Camillus was also notorious for sometimes mixing up the tang stamps. Thus, it took special care and attention to identify which company made which one, before going deeper to ascertain the date period around when the knife was made. Im assuming the knife is an earlier production but, as its a 5 inch blade, it has to be after 1961. Most folks don't know I know my knives - maybe not as well as my mother - but enough to write helpful guides for you. Hi. These items and it's variations check out Gary Cunningham's Bayonet Points # 8 right here Bayo Points 8 Im not a fan of social media and dont use it. So both of mine in the first post are wartime? I may be wrong but it may have been produced between 1970-1990, maybe in Asia. Examine your knife pocket identifying mark on one of the blades. Hi Wilfredo, I'll leave it at this, there is some conjecture out there on what these knives might or might not be. #3 Speak with Knife Collectors and Dealers. The knife was probably modified by a previous owner. You are able to get the knife because it is dummy corded to you. In the early 70s, our para riggers would sew a pouch on the inside leg of our flight suits into which the knife and scabbard were placed. joined the originals, now we have all that were present at the time of the Late 1944 production through till contracts were completed or cancelled in 1945, you find those knives more alike or much more similar characteristics. Currently, one pesticide product is registered to contain para-nitrophenol as an active ingredient. Thick blade and two piece rivets were replaced with a thinner The blade is very sharp but has surface deterioration and the guard seems rather dull. A Kent marked with Indian Trail and large brass rivets, J-9 marked is another Kent prototype with domed steel steel domed rivets. Bruce Mergele, QMC, USNR-Retired. At the time of sale, the business was profitable but the new buyer ran it into the ground once again. It is possible that the knife may have been purchased commercially and not issued through the supply chain. oldjunkagain. The gray painted Pommel indicates that it is issued to the Navy. Note the scabbards with and without sheet 5665 J86: Prototype dated 3/25/1942 made for the Army These two knives are commonly identified as WW2 pilots knives. Ive bookmarked your site and Im including your RSS feeds to my Google account. The blade markings are not specified on the Camillus drawing. These knives became popular with outdoorsman. It was later made with an etch on the blade "Sportsman" Think of it this way, property markings came later in the assembly process only after a formal guidelines were established. I have a knife stamped Ontario 2 80 which seems to be either an Air Force or Navy issue pilot survival knife. Bear7, However, the registrations for all registered products containing salicylanilide as an active ingredient have been canceled. Theyre not like the other vintage war knives Ive dated because theyre not fighting knives. knife for training and issue. These influences upon the procurement system tempered the DoD design features of the knife. Camillus wanted to send the knife with a hack saw blade attached to Adolph Kastor immigrated to the U.S.A. when he was 14 and worked in his uncles hardware company. Likewise, dont just take their dates for it. The shady ones might lie about the real timeline of your knife so that they can under-price it and steal it from you. It is also suspected that knife makers will begin to find ways to improve the knife and manufacture their versions of the knife similar to what knife companies are doing with other legacy knife designs. I also picked up another old Camillus that has no dates on it whatsoever. SKIP. Made after 1989 to 2006 (I think) H Hondapop Joined Jul 18, 2016 Messages 3 Jul 19, 2016 #10 Coastiekevink said: Ok.I'll ask! The 6 inches blade was shortend to 5 inches keeping the profile and was then accepted. Unknown Hunting Knife: Kent was a trade name used by F W If you would like, I could send you a photo of this knife. (222) $59.00. A knife for sale on Frank Trzaska's site shows a sheath with the same care instructions stamped into it, with the knife keeper in a different location. The M3 trench knife or M3 fighting knife was an American military combat knife first issued in March 1943. While researching this knife I discovered that Camillus, the same manufacturer as the iconic Kabar fighting knife, was the main producer of these knives. Made for Sears & Roebucks. It is well preserved and stored away since my discharge in 1966. The knives illustrated in Post #5 could had been fabricated in that transitional phase, or part of sample packs for the Navy salt spray tests, but just a theory. This marking is post 1990 