4 Blade camillus

[elbertson]

I'm new to this forum,but I've been collecting knives (including MIL-K 818's) for a long time,and although this is an old thread,here's my 2 cents: All of the USN,USAF and USMC MIL-Ks made by Camillus were non-issue, commercial offerings.This would seem to bring the price down to knowledgeable military collectors.On the other hand,those made were in comparatively small numbers, making them much rarer in numbers than any US marked ones. How this affects the market one way or the other probably changes constantly, possibly based largely on lack of information and basic desire. Just food for thought...

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[alamo308]

I'm new to this forum,but I've been collecting knives (including MIL-K 818's) for a long time,and although this is an old thread,here's my 2 cents: All of the USN,USAF and USMC MIL-Ks made by Camillus were non-issue, commercial offerings.

I'm also trying to collect one knife for each year I was in Vietnam/Thailand/Laos (71,72,73). Not sure we're talking about the same knives here, but IIRC, what I want are the stainless steel Camillus 4-blades with U.S. stamped on one side. These were issue knives, one packed inside every seat-back parachute. When I went through combat aircrew survival school and we parted out surplus chutes for field survival items, the 4-blade knives were always highly sought after, since you could keep one if you found it. I have several but not the right years, ...yet.

[elbertson]

Yes, we're talking about the same knife...please read what I wrote. I said that all knives marked USN, USAF, and USMC were not issue and were commercial offerings only. That statement is correct. Issue knives were marked US only, with the exception of some that were marked US MARINE CORPS, which were only made during WW2 by Kingston and had carbon steel blades and springs with brass liners.

[alamo308]

Yes, we're talking about the same knife...please read what I wrote. I said that all knives marked USN, USAF, and USMC were not issue and were commercial offerings only. That statement is correct. Issue knives were marked US only, with the exception of some that were marked US MARINE CORPS, which were only made during WW2 by Kingston and had carbon steel blades and springs with brass liners.

Okay, now I understand. I'm a little slow sometimes.
Thanks for the clarification.
BTW: Still looking for a US stamped '72 and '73.

[elbertson]

Okay, now I understand. I'm a little slow sometimes.
Thanks for the clarification.
BTW: Still looking for a US stamped '72 and '73.

For some reason they seem to be tough years to find. As much as I hate to say it, check ebay as often as possible if you have no luck elsewhere. Sooner or later they'll pass through there. I'm trying to find the Canadian version that Camillus made, the C-5. Exact same knives, just no US on the handle scales.

[duallydondon]

anyone know where I can get replacement pins ??? Have a couple that have broken backsprings,,thanks