showed it to her I told her I might give it to my oldest Grandson. I might just show it to him and see if he is interested in it.

Early or pre ww2. Nice knife.

I knew it was from WW2 timeframe. But how can one tell from exactly what years? It has brass liners and brass bolsters, not sure if that helps in dating it.

 

[eveled]

I knew it was from WW2 timeframe. But how can one tell from exactly what years? It has brass liners and brass bolsters, not sure if that helps in dating it.

They started making that model just before the war. The split can opener and real bone scales were gone by the end of the war.

I don’t have an exact year, just general knowledge of military pocket knives.

I think they all have brass liners, which is an indicator they are early war. Brass became too important for ammo to use for pocket knives.

Yours looks unused just a little patina. It’s a nice knife.

If I have time later I will look in my books for more info.

Here are my USN pocket knives. The bottom one was not issued to my knowledge but could have been bought on base

I often wondered why the sailors couldn’t have an awl. But I can see were a Corpsman would find it useful.

I’ve always liked Camillus knives they are high quality solid knives. They were not high end though. They were the lowest bidders and made a lot of contract knives.

 

[32shooter]

Eveled, thanks for the information! It ew nothing about these knives until I bought this one.

 

[eveled]

No problem. In fact it’s my pleasure.

I just double checked my book, no specific years, but the author is very enthusiastic about the 3 blade knives marked USN. I don’t think they are as rare as he thought, but still a very desirable knife.

Especially to someone who had a loved one that served during ww2.

 

[eveled]

You may find this document interesting.

 

[pyth0n]

I need to visit the knife section more often. Camillus is a brand I haven't seen in a long time. Just like the Opinel. I knew of them in my younger days. Glade to see they're still around.

 

[eveled]

The knives are still around. Camillus has been gone since 2007.

They were a very prolific manufacturer. They made knives for anyone, most notably Boy Scouts snd even Buck.

If you see something new with the Camillus name, it’s imported junk.

Opinel is still thriving.

 

[T.A. WORKMAN]

Kurt,
If it was me I would copy and frame that and give it along with the knife to your grandson.
Just a suggestion.
Terry

 

[el caminero]

I too would have vacuuned that one up. Earlier thus year in a pawnshop fund a n old usnavy"kabar" style bowie for 35$ and immediately made it mine. Dad was navy.
Thinking of making a new flag case and put it in there. Also have usaf uncle's flagcase. also have old g.l.joes with navy and usaf uniforms, havent quite decided how to case them and the flags.

 

[pyth0n]

The knives are still around. Camillus has been gone since 2007.

They were a very prolific manufacturer. They made knives for anyone, most notably Boy Scouts snd even Buck.

If you see something new with the Camillus name, it’s imported junk.

Opinel is still thriving.

Ture Camillus filed for bankruptcy in 2007. Its brand name and intellectual property rights were purchased by Acme United Corporation, which re-launched the Camillus brand in May 2009 using modern materials. So is this imported junk now? Not the same quality? Serious question.
This is their web site, https://www.camillusknives.com

 

[neilin]

I picked up the knife at one of the local thrift shops last week. Rubbed it down with some Kroil and rag. Looks to be in good shape. Sometimes these things just catch my eye and I think I need to have it. I don't know much about it orher than what little research I did online.
View attachment 86401View attachment 86401

I have never seen one of those. Do you know the year it was made?

 

[neilin]

You may find this document interesting. View attachment 86442

Nice ad!

 

[neilin]

Terry,
I lost count a long time ago. It was only $10 , so she didn't bop me too many tmes. When I showed it to her I told her I might give it to my oldest Grandson. I might just show it to him and see if he is interested in it.


I knew it was from WW2 timeframe. But how can one tell from exactly what years? It has brass liners and brass bolsters, not sure if that helps in dating it.

I find old ads are a good indicator for the time frame.

 

[jav]

Nice pick up I have a bunch of old knives I need to look through them

 

[Watertender]

My wife has family that worked at Camillus Cutlery.
As far as Opinel goes, I think they make one of the best everyday knives out there. I have a #8 Garden Knife that is my constant companion. If I break it I have a couple of new ones that I can replace it with

 

[eveled]

Ture Camillus filed for bankruptcy in 2007. Its brand name and intellectual property rights were purchased by Acme United Corporation, which re-launched the Camillus brand in May 2009 using modern materials. So is this imported junk now? Not the same quality? Serious question.
This is their web site, https://www.camillusknives.com

I guess GSM OUTDOORS bought Camillus from Acme in 2023. I was unaware of the purchase. The Acme made knives I saw were not good quality.