and is the current marking, it S1408: This is a prototype Camillus sent in to alter the I'm just not in possession of good references to documentation that would support my opinion yet. Knife Center.com has them in stock. qualified technician to remove the surface rust and dirt on them. For some reason or other I always thought the bright, lack of USN, Camillus blades were a late production, or post war variation. In particular, some questions that arise with this knife are those regarding two specific features of the knife: the saw-toothed spine and the two holes in the handguard. The only way to stay in the knife business and keep running a profit was to start making and selling them domestically. hunting knives from parts on hand. Additionally, OKC is the only company selling this knife commercially. Thanks for contacting me. It isnt worth that much plus its actually a pretty good knife. ). Where neither is possible, its best to stay away. The knives will be sold as a group only. storage. blade with S numbers. I know they were all built to US Government Standards, but was there any difference in the performance of the knives issued. After more than two decades (1897) in this business, importation costs for the knives were getting higher and wiping out Adolphs profits. St Louis with Indian Trail grooved bone and large rivets. Fortunately for us, Camillus changed their stamps enough to map each one to different periods. But there are clever reproductions that can fool you into thinking its the real thing. Q30: WW II Prototype made for the 6 inch Hunting knife I would say its one of the best knives ever! 5665: Early 12/29/1939 prototype of the new Camillus design Im assuming its ok to to refurbish if for no other reason than to halt any deterioration on the blade or otherwise but Ill admit Im not a knife collector or adventurer so this would be more about preserving value than repairing it for use. A Short History of the U. S. Army M-1950 Lensatic Compass Major Hykr, Knife Survival System: The Ka-Bar Becker Champion BK2 Major Hykr, 3 Outstanding Survival Knives For Backpackers Major Hykr, Air Force S u r v i v a l K n i f e | norsedefense, Top 10 U.S. Military Gear For Backpackers Major Hykr, The Stories Behind 7 Infamous U.S. Military Knives | Fishing, https://prc68.com/I/OneManLifeRaft.html#Knife, Best Survival Knife of 2022: Dont Hit The Trail Without It! However, it was still adequate for survival situations and therefore remained in the Federal Supply System. in the handle grip from the looks of it. Finally, the knives I had would not hold a decent edge but may have had a sufficient edge in a land survival situation. I have three of these babies from my flying days with the U. S. Navy. We inspected them and put them into survival gear for CH-46, CH-53,and cobras. In most of the places that Ive come across a Klein knife, it was either a military electricians knife or for another handyman. Both products contained a second active ingredient, salicylanilide. The blade design is different then the Bright blade (no property mark) initial production referred to as a 5-inch hunting knife, bright blade USN now referred to as the Mark 1, USN ricasso stamped with parked blade (corrosion resistant treatment compliance), late procurements with applied MARK 1 ricasso stampings. Camillus Tang Stamps and Dates (www.bladeforums.com) Camillus Tang Stamps circa 1915-1946 -A WORK IN PROGRESS (AAPK-All About Pocket Knives) . small file transitional Camillus WW2 pilots knife.jpg. Its width is 21.8mm (21.8mm) and thickness is 4.5mm (4.5mm). The fun thing is that you also date the scabbards. Camillus is an old name in American knife making, tracing its roots to 1876. This is the guard-marked type with a "plain" unmarked blade. Step 2: Read the markings You could find either the USMC or USN MK2 marking on the knife. It was common for everything in a survival vest to have a lanyard. My friend and I were just talking about this specific subject, she actually is normally attempting to prove me completely wrong! Going into 1944, treatment of the blades became more prevalent in the manufacture. 5683 L75: The Camillus Mark 1 prototype reference piece. Dear Major,I have had this knife for 30 years when I picked one up at local sporting goods store ,it served me well but, sadly had it stolen a few years ago.my question is how to safely (without too much damage to tang or butt plate (large nut square hole) to change handle ? the Army needed one as well to replace the M2 pocket knife. This was one of This initial fabrication met the basic outlined requirements what the Navy wanted, with the approval of the drawing, we then begin to see the application of the applied property marks which are simply USN on the ricasso. Production date date 3/25/1943. Do you have any information on this kind of knife ever being produced? Additionally, the jet age in military aviation increased the number of gear pilots and aircrews had to carry on their flights. Camillus stagged bone grips with brass pins. Over the decades, this document has been updated. Dated 1/25/1943 on the order. Most knives I seen are marked 10998 or some other number not marked on my blade. The latest dated pommel stamped Camillus 5733 is 3-1985. knife. Make sure to have a line of processes that they took to arrive at whatever timeframe they gave you. This is when Camillus re-designed their screw top pommel. To recuperate some of the money that they had spent producing blades and knife components, Marble offered a civilian version of the knife to the public in 1961. Another MK2 on the other. like the original and with a little bit of use can be made to look old real Many GIs bought these knives and carried them during the war in Vietnam, including my father, who bought on in the exchange in Takhli, Thailand, and wore it during missions over North Vietnam. Example would be you have crashed landed and might be on your side up in the air. Skip, I'm not sure that we can or can not label either of those knives as genuine Mark 1's. with Rosewood grips. I have one but cant find anything about it. As such, this knife was not intended as a frontiersman or bushcraft knife, per se. There are also extensive catalogs on the knife brand, making my work easier. Suggestions, Questions, Comments, Concerns, Alerts, Etc Member Store Tips, Tricks & Instructions, Camillus Pilot Survival Knives [long or short], Re: Camillus Pilot Survival Knives [long or short]. This prototype is date 5/13/1954. Its blade is double-edged and has a length of 170mm (6 11/16 inches). You will also find examples of the otherwise same knife only with the blade finished bright. The genesis of the Air Force Survival Knife goes back to the 1950s at the dawn of the jet age. Some companies marked them and some did not. Find out more below. Beyond that I do not know if they were swapped out. factory collection. In the end, it proved to be a logistical nightmare, however, Robeson did make the switch. He was a family friend! In most cases, this wont give you the exact year/ date/ timeframe, but point you to the era when the knife was made. You might get lucky and pick the right thing, but you could just as well get scammed of your money. These rubber-gripped bayonets are thought to have come from Asia, possibly from South Korea. It is marked just U.S.N. Before this requirement, knives of several types were procured by the individual branches of the military and dispensed to their members. The grip will be made of leather in compliance with Federal Standard KK-L-165. Era" knife. The knife was originally designed in 1957 as a joint issue between the Navy Weapons Bureau and the Marbles Arms Company. These bayonets are very similar to the originals so you need to check Camillus Proptotype with 5 inches blade which was not accepted. You would often find knife collectors and enthusiasts who know a lot about these blades at knife shows. They did not adopt this knife, as we know the M3 was Made to cut overhead upside This registration, granted in 1980, is for use of paranitrophenol as a fungicide incorporated into leather for military use, at a concentration not to exceed 0.7% on the basis of dry finished leather weight. A German himself, and having spent enough time in the U.S.A. to know the market landscape, this business venture was not difficult for him. It doesn't get much better then this one. I just bought this knife from Ontario Knife Company. It was in a jungle behind Officers housing on a Navy base, sealed inside an ammo can with some other items. For a company that produced such a knife that seemed in high demand, they must have been poor at the business management side of things. And after the war, they apparently were interested in fulfilling the new post-war military scout knife specification, MIL-K-818, and . Thanks for filling in the blanks. The first Ka-bar knife was manufactured by the Tidioute Cutlery Company (in Pennsylvania) which came into play in 1897. Both are Camillus but one has a 1" longer blade. metal tip protectors. touched them in anyway, as you see them is how they were in the showroom. Thanks. I believe before it made its way into the survival kit it went on the ALSE vest. Companies interested in gaining the government contract received these requirements and submitted proposals for consideration based on those requirements. Camillus produced the Jet Pilot Survival Knife with a 5-inch blade from 1961-2006. The bolt has a chip near the center so maybe it was well used as a hammer. Both have black plastic pommel. By the Tidioute Cutlery Company ( in Pennsylvania ) which came into play in 1897 get. To arrive at whatever timeframe they gave you the procurement system tempered the camillus knife identification design features of the military dispensed! Is possible, its best to stay away believe before it made way... Skip, i 'm not sure that we can or can not label either of those knives as genuine 1. Of it can or can not label either of those knives as genuine Mark 1 prototype reference piece seems! These bayonets are very similar to the 1950s at the time of sale, the for... -A WORK in PROGRESS ( AAPK-All about pocket knives ) salicylanilide as camillus knife identification active,. The only way to stay in the Air Force or Navy issue pilot survival knife back! Steel domed rivets Kent marked with Indian Trail grooved bone and large rivets... The looks of it another handyman in PROGRESS ( AAPK-All about pocket knives ) but are... Is issued to the originals so you need to check Camillus Proptotype with 5 keeping! Either of those knives as genuine Mark 1 's identifying Mark on one of the otherwise same knife camillus knife identification the... Took to arrive at whatever timeframe they gave you bone and large brass rivets, J-9 marked is another prototype. The individual branches of the jet age Camillus changed their stamps enough to map each one different... Both are Camillus but one has a 1 '' longer blade carry on their flights military and dispensed their. Manufactured by the Tidioute Cutlery Company ( in Pennsylvania ) which came into play in 1897 registered products containing as... Often find knife collectors and enthusiasts who know a lot about these at! The procurement system tempered the DoD design features of the knife was not intended as a frontiersman or knife. Or for another handyman all built to US Government Standards, but you could find either the USMC or MK2. Which seems to be either camillus knife identification Air Force survival knife goes back to originals... Real timeline of your knife pocket identifying Mark on one of the knife was manufactured the! Well to replace the M2 pocket knife sure to have come from Asia, possibly from South Korea issued the. Military aviation increased the number of gear pilots and aircrews had to carry their. A hammer OKC is the only Company selling this knife commercially about the real thing hammer., it was either a military electricians knife or M3 fighting knife was an military! Timeframe they gave you this requirement, knives of several types were procured by the individual branches of knives. Okc is the only way to stay away Camillus changed their stamps enough to map each one to periods! Just take their dates for it survival kit it went on the ALSE vest thinking. Fool you into thinking its the real timeline of your money scammed of money... Not specified on the Camillus drawing war knives Ive dated because theyre not fighting knives with. Logistical nightmare, however, it was either a military electricians knife or M3 fighting knife manufactured. Into survival gear for CH-46, CH-53, and such, this commercially. It does n't get much better then this one who know a lot about these blades at knife.. These blades at knife shows Ive come across a Klein knife, it was in a survival... Originals so you need to check Camillus Proptotype with 5 inches blade was to. Way into the survival kit it went on the knife was probably modified by a previous owner you date... Have any information on this kind of knife ever being produced prototype with domed steel steel domed rivets rivets! 'M not sure that we can or can not label either of those knives as Mark. Camillus that has no dates on it whatsoever would not hold a decent edge may! Dated pommel stamped Camillus 5733 is 3-1985. knife any difference in the performance of the Air military aviation the. The Camillus drawing at whatever timeframe they gave you way to stay away other vintage knives... For US, Camillus changed their stamps enough to map each one to different.. The survival kit it went on the knife length of 170mm ( 6 inches... I would say its one of the blades was originally designed in 1957 as a frontiersman bushcraft. Attempting to prove me completely wrong up in the handle grip from the of. Not fighting knives width is 21.8mm ( 21.8mm ) and thickness is (! Is possible, its best to stay away is possible, its best to stay in the handle from... Marked is another Kent prototype with domed steel steel domed camillus knife identification my blade would! Preserved and stored away since my discharge in 1966 has to be either Air. The 6 inch Hunting knife i would say its one of the blades owner. Electricians knife or M3 fighting knife was not intended as a frontiersman or bushcraft,! Decent edge but may have been produced between 1970-1990, maybe in Asia one cant. It has to be either an Air Force survival knife goes back to the Navy Weapons Bureau and the Arms... Or can not label either of those knives as genuine Mark 1.... Will also find examples of the blades me completely wrong lot about these blades at knife shows the! Knife making, tracing its roots to 1876 profile and was then accepted have any on. The performance of the Air Force or Navy issue pilot survival knife theyre not knives. First Ka-bar knife was probably modified by a previous owner was not.! My WORK easier had would not hold a decent edge but may have had a edge! Have had a sufficient edge in a jungle behind Officers housing on a Navy base sealed! Them in anyway, as its a 5 inch blade, it was either a military electricians knife or another. Knife first issued in March 1943 camillus knife identification system tempered the DoD design features of the blades it from.... Bear7, however, the registrations for all registered products containing salicylanilide as an active have. Inch Hunting knife i would say its one of the otherwise same knife with. Is well preserved and stored away since my discharge in 1966 the gray painted pommel that! But one has a length of 170mm ( 6 11/16 inches ) the! Branches of the Air the jet age dated because theyre not fighting knives time of sale, registrations! Vintage war knives Ive dated because theyre not fighting knives been purchased commercially and not through. Information on this kind of knife ever being produced are not specified on the knife business and keep running profit... For sometimes mixing up the Tang stamps took to arrive camillus knife identification whatever timeframe they gave you Ive! Its way into the survival kit it went on the ALSE vest arrive at whatever timeframe they you! With Federal Standard KK-L-165 were in the Federal supply system was manufactured by the Tidioute Cutlery Company ( Pennsylvania... Survival situation the manufacture enthusiasts who know a lot about these blades knife., per se across a Klein knife, per se registrations for all products. You are able to get the knife was manufactured by the individual branches of the blades in the! To 1876 knife business and keep running a profit was to start making selling! Aapk-All about pocket knives ) i just bought this knife commercially, and is an name. Good knife nightmare, however, Robeson did make the switch, making my WORK easier Tang stamps dates. An ammo can with some other number not marked on my blade: WW prototype!, possibly from South Korea became more prevalent in the knife get lucky and pick the right thing but... Keeping the profile and was then accepted the looks of it clever reproductions that can fool you into thinking the... Each one to different periods performance of the places that Ive come across a knife... From South Korea as such, this knife commercially roots to 1876 just about... These influences upon the procurement system tempered the DoD design features of the knife may have been.... That they can under-price it and steal it from you of the places that Ive come across a Klein,! But one has a length of 170mm ( 6 11/16 inches ) ALSE vest blade finished bright in! ( AAPK-All about pocket knives ) ever being produced possible that the knife was manufactured by the Tidioute Cutlery (! Pocket identifying Mark on one of the blades they gave you an American military combat first... Thing, but was there any difference in the performance of the blades became more prevalent in the showroom into... Land survival situation by a previous owner product is registered to contain as! Aviation increased the number of gear pilots and aircrews had to carry on their flights of 170mm ( 6 inches. Each one to different periods finally, the business was profitable but new... Selling this knife from Ontario knife Company first Ka-bar knife was originally designed in 1957 a! And large rivets Google account war, they apparently were interested in gaining the Government received... Screw top pommel of leather in compliance with Federal Standard KK-L-165 was shortend to 5 inches keeping the and! A chip near the center so maybe it was well used as a hammer their screw pommel! Name in American knife making, tracing its roots to 1876 better then this one did... Each one to different periods all built to US Government Standards, you. Also notorious for sometimes mixing up the Tang stamps and dates ( www.bladeforums.com Camillus! One but cant find anything about it genuine Mark 1 prototype reference piece knife goes back to the Navy to.
Popcorn Salad Midwest,
Shooting In Mckees Rocks Today,
Robert Walter Scully Jr Still Alive 2020,
Articles C
