A visit to the store across from the Camillus factory

PocketKnifeJimmy

PocketKnifeJimmy

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Aug 4, 2013
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Had not stepped in there in quite a while, so drove to downtown Camillus to check out what the latest may be in the little cutlery shop.
Chatted with the owner for a while, and two hours there went by fast.
He's obviously a wealth of information, being he worked many years for Camillus Cutlery, and right up until it's demise.

Anyhow, I decided to buy a souvenir during today's visit. This late 1980's vintage Camillus electrician's knife came home with me. I paid $45 for her, and it's still brand new in it's sealed factory packaging. I will be removing it from the packaging for a light oiling and wipe down. Afterwards, she will be placed somewhere within my collection of do-dads. I'll also store away the packaging somewhere, as I always do with such things. This plastic clamshell was very well sealed off, so much so, that not a lick of any real tarnish is on the steel, nickel silver, or brass. I find that most times the items have developed some tarnish here and there while still being protected from most of the elements by the packaging.

It's basically been in a sealed time capsule for about 30 years :)

 
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I have fun perusing their wares when I go there, including a section that is strictly for viewing only, (items not for sale),... Their museum area.

I also picked his brain about a couple Camillus knives I have.
The first was about a mint condition Camillus 50th anniversary of WW2 USMC fighting/utility knife, (blued blade with gold etchings). Unlike the ones often found with gold plated pommel and guard, and unsharpened... Mine has a phosphated guard & pommel, and is sharpened at it's main edge and at it's top false edge area. Although some folks have told me that mine was probably done outside the factory, I strongly believed it was all factory done. Anyhow, I asked the store owner about his recollection of them. He told me that my knife was in fact done at the Camillus factory in the way I received it. He went on to say that after a limited series was finished, it was not uncommon for Camillus to use any remaining components, such as the specially marked limited series blades, and use them up in some way for sale to their buyers. My knife was simply made with the WW2 50th Anniversary series blade, mounted to the standard USMC handle/guard/pommel. The blade was then sharpened as any other standard Camillus USMC fighting/utility knife.

I also asked him about a mint condition Camillus "Demo" knife that I own, but being stamped 'USN', rather than the more common 'US' stamp. He told me that the most common would most definitely be the US stamped model. He told me the next most common would be marked for USMC. The other US Armed Forces markings were also used, but only on a limited run for commercial sale for those wanting their branch of service represented. He believes the one' like mine, marked 'USN', are probably few and far in between. I believe this is definitely the case, since one rarely sees these Camillus "Demo' knives with the 'USN' marked handle.

It was awesome picking his brain on some things, and awesome listening to some of his stories about Camillus Cutlery.



 
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I have a similar knife in my collection! It is always nice to be able to just talk knives with someone in person, it doesn’t happen too often for me.
 
Camillus sells new old stock at some of their factories? Forget the Bay, I’m getting a stockman straight from the source! And catch a quick history lesson while I’m at it :thumbsup:
 
SIG96 said:
Camillus sells new old stock at some of their factories? Forget the Bay, I’m getting a stockman straight from the source! And catch a quick history lesson while I’m at it :thumbsup:
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Sadly, the original Camillus Cutlery, (in Camillus NY USA), went out of business in 2007.
The cutlery shop I speak of is located right across the street of what little remains of the former Camillus Cutlery building.
Anyhow, the owner of the shop is a former Camillus factory employee, and started up the shop sometime after the Camillus firm went belly up. He buys and sells mostly Camillus knives, but does have a few other US brands too. It most definitely is a learning experience in there... Small place, but lots to take in :)
 
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PocketKnifeJimmy said:
Had not stepped in there in quite a while, so drove to downtown Camillus to check out what the latest may be in the little cutlery shop.
Chatted with the owner for a while, and two hours there went by fast.
He's obviously a wealth of information, being he worked many years for Camillus Cutlery, and right up until it's demise.

Anyhow, I decided to buy a souvenir during today's visit. This late 1980's vintage Camillus electrician's knife came home with me. I paid $45 for her, and it's still brand new in it's sealed factory packaging. I will be removing it from the packaging for a light oiling and wipe down. Afterwards, she will be placed somewhere within my collection of do-dads. I'll also store away the packaging somewhere, as I always do with such things. This plastic clamshell was very well sealed off, so much so, that not a lick of any real tarnish is on the steel, nickel silver, or brass. I find that most times the items have developed some tarnish here and there while still being protected from most of the elements by the packaging.

It's basically been in a sealed time capsule for about 30 years :)

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Cool find. I actually have one of those Handyman's Knives on the workbench in my garage, complete with original leather sheath. I use it for cutting up cardboard boxes for recycling and other assorted work tasks. It's a stout little blade, but sharpens up nicely. I always wondered what that odd feeling blue handle was made of.
 
Buzzbait said:
Cool find. I actually have one of those Handyman's Knives on the workbench in my garage, complete with original leather sheath. I use it for cutting up cardboard boxes for recycling and other assorted work tasks. It's a stout little blade, but sharpens up nicely. I always wondered what that odd feeling blue handle was made of.
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Yeah, they have that handle material for that splicing knife as being "Cementex".
I don't know what that is, but it sure sounds strong :)
 
morvlorv said:
Nice grab there.
I am still personally struggling with 1980 being vintage. Man Im getting old. lol
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Yeah, I know what you mean. With me being 53 years old, I will admit that a lot has changed in my lifetime. That change seems to be at warp speed with modern technology advancing so much. Social changes are also hard to adjust to, ugh! ;)

You know, I believe Camillus met it's demise before it ever really became a real modern cutlery. I believe they were pretty old school right to their end. It's why I like picking up some of their wares when I run into good specimens that catch my attention, (and when they are decently priced) :)
 
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