No personal experience with the GSM made Camillus knives, but at those prices I am suspicious. Also they don’t show any traditional knives.

They like to showcase the history, but it definitely isn’t the same company.

 

[pyth0n]

I guess GSM OUTDOORS bought Camillus from Acme in 2023. I was unaware of the purchase. The Acme made knives I saw were not good quality.

No personal experience with the GSM made Camillus knives, but at those prices I am suspicious. Also they don’t show any traditional knives.

They like to showcase the history, but it definitely isn’t the same company.

Further reading, Camillus was marketed (made knives for CS) by Cold Steel & Cold Steel was acquired by GSM in 2020.
I think one day we'll find that ACME owns everything & is run by Wyle Coyote & Road Runner.

 

[The.Tumbleweed]

They started making that model just before the war. The split can opener and real bone scales were gone by the end of the war.

I don’t have an exact year, just general knowledge of military pocket knives.

I think they all have brass liners, which is an indicator they are early war. Brass became too important for ammo to use for pocket knives.

Yours looks unused just a little patina. It’s a nice knife.

If I have time later I will look in my books for more info.

Here are my USN pocket knives. The bottom one was not issued to my knowledge but could have been bought on base

View attachment 86436

I often wondered why the sailors couldn’t have an awl. But I can see were a Corpsman would find it useful.

I’ve always liked Camillus knives they are high quality solid knives. They were not high end though. They were the lowest bidders and made a lot of contract knives.

Bos'n mates had knives with a marlin spike. I suppose you *could* call that an awl.

 

[usmc69]

This is a good reference book. Probably others out there too.

 

[Trooper Joe]

Bos'n mates had knives with a marlin spike. I suppose you *could* call that an awl.

This is similar to the bosun’s knife I carried aboard ship (USS Guardian, AGR-1) from 1961 to 1963.

I read someplace that many years ago if you came aboard a Navy ship with a knife with a sharp point, the boatswain's mate was required to take it and break the point off so it could not be used as a weapon. Allegedly that is why there is a rounded end to the blade instead of a sharp point.

TJ

 

[el caminero]

This is similar to the bosun’s knife I carried aboard ship (USS Guardian, AGR-1) from 1961 to 1963.
View attachment 86621


I read someplace that many years ago if you came aboard a Navy ship with a knife with a sharp point, the boatswain's mate was required to take it and break the point off so it could not be used as a weapon. Allegedly that is why there is a rounded end to the blade instead of a sharp point.

TJ

Dad said that too. Chips, the ship's carpenter, clipped his kabar by putting the tip in a vice and hitting the blade with a big mallet. If you hit the handle you could bend the handle and still not snap the tip off. iirc he traded his clipped one when he left the boat, to somebody whose hadent been clipped by Chips, or he knew someone who did that. 50 years since i heard the story, but by then he dident have any kabar anymore, his biggest was a case doublejack.

 

[The.Tumbleweed]

This is similar to the bosun’s knife I carried aboard ship (USS Guardian, AGR-1) from 1961 to 1963.
View attachment 86621


I read someplace that many years ago if you came aboard a Navy ship with a knife with a sharp point, the boatswain's mate was required to take it and break the point off so it could not be used as a weapon. Allegedly that is why there is a rounded end to the blade instead of a sharp point.

TJ

As a former sailor, I never heard, or saw such a thing. Sounds like a "sea story" to me.
Of course, my time was almost 50 years ago, so ....

 

[The.Tumbleweed]

Dad said that too. Chips, the ship's carpenter, clipped his kabar by putting the tip in a vice and hitting the blade with a big mallet. If you hit the handle you could bend the handle and still not snap the tip off. iirc he traded his clipped one when he left the boat, to somebody whose hadent been clipped by Chips, or he knew someone who did that. 50 years since i heard the story, but by then he dident have any kabar anymore, his biggest was a case doublejack.

The ships store sold many knives that had sharp points.
We had our pick of what we wanted, or needed, as far as folding knives.
I personally had a Buck 110 that I carried, and used every day. If it were an issue, I'm sure that the MAA (Master At Arms) would have said something, as they, NOT the boatswain mates, would have been the enforcers.
Of course, I was a "pit snipe". We got left pretty much alone by pretty much everyone.

 

[el caminero]

The ships store sold many knives that had sharp points.
We had our pick of what we wanted, or needed, as far as folding knives.
I personally had a Buck 110 that I carried, and used every day. If it were an issue, I'm sure that the MAA (Master At Arms) would have said something, as they, NOT the boatswain mates, would have been the enforcers.
Of course, I was a "pit snipe". We got left pretty much alone by pretty much everyone.