Camillus U.S.A. Knife

[Goony]

A garage sale find. Not perfect but not abused, either. 5" blade appears to be parkerized. I'm not familiar enough with these to estimate its age.

 

[30-30remchester]

The date of manufacture and maker is stamped on one of the flats of the nut at the pomel.

 

[The Preacher]

It's called a Pilot Survival Knife. I have two and they're great field knives.

 

[Goony]

The date of manufacture and maker is stamped on one of the flats of the nut at the pomel.

The nut is completely plain, as is the guard. The blade's marked Camillus, New York, U.S.A. at its base.

 

[Sistema1927]

Guessing it is Vietnam Era. I bought one like it in the 1970's.

 

[Goony]

Guessing it is Vietnam Era. I bought one like it in the 1970's.

There's one online right now that's more or less identical to mine (sheath and all), described as "NOS USGI A3" with the claim that it dates from the 1970's into the 1990's.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

The original knives didn’t have the metal bottom.
Then the side plates were added as reports came in of the knife cutting through the sheath during bailout.
Later the squared off metal bottom was introduced.
The bottom knife is the one I carried in SEA.
The top knife is the original Navy knife.
This was the first fixed blade Gov Spec Aircrew knife introduced since WWII.

 

[Gene L]

I've got one that's unmarked as to maker. They're good knives, nothing special about them; not sexy like a K-Bar. I wonder who made mine.

 

[Frank46]

I got my survival knife during our WestPac cruise '65-'67. Cost me all of 5 bucks. Darn that was a long time ago. Frank

 

[sceva]

Not all are military surplus as I believe they were also sold commercially,

 

[mikerjf]

14-year-old me faced the dilemma of choosing either this knife or the Marine knife from the P&S Sales catalog, back in the 1960’s. Really liked that this one had the stone included. But went for the Marine knife, which still accompanies me camping at age 69.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Bit off on a tangent.... but K-bar offers a 5" version of it's "Marine" 7" knife.

Best of both worlds as a general purpose field knife IMO.

 

[Gripgrabber]

Yep,great knives both mine are 1985 stamped.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Bit off on a tangent.... but K-bar offers a 5" version of it's "Marine" 7" knife.

Best of both worlds as a general purpose field knife IMO.

I think I saw one up at Big Bucks shop yesterday, as I always do a quick glance in that case when I go in. But grandson was with me and he was kinda interested in looking in the gun display cases. Good boy! Kinda wish I'd have payed more attention now. Can't be sure. I might've asked to see it.

That knife in the OP looks pretty cool, as do the rest up above.

 

[NYlakesider]

Bit off on a tangent.... but K-bar offers a 5" version of it's "Marine" 7" knife.

Best of both worlds as a general purpose field knife IMO.

I have one. Back in the 1970s I bought a few long guns, other items from a neighbor whose husband had recently died. He carried it as a hunting knife. She just wanted that stuff gone as she was moving.

A few years ago I took it to a gun show and a man at a large knife display looked at it and said it was worth about $170.

 

[jaguargolf]

I have 2 of these knives. They are strong but I've always had trouble keeping them sharp enough to process big game or cut rope for marlinspike seamanship. Hence the sharpening stone.
I haven't worked on a boat for many years, and now in the woods I carry my Buck 119 or a Puma hunting knife. Both hold an edge amazingly well.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Just the other day -
Saw them for sale at Cabela’s.
Made by Ontario.

 

[K Harris]

The tip of your knife and the sheath would indicate 1980's. The one I was issued then was very similar. If you look at the 1960's and 1970's knives the tip has a more subtle curve to it and the Camillus sheaths of that era had no metal reinforcement.

1976 on the left 1967 on the right

 

[Bald1]

My experience would be that it’s a late model knife. Same as current production. Camillus is a town near Syracuse NY. They make quality cutlery at decent prices. That knife new is $50-$60 depending on where you buy it. I have one just like it that I purchased last yr. The light colored sheath responds well to neatsfoot oil. When new they take some work to sharpen. But they are durable.

 

[Faulkner]

My observation has been the one's marked on the blade are for the commercial market. Those made for military contract were marked and dated on the pommel and on the back of the sheath. I've seen metal tipped sheaths that date back to at least the early 1970's.

Several years back I acquired several dozen of these in unissued condition and distributed them to the deputies in the department for their duty/go bags. Seems the earliest date I saw was 1973 and they were dated up to the mid 1980's